31/05/2016
Hi All,
I am sure that a few of you have stories to share. Please share and also share this with anyone else you might know. Thanks
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Dear supporters,
Transport for All is looking for testimonies from disabled and older people using a wheelchair or mobility scooter, who have already been refused access to a bus, because the wheelchair priority space was occupied. We are sending this to all our members; if this doesn't apply to you, but you know someone who already struggled to access buses because the wheelchair space was blocked, please forward this email to them.
In a few weeks the Supreme Court will look at a case which could have wide implications for wheelchair and mobility scooter users who want to travel by bus in the UK.
You may have heard about Doug Paulley, a wheelchair user from the Yorkshire who successfully sued First Bus Group in 2013 after he had been denied access to one of their buses.
The reason he was denied access was that a bus driver didn’t enforce priority in the wheelchair space and a buggy owner refused to make room for him. But this decision was overturned by the Appeal Court in November 2014. The Supreme Court will now reconsider the case.
Transport for All has supported Doug from the beginning. If the original verdict in Doug Paulley’s favour is upheld by the Supreme Court, then the requirement in law to give a wheelchair/mobility scooter user access to the wheelchair space will be absolutely undeniable, and all bus companies will have to enforce it.
We want to show to the media and general public that Doug Paulley’s case is not an isolated one. Every day, thousands of disabled and older Londoners who use a wheelchair or a mobility scooter are struggling to access buses, just because the wheelchair priority space is already occupied. The result is that our schedules are messed up because we miss out on the freedom of travel enjoyed by other Londoners.
If you have been in this situation, please email us your story.
Maybe you could:
Introduce yourself (in one sentence)
Explain what problems you have encountered while boarding the bus (in connection with the wheelchair priority space). You can choose a specific example or you can speak about the situation in general.
Speak about the impact it has had on you (maybe you missed an appointment or maybe you now feel nervous about travelling on buses)
Please keep it short (maximum 200-300 words) and avoid disrespectful words.
Please note that we will publish those testimonies on our website and social media.
It would be great if you could also send us a picture of yourself: maybe a picture with family or friends (which we can publish online); or picture of you on a bus.
Please send your story by the 5th June to Raphael: [email protected]
I'm looking forward to hearing from you.
Let’s change this situation by sharing your story!
Yours for accessible transport,
Raphael
