The bus industry has changed a lot over the years and access to vehicles has improved leaps and bounds. This is a superb improvement as its making public transport much easier for people to use, especially if you're not so good on your feet, have a pushchair or are in a wheelchair. I can remember the days of my parents struggling to get prams etc into guards vans etc on the train and not having too many pleasant journeys standing with blanked out windows.
So, we've moved on and the vast majority of buses are now low floor and easy access, plus trains and metro's are also a lot easier and more pleasant to use if you've got a pushchair or a wheelchair. There's no doubt that there's been a huge move forward with bus operators spending millions of pounds on new vehicles ahead of the DDA access regulations.
Even though there's been a huge move forwards in access, there was a case recently in Darlington where a local disability group took Arriva to court regarding issues around disabled access to the town's buses. Only 5 years ago, the bus fleet in Darlington was a mix of either step entry single deck or step entry minibuses, with very few low floor buses. The fleet now is now 100% low floor and excusing the pun, it's a huge step change.
The nub of the problem has been regarding the availability of the pushchair/wheelchair space on each vehicle. Industry practice, which is steered from DfT guidance, is that the space is available on a first come, first served basis. To me, this is offers equal access and isn't discriminatory against either pushchairs or wheelchairs as whoever gets there first can use the space. Most operators do have a policy to ask drivers to free up the space if a wheelchair wishes to board, but they can't force fellow customers to move.
Buses should be for all people and whilst I can see the point that customers in wheelchairs can be frustrated if the space is being used and people won't move, but equally, the reverse could apply and a pushchair user or an elderly person who struggles with mobility, may not be able to board the bus if a wheelchair is using the space. Equally, if the bus is full, there's no guarantee that I would be able to get on either - it's about access for all and there's no guarantee that any of us know that we can get on the bus we want too.
The case did also suggest that some wheelchair ramps had been screwed down due to defects with buses and this certainly shouldn't be happening, but there appears not to be much of a mention of this point in the final judgement.
I want buses to be for all people and everyone having an equal right or ability to be able to use the service and I think its really sad that this case made it to court, especially when there's been so much progress in disabled access. The judgement suggests that bus companies aren't discriminating against disabled customers, but that they should make additional allowances to have a helpline for customers to check on availability. I'm not sure how this could work in practice as we're talking about networks that carry thousands of people a day and you don't know who, or how many are waiting at the next stop. Sadly, despite the judgement, which seems to make a lot of sense, the plan is for there to be an appeal. I'm not quite sure what those who've brought the case are trying to achieve, other than trying to bring a dial-a-ride or seat reservation service onto what's a public bus service. I'd love to know what the answer would be if a wheelchair is on the vehicle and then a second wished to get on - what should the driver or bus company do then ?
I'm not sure where this one will end, but I suspect there's a lot of costs on both sides and possibly more to come and I'm not sure quite what it will achieve, if anything. All I do know, is that the days of folding pushchairs or wheelchairs not being able to access buses at all, are well and truly over. You might have to wait 10 minutes for the next bus if the space is in use, but we might all have to wait if the seats are full too. Times have changed for the better, but I don't think that's been appreciated.
http://www.unity-law.co.uk/bus-firm-arriva-told-to-make-adjustments-for-disabled/
So, we've moved on and the vast majority of buses are now low floor and easy access, plus trains and metro's are also a lot easier and more pleasant to use if you've got a pushchair or a wheelchair. There's no doubt that there's been a huge move forward with bus operators spending millions of pounds on new vehicles ahead of the DDA access regulations.
Even though there's been a huge move forwards in access, there was a case recently in Darlington where a local disability group took Arriva to court regarding issues around disabled access to the town's buses. Only 5 years ago, the bus fleet in Darlington was a mix of either step entry single deck or step entry minibuses, with very few low floor buses. The fleet now is now 100% low floor and excusing the pun, it's a huge step change.
The nub of the problem has been regarding the availability of the pushchair/wheelchair space on each vehicle. Industry practice, which is steered from DfT guidance, is that the space is available on a first come, first served basis. To me, this is offers equal access and isn't discriminatory against either pushchairs or wheelchairs as whoever gets there first can use the space. Most operators do have a policy to ask drivers to free up the space if a wheelchair wishes to board, but they can't force fellow customers to move.
Buses should be for all people and whilst I can see the point that customers in wheelchairs can be frustrated if the space is being used and people won't move, but equally, the reverse could apply and a pushchair user or an elderly person who struggles with mobility, may not be able to board the bus if a wheelchair is using the space. Equally, if the bus is full, there's no guarantee that I would be able to get on either - it's about access for all and there's no guarantee that any of us know that we can get on the bus we want too.
The case did also suggest that some wheelchair ramps had been screwed down due to defects with buses and this certainly shouldn't be happening, but there appears not to be much of a mention of this point in the final judgement.
I want buses to be for all people and everyone having an equal right or ability to be able to use the service and I think its really sad that this case made it to court, especially when there's been so much progress in disabled access. The judgement suggests that bus companies aren't discriminating against disabled customers, but that they should make additional allowances to have a helpline for customers to check on availability. I'm not sure how this could work in practice as we're talking about networks that carry thousands of people a day and you don't know who, or how many are waiting at the next stop. Sadly, despite the judgement, which seems to make a lot of sense, the plan is for there to be an appeal. I'm not quite sure what those who've brought the case are trying to achieve, other than trying to bring a dial-a-ride or seat reservation service onto what's a public bus service. I'd love to know what the answer would be if a wheelchair is on the vehicle and then a second wished to get on - what should the driver or bus company do then ?
I'm not sure where this one will end, but I suspect there's a lot of costs on both sides and possibly more to come and I'm not sure quite what it will achieve, if anything. All I do know, is that the days of folding pushchairs or wheelchairs not being able to access buses at all, are well and truly over. You might have to wait 10 minutes for the next bus if the space is in use, but we might all have to wait if the seats are full too. Times have changed for the better, but I don't think that's been appreciated.
http://www.unity-law.co.uk/bus-firm-arriva-told-to-make-adjustments-for-disabled/
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