First Cymru

“Safeswansea Your comment "I don't want to be treated less equal than others who can use a bus with the need of special permit or letter of approval and be patronisingly told that it is to make my life easier." What a silly statement. Throughout life people will always be treated differently from others - do you know why? It's because people are different. They are different heights, weights, colouring and a thousand and one other things that make us individuals and not the same replicated being.

Some people are in wheelchairs and to make life easier for everyone - not just them - and to obviate the need for a shouting match every time they want to board a bus they are being asked to produce a simple document telling the driver everything is OK. What is the problem with this? Is your rather infantile and childish tantrum over this very simple matter because you want equality with others? Then save your breath you never will be because you and the rest of society are made up of individuals - we are all different.

Your insistence that drivers must be trained to recognise every single different type of wheeled motorised conveyance is just silly, they have enough to do without having to do that.”

“Is 'safeswansea' Brendan Campbell, Chair of the Swansea Disability Forum?
If he's a sick troll impersonating Brendan Campbell, please delete all of his posts.”

“"safeswansea
I've had enough of your comments and I certain that others are sick of you also.
Please contact professionals - They're paid to put up with PITAs (Pains In The Neck).
I have seen motorised wheelchairs rocking from side to side on pavements and I am concerned about their stability on a moving bus if the vehicle comes to an abrupt stop. If you couldn't care less, Mr. Campbell, you should keep quiet about it."
Eric_Pode

Now, now Mr Pode no need to throw the dolly out of the pram. Show some community spirit and contact your AM with your concerns on the stability of motorised wheelchairs. They could raise it with the Welsh wheelchair service and you could earn the thanks of wheelchair users who have had the unnnerving experience of rocking from side to side as they use the wheelchair. Mind you I have seen some ambulant people rocking from side to side on pavements.
Anyway I'm off now ...more important things to do. Rock on.”

“safeswansea
I've had enough of your comments and I certain that others are sick of you also.
Please contact professionals - They're paid to put up with PITAs (Pains In The Neck).
I have seen motorised wheelchairs rocking from side to side on pavements and I am concerned about their stability on a moving bus if the vehicle comes to an abrupt stop. If you couldn't care less, Mr. Campbell, you should keep quiet about it.”

“Eric_Pode

So as chairman of an umbrella group of disability organisations in Swansea I am supposed to be an expert on the safety aspect of wheelchairs...Interesting point of view but again not really logical. You raised the safety issue...I thought then you were the expert
I am not surprised you love pedantry....most pedants do.”

“Brendan Campbell, chairman of the Swansea Disability Forum, appears to have no knowledge of safety aspects regarding wheelchairs.
Yes, I do know that the point of a wheelchair is to be mobile.
When I wrote 'mobilised' I meant powered by a motor. I just love pedantry.”

“Eric_Pode

My role? What is my role ...I'm intrigued..do you think I'm a health and safety person?
All wheelchairs (all wheelchairs are mobilised I believe) have a higher centre of gravity than mobility scooters...well you learn something new everyday. I'll keep my eye out for wheelchairs dangerously toppling over because of this although to date I haven't seen any.
Tolerant parents and abusive wheelchair users from very narrow experiences...well no stereotyping here eh?”

“safeswansea
I would have thought that you'd have all the information to hand seeing as it is part of your role.
Anyway - From observation:
One difference between a mobility scooter and a mobilised wheelchair is the wheelchair has a higher centre of gravity.
That is why I'm concerned about the safety aspect. (My post 2:39pm)
Obviously mobile scooters are too wide.

I have been on a FirstCymru bus when a driver has refused to let someone board with a non-collapsing pushchair because the wheelchair/pushchair area was occupied by standers. No fuss from the parent.

I haven't been to the centre of Swansea for a while. On some occasions I saw a disabled man in a tricycle chair that was pushed by a woman and anyone who dared to get their way would get a torrent of verbal abuse. Are the duo still around?”

“Eric_Pode

Let us know your safety concerns about wheelchairs on buses as you raised it first. Maybe someone can answer any specific worries. As for wheelchairs on a crowded bus...there are allocated spaces for wheelchairs to be carried safely..yes even on crowded buses and even after a football match...They won't explode.”

“maxmin
Drivers are in charge of a bus, they drive it but also ensure that the bus is used safely. To this end I would suggest that learning the difference between a wheelchair and a mobility scooter would be a simple thing be taught.
I don't want to be treated less equal than others who can use a bus with the need of special permit or letter of approval and be patronisingly told that it is to make my life easier . Aw bless.
All that is required is equal treatment and trained bus drivers.
The childish attitude that a wheelchair user who is seeking equality is to be seen as having society catering to their every need or whim I don't think needs any further comment but speaks volumes on the writers maturity and confrontational attitude.
I had no intention of asking so the information on you being "registered" disabled is of no concern to me.”