Ramps, access, wheelchairs and buggies.

[Geordie driver]

The dual door thread has a bit about wheel chair access, to avoid dragging it off topic I have started this thread.

What is the law on ramps, do they have to be operational now? When we first got ramps ( some kind of single decker at Northumbria, sorry I can't remember the type!) they were terribly unreliable, very rattly after only a few weeks. The company would send a bus out with the ramp broken then blame the driver should someone complain.

Then buggy users would claim the spot and refuse to move buggies, not often but it did happen. What happens now?

From a drivers point of view the biggest problem was people parking at bus stops making it impossible to use the ramp at the stop. I have in the past pulled way past the stop in order to line up properly for the ramp.

 

[Pat1105]

The dual door thread has a bit about wheel chair access, to avoid dragging it off topic I have started this thread.

What is the law on ramps, do they have to be operational now? When we first got ramps ( some kind of single decker at Northumbria, sorry I can't remember the type!) they were terribly unreliable, very rattly after only a few weeks. The company would send a bus out with the ramp broken then blame the driver should someone complain.

Then buggy users would claim the spot and refuse to move buggies, not often but it did happen. What happens now?

From a drivers point of view the biggest problem was people parking at bus stops making it impossible to use the ramp at the stop. I have in the past pulled way past the stop in order to line up properly for the ramp.

Yes, the bus cannot be used in service if the ramp does not work. It’s part of the first use check, so are checked every day. This includes the electric lifts on coaches.

 

[Geordie driver]

Yes, the bus cannot be used in service if the ramp does not work. It’s part of the first use check, so are checked every day. This includes the electric lifts on coaches.

Cheers, I thought so.