Disability group in plea for extra space
CAMPAIGNERS are urging First Cymru to make room for an extra wheelchair space on Swansea's controversial new bendy buses.
They took their protest to the city's Castle Square yesterday, as one of the distinctive Metro buses continued cruising around areas of the city as part of a week-long promotion. Disabled campaigners said each bus should have at least two spaces, rather than one.
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Lee Ellery (front) with fellow protesters who are unhappy there is only one space available on the new bendy buses for wheelchair users.
They have also raised health and safety concerns, claiming that if the front doors got stuck during a fire they'd have to negotiate two steps and a narrow aisle to leave via the emergency exit.
First Cymru chiefs said the buses complied with the relevant disability laws, but added they couldn't add another wheelchair space due to the buses' chassis design.
Swansea Disability Forum protester Lee Ellery said: "Our concern is that two wheelchair users may want to travel on the same bus at the same time but won't be able to because there is only one space.
"Also, if the bus was to catch fire and the doors in the front got jammed, a disabled person could not get off because the emergency exit is up two steps and a narrow aisle.
"We are not happy about it." He added: "First (Cymru) said it would have to change the chassis the chassis for an extra wheelchair space. We dispute that."
First chiefs said they'd been honest and open with the Swansea Disability Forum about a range of issues regarding the bendy bus, also known as the ftr.
First managing director Tony McNiff said: "At the time of the vehicle being developed back in 2003, there was only one choice of chassis available to the manufacturer.
"It is therefore not possible to accommodate another wheelchair space on this chassis and still comply with the relevant regulations."
He said in an emergency the bus's doors can be opened manually, or the glass smashed.
He added: "The vehicle is manned by a crew of two people. They are fully trained in emergency evacuation procedures."
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by Andrew Hubbard, Uplands Swansea
Sunday, September 28 2008, 8:32AM
“I am a blind person who also faces considerable barriers trying to access public transport.
I was involved in two consultations with first Cymru about the new 'bendy bus'.
The bottom line is that disabled people are not bvalued, or even thought about at all, in the design process of what most people take for granted.
First Cymru are obliged under Disability Discrimination legislation to promote equality of opportunity for disabled people. They were honest enough to state that their first concern is profit otherwise the service will end.
What society are we creating in 2008/9 when two disabled people who are using wheelchairs cannot travel together on a bus
As disabled people we have diffrent impairments that limit function to various degrees; what truly disables us all, however, is not impairment, it is not being able to take our place in the community of our town due to barriers such as the new bus.
The most damaging barriers of all are the psychological mind sets that do not value the lives of disabled people.
A great shame on Firstt Cymru for continuing to disable us all.”
by James Sheridan, Swansea
Monday, September 22 2008, 11:55AM
“First by name, last by customer service.
Jim Sheridan”
by carrie, Swansea
Saturday, September 20 2008, 6:38PM
“It seems that bus companies will do anything but take a disabled person on board. My mother-in-law lives in Dorset and is unable to travel on her local bus 'service' because she uses a 'walker'. She has missed out on a lot including being unable to visit a friend in hospital because of this ridiculous rule.”
by Christopher Gibbins, swansea
Saturday, September 20 2008, 5:01PM
“i was there yesterday with the local the disability group......... the bus is fantastic but no good if disabled people want to get on.”
by Anne, Port Talbot
Saturday, September 20 2008, 12:59PM
“Not is done enough to cater for disabled people and those with pushchairs or the elderly on any of the local transport they say they want our custom if so then provide the space.”