Unhelpfully confusing information posters

[TUC]

I saw the attached poster advising of buses replacing trains between Hope and Sheffield every Saturday and Sunday during July and was struck by how unclear and confusing it is on several counts.

Firstly, it says in larger type 'step- free access at Hope Station' and then below in smaller type 'There is no step-free access at Hope'. I had to read it a couple of times to understand whether there was or wasn't step-free access. What I think it is meaning is the larger type item is that the title of the subject being addressed is step-free access, and then the smaller type is saying there isn't any, but a quick glance could suggest to passengers that there is access.

Even more confusingly, it then says 'staff will be on hand to assist but passengers are advised to book assistance in advance of travel'. Does this mean that that there is some step-free access but only one that can be accessed with the assistance of staff, or something different (e.g. that staff will book alternative transport if someone needing step-free access turns up unannounced)? If there is no step-free access to even get from the platform to the bus, should the poster advise passengers to travel to an alternative station?

When there has only recently been a well publicised case involving a wheelchair user left stranded at an inaccessible platform, posters like these are unhelpfully ambiguous.

 

[Dr Hoo]

There is absolutely no step free access to the Eastbound platform 2 at Hope (even across field footpaths to the north of the station).

No staff seemed to be on duty to assist at Hope (there may have been at Manchester). No wheelchair-accessible taxis were on standby. Some of the RRBs (coaches) on connections to/from Sheffield did not have wheelchair lifts/ramps.

To be fair, on the poster the wheelchair symbol was 'crossed out'. I suppose that if you were looking for that sort of thing you would quickly notice.

Many stations en route from Manchester have poor or no level/ramped access to at least one platform - Reddish North, Brinnington, Bredbury, New Mills Central and Chinley spring to mind, besides Hope, so the line is an accessibility nightmare at the best of times.

 

[AngusH]

It could definitely be improved.

I suppose this arises from using the project name of "step free access" to refer to what might be better described as "Accessibility".

Probably better to use a title of "Warning" or maybe "Note" instead of an immediately contradicted phrase as the section title.