Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002

In force

Administered by

Attorney-General's Department

This item is authorised by the following title:

Disability Discrimination Act 1992

Latest version

View as made version

F2011C00213

01 May 2011 - 12 October 2026

These Standards are accompanied by the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport Guidelines 2004: see F2005B01059 Supporting Material in the principal instrument.

Table of contents

1.1 Name of Standards [see Note 1]
1.2 Purpose of Standards
1.3 Acknowledgment of rights of passengers, operators and providers
1.4 Application of Standards
1.5 Guidelines
1.6 Incorporation of Australian Standards, Australian/New Zealand Standards and Australian Design Rules
1.7 Applicability of Standards
1.8 Purpose of Division 1.2
1.9 Access path
1.10 Airport that does not accept regular public transport services
1.11 Allocated space
1.12 Conveyance
1.13 Dedicated school bus and dedicated school bus service
1.14 Dial-a-ride service
1.15 Direct assistance
1.16 Equivalent access
1.17 Hail-and-ride service
1.18 Infrastructure
1.19 Manoeuvring areas
1.20 Operator
1.21 Premises
1.22 Provider
1.23 Public transport service
1.24 Small aircraft
2.1 Unhindered passage
2.2 Continuous accessibility
2.3 Path branching into 2 or more parallel tracks
2.4 Minimum unobstructed width
2.5 Poles and obstacles, etc
2.6 Access paths — conveyances
2.7 Minimum width between front wheel arches of bus
2.8 Extent of path
2.9 When is an access path not required
3.1 Circulation space for wheelchairs to turn in
3.2 Access for passengers in wheelchairs, etc
3.3 Limited on-board manoeuvring
4.1 Minimum width
4.2 Two-way access paths and aerobridges
4.3 Passing areas — conveyances
5.1 When resting points must be provided
6.1 Ramps on access paths
6.2 Boarding ramps
6.3 Minimum allowable width
6.4 Slope of external boarding ramps
6.5 Slope of ramps connected to pontoon wharves
7.1 Minimum number of seats to be provided
7.2 Minimum number of allocated spaces to be provided
8.1 Boarding points and kerbs
8.2 When boarding devices must be provided
8.3 Use of boarding devices
8.4 Hail-and-ride services
8.5 Width and surface of boarding devices
8.6 Maximum load to be supported by boarding device
8.7 Signals requesting use of boarding device
8.8 Notification by passenger of need for boarding device
9.1 Minimum size for allocated space
9.2 Minimum number of allocated spaces to be provided
9.3 Minimum head room
9.4 Number of allocated spaces to be provided — buses
9.5 Number of allocated spaces to be provided — ferries
9.6 Number of allocated spaces to be provided — train cars, etc
9.7 Consolidation of allocated spaces
9.8 Allocated spaces in aircraft and coaches
9.9 Use of allocated space for other purposes
9.10 International symbol of accessibility to be displayed
9.11 Movement of mobility aid in allocated space
10.1 Compliance with Australian Standard
11.1 Compliance with Australian Standard — premises and infrastructure
11.2 Handrails to be provided on access paths
11.3 Handrails on steps
11.4 Handrails above access paths
11.5 Compliance with Australian Standard
11.6 Grabrail to be provided where fares are to be paid
11.7 Grabrails to be provided in allocated spaces
12.1 Doors on access paths
12.2 Compliance with Australian Standard — premises and infrastructure
12.3 Weight activated doors and sensors
12.4 Clear opening of doorways
12.5 Vertical height of doorways
12.6 Automatic or power-assisted doors
13.1 Compliance with Australian Standard — premises and infrastructure
14.1 Stairs not to be sole means of access
14.2 Compliance with Australian Standards — premises and infrastructure
14.3 Compliance with Australian Standards — conveyances
14.4 Compliance with Australian Design Rule 58 — conveyances
15.1 Unisex accessible toilet — premises and infrastructure
15.2 Location of accessible toilets
15.3 Unisex accessible toilet — ferries and accessible rail cars
15.4 Requirements for accessible toilets — ferries and accessible rail cars
15.5 Accessible toilet to be provided — aircraft
15.6 Stops to be offered if accessible toilet not provided — coaches
16.1 International symbols for accessibility and deafness
16.2 Compliance with AS2899.1 (1986)
16.3 Accessibility symbols to incorporate directional arrows
16.4 Accessibility symbol to be visible on accessible buses
16.5 Accessibility symbol to be visible on accessible doors
17.1 Height and illumination
17.2 Location — premises and infrastructure
17.3 Location — conveyances
17.4 Destination signs to be visible from boarding point
17.5 Electronic notices
17.6 Raised lettering or symbols or use of Braille
17.7 Taxi registration numbers
18.1 Location
18.2 Style and dimensions
18.3 Instalment at accessible bus boarding points
18.4 Instalment at railway stations
18.5 Instalment at wharves
19.1 Emergency warning systems
20.1 Illumination levels — premises and infrastructure
20.2 Illumination levels — conveyances
20.3 Dimming
21.1 Compliance with Australian Standard — premises and infrastructure
21.2 Passenger-operated devices for opening and closing doors
21.3 Location of passenger-operated controls for opening and locking doors
21.4 Signal devices for conveyances that stop on request
22.1 Tables, benches, counters, etc
22.2 Information desks, check-in counters, etc — airports
22.3 Accessible sleeping berths — ferries and trains
22.4 Accessible sleeping berths — ferries
22.5 Accessible sleeping berths — trains
22.6 Accessible berths to be connected to access path — ferries and trains
23.1 Seats
24.1 Gateways and checkouts
25.1 Passengers to pay fares
25.2 Fare payment and ticket validation systems
25.3 Vending machines
25.4 Circulation space in front of vending machine
26.1 Public address systems — premises and infrastructure
26.2 Public address systems — conveyances
27.1 Access to information about transport services
27.2 Direct assistance to be provided
27.3 Size and format of printing
27.4 Access to information about location
28.1 Notice of requirement for accessible travel
28.2 Period of notice of requirement for accessible travel
28.3 Location of carers, assistants and service animals
28.4 Accessible seats to be available for passengers with disabilities
29.1 Equal access to food and drink services
29.2 Distance around accessible tables
29.3 Space for passengers using mobility aids
30.1 Disability aids to be in addition to baggage allowance
31.1 Priority seating
31.2 Information to be provided about vacating priority seating
32.1 Effect and application of these Standards
32.2 Manufacture to be completed before target dates
33.1 Date for compliance with these Standards — new conveyances, premises and infrastructure
33.2 Date for compliance with these Standards — conveyances, premises and infrastructure in use at target dates
33.3 Equivalent access
33.4 Consultation about proposals for equivalent access
33.5 Equivalent access without discrimination
33.6 Direct assistance
33.7 Exceptional cases — unjustifiable hardship
33A.1 Commission may grant exemptions
33A.2 Content of exemptions
33A.3 Effect of exemption
33A.4 Review of exemptions by Administrative Appeals Tribunal
33A.5 Publication of notice of decision
34.1 Timetable for review
- Schedule 1 Target dates for compliance

Federal Register of Legislation

Scheduled Maintenance - Thursday 29 October 2026 from 8:30pm AEDT

Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002

Scheduled Maintenance - Thursday 29 October 2026 from 8:30pm AEDT

Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002

Legislation text