Of Paramount importance

Just picked up on an interesting story being pushed by Transport for All via the UK Press Association about the readiness (or not) of TfL's network for the Paralympic Games, due to commence just a couple of weeks from now.

I'm rather ashamed to admit that the accessibility of tubes, DLR trains, buses and boats is not something I tend to think about all that often, and never in conjunction with the Games. You can read through the stats yourselves in the story, but TfL's response is in keeping with the usual delay explanations - i.e. refusing to actually answer the issues:

'Transport for London (TfL) said it installed 16 manual ramps at Tube stations to improve access during the Games. Mark Evers, TfL's director of Games transport, said: "We hope to continue using the temporary ramps after the Games."'

In what sense are they temporary then? Something's fishy here.

'A TfL spokesman added that 58% of bus stops in London were fully accessible and was expected to reach 70% by the end of this financial year.'

Which is when? In time for the Paralympic Games?

'London 2012 was the most accessible Games ever held, he maintained.'

Ever held where? In the world? That would be impressive. I somewhat suspect he means in London, however, in which case you'd be shocked if they weren't. And what measures of accessibility are they using to support this claim? Ones agreed by/with which third party organisations? You see? No detail, just avoidance and thin excuses.