Legal capacity - wheelchairs

[Hyebone]

Something I've noticed on Chesterfield's brand new Yutong E10s and E12s is that they have two wheelchair bays. Oddly, the seating capacity numbers displayed in the driver's cab state that only one wheelchair can be carried. These are properly full-sized wheelchair bays, both having backrests, protective grab-rails and dedicated wheelchair bells. Photos attached!

What are the rules on this? Is the driver allowed to carry 2 wheelchairs?

 

[duncombec]

I'd suggest the statutory information in the cab (i.e. one wheelchair) is the limit, but by having the facilities on both sides, it may stop the awkward shuffles that can take place if there is a pushchair in the (single) wheelchair bay and has to swap sides to allow the wheelchair to the designated spot - as well as potentially allowing the wheelchair user the choice of sides of travel. I've certainly seen it on buses here, where a wheelchair user wanting to board means a pushchair has to move to the other bay, which means someone sitting in the other bay then has to stand, which if they are "priority" lead someone else to offer their seat...

As those limits are, IIRC, determined on a mathematical basis by weight, carrying two wheelchairs - especially the small powered type - may not have been tested for. (Others will be able to explain the requirements of type approval far better than I could even attempt)

 

[markymark2000]

Something I've noticed on Chesterfield's brand new Yutong E10s and E12s is that they have two wheelchair bays. Oddly, the seating capacity numbers displayed in the driver's cab state that only one wheelchair can be carried. These are properly full-sized wheelchair bays, both having backrests, protective grab-rails and dedicated wheelchair bells. Photos attached!

is 1 a wheelchair bay and 1 is a buggy bay legally? I note that on your second 2nd photo, the bell there is a buggy bell rather than wheelchair bell (little graphic of a buggy on the bell itself) but granted the photo doesn't show the full bay.

 

[Hyebone]

I note that on your second 2nd photo, the bell there is a buggy bell rather than wheelchair bell (little graphic of a buggy on the bell itself) but granted the photo doesn't show the full bay.

There is a wheelchair bell present, I don't have a photo however.

 

[markymark2000]

There is a wheelchair bell present, I don't have a photo however.

Very odd then.

 

[Qwerty133]

Whilst probably irrelevant on these particular buses (due to the amount of physical space being insufficient for the theoretical number of passengers) has it ever been determined what should happen in the case where a wheelchair user wishes to board a bus that is already carrying more passengers than would be permitted if a wheelchair was to board but not so many passengers that it couldn't pick up the other person waiting at the stop?

 

[redgate]

Ah ha. The post about the legal limit might explain the strange incident we had on an almost empty 192 with 2 empty, clearly marked bays but he wouldn’t let 2 children using wheelchairs on at the same time.

He just gave up and let us board in the end - but it did take quite a bit of 'discussion'

Pretty stupid putting in 2 bays if only one is meant to be used at a time. Fortunately 99.99% of the drivers we meet are brilliant and don’t enforce this kafkaesque rule!!

​

 

[Cesarcollie]

Something I've noticed on Chesterfield's brand new Yutong E10s and E12s is that they have two wheelchair bays. Oddly, the seating capacity numbers displayed in the driver's cab state that only one wheelchair can be carried. These are properly full-sized wheelchair bays, both having backrests, protective grab-rails and dedicated wheelchair bells. Photos attached!

What are the rules on this? Is the driver allowed to carry 2 wheelchairs?

Assuming these are Zebra funded, the T & C require two wheelchair spaces. I would guess the wrong vinyl has been applied!

 

[Starmill]

What signage applies in the actual wheelchair spaces? Presumably it states they're first priority for a wheelchair user on both of them?

 

[Foxhound87]

Assuming these are Zebra funded, the T & C require two wheelchair spaces. I would guess the wrong vinyl has been applied!

No they don’t, they require a “second flexible space”. There is no legal requirement to vacate the second space.

 

[Cesarcollie]

No they don’t, they require a “second flexible space”. There is no legal requirement to vacate the second space.

Apologies if I have slipped up on a technicality! However the fact remains that going back to the OP, zero OR one OR two spaces may be occupied by wheelchairs, and each scenario will permit a different number of standees. So the notice - which only shows options for zero or one wheelchairs- would appear to be the wrong vinyl! (Incidentally, I don’t think there’s a ’legal requirement’ to vacate even wheelchair space number one. The driver must ask or other passengers can ask but if the occupant - for example a person with a buggy - refuses, then nothing can be done).

 

[Starmill]

Apologies if I have slipped up on a technicality! However the fact remains that going back to the OP, zero OR one OR two spaces may be occupied by wheelchairs, and each scenario will permit a different number of standees. So the notice - which only shows options for zero or one wheelchairs- would appear to be the wrong vinyl! (Incidentally, I don’t think there’s a ’legal requirement’ to vacate even wheelchair space number one. The driver must ask or other passengers can ask but if the occupant - for example a person with a buggy - refuses, then nothing can be done).

The Supreme Court decision did reinforce that wheelchair users have first priority on the wheelchair space marked up for such, of which there must be a minimum of one. It did caveat that as you say, around the obligations of the bus operator to enforce that. However they made it pretty clear the priority in law absolutely is there on paper.