https://www.standard.co.uk/news/tra...ver-refuses-to-let-her-board-as-a4135276.html
This driver, whose face can be clearly seen on the video, has been caught bang to rights breaking UK law, TfL's policy and byelaws. Thankfully TfL are taking this very seriously.
In my view as a bare minimum he needs immediate retraining. If it is clear that his training was recent, and he has just ignored it for his personal convenience, then he should not be working on the streets of London at all - dismissal and hopefully removal of his license should follow. If on the other hand his training was deficient then his employer should suffer a major financial penalty and, if things do not improve, should have all TfL contracts removed and not be invited to bid for any further TfL contracts.
Draconian enforcement is the only way to make some people obey the law!
A wheelchair user today shared the "unbearably frustrating" moment a London bus driver refused to let her board. Katie Pennick, 23, filmed the driver allowing up to eight able-bodied passengers onto the packed bus in north London - while refusing to lower the ramp for her wheelchair. Ms Pennick, a freelance audio producer, believes it was because two buggies were already on the 253 service as it stopped outside Manor House station on Sunday afternoon.
A 2017 Supreme Court ruling established wheelchair users must be given priority on buses. But Ms Pennick told the Standard she is refused access “multiple times a week”.
“It’s like I am valued less than able-bodied passengers,” she said. “It makes me angry at the world.”
Transport for London (TfL) said it would investigate the incident "immediately".
Ms Pennick, of Stoke Newington, had already been turned away from a 141 service in Newington Green earlier that afternoon.
And the same thing happened when she arrived at Manor House for the second stage of her journey. She said: “I was at the front of the queue and flagged down the bus. As the bus approached, the driver saw me and started shaking his head, which often happens.
“I got my phone out to record what was going to happen. He didn’t put the ramp down and let everyone else on. There was five, six or seven walking people as well as a mother with a buggy. I think there was already another buggy on the bus, which is why he didn’t let me on.
“I asked if he could get the ramp and she said there was no space. I told him wheelchair users get priority – it’s the law – and he point blank denied this.
Claire Mann, TfL’s director of bus operations, said: "We’re very sorry about Katie Pennick’s experience.
“It is essential wheelchair users are given priority in the allocated area on buses and clearly something has gone wrong here. We will investigate this with the bus company immediately.”
This driver, whose face can be clearly seen on the video, has been caught bang to rights breaking UK law, TfL's policy and byelaws. Thankfully TfL are taking this very seriously.
In my view as a bare minimum he needs immediate retraining. If it is clear that his training was recent, and he has just ignored it for his personal convenience, then he should not be working on the streets of London at all - dismissal and hopefully removal of his license should follow. If on the other hand his training was deficient then his employer should suffer a major financial penalty and, if things do not improve, should have all TfL contracts removed and not be invited to bid for any further TfL contracts.
Draconian enforcement is the only way to make some people obey the law!
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