New vs old bus wheelchair spaces

[Silent]

Something I notice with new buses in London is that the wheelchair space no longer has the grab pole halfway up the window. What was the reason for this with older buses up to around the New routemasters and why is the bar no longer there with newer buses or much lower? I also notice the new buses from around the mid 10's seem to have a completely smooth floor that covers the ramp rather than a panel that looks removeable for the rear door exit.

For example in this video the Enviro 200mmc doesn't have the bar across the wheelchair space window compared to the Enviro 200 at around 2:20.

 

[py_megapixel]

I always assumed that was there to provide something to hold onto for people stood in the wheelchair space, but maybe not

 

[Glasgowbusguy]

Most newer buses have a moveable arm on the aisle side which also has the disabled stop bell. This provides restraint that the older non-moveable one or just the plain pole didn't provide, so the grab bar on the window was needed.