Public transport governance and working conditions of bus drivers: perspectives on accessibility for all in public transport

Although many efforts have been made to eliminate barriers in public transport worldwide, research shows that public transport is still often perceived as challenging, inconvenient, and inaccessible for many people with disabilities. A growing body of research points to several issues, relating to the spatial and temporal distribution of public transport, affordability, safety, and social barriers. Social barriers include, for example, lack of adequate support from public transport staff. This paper aims to explore stakeholders’ perspectives on how the governance of public transport, and particularly the working conditions, can influence bus drivers’ behaviour, with a special focus of passengers with disabilities. Eleven representatives from different organisations in Sweden were interviewed, representing public transport authorities, national authorities, trade unions and others. All interviewees had a good understanding of the industry, particularly regarding procurement and labour conditions. They held senior positions and were involved in shaping transport conditions and making decisions that influence public procurement, working conditions and accessibility for the passengers. The results suggest that bus drivers in Sweden have faced increasingly difficult working conditions in recent years. Our interviewees link this to current public procurement practices and financially constrained contracts, which they believed can lead to increased workload and stress for drivers, and that can negatively affect the behaviour towards passengers and create accessibility barriers. Recommendations based on the findings include further recognition of the issues of creating an attractive profession, improve the working conditions, increase awareness of gender equality, competence (in procurement processes), further monitoring and evaluation.