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Monday, 8th September 2008

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Bus pram ban legal study



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THE legality of Lothian Buses' ban on carrying prams is to be explored by council officials.
The city's transport committee agreed to a motion by Tory councillor Joanna Mowatt which asked for a report on the legality of carrying prams on buses.

She said: "Common sense needs to be brought into this situation whereby prams can be allowed on the bus, but they vacate the space if needed by a wheelchair user."





The full article contains 77 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 01 August 2008 10:58 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Lothian Buses , Transport
 
1

Yonthing!,

01/08/2008 14:21:41
Here's an interesting question?

If Chelsea and baby Chardonnay get kicked off a bus to allow a wheelchair user on, will their ticket remain valid for the remainder of the journey they were planning to make?
2

Pond Hall,

01/08/2008 17:55:16
Strangely enough, I was on a 26 this afternoon and a wheelchair user was on the bus.

But due to some inconsiderate drivers parked at a bus stop, the driver had to stop 100yds down the road to allow the ramp to be used.

3

shamrock99,

edinburgh 01/08/2008 21:32:20
As a mum of 2 (3yrs and 3mths) I am now scared at the thought of venturing towards a bus stop, God forbid I may wish to travel with my youngest in a safe manner. I recently tried to board a no16 with my baby in a sling and eldest asleep in a folding buggy. ... The driver said I had to fold it as there was a buggy on already. This was the fourth bus I had been waiting to board and I only saw the buggy he spoke of when we lumbered on. Thankfully I had a friend to help or I may still be stranded there! The buggy in the bay was EMPTY and he could not be bothered to either offer to fold it away or ask the passenger who owned it move it so we could get on safely. The owners were upstairs and oblivious to the inconvenience. On disembarking I questioned the driver and he used the "first come, first served" line which is fair enough if there is a child in the buggy! The drivers seem to make their own policies as they trundle along. I have in the past got off for a wheelchair passenger so it seems unfair for the change in the way the situation is being handled.
4

CarolineB,

Edinburgh 01/08/2008 22:11:53
Thank goodness for this.
5

Mome,

02/08/2008 06:28:12
What a bad news! It's unbeleivable. This is discrimination in the name of inconvenience. How child-unfriendly and out of mind is the Lothian Buses corporation. I loved the lothian buses! With a child of 4 months who will soon need a pram and me a frequent bus traveller, I cant imagine that i'll not be allowed to board the bus.
If Lothian buses goes ahead with the ban and nothing can be done about it, people can show their protest by not travelling with them. Is this where modern society is heading to??!
6

juicyjen,

in my house 02/08/2008 07:53:51
I can see both arguments here. #3 - it is due to idiots like those you encountered on your journey that this 'ruling' has been made. People are saying they will fold up their buggy for a wheelchair user, but if some are willing to leave an empty buggy in the space then what hope does a driver have of making them fold it for a wheelchair? Just because a majority are willing to be reasonable doesn't mean everyone will and in some cases it's more than the driver's life is worth to try and make someone fold it. What happens if they refuse? Must the driver refuse to continue the journey? Call the police? Inconvenience other passengers and put them at possible risk?

Also, if a standard wheelchair user (with a carer) wishes to board a bus which already has the space occupied by a pram or even another wheelchair - then they do have the option of folding the wheelchair down and still boarding the bus, no? I realise many will think they shouldn't HAVE to and maybe they shouldn't but I'm just pointing out that for some, it may be another option.

Lastly I think this is all getting a bit boring now. Of course publicity is good for the argument, but I think people are starting to get sick of it now. And I speak as a mother of 3 who regularly uses buses.
7

Hot Mama,

corstorphine 02/08/2008 11:39:47
Good to see some more sensible comments here than following the last few stories - Im hugely disappointed that so many of our fellow edinburgers seem to think we are lazy for wanting to be able to board a bus easily and safely with our children. I work with people with disabilities and i genuinely believe that the majority of wheelchari users will be questioning why this is being made an issue and would be more than happy for buggies to be allowed on if the space is not being used.
I'm 9 months pregnant and have been disgusted by the ignorance of people pushing and shoving me on busses as it is, lord knows how it'll be with a baby!
Not all of us have the luxury of a car and although I do, I dont want to rely on it for getting in and out of town when my baby arrives - parking is a nightmare not to mention extortionate in town and carbon footprint guilt would be quick to follow...
These days it seems you cant win if youre a parent - youre either guilty of killing the environment and breeding fat lazy children by taking them everywhere by car or youre a pest for having the audacity to use public transport with a child! Fingers crossed we'll get some sense into LRT to allow EVERYONE fair, easy and safe access to public transport no matter their age, ability or method of boarding the bus...
8

jojo123,

02/08/2008 17:08:57
there is not enough luggage space that there used to be,when i had my kid you weren't allowed unfolded buggies on, so i say if you can get on with the buggy unfolded tink yourself lucky i had to toil on with baby,buggy and shopping.
9

sfor08,

edinburgh 02/08/2008 17:54:09
I have two kids one aged 2 and a 2 month old and we were out shopping at asda's we got the bus down our 3 month old was in a pram.When the bus arrived we were asked to fold the pram as it was not easy to fold and look after the kids and the shopping.And we end up getting a taxi home which cost more than a bus fare.If the bus company has a policy for passagers with prams or buggys they should let them know of it.
10

scotslad,

edinburgh 03/08/2008 12:24:36
I think that passengers should learn to recognise the difference between a pram and a buggy. buggy's can be folded if required and the child is strapped in securely, where as a pram is bulky and cant be folded down as easily, plus the child isnt secured in. Of which in the event of an accident(hope not) the baby in the pram could be very seriously injured as a result. I feel that Lothian Buses (not LRT), are not doing this to be awkward, they are doing it out of the safety of the passengers on the vehicle. everyone should realise that Lothian Buses could have kept all there old buses on the road for the next couple years until the new law regarding LOW FLOORED BUSES is in force, then what would we all do? To summarise this up. The company could stop all unfolded buggys and prams entering their vehicles and have the space JUST for the disabled.
11

Claudia Sniffer,

05/08/2008 09:23:03
I wanted to take my shopping trolley on the bus from Asda and wasn't allowed on. Any one else want to join me in my outrage and start a war with the buses?
12

sick of edinburgh,

05/08/2008 09:26:19
I wanted to take my setee on the bus because I need to lie flat when I am tired and the bus driver wouldn't let me on.

 

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