Wheelchair Ramps On Buses

[tiggerblue10]

On my way home on the bus yesterday, the bus driver opened the wheelchair ramp but when he tried to close it, it would not budge. This has happened on many occasions and all the passengers have had to get off and get on another bus.

Do buses get checked regularly to see if everything is in working order?

[sddsddean]

I think the first paragraph answers the 2nd!

[mosesg]

Probably not as these bus companies are out to make profit and the only way they do this is by keeping the buses on the road. Having spoken to a few of the drivers where I live that they are not well maintained.

[tiggerblue10]

They could at least check that the wheelchair ramps work before they leave the garage for the day. I've been using buses nearly every day most of my life and I've noticed that the ramp not closing causes the most problems.

Luckily, I managed to get on another bus but the bus was too packed for the wheelchair user to get on causing them unnecessary delays.

[SlackAlice]

Ex London bus driver here. In the company I worked for the first driver to take the bus out had to fill out and sign a form to say the bus was 'fit for service'. A ramp not working was specifically not fit for service and would not be allowed out of the garage. Subsequent drivers also had to carry out a check soon after taking over and also had to countersign the form.

TFL who contracted out the bus services punished offending bus operators for unfit buses with hefty fines, and obviously further fines for failing to maintain the service because of the missing bus.

Repeated unfit buses would count against a bus operator when renewal of the contract was due. The ramp mechanism isn't very reliable especially on older buses because they 'rushed' out the requirement to fit them and they were added after the buses were built. Later buses have them designed in and fitted as original parts and are a lot more reliable. The buses have quite a lot of safety systems tied into the ramp mechanism to prevent accidents so various scenarios can stop the ramps retracting. Main cause in my experience was a mismatch in the bus floor height and pavement height.

[Hopkirk]

The electrical extending ramps are horribly unreliable, and in my experience most buses now are being built with a manually folded out flap instead.

[emmie]

no idea, but the London buses do seem to have a problem with the ramps.
Then again the person in the wheelchair is often left sitting at the bus stop for a time because the space is in use by prams,

[SlackAlice]

emmie
I agree totally with your last sentence. TFL in it's infinite wisdom decided against making a definitive answer to who has priority use of the wheelchair space. Thus, if a passenger refuses to fold down their pushchair/buggy then there is little the driver can do legally or otherwise.

In my opinion a wheelchair space is just exactly that and the wheelchair person given priority to board.

[tiggerblue10]

Thanks for the explanation SlackAlice.

I agree Em, no matter what provisions are in place, the wheelchair user can sometimes still be at a disadvantage.

I've seen the manually folding ramps in action and they seem to be a lot more reliable.

[mushroom25]

On trains - and probably on buses too - the wheelchair space is reserved by law for wheelchair users and must be relinquished when it is required. The transport undertaking can be fined if they fail to enforce this.

[SlackAlice]

mushroom25
I have no idea about trains regulations re wheelchair spaces but see my post 09.24 about Tfl's stance on buses. Tfl are the regulatory authority for Londons buses.

[mushroom25]

from the tfl website:-

"If you get on a bus with a buggy, and the wheelchair space is available, please feel free to use it. If a wheelchair user wants to board the bus, however, you might be asked to fold your buggy up or move it to another part of the bus. Wheelchair users have priority over anyone else in this area because it is the only place for wheelchairs to travel safely."

[murraymints]

Recently I had to change 3 buses on a trip of 8 miles !

[SlackAlice]

from the tfl website:-

you might be asked to fold your buggy up or move it to another part of the bus there is no compunction to comply though, the police or Tfl officials will not assist the driver either. Believe me I've tried. What Tfl 'say and do' are completely different. I think only a courtcase would give a suitable legal answer.