Disabled parents using transport for London

polkadot

I realise this could be posted on either this board or disability and dosh but as folk looking for help with public transport specifically are more likely to come here first-I thought I'd check here first as Im not looking for help anymore,rather than looking to help.

I want to hear from disabled people who are struggling to transport able bodied children (specifically on TFL buses) because of their disability.

I am in comms with the Driver Communications Manager, Performance, Surface Transport for TFL,as well as the assistant to the deputy chairperson for transport at TFL,with a view to scheduling a meeting where Im hoping to get an apology from a driver for his appaling behaviour.

To shorten this post you can read my story here, the author has followed up my story and I suspect will do until we're done.

My local councelor will be attending this meeting with me (in fact we're considering asking that they accompany me on the school run without being identifiable to the drivers).There was recently a story run in the local news shopper about a man who had been refused access on the bus because his scooter was apparently too big.Being left off was a regular thing and he went directly to the press.I contacted him and will be taking his details with me,but when the bus company was asked for a comment they called it "an isolated incident",clearly it wasn't and if I can find either examples of poor driver training it would likely go a long way to making changes.

WickedWolfie

While you are having a pop at TfL the reality is that London probably makes the biggest effort of any area in the UK to aid disabled mobility.

I have great sympathy for your situation BUT, knowing a couple of bus drivers, for them also. If they do what you suggest, and bend the rules for one then how can they not do so for others? This is particularly the case given the apparently hidden nature of your disability. In particular, if they allow you to block the exit space as is suggested, they are liable for prosecution under health and safety legislation, as is the case if they allow more than the licensed number of buggies.

With respect to mobility scooters I believe it is the case that buses have NO obligation to carry mobility scooters which amongst other things exceed the maximum weight limit for the ramps.

hartcjhart

from the link
[The ‘invisible’ disablement, and I’m not going into every detail here, is that if Carole walks too far, or too fast, or up a steep hill the likely result is that an ambulance has to be called and she spends the day in A&E. It has happened three times recently on the school run. The school isn’t far away, I can walk it myself in 15 minutes easily but Carole has to leave home 50 minutes before school start time to allow for potential obstacles. More than half the journey is up a long hill but fortunately there is a bus that runs over that section every 15 minutes. As already implied it’s not that easy; the bus often arrives full or crowded. Worse it sometimes arrives with two buggies on board already and the driver turfs Carole off. Sometimes they say she can ride the one stop if she folds up the buggy; but how does a disabled mum fold a buggy with a baby tucked under one arm and a four year old to keep an eye on? Folding the buggy would be hard enough even if it was the sole operation.]


now on one hand she can walk the distance but it takes time(yes I sympathise)

BUT then you say how can she fold down a buggy??

Now I dont have kids but even I can fold a buggy down one handed

as WW said TFL are probably the best in the WORLD for ensuring that transport for disabled peeps is available,in fact London has the highest ammount of taxis (in the worl)that are required to be disabled friendly

polkadot

Thanks for the responses.The meetings Im having are actually not to have them "bend the rules" as you say WW.It's about establishing the difference between rules and guidelines.TFL does not have a rule about the maximum buggy amount,but rather a guideline that suggests buggies should not block the aisle-so for example,the buses can handle 3 McLaren buggies in the "wheel chair park",and the other day I got on a bus and parked next to a wheelchair.

See its not TFL rules Im struggling with as such-some of the drivers have become familliar with my situation and are willing for example,to wait whilst I rally another passenger to help me.All I need is for someone to hold the baby (Hart,the disablement is cerebral palsy-left hemiplegia.the result is that my left hand is essentially a fist so I'm as good as one handed).The trip takes 50 minutes because I cant walk the distance,so I literally have to wait for a bus that either has no (or one) buggies,or one of "my" drivers.the one bus as Bonkers explains is its up a hill-one that Im not physically capable of walking up.Ive tried,a few times,they all landed me in A&E

The particular incident tht Bonkers refers to was when I got on one afternoon with the boys and it was raining very heavily so I couldnt see inside the bus.When I got on there were two buggies and the bus was so full I couldn't move down.Some of the drivers would allow me to use the back door (as do lots of other mums) on showing them my freedom pass (holding it up for him to see.This particular driver had always been the "bah humbug type" and told me that I could explain to the rest of the passengers why we weren't going to move.I asked for assistance and was met with a barrage of abuse by fellow passengers.DS1 ended up really shaken by a lady who got hold of him by the arm and shook him about whilst telling him he should never have been born as disabled people like his mum should not be allowed to have children.At this point a bunch of school kids had got on so I could not get off even if I wanted to.It was eventually a 15 year old girl from the local secondary school who offered to hold the baby whilst I knocked it down.

Ive been in contact with a number of folks at the top of the food chain who agree that this is not what their drivers are trained.Its in evidence from the mere fact that different routes operated by different bus companies all haandle my situation differently.

So my request is not for more people wanting to change the rules,that's not what Im trying to do-but rather people who can demonstrate inconsistency...because for example if the rule is that assembled buggies must fit in the park,then a driver should recognise that most mums these days who know they have to use a bus go for te narrower type and so yes,the space is big enough for three.