June 21st 05, 11:50 PM
posted to uk.rec.cycling,uk.railway,uk.transport.london
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First recorded activity at LondonBanter: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,154
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Train-home ban for big bike ride
Ambrose Nankivell wrote:
Steven wrote:
On Sun, 19 Jun 2005 17:05:54 GMT,
(Neil Williams) wrote:
The seating is not "reserved for wheelchair passengers and their
companions". Anyone may sit there, but should be fair to disabled
passengers who can't safely position themselves elsewhere by moving
in the rare event that such a passenger does board.
Interestingly, although I'm a regular rail user, I've *never* seen
anyone with a wheel chair use a train.
And yet millions have been spent just in case one should ever want to.
Strangely enough, on the suburban line I use most frequently, where all
stations (but one) have easy ramp access (with the line generally running in
a cutting), I see wheelchair users fairly often. Say, 1 journey in 5. Also I
see them boarding at New Street not infrequently.
Of course, if it were possible for a wheelchair user to board a train
without the humiliating assistance of staff, like it is with buses, then
maybe it would be more common to see wheelchair users using trains.
And if they didn't have to give 48 hours' notice (which I think they
still do down my way). I assume that for most people that means
calling in on Saturday to say "I'm going to work again on Monday".
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