Access Systems wrote:

In misc.transport.urban-transit Aidan Stanger wrote:
Access Systems wrote:

why should there be a problem...people in wheelchairs regularly ride NYC
and Tokyo subways at rush hour, what makes the tube any less possible.

The fact that it isn't so heavily subsidized.


BS if I ever heard it.

Really? Are you claiming the NYC and Tokyo subways aren't more heavily
subsidized than the Tube? Or that the subsidies don't enable them to
make more stations accessible?

The Tube has been short of funding for a lot longer than the
accessibility issue was something that most people considered important.
It's not just a lack of subsidy that's the problem, it's also the fact
that they weren't allowed to issue bonds. This meant that the
opportunity to make improvements in any area (not just access) has been
very limited, as what little money there is often has to be spent on
keeping the network running!

I'm not saying that London Underground couldn't have done more - they
probably could've done a few things better. But they couldn't've done
*much* more.

Now that the PPP's in place, funding is available (albeit inefficiently)
so things may get better. However, the contract structure is such that
major improvements are unlikely to occur for a while.