Using public transport as someone who is not just disabled
but a wheelchair user is daunting.
Taxis, buses, trains all a potential problem, all a
potential argument and all a potential nightmare.
Taxis
Now you would think using a taxi would be the easiest
option, but not always. Yes there are a lot of taxis companies that now have
WAV (wheelchair accessible vehicles), and the fact that in London all black
cabs are not accessible (a little thing I just recently found out), but these
are usually cabs with ramps that people go in via the side. The biggest problem
with these is the cabs have not been lowered, the ramps are all different types
and lengths and these are often than not bought off somewhere like Amazon and therefore not the
correct or safest gradient. This makes them unsafe and risks not just for the
driver but the user, as the gradient is too steep/ sharp for them to be safe to
use, this can result in chairs being too heavy for drivers to push up the ramp
and also for them tipping over or going over the edge which is what happened
with me.
Not only that but some cabs have two single ones which
means that if the driver does not put them a safe distance apart could cause
major issues for the person in the wheelchair.
Not only have that but a lot of ramps had no fixing points
on the chairs so again not very safe.
Couple that with the fact that a lot of the taxi drivers
are not trained to handle vulnerable adults or wheelchairs, unfit to do so due
to medical issues are just not fit or strong enough.
That leaves us with a few vehicles that are called “Doppler’s”
these are rear loading WAVs with the ramps out of the backs. Again there are
still problems with these such as there not being enough room for the
wheelchair and the person sitting in them resulting in legs being squished up uncomfortable
against the back of the seats. Again though taxi drivers are not helpful
accessing these vehicles either and see reluctant to fold down seats or clear
the space.
Buses
Although most buses now have disabled spaces and lowered
steps, using a bus is something made of nightmares for me. Since having to use
a wheelchair, hand on heart and being honest, I have never used a bus and never
will, not if I can help it.
Currently, they are heated arguments between bus drivers,
people who use wheelchairs, the public and people with prams. Although the
spaces are supposed to be kept for people with wheelchairs, often people will
use them if they have a pram and some are seats that have to be folded up in
order to become a wheelchair space. However when someone with a wheelchair is
wanting to use that bus, the driver should ask the person to put the pushchair
down or if it is someone sitting there, ask them to move seats or stand so
that the wheelchair user can be accommodated. However, a lot of drivers will not
do this due to feeling uncomfortable backlash off the people he is asking to
move or in some cases threats.
This has often resulted in insults thrown at the wheelchair
user, threats of violence but more than often the bus just not stopping. In the time I have been using a wheelchair I have heard horror stories both personally
and in the news about some people having to let three buses go past before one
has stopped and let them on, or even worse waiting in a queue only for other
people in the queue step over them to get on the bus before them as if they are
nothing but a piece of luggage instead of a human being waiting in line, like everyone
else with a valid right to get on the bus in turn.
Trains
Trains can be hit and miss. Personally, I have had both good
and not so good experiences with this both though Virgin and LNER only on the main
line from Newcastle to London but have not had the dubious pleasure of using
local rail transport, again from what other people have told me, it’s been a blessing that I haven’t as from what I understand it has ranged from trains not
having accessible carriages, no useable toilets, no ramps or staff to help and
sometimes no lifts or access to or from the stations. My bad experiences
include being forgotten about and left at the end destination at Kings Cross,
nearly tipping off the ramp due to people crowding and trying to rush me off
for them to get on, no access to a toilet due to cases and people standing in
front of the toilet and blocking corridors, cases being left near the exit as
there was no room on the luggage rack.
In this day and age transport and buildings should be one
of the first things that developers, architects, and designers should be looking
at when it comes to being totally inclusive. An inclusive transport network
would make life much easier not just for anyone in a wheelchair but for
everyone.
