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wheelchairs vs buggys on buses
blueblade
Posts: 88,859 Forum Member
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A disabled man who uses a wheelchair has appealed to the Supreme Court to decide on whether a buggy, already occupying the designated space, should move when a wheelchair user wishes to board the bus.
Doug Paulley began the legal argument after he was refused access to a First Group bus, when a Mum with a buggy and baby, refused to move to make way for him, saying the buggy would not fold up. First Group has a policy of "requesting but not requiring" non disabled passengers to vacate the space.
Originally a judge at Leeds County Court decided that the policy was discriminatory and awarded Mr Paulley £5,500 damages. This was overturned on appeal, leading to a new appeal in the Supreme Court. Mr Paulley is asking the Supreme Court to overrule the appeal judgement, arguing that wheelchair priority should be enforced, as "common decency" had failed. First Group's lawyer said that requiring passengers to move under threat of ejection, was not a reasonable adjustment.
I've got mixed feelings on this one. I'd really have to go with the Mum and buggy if she is there first, but I do understand the wheelchair user's frustration. Although he does seem to be acting a bit "entitlement" to me.
BBC link
tabloid link
Thoughts?
Doug Paulley began the legal argument after he was refused access to a First Group bus, when a Mum with a buggy and baby, refused to move to make way for him, saying the buggy would not fold up. First Group has a policy of "requesting but not requiring" non disabled passengers to vacate the space.
Originally a judge at Leeds County Court decided that the policy was discriminatory and awarded Mr Paulley £5,500 damages. This was overturned on appeal, leading to a new appeal in the Supreme Court. Mr Paulley is asking the Supreme Court to overrule the appeal judgement, arguing that wheelchair priority should be enforced, as "common decency" had failed. First Group's lawyer said that requiring passengers to move under threat of ejection, was not a reasonable adjustment.
I've got mixed feelings on this one. I'd really have to go with the Mum and buggy if she is there first, but I do understand the wheelchair user's frustration. Although he does seem to be acting a bit "entitlement" to me.
BBC link
tabloid link
Thoughts?
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Comments
A buggy can be folded up and put away. A person in a wheelchair doesn't have that choice so I support this man
https://www.stagecoachbus.com/conditions-of-carriage
and that says that wheelchairs have legal priority and you must move.
I've seen some women with buggies just stare blankly at wheelchair users who get on the bus and then just turn back to their mobiles without making any effort to move.
And, sadly, it's usually the wheelchair user who's far too polite to actually ask them if they can move.
Only joking😁
A wheelchair should always take priority as it can't be folded. You would hope that common decency would make the parent want to go through the hassle of taking the baby out and folding the buggy so that a wheelchair user wouldn't be left at the bus stop, but the massive sense of entitlement that many people seem to carry around with them nowadays would probably get in the way.😳
Not all buggy users do. A relative of mine has a baby on oxygen.
Mind you, I've also seen the driver refuse to take the buggy on, despite the buggy user (on the bus or wanting to board) saying they'll fold it up.
I hope the man is awarded his decision - I think he is quite right.
If the person was not willing to fold up their buggy it puts the driver in an awkward position of having to ask them to get off and wait for the next bus. Some routes only have service every 30 or 60 minutes. And what if the weather is crap?
You had me going there for a minute, very funny
No brainer, wheelchair every time, bus driver should be able to enforce it if need be.
Saying that though, people who had wheelchairs were even worse off as there was no way they could travel by bus. Times have changed for the better thank goodness.
to counter balance - the wheelchair user can roll just as easy as the parent can push a buggy
On a serious note I think a lot of the problem is the design of modern buggies. They are (in most cases) not really designed to be easily folded one handed. We went through a number of different buggy styles with our two boys and only the very basic £15 one we used for holidays was able to be securely put away with one hand. They also didn't stand up very well and either had to be laid flat (luggage rack etc) or held. Which was ok when we were both there, but a nightmare if you were on your own.
Come on.......most people would realise that a baby on oxygen would be classified as much as in need as a wheelchair user.
Anyone who refuses to fold their buggy when a weelxhair needs the space should be told to leave the bus. More agro for the driver, I know, but really, what kind of people must they be?
But this case will test in court whether such policies have any legal basis. Case goes the wrong way for the disabled guy and all those notices become purely advisory.
Worth pointing out that the chap who's taken this case to court is a serial litigator having commenced nearly 40 legal actions re disability discrimination in the last 10 years.
I agree.
I don't understand your point.
So would I. I used buses a lot when my kids were small and always made sure I had a buggy that was quick and easy to fold. It's not hard.
Perhaps he goes out of the way to look for these situations to further his cause?
What cause is that?