Transport is one the most frequently raised issues by older people in Greater Manchester, and our Transport Working Group provides a focused space to explore these concerns and influence change. We meet regularly, working closely with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and other partners to shape a more accessible, safe, and age-friendly transport system.

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The group has engaged in a wide range of projects, consultations, and campaigns, with a strong emphasis on collaboration, accessibility and policy influence.

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Highlights:

• Vision Zero: we held an in-person meeting at TfGM headquarters, focused on the Vision Zero initiative to eliminate road deaths and serious injuries. Importantly, this meeting attracted new participants who had not previously joined online, showing the value of including in-person options in our working group activities.

• School Transport Policy and the Local Transport Plan: we held two meetings focused on these areas. Ongoing engagement from TfGM staff has significantly increased the group’s influence, ensuring older people’s voices are considered during key policy reviews.

• Bus-Stop Bypasses and Safe Streets: this meeting revisited long-standing concerns around bus-stop bypasses, especially as cycle lane developments have increased. We were pleased to connect directly with TfGM’s review of this issue, reinforcing our role in shaping safer public spaces for pedestrians, particularly older and disabled people.

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Ongoing collaborations:

• AccessAble: We’ve engaged with AccessAble, a not-for-profit organisation providing detailed accessibility information about public venues and spaces. Their work supports our goal of making travel more inclusive for people with a range of disabilities, including older adults with mobility challenges.

• TfGM Engagement: Group members have been closely involved in several TfGM initiatives this year, including:

  • Streets for All Design Guide

  • Customer Information updates

  • Ring and Ride feedback

  • Bee Network Customer Charter workshop

• Members also attended the launch of the Bee Network and had previously contributed feedback on the Bee Network App. Several were invited to join follow-up app feedback forums, continuing the cycle of consultation and improvement.

• Transport and Dementia: We’ve begun exploring how transport systems impact people living with dementia, including challenges around signage, consistency, and accessibility. This will remain a key focus as we push for more dementia-friendly transport design and information.

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Last year’s work has demonstrated the importance of embedding older people’s lived experience in transport planning and design. We’ve seen how consistent engagement with TfGM can lead to meaningful influence and policy impact. In the coming year, our approach will inform other GMOPN working groups, with a commitment to having dedicated policy leads involved in each group to enhance reach and effectiveness.

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We remain committed to making public transport safer, more accessible, and more responsive to the needs of older people across Greater Manchester.

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We warmly welcome new members, whether you rely on public transport, advocate for your community or want to shape better journeys for the future.