Buses and Blatant Discrimination- wheelchair users

pazza

Sorry, if the bus was full, then yes, you’d have to wait like everyone else.


With regards to discrimination, you’d have to check the policy of the buses, but if people in wheelchairs do have priority over people with buggies, then it would be the drivers responsibility to enforce this. Failure to do so would count as discrimination.

There are so many more buggies out there than wheelchairs, and it’s the wheelchair users who need them more.

System

dmg24 wrote: »

Do you have an authority for this statement, or is it just a local rule?

My local companies will do their best to fit both wheelchairs and pushchairs on, but neither takes priority.

I am struggling to see discrimination as such, just bad timing?

south yorkshire buses clearly state that wheelchair users have priority as generally buggys can be folded up and the child can sit on the parents knee, ive been on them when the driver has told people to fold buggys when a wheelchair user was waiting.

TrickyNiki

I have had similar problems waiting at a bus stop with my friend. The bus will not let her on most of the time (wheelchair space free or not). They always say thay they are too busy or that she will make them late for the route so refuse to let her on the bus. Some bus drivers go as far as slowing down when they see people waiting for the bus and as soon as they see my friend they hit the gas!! Even when there are abled bodied people at the stop too.

They just cannot be bothered!! One guy said she was too much hassle and should stay at home!!

Taxis HA dont make me laugh they are just as bad. I waited 2 hours at a taxi rank with my friend for one and NADA!! They were all blackcabs and some were even the newfangled ones with the built in ramp! There response... Not worth it, it takes to long to get her in and out of the cab and they could earn more money taking other people. 2 Hours at a busy taki rank..... Councils response.....They can refuse cutstom to whoever they wish regardless of race, disabity and so forth.

EDIT:
If the bus is full or wheelchair spot occupied then my friend and I understand and will(have) wait(ed) patiently for next service.

dmg24

foxxymynx wrote: »

There's usually a huge sticker at the wheelchair bay, stating that wheelchairs have priority in that area and should a wheelchair user require that space, buggies/prams should vacate it and buggies/prams should be folded up if need be. Once over people had to fold up the buggies anyway and wheelchairs couldn't get onto a bus. Wheelchairs aren't a choice, buggies/prams are - there are alternatives like slings.

This appears to be a policy applied by individual bus companies, as neither of my two local companies apply this policy. You will note that this is all I asked, the OP did not directly answer my question.

I still fail to see discrimination.

robpw2

withabix wrote: »

It appears from the OP's post that the buses were full. They are not permitted to carry more than a specified number of total passengers, sitting or standing, irrespective of the disability of the person wanting to get on the bus.

There is fortunately no law that requires people to be thrown off a full bus to make way for a wheelchair.

Other modes of transport are available for wheelchair users, including many taxis, however the OP chose to catch a bus.

It may even have been cheaper to book a wheelchair-capable taxi. Where I live, it is usually a fine balance in cost, if there are two or more people, between a bus and a taxi. This is one of the same reasons that car parks in towns are full - it is cheaper to drive and park than it is to take a bus, if there is more than one person.

i cannot drive because of my health condition and mt friend also has epilepsy, i could not afford to pay for a taxi and my friend gets free bus travel as hes disabled so why should we have to drive in or get a taxi.

The bus was not full just the wheelchair section with push chairs

robpw2

dmg24 wrote: »

This appears to be a policy applied by individual bus companies, as neither of my two local companies apply this policy. You will note that this is all I asked, the OP did not directly answer my question.

I still fail to see discrimination.

it states so on the bus itself ! that the licence allows them to carry a wheelchair passenger or up to 3 buggys but the wheelchair passenger has priorty i saw it on the bus on the way in
i refer you to my previous post i have answered this

robpw2

if the space was filled with a wheelchair user whilst we would have been upset about having to wait in the cold , we would have appreciated the situation, but these buggies can be folded down , my friend cannot be turfed out his wheelchair as i would be unable to get him back in it and i wouldnt expect people to help

pazza

dmg24 wrote: »

I still fail to see discrimination.

If you're denied access to a service because of your disability, is that not discrimination..?

nanokitten

The disability discrimination act requires reasonable ajustments to be made.
I think that asking folk to fold up a buggy to allow a wheelchar user on board is a reasonable ajustment, as until recently all buggys had to be folded up and stowed on buses and it was only the introduction of the disabilty discrimination act the forced buses to create these spaces at all.

I appreciate that it can be a nightmare to fold a buggy when you have a small child, however there is not law requiring access for buggies and this is at the end of the day a courtasy.

This appears to be a case or poor staff training as peoples attitudeds are often what forms the bulk of poor accessibility.

As a none wheelchair user you were probably shocked by this treatment, however most wheelchair users experience this kind of thing on a regular basis.

one other thing, the comment about using patient transport was clearly made by someone who has never used it. It is the most horrible, useless, humiliating service I have ever encountered, you are expected to be ready well over and hour before you would normally set off (and the same on the way back) and it can take absolutely hours. for someone who is upset or ill, this can be unbearable or unmanageable.

lesley1960

I dont know about anywhere else , but here you never see a full bus !! so I have sympathy with the OP , there should be more spaces for wheelchairs on buses .

I also have sympathy with buggy users its not easy managing a baby , small children and shopping , especially when the bus decides to move while you are halfway down the bus !