In an earlier article I mentioned that I attended the recent Unite the Union Disabled members Conference in Birmingham where we did talk about Disabled Persons Bus Passes and the Accessibility of Buses
So what is the issue about Bus Accessibility?
The big issue for disabled people is that too many bus stops across the UK do not have a raised kerb so that the entrance to the bus is not level with the pavement. Many pavements are level with the road but this prevents a wheelchair user or other people with mobility problems being able to enter the bus because the distance between the step and the pavement is too great.
Even when the bus is lowered it is still too high to get on and off for those who require a wheelchair or a pushchair.
You may say, but all buses have ramps that can be used to overcome this?
The problem is that where the pavement is level with the road the degree of incline of the ramp, that is its steepness, is too great for wheelchair users.
One of the speakers at the Unite Disabled Members Conference really brought this issue to life and below I quote her extensively:
Over the last few years of being a bus driver, I can honestly say how appalled I am at the amount of bus stops on my local routes that are inaccessible or a challenge when they really shouldn’t be. The buses for some people are their way of having freedom or independence. But don’t take my word for it, for I have a few words to pass on from a lovely regular customer of mine, Phil and his wife Anne. He wrote a long letter but I have shortened it down to a few paragraphs.
“Hello everyone, my name is Phil. I am 81 years old and my wife Anne is 75. I have been using this bus route for the last 2 years to commute to and from hospital appointments with the aid of my wife and to go out on day trips with the grandkids”
“I have been in a wheelchair for what feels like forever and still, I wouldn’t have any hope of leaving my house if it wasn’t for the lovely bus drivers that help me out massively as well as my wife. There is no high top curb at the bus stop near my house so the bus drivers always know to move forward to the next highest curb available so my wife is still able to push me onto the bus.”
“However, this is not always possible. People park stupidly on that curb taking away my accessibility and I am then forced to rely on my wife and the bus driver at hand. I shouldn’t have to rely on others. But when local authorities neglect bus stops in certain areas, it makes me not want to leave my home. I want to feel independent but when the council makes the bus stops inaccessible, it strips me of that right.
I ask the members at this conference to not only think of my struggles while reaching a decision on this motion, but to think of all those affected. Friends, family (close or not close), workers, non-workers, children and this list could go on. If we don’t sort this out now, it will stop people from wanting to leave their homes completely. Thank you for taking the time to hear me and I would like to thank Danielle for all the work she does and I hope she continues to fight for us like she does. Kind regards, Phil and Anne Jones.”
Accessible Bus Services!
The accessibility of bus services isn’t just about whether the buses are accessible it is also about whether the bus stops provided by local authorities enable disabled people to actually get on the buses.
We should also be clear that the so-called ‘floating bus stops’ deny disabled people especially blind people, the ability to access much needed bus services.
Even the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has said that Transport accessibility for disabled people should be a ‘basic requirement’.
The Prime Minister was talking about all public transport and not just buses. His comments came after the highly publicised and dreadful experience that Tanni Grey-Thompson suffered on an LNER train in September
Actions Speak Louder than Words!
These are fine words from the Prime Minister but it is not words but action that will bring about fully accessible public transport for all disabled people. Please write to your MP and remind them of the Prime Minister’s statement and ask them to write to him asking for a commitment to achieving fully accessible public transport within the life time of this Parliament.
We would also suggest that you ask your MP to write to Louise Haigh, the Secretary of State for Transport.
You can write to both of them at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA
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