Space to move, pass and pause is transport access
The draft updates turning and passing-space references to AS 1428.1:2021, proposes a 1,500 mm unobstructed vertical dimension in specified vehicle manoeuvring areas, and requires manoeuvring areas to be as close as possible to access paths and allocated spaces. Rest points would need compliant seating plus a flat, stable 1,300 x 800 mm adjacent mobility-aid area that does not overlap the access path.
Functional impact
These proposals reduce the common “technically present but practically unusable” outcome: a wheelchair space that cannot be reached, a passing bay blocked by furniture, or a rest seat that forces a mobility aid into the travel route. They also help passengers whose disability makes distance, fatigue or waiting particularly difficult.
Provider impact
Design teams must assess layouts as a system. Furniture plans, queues, luggage, cleaning equipment and fold-down seats can defeat the clear space shown on an original drawing.
Strategic implementation process
- Test common turning, boarding and alighting movements with representative mobility aids, including peak-load conditions.
- Pair layout drawings with operational “keep-clear” plans and staff instructions.
- Audit rest points and waiting layouts first at hospitals, interchanges and long walking routes.
- Maintain a photo-and-measurement record so alterations can be checked against the baseline.
Make room for independent travel
We can review layouts, operating conditions and retrofit options before capital works are locked in.