Last week the National Centre for Accessible Transport (ncat) hosted its first roundtable in Northern Ireland, bringing together transport leaders from across government, policy, research, and disability sectors to explore how barriers to accessible travel are experienced and where greater collaboration could support change.
Held at the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) in Belfast, the Accessible Transport Roundtable: Addressing Policy and Systemic Barriers to Travel marks the first in a wider programme of discussions taking place across the UK, designed to connect national evidence with regional experts.
Hosted and convened by ncat, the session created space for open, informed discussion, moving beyond high-level challenges to examine how accessibility is delivered across the transport system and where disconnects remain between policy, planning, and day-to-day experiences.
Facilitated by ncat’s Chief Executive Officer Dr Emma Partlow, the event opened with an introduction to the organisation’s work, followed by contributions from consortium partners.
The presentations highlighted the role of the Community of Accessible Transport (CAT) Panel in embedding lived experience, shared policy insights on strengthening alignment and enabling more joined-up journeys, and outlined ncat funded innovation programmes that support inclusive, co-designed transport solutions.
Drawing on both professional expertise and lived experience, participants shared reflections on where the system is working in Northern Ireland and where further alignment, evidence, and collaboration could strengthen outcomes.
Discussions explored several recurring challenges, including fragmentation across transport services, gaps between policy intent and delivery, and the difficulty of scaling effective
solutions. Participants also highlighted barriers relating to information and journey planning, alongside the need for greater consistency across operations and workforce practices.
The roundtable brought together organisations including the Community Transport Association, Department for Infrastructure, Translink, Disability Action Northern Ireland, Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, FonaCAB, Inclusive Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee (IMTAC), Motability Foundation, Public Hire Taxi Association, Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), and Tilting the Lens. Insights from the session will shape ncat’s future research, policy and industry collaboration, and support ongoing conversations and engagement with transport stakeholders in Northern Ireland.
ncat extends it ts thanks to all attendees for their contributions and its funder, the Motability Foundation.
Image descriptor: Title slide for a ncat event reading Addressing Policy and Systemic Barriers to Travel – Accessible Transport Roundtable in bold black letters, with ncat branding orange spoke style shape on a light beige background.
