Busy bus and Wheelchair passenger

Cyclamen

A couple of anxious wheelchair passenger questions from me.. 
What happens/ should happen if a bus already has a wheelchair/ scooter passenger on board?
What happens if the bus is too busy to get to the wheelchair space, but can take other ambulatory passengers?

I use a wheelchair and have been growing in confidence using buses over the last few years.  I am happy with my local buses as its a short trip and i know when the next bus options are if the bus is too busy.. i also know which bus times to avoid completely as its too busy for me to get on. 

But what should be the procedure if the bus already has a wheelchair passenger.. i assume i have to wait for the next one.. frustrating when a large group of ambulatory passenger's can board and i cant but that's how it is.. but  on some routes the next bus can be an hour or more.

I've recently been lucky enough to have a holiday and two buses in a row had wheelchair passengers.. that's not happened to me before and i ended up paying for a taxi.. that was very expensive to get back. . trains have compensation schemes.. ive been put in an acessble taxi when the train was too busy by the train staff and the station paid for it. 

I have two wheelchairs and the most comfortable one that is best for my needs doesn't fold so cant go in a taxi.. i am too nervous to use this on anything other than very local mid-week journeys for fear of getting stranded.. the folding one isnt as good and i cant use it as long  but will go into pieces for a taxi boot.. 

The drivers mostly seem apologetic but just say .. sorry no space or i already have a wheelchair and drive on..   



  

Brie

One would hope that the ambulatory types could shuffle about and make room if there's not already a wheelchair on board.  Or someone with a pram get off if they are only 1 stop away from where they are going to perhaps.  

Overall it's dependent on the driver being able to ask people to make room but yes, otherwise I guess you are unfortunately stuck.  Even as someone who is ambulatory I've been refused a bus ride simply because the driver was in a snit - told "no room" even when I can see lots of empty spaces.  (& not because I was drunk or disorderly either...)

caprikid1

"One would hope that the ambulatory types could shuffle about and make room if there's not already a wheelchair on board.  Or someone with a pram get off if they are only 1 stop away from where they are going to perhaps.  "

The driver might not be allowed to carry a Wheelchair passenger in the incorrect area.

Cyclamen

'one would hope' 
Yep me too and I do hope people would shuffle down the bus, sit in any available seats etc .. possibly even the first couple step off so i can get on the bus then get back on as wheelchairs take a bit of parking... but sadly this has never happened.  

Drivers are only allowed to take wheelchair passengers in specific spots.. i wouldnt be comfortable not using the dedicated space as wheelchairs can slide even with breaks on etc and cause injuries. 

Most passengers are really lovely, its quite socially awkward being in the wheelchair space facing everyone, and the trickiness of parking and asking people to move items please etc.. so im usually quite anxious and have to rely on others choosing to make space or move down the bus if it is possible. 

I just wondered if the bus companies offered any support for Wheelchair users left unable to travel.. or if there are any policies ?

Buses dont seem to have that much storage space any more for passengers to put folded prams, shopping bags, walkers etc .. so i do understand why the wheelchair bay is used but equally its so frustrating that only one wheelchair can travel.. its not unreasonable to think two wheelchair users may want to travel together or at the same time