Toyota Mobility Foundation and Sociability Advance Inclusive Mobility Through Derby Pilot Completion
DERBY, UNITED KINGDOM
- Sociability completes multi‑year accessibility pilot in Derby with support from the Toyota Mobility Foundation.
- New platform features introduce accessible transport routing alongside venue accessibility data.
- Key transport hubs in Derby now mapped with detailed accessibility information.
- Enhanced API enables third‑party integration of Sociability’s accessible routing capabilities.
- Project insights will guide future development, including new filters, modes, and real‑time updates.
LONDON (May 18, 2026) Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF) announced today the successful completion of Sociability’s multi‑year Pilot Project in Derby, United Kingdom. Since 2021, TMF has supported Sociability, an accessibility data platform dedicated to advancing inclusion for disabled people. The conclusion of this pilot marks an important step forward in our shared commitment to creating mobility solutions that are more accessible, more inclusive, and designed to meet the needs of every individual.
From September 2024 to April 2025, Sociability delivered the final phase of its work in Derby, introducing accessible transport routing within its platform. This advancement reflects a core principle shared by TMF and Sociability: Mobility should empower everyone, regardless of ability, to participate fully in their community.
Sociability’s Pilot Project was designed to bring the full journey into one accessible experience, helping users locate an accessible venue and identify an accessible way to get there. Through this initiative, the platform expanded its coverage beyond venue information to include transport infrastructure across the city, as well as to allow users to apply their personalised accessibility filters across both venue search and route planning. The project benefitted from close collaboration between various stakeholders, including the Derby City Council, TMF, and the University of Derby.
Key Achievements:
- Extended Sociability’s leading accessibility data platform to key transport hubs across Derby, including the Derby Bus and Derby Train stations.
- Deployed a novel accessibility routing feature within Sociability that permits users to apply detailed accessibility filters and personal preferences.
- Enhanced Sociability’s API capabilities, enabling third‑party platforms to integrate newly developed accessible routing functionality.
Sociability has integrated a novel public transport routing feature into its existing data platform that allows disabled users to search, filter, and find venues that meet their unique accessibility needs and then identify an accessible transport route to get there. Collaborators and third‑party developers can also integrate Sociability’s accessibility filters into their existing routing algorithms through the company’s API.
The multi-year, multi-stakeholder project provided valuable insights into the complexity of designing, developing, and deploying novel accessibility features across multiple user-flows, both within new and existing products. Sociability's approach to incorporating lived experiences and iterative user-testing was pivotal to achieving the project's goals in a manner consistent with its vision to empower independence and agency for disabled users everywhere.
This aligns closely with TMF’s mission to support mobility innovations that deliver real, lasting benefits to society.
Looking ahead, Sociability plans to further evolve its accessible routing API by adding new accessibility filters, expanding transport modes, and exploring integration of real‑time updates. The feature remains in closed beta, and Sociability welcomes conversations with cities and regions interested in future collaboration.
About Toyota Mobility Foundation
Toyota Mobility Foundation (Chair Akio Toyoda) was established in August 2014 by Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) to support the development of a more mobile society in which everyone can move freely. The Foundation underscores Toyota’s ongoing commitment to continuous improvement and respect for people. It utilizes Toyota’s expertise and technologies to support strong mobility systems while eliminating disparities in mobility. TMF works in partnership with universities, governments, non-profits, research institutions and other organizations, creating programs that are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to address mobility issues around the world.
“TMF aims to create a truly mobile society that will help people live better lives no matter where they are,” said Chair Akio Toyoda.
About Sociability
Sociability helps disabled people find accessible places. A leading disabled-led, accessibility data platform, Sociability’s free mobile app and website empower disabled people to find personalised accessibility information for thousands of local venues.
Based in London, UK, Sociability provides detailed accessibility data for almost 20,000 venues across the UK—with almost 15,000 of those in London itself. Sociability partners with leading organisations and employers—such as Toyota, Arup, Foster + Partners and more—to better understand, improve and communicate the accessibility of their premises to its rapidly growing community of more than 70,000 users and followers across the world.
To learn more about Sociability, please visit http://www.sociability.app or contact hello@sociability.app