Two weeks to speak to my GP!

[trophywench]

You couldn't manage easily in a wheelchair - or most especially pushing a wheelchair - should you turn left out of our front door since the pavement surface slopes downwards towards the road all the way to the island literally a mile away. There are a lot of houses with drives this side of the road so you can cross easy enough but not many driveways the other side - but every bus stop is raised with a ramp both sides and al the buses have wheelchair access and as Greymouser says, the compulsory wheelchair space complete with resident baby buggy.

Only once ever have I seen an actual wheelchair in the space and I used to use the bus every day.

 

[mikeyB]

Aye, Greymouser. Some folk think dropped kerbs are there so they can park half on the pavement with ease. It is illegal to park on the pavement, but as you say, the police are a bit slick in enforcing the law.

In Scotland it’s illegal to drive on the pavement, but not illegal to be parked half in the pavement. Weird. The government have realised this is daft, and are changing the law to match England and Wales.

I’ve yet to have the pram argument, though I have had a luggage discussion on a train when I found huge suitcases occupying the wheelchair space. That was in First Class, too. “Where else can I put it ?” Said the American lady. I was tempted....

 

[Davein]

Yup, had to move really, there isn’t the infrastructure on the island for disabled living

Don't worry Mike, you'll soon get used to it.....living on an island....inadequate infrastructure....be just like a home from home 🙂

 

[Ralph-YK]

I've seen the 'collapse the buggy' discussion, for other pram users to get on. And I've seen people with prams left at bus stops, driver saying there's no room. Sometimes they'll ask. Often just say there's no room.
Seeing a wheelchair user trying to use a bus is rare round here.
The buses started having ramps years ago. However, you've to get the driver to lower it. And have room on the bus.

 

[trophywench]

Never seen one of those buses that didn't lower it at the stop, seems to work at the same time as the door open/close mechanism, to the extent that with one that didn't lower as quick as the doors opened, the driver was yelling through the door 'Hang on for the platform to lower!' at every stop!

 

[Ralph-YK]

Never seen one of those buses that didn't lower it at the stop, seems to work at the same time as the door open/close mechanism, to the extent that with one that didn't lower as quick as the doors opened, the driver was yelling through the door 'Hang on for the platform to lower!' at every stop!

I've not see one of those. Though I have been reminded, there are some what are called kneeling buses around. When it's stops and the door opens, the whole front end of the bus drops down, and the entrance is designed with less of a step that slopes & is wider.
I think the companies were only getting them for a bit though. We have buses of all ages and designs around here.

 

[Greymouser]

Round our way all the buses seem to lower at the front, which works fine when the pavement has been adapted, but it is at best around 50% of them that have, less in some places. ( They seem to be working on converting all the rest, slowly. )The buses also all seem to have a ramp that can be lowered, but of course you have to ask the driver to do this, which none have yet refused, though some are a little surly about it! 🙄 They have to get out of their seats, the poor dears!

Its been a while since it happened last, but we have been left standing at the stop because of lack of room and the driver being unwilling to make someone move their stuff, or themselves. I guess these things are sent to try us eh? As Mike says, ( indirectly, ) I need to keep my perspective and try to see the positive more often, because I do sometimes tend to focus on the negative. 🙄🙂