The Department for Transport’s select committee have released a report this morning calling the accessibility of public transport for disabled people ” a national embarrassment”.
As 28 year old wheelchair user who uses public transport on a regular basis I completely agree with the select committee’s findings as I have been forced in to some shocking situations in recent years whilst out and about with friends.
There was one occasion about 18 months ago when my best friend was forced to straddle the doors of train in an attempt to stop it from leaving the station that we were at without me onboard.
I have also nearly been left on trains once I have arrived at my destination because the assistance hasn’t met the train I am on despite booking it days in advance of travelling. Buses are ridiculous too I can’t count on one hand how many times I have been left at bus stops because the bus packed and there is pushchair in the accessible space on board.
It is very distressing when you see buses just drive past you and not acknowledge that you are waiting at the stop. My message to bus passengers with pushchairs is a clear but simple one and is this, if you are onboard a bus and you see someone who is in a wheelchair waiting at the next stop, please where possible make every attempt to fold it up and then remove it from the wheelchair space.
I have no other choice but to stay in my wheelchair whilst using public transport, but in many cases your children can be taken out of there pushchair easily, in future please consider doing this quickly so that you don’t cause any unnecessary distress to members of our community.
Disabled people are forced to take matters into our hands and find solutions to the issues we face on behalf of the operators who run the services. As those of you reading this are aware I have been working with West Midlands Trains for the best part of the last 18 months to help them improve the assisted travel provision that they currently offer to those of us who require it across the network that they manage.
This is something that our community shouldn’t have to do but unfortunately we have had no other choice. If you travel by rail on a regular basis and require some assistance to either board or disembark services your assisted travel can be booked up to 2 hours before departure in 1 of 3 ways.
By Phone: 0800 024 8998 or by using Next Generation Text – 18001 0800 024 8998.
Online: https://booking.passengerassistance.com.
By using the App: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/passenger-assistance/id1542190496.
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Cam
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