Mary
exactly right! I have attempted to speak to Arriva here and haven't got
very far.
As a wheelchair user in a meeting with Arriva I attempted to use a ramp,
these in Denbighshire are manual, kept behind the driver's seat he has to
to move and put them in place. If he cannot get to the pavement due to
obstructions, the drivers just don't stop for wheelchair users. Training
is not guaranteed for drivers. Through personal experience the ramp lifts
when used it as they are not always put in place correctly.
The driver can refuse to provide assistance and this practice is not
covered by the DDA. (1:12 gradient can be a problem so getting on a bus as
you rightly point out is usually impossible). Present changes in the new
disability bill should cover some of these areas relating to transport. At
present a big loophole.
Not only are there issues regarding gradients and type of ramps for access
but the spaces available for wheelchair users are not big enough. Out of
five wheelchair users here, ranging from small childlike size, manual and
electric wheelchairs. There was only enough space for the child size one
to maneuver, ie reverse into the space provided. If your chair cannot
safely fit into the space under health and safety the driver can refuse to
allow you to travel.
When raising all these concerns with Arriva, the response was - not their
problem and if the specifics do not meet the needs of disabled people, then
we should take it up with the coach builders (they only buy the bus)!
Does anybody have any good/positive guidance re buses?
Karen Beattie
Swyddog Mynediad/Access Officer
Ffon/Tel 01824 708052
E-bost: [log in to unmask]
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
"Gwynne, Mary"
<Mary.Gwynne@SWANS To: [log in to unmask]
EA.GOV.UK> cc:
Sent by: Subject: FW: buses angles and slopes
Accessibuilt list
<ACCESSIBUILT@JISC
MAIL.AC.UK>
01/04/04 11:34 AM
Please respond to
Accessibuilt list
I have been looking at the bus regulations and could not believe that the
angles they are referring to for ramps are so steep.
(c) with the vehicle on a flat surface, in the normal condition
for
a wheelchair user to board or alight, and with the boarding ramp extended
and sitting on a kerb of 125mm in height measured vertically from and
parallel to the ground, the surface of a boarding ramp shall have a slope
measured over the surface referred to in sub-paragraph (3)(a) of not more
than 7° ( amended to 8) measured relative to the ground;
> (d) notwithstanding (c) above, a boarding ramp may have -
>
> (i) at the intersection of the surface of the kerb and the
> surface of the ramp described above, a slope not exceeding 15° relative
to
> the ground over a distance of not more than 150mm (measured along the
> surface of the ramp and parallel to the direction of travel of a
reference
> wheelchair when it is moved from the kerb and onto the ramp surface), and
>
> (ii) at any other point a slope not exceeding 15° relative
> to the ground over a distance of not more than 150mm (measured along the
> surface of the ramp and parallel to the direction of travel of a
reference
> wheelchair when it is moved into the vehicle) and rising to a height of
> not more than 15mm (measured above and parallel to the surface of the
ramp
> or its sections);
>
> (e) with the vehicle on a flat surface and in the normal condition
> for a wheelchair user to board or alight, the boarding ramp shall be
> capable of being extended to and of sitting on that surface and in this
> position the surface of a boarding ramp shall have a slope of not more
> than 20° measured over the surface referred to in sub-paragraph (3)(a);
>
>
It means that the ramp on a pavement of 125mm at 8 degrees will be 1 in 7!
> This is much too steep for independent access.
> In section (e) it refers to the ramp to the ground being 20 degrees
which
> translates into to approx. 1 in 2 which is nearly vertical and impossible
> for access
I though that I was working it out incorrectly, as my geometry and
tan tables is not very good or maybe they had made a mistake typing
degrees instead of % , so I phoned the Department.
They assured me that it was degrees and that drivers could assist
if
the ramp was too steep.
I would not fancy pushing someone up a 1 in 2 slope. Would that be
a
manual handling situation?
So in reality we are not going to have accessible buses unless
there
is a high kerb. We will not be able to put high kerbs everywhere,
especially
on narrow roads on rural routes.
Surely they can design a more accessible bus? Are there more
accessible ones in other countries?
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