Taxi Driver Online

Buses and ramps, should they be mandatory?
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UK Newsquest Regional Press - This is Worcestershire

September 21, 2006 Thursday

HEADLINE: Too few ramps says disabled bus user

DATELINE: Evesham

A DISABLED bus user says he is fed up with being left out in the cold due to lack of ramps on First Buses - just months after the company boasted installing them on all of its vehicles.

Simon Wadley, who lives on Pershore Road in Great Comberton, has had to rely on family or expensive taxi fares to get him home on a number of occasions and is so annoyed by the lack of facilities he is set to complain to the company and demand a refund.

"This is not the first time I have been left stranded in Evesham," he said.

"It has happened on many occasions. Great publicity was made of the fact that First Buses were now equipped with ramps and were therefore wheelchair user friendly. I was even included in the photo in the Journal promoting their use.The truth and practical situation is very different.

"First of all when the buses were introduced the drivers told me that they had not been trained in the use of the ramps and therefore couldn't take me. On other occasions buses have arrived which are not even equipped with ramps."

He added: "I am fed up and as it gets colder and darker in the evenings much sooner it isn't going to get any better."

Ady Culpin, spokesman for First Bus said: "The problem is that on certain routes access varies. On a busier route you will probably get a low floor bus which can pull up to the kerb and allow wheelchair users access. However, on less busier routes we can't guarantee this I'm afraid. We are aware it is frustrating to the customer but we work on demand and if there is demand in one area for a bigger bus featuring a low floor then it will be scheduled there."
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