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London Transport (uk.transport.london) Discussion of all forms of transport in London. |
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#1
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Sunday was COLD and very wet.
After waiting over 10 minutes at a bus stop close to home, the 302 driver (Metroline) tells me there is no ramp on the bus. As we are freezing and I can do a few steps, I climb onto the bus. On our return, we opt to take the 32 (Metroline again) north from Kilburn as there was no Jubilee Line beyond Wembley Park. I sat in the chair waiting for the bus. When it came, the driver did not offer use of the ramp and my partner struggled to push me through the front doors. At Cricklewood Bus Garage, we were instructed to alight and join another bus, which was driven by the same driver. Again, there was neither offer of a ramp or any mention of one. The same was true when we alighted at Burnt Oak. Do we have to demand a ramp? My partner looks young and fit. I've not had this problem when my I'm out with my septuagenarian mother. I suspect the drivers are reluctant to deploy the ramps... -- Helen D. Vecht: Edgware. |
#2
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On Nov 20, 9:52 pm, Helen Deborah Vecht
wrote: Sunday was COLD and very wet. After waiting over 10 minutes at a bus stop close to home, the 302 driver (Metroline) tells me there is no ramp on the bus. I can only speak about a bus route near to me, the 152. About 5 years ago this was called a wheelchair-friendly route; in fact there were two buses out of about 10 that had 'the ramp'. In general people were unlucky in catching those elusive wheelchair- friendly buses, but they were there! It was a bit snidey at the time, but I think nearly all the 152 buses are WF now. |
#3
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Offramp typed
On Nov 20, 9:52 pm, Helen Deborah Vecht wrote: Sunday was COLD and very wet. After waiting over 10 minutes at a bus stop close to home, the 302 driver (Metroline) tells me there is no ramp on the bus. I can only speak about a bus route near to me, the 152. About 5 years ago this was called a wheelchair-friendly route; in fact there were two buses out of about 10 that had 'the ramp'. In general people were unlucky in catching those elusive wheelchair- friendly buses, but they were there! It was a bit snidey at the time, but I think nearly all the 152 buses are WF now. According to TfL's website, ALL buses are now supposed to be wheelchair accessible, apart from the 'heritage' Routemasters... ....unless I misread the website. -- Helen D. Vecht: Edgware. |
#4
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#5
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#6
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Helen Deborah Vecht wrote:
I sat in the chair waiting for the bus. When it came, the driver did not offer use of the ramp and my partner struggled to push me through the front doors. Taking a small tangent - I was told recently, that upon successfully boarding a bus, a wheelchair user was confronted with a mother and pram in the designated space. The mother indicated that she felt her needs were greater before eventually but reluctantly giving way. While it is true that 'mothers and prams' were not provided for in the past, we seem to have come to the opposite extreme where the space offered to them now (with the disabled priority proviso) is seen as an inalienable right to be constantly exploited to the full. What passes for a 'pram' or 'buggy' these days is nothing short of a mini, all-terrain vehicle with a wide wheelbase and armour plating, capable of carrying at least two children, their toys du jour, the week's shopping and a couple of spare car batteries. More often than not, they are fully loaded, batteries et al. ready for all eventualities like a change of nappy or a thermonuclear war. There is generally a sense of irresistible force meeting immovable object when two prams compete for the same space on a bus. The resulting diplomatic efforts, sometimes entertaining in themselves, usually block the aisle, exit or both. Oh joy. I can recall the days when a mother fully laden with shopping, two small children and a pram, could, without a moment's hesitation, deftly lift one child out of the pram and over the shoulder, fold the pram and board the bus whilst holding the shopping and the toddler. Alas such skills and dexterity have been lost to the world and the notion of actually folding the modern 'pram' is now only a theoretical possibility if not outright heresy. ESB |
#7
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Some pram-pushers are aggressively territorial :-(
We've had trouble getting through the bus, wheelchair folded, when the aisle is blocked by a buggy-pusher. Quite often, it's difficult to assert our needs without 'offending ethnicity'. Few will/can fold their all-terrain buggies (though I can understand those who don't wish to wake a sleeping babe) especially when encumbered with loads of shopping. My wheelchair folds flat quickly and I can transfer to an ordinary seat. However, I weigh *much* more than a small child, so lifting into a bus is very different to boarding with a buggy. -- Helen D. Vecht: Edgware. |
#8
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Ernst S Blofeld wrote:
I can recall the days when a mother fully laden with shopping, two small children and a pram, could, without a moment's hesitation, deftly lift one child out of the pram and over the shoulder, fold the pram and board the bus whilst holding the shopping and the toddler. Oh yeah? We have two year old twins - there is no way you can get them out a double buggy and fold it up. Also, the side by side double buggy we have won't fit at the front of the bus, and some drivers won't let you board at the rear doors. E. |
#9
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In message of Wed, 21 Nov 2007
09:06:47 in uk.transport.london, Helen Deborah Vecht writes Some pram-pushers are aggressively territorial :-( We've had trouble getting through the bus, wheelchair folded, when the aisle is blocked by a buggy-pusher. Quite often, it's difficult to assert our needs without 'offending ethnicity'. Few will/can fold their all-terrain buggies (though I can understand those who don't wish to wake a sleeping babe) especially when encumbered with loads of shopping. My wheelchair folds flat quickly and I can transfer to an ordinary seat. However, I weigh *much* more than a small child, so lifting into a bus is very different to boarding with a buggy. I am outraged by your treatment and trust you will complain. Unfortunately, you will probably get no more than a facile apology. The following from www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/Getting_around_London.pdf may help: "All of London's 8,000 buses are now low-floor, wheelchair accessible vehicles. The ramps on all buses must be in full working order at all times. Any bus with a defective ramp is taken out of service, so you are assured of full accessibility at all times." Please assert YOUR rights; MY council tax pays for them. The following from www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/conditions-of-carriage-07-sept.pdf seems relevant: "13.2.2. Wheelchair users have priority over everyone else for use of the wheelchair space, since this is the only place in which they can travel safely. If someone in a wheelchair wishes to board, and the wheelchair space is occupied by standing passengers or buggies, standing passengers will be asked by the driver to make room if possible, and buggy users will be asked to fold them and put them in the luggage space or keep them by their side." PLEASE tool yourself to get your rights. I may need those rights and your work will help. When I board an underground train and see someone in severe need of a seat, I find the following, spoken loudly, works: "A lady/gentleman needs a seat here!". Murphy's Law means the person often refuses the seat because he/she is leaving at the next station. Murphy also causes some people to offer me a seat on assessing my age and fitness. ![]() -- Walter Briscoe |
#10
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In message of Wed, 21 Nov 2007 10:06:00
in uk.transport.london, eastender writes Ernst S Blofeld wrote: I can recall the days when a mother fully laden with shopping, two small children and a pram, could, without a moment's hesitation, deftly lift one child out of the pram and over the shoulder, fold the pram and board the bus whilst holding the shopping and the toddler. Oh yeah? We have two year old twins - there is no way you can get them out a double buggy and fold it up. Also, the side by side double buggy we have won't fit at the front of the bus, and some drivers won't let you board at the rear doors. E. I suggest your technology may be inappropriate. You may find the following helpful from http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/conditions-of-carriage-07-sept.pdf "13.2.5. If you are using a double buggy you can board through the centre doors of a dual-door bus but, before doing so, you must first get permission from the bus driver. If you have not already done so, you must immediately go to the front of the bus after boarding to show your ticket or pass, touch your Oyster card on the yellow card reader or to pay your fare." I never had your need when my children were young - 2 30 months apart - but do not recall taking a buggy on public transport with one adult. Buses only catered for able-bodied passengers 18 years ago. ![]() -- Walter Briscoe |
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