CCS Disability Action to research transport exclusion with Moving Communities Fund

For many of us, catching a bus is just part of the daily routine. But for people living with disabilities, accessible transport can mean something much bigger – independence, inclusion, and opportunity.

As the largest pan-disability support and advocacy organisation in Aotearoa, 2025 Moving Communities Fund recipient, CCS Disability Action has been supporting people with impairments and disabilities for 90 years. 

Founded in 1935, CCS Disability Action exists to empower disabled people to live the lives they choose. The organisation supports over 5,000 disabled people across Aotearoa to be included in their whānau (family) and community. 

As an Access Advisor at CCS Disability Action, Mary O’Brien understands both the overwhelmingly positive impact of accessible public transport, and the barriers disabled people face in accessing it.

“Public transport is a vital tool for many disabled people to access their community, and supporting people to access public transport is an important part of our mahi (work).

“Accessible public transport can be transformative. It enables disabled people to access education, employment, health services, and social connections - contributing to improved wellbeing and reduced reliance on the health system.”

Ms O’Brien says transport exclusion is often invisible, but its impact real.

“Disabled people face barriers at every stage of the journey, from planning to completion and existing studies show that disabled people forgo more travel than others due to time, distance, and effort.”

Support through Kinetic’s Moving Communities Fund will help CCS Disability Action to develop a practical framework to identify and understand transport exclusion, a subject in which there is currently limited national data. 

Working alongside Bridget Doran, a Research and Transport Engineer who will ensure the data is robust and useful for policy makers, CCS Disability Action’s research will quantify transport exclusion, laying the groundwork for systemic change that will benefit disabled people now and in the future.

“Over half of us will experience disability by age 65,” says Ms O’Brien.

“Accessible transport isn’t just about today’s users – it’s about all of us. This grant will accelerate progress toward inclusive infrastructure.”

Inaccessible infrastructure is not the only barrier for disabled people accessing public transport, with fares and unwelcoming attitudes from drivers or passengers also greatly impacting the outcome of the journey for a disabled person.

According to Ms O’Brien, the significance of a welcoming driver cannot be underestimated.

“Both Kinetic's team and the accessibility of the system are important parts of this puzzle.

“Bus drivers play a critical role in ensuring a safe, respectful, and dignified journey. Their actions can determine whether a trip is completed successfully and whether a disabled person feels confident using public transport again.”

In 2024, Kinetic partnered with CCS Disability Action to further upskill drivers in the Central North Island on how best to meet the needs of disabled passengers with a specially created Disability Awareness Training to supplement its existing disability support and customer service training.

Kinetic New Zealand is proud to continue its relationship with CCS Disability Action through supporting the development of a research framework that will take steps towards creating a public transport system that is accessible to everyone.

To learn more about CCS Disability Action and their work visit ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz. For more information about Kinetic’s Moving Communities Fund visit wearekinetic.com/community.