Subsidised mobility services for disabled people: research and recommendations

In May 2024, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) released analysis into international research about how subsidised mobility services operates and supports groups of people including disabled people, and older adults.

The report included case studies of subsidised mobility services internationally and presented findings from interviews with international researchers in this space. Researchers of this report also made recommendations about how to improve subsidised mobility services for disabled New Zealanders.

Key themes from the report are summarised below. The full report is available on the NZTA website: Research report 721 – The characteristics of subsidised mobility services external URL

New Zealand needs to invest in transport that values inclusion

The report emphasised that some disabled people participate less fully in society because of inaccessible transport. Sometimes subsidised mobility is the only option that allows disabled people to participate in everyday activities. International researchers interviewed in the report noted that even with improved accessibility of public transport, there will still be people who cannot use it.

More data on subsidised mobility services needed

Researchers found that as of May 2024, New Zealand had no known projects or research underway to examine disabled people’s experience of subsidised mobility. Alongside this, the researchers identified that both New Zealand and internationally, the return on investment (ROI) of subsidised mobility has not been adequately measured – either as the benefits for disabled people or quantified as a monetised ROI. Current data and studies that do exist are limited and do not often include lived experience of disability

Technology improvements are helpful, but not always necessary

International literature reviewed in the report and case study interviews demonstrated that although technology was considered helpful for delivering subsidised mobility, technological improvements are not always necessary for providing a quality service. Within international literature, the most common technology described includes:

• software for booking and scheduling rides – including trip routing, employee and volunteer management
• online booking
• fleet management.

However, the literature reviewed in the report finds that this technology can be expensive and challenging to use, especially for community groups, made up of mostly volunteers, who provide mobility services. In some areas and for some groups of people (i.e. older people and people with lower incomes), technological improvements may constitute a barrier for people wanting to use the service.

Funding and scheduling issues need to be addressed

Literature reviewed in the report highlighted that the two main challenges around subsidised mobility services are funding and scheduling. International literature on funding shows that the methods and sources of funding vary greatly across countries. Some examples are listed below:

• in the USA, due to legislation, subsidised mobility customers have the right to unlimited rides
• in the UK, Switzerland, and Barcelona funding is capped meaning rides are limited.

Apart from the USA, countries set a budget on subsidised mobility funding which by nature limits the rides people using the service can take. Limiting rides limits disabled peoples’ participation in society and literature reviewed in the report highlights this approach is therefore not endorsed by disabled people’s organisations. Scheduling may also limit participation in society for disabled people. Literature reviewed in the report describes how having the flexibility to book a ride closer to the time is valued by those using subsidised mobility services – as opposed to having to book hours or days in advance. There is, however, a tension as organisations providing subsidised mobility seek to find efficient routes to be able to pick up and drop off multiple passengers in each specified time window, with an appropriate vehicle for accessibility needs. When subsidised mobility options provide flexibility to customers, it means routes cannot be planned in advance.

About the research

This report presented a literature review, case studies, an overview of subsidised mobility in New Zealand, and recommendations for New Zealand. Most of the report focuses on international literature, as New Zealand-based literature is scarce. International literature presented was not always focused on disabled people and referred to “subsidised mobility customers” more generally. The report's case studies and interviews looked at subsidised mobility in Northern Ireland, Spain, and Switzerland.