wheelcahir user banned from bus

[anthony263]

just read this new piece about a woman who was refused entry in her wheelchair onto a bus because the wheelchair might explode?

personally if that is the case how come i havent heard any cases about this on the trains and on other bus operators.

i think this is health & safety gone mad, if i was the driver i would have let her on without any problems.

here is the link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7814694.stm

does anyone else have a opinion?

 

[Mojo]

It's all down to training. I did disability awareness today and was surprised what you do if the station is being evacuated due to fire and there is no level access to get a wheelchair + user out. You're meant to push them to the end of the platform and then leave them there, informing the person responsible for evacuation what's gone on, so they can let the emergency services know.

Under no circumstances should you ask them to walk upstairs or attempt to carry them. Never knew that until today.

 

[cainebj]

that is ridiculous! not letting her on incase the battery explodes!
there is a battery on the bus, and there are batteries on trains. what if they explode!
operators would just say that the batteries on buses / trains etc. have been safety tested, which they will have, but so would the battery on her wheelchair!
it was a wheelchair accessible bus, so she wouldnt have needed carried or anything. she will have only needed someone to pull a cord so the ramp would slide / fold out.

 

[robertclark125]

Well, remember that scooters are banned from Tyne andw ear emtro. And here's something else. By rights, any bus or train firm could request that a person on the scooter take a normal seat. And the staff are NOT allowed to help them. If you're wondering why they must get off the scooter, it's because the manufacturers say so.

 

[Mojo]

That's a mobility scooter though. The woman was in an electric wheelchair which is totally different. There are maximum sizes for them on transport but other than that you must treat them fairly.

 

[JJUK]

This country is going bonkers and getting worse.

 

[Aussie_Rail]

Isn't to refuse a disabled person onto a mode of transport, train, tram and bus discrimination?

And I don't know how many people over there are bound to motorised transport, but surely there would be more people out there that have been discriminated against by that driver?


AR

 

[D9521]

I don't think we'll see the end of this situation in all honesty... if i was the lady i'd be going straight for getting the bus company knocked down to size so they know if they mess up again they are gone (as close to those lines as i could get anyway) I find that absolutely disgusting that the driver had it in him to even refuse someone who blatently can't walk access to a bus i mean what the **** else are they meant to do.. If i got to know the driver it would be quite funny because when he's old and can't walk very well and tries to get on my bus i'd be like nope do you remember that lady in the wheelchair back in 2009 well its your turn to be shot down now

 

[anthony263]

I have been told that it is discrimination to refuse entry to a disabled person unless there is a valid reason, ie if the bus is too full to get a wheelchair on

 

[Aussie_Rail]

I have been told that it is discrimination to refuse entry to a disabled person unless there is a valid reason, ie if the bus is too full to get a wheelchair on

It is discrimination, so I wonder if the are going to get sued because of it?


AR

 

[Dave in Leith]

Basically, that unfortunate victim of health and safety idiocy can take the operator to task under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995- probably with assistance from the Disability Rights Commission, or Equality and Human Rights Commission, as I believe its now called.

 

[Danielo]

Quite shocking this. Might as well not pump the bus with diesel in case that catches light!

It is good to see however, that TfL are making great strides to improving step free access across its network. Not only is it difficult to get around for those in wheelchairs, but also the elderly, people with luggage, parents with young children.

 

[spoony]

Well, remember that scooters are banned from Tyne andw ear emtro. And here's something else. By rights, any bus or train firm could request that a person on the scooter take a normal seat. And the staff are NOT allowed to help them. If you're wondering why they must get off the scooter, it's because the manufacturers say so.

Thats more to do with mobility scooter users smashing them through the Metro doors and falling onto the tracks. Dont blame the metro as they are bloody dangerous things, I wouldnt like someone running one into me. I dare say it could do a fair bit of damage to someones ankle.