Rich McLean
Established Member
- Joined
- 6 Feb 2012
- Messages
- 1,685
It was "a battery-powered wheelchair" which can be very heavy, the staff may not have realised this at first and were going to get the ramp out. Perhaps having been firmly told it was only for ordinary w/chairs they then had to refuse help, imagine the fuss if the ramp had broken under the weight.
As a carer I can say nearly all buses are now accessible, simplest ramp rolls-up for storage - driver has to lift it in place and maybe help push the chair. Some are part of the floor, driver has to lift and swing them out (mind fingers), best are powered ones that check they're properly touching the ground before allowing doors to open - may mean driver has to shuffle the bus about to find a suitable place. Of course there's still only one space which may be full of baby buggies, driver can't order them to be folded, so no certainty of being able to travel when wanted.
Plymouth CityBus (Go-Ahead) require the buggies to be folded when a wheel chair wants to board, and there are signs saying this on the bus, and is also stated in the CoC. Iv'e seen it happen, and the moans from the mums are comical to say the least