It’s about time. With just over 300 days to go until the Paris 2024 Games (D – 309), a concerted effort is being made to make public transport more accessible. On Wednesday 20 September, the RATP (metro, bus and RER), the SNCF (train) and Aéroports de Paris (ADP) signed an “action plan” to improve accessibility in the run-up to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The plan was initialled in the presence of the Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, and several members of the government. At RATP, audible announcements will be broadcast on lines that do not yet have them, and there are plans to install automatic ticket machines with a voice interface. In addition, a new single platform will enable disabled passengers to book assistance services at stations. For their part, airports in the Paris region will be stepping up training for staff working with people with disabilities. ADP has also announced its intention to make it possible for all passengers to use their wheelchairs right up to the door of the aircraft. At the same time, the government will be spending €1.5 billion to make public places more accessible, including small shops (€300 million), local authorities (€500 million), universities and government buildings (€210 million), transport facilities (€430 million) and public websites (€60 million).
