Real Life on Real City Buses
routeONE magazine|1 March 2017 - Issue 679

What’s it really like for everyday wheelchair users on buses? We make an undercover visit to Norwich to find out

Mel Holley
Real Life on Real City Buses

We’re at a bus stop. There’s a woman in a wheelchair but when the bus arrives the driver tells her she can’t get on; the ramp’s broken. Later, another driver gives another excuse.

Worse, these are not isolated incidents: All over the city’s network the story’s the same and it’s clear that drivers are using every excuse to avoid carrying wheelchair users.

But the events have been covertly filmed and now it’s the lead item on ITV’s Anglia News.

This was 2003. The city was Norwich; the Anglia News reporter and wheelchair user was Helen Dolphin.

The newsroom was getting continual reports about drivers refusing to let wheelchair users board. So Helen - a journalist and news reporter with Anglia TV since 2000 - set out to find out if it was true. The exposé was so powerful, it won the ITV Consumer award 2004.

A lot has changed since then, not least that since 1 January, all local service buses must be PSVAR compliant (previously called DDA).

Happily, if you’re a wheelchair user in Norwich today, then First will give you a good experience. But there is room for improvement.

We met with Helen, her PA Libbie Bilyard and assistance dog Fairport, to find out more.

Home in the city

Helen is a semi-regular bus user into the city centre. It’s quicker to drive to her local swimming pool, but today we’re going by bus.

We need to go from New Costessey into the city centre, change, and then out to Sportspark, on the University of East Anglia campus.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة 1 March 2017 - Issue 679 من routeONE magazine.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة 1 March 2017 - Issue 679 من routeONE magazine.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من ROUTEONE MAGAZINE مشاهدة الكل
Vehicle Parts and Accessories
routeONE magazine

Vehicle Parts and Accessories

Replacement parts will always be necessary, even for the most well maintained fleet.Consider investing in aftermarket accessories to reap the long-term benefits.

time-read
5 mins  |
8 March 2017 - Issue 680
Decker Is Cooking on Biogas as a First
routeONE magazine

Decker Is Cooking on Biogas as a First

Interest in biogas-fuelled buses has grown recently thanks to Scania and ADL’s partnership to develop the Enviro400 CBG. The first are with Reading Buses and we find out how they perform.

time-read
7 mins  |
8 March 2017 - Issue 680
Elite: One Coach That Satisfies Two Tasks
routeONE magazine

Elite: One Coach That Satisfies Two Tasks

Tim Deakin drives the first restyled Plaxton’s Elite of which Acklams Coaches took the first one to enter service.

time-read
7 mins  |
15 March 2017 - Issue 681
Real Life on Real City Buses
routeONE magazine

Real Life on Real City Buses

What’s it really like for everyday wheelchair users on buses? We make an undercover visit to Norwich to find out

time-read
5 mins  |
1 March 2017 - Issue 679
Get Your Ship in Shape
routeONE magazine

Get Your Ship in Shape

A change to the Ogden tables means that insurance premiums are rising by at least 10-15%. What can you do to protect yourself?

time-read
5 mins  |
15 March 2017 - Issue 681
Volvo Still Leader of the Pack
routeONE magazine

Volvo Still Leader of the Pack

Many small operators know the feeling of excitement that comes with the arrival of a new coach. With the 17-plate now here, one of the first to enter service is continuing a Staffordshire firm’s relationship with Volvo, its favoured supplier

time-read
4 mins  |
1 March 2017 - Issue 679
Now It's Your Turn
routeONE magazine

Now It's Your Turn

After almost four decades husband and wife team Alan and Celia Phillips are stepping aside to make room for the second generation.

time-read
4 mins  |
8 March 2017 - Issue 680