'Trapped' as MS sufferer's scooter banned from bus

THEY have already sparked the ire of mums by outlawing prams, and now Lothian Buses chiefs look set to have another fight on their hands – after banning mobility scooters.

Multiple sclerosis sufferer Sonya Cullen, 42, who lives in Granton, said she often used the buses until last year when a policy change meant she was unable to take her scooter on board.

The bus company says there were safety issues with carrying scooters, and it is not obliged to take them under the Disability Discrimination Act. Ironically, the controversial ban on non- collapsible prams was brought in to comply with the same act, to leave space for wheelchairs.

Many other bus companies, including Stagecoach, allow scooters on board, and David Griffiths, chief executive of the Edinburgh-based disability rights group Ecas, today called for a more consistent approach by bus companies.

Ms Cullen said the change in policy had restricted her independence. As she is unable to drive because of her condition, she has to pay about £20 for a return journey by taxi to the city centre. She uses a small, lightweight scooter that can be transported in a car boot.

She said: "I can't walk very far, and the scooter means I don't have to rely on someone else. I've got my own independence.

"They have spent millions of pounds on introducing low-floored buses to make them accessible, but then they won't let me on. I can't understand why London buses and Stagecoach don't have a problem with letting me on, but I can't travel around my own city. It means I'm effectively trapped in Granton most of the time."

Lothian Buses said a recent study by the Department for Transport found that some types of scooter could not be carried safely. The study concluded that bus companies could decide whether or not to carry them.

A spokesman said: "A DfT study concluded that bus operators are obliged to operate safely and may choose not to carry people in scooters, even when it is physically possible to load them, due to concerns over size, manoeuvrability and stability.

"As mobility scooters come in so many different models and sizes it is impossible for drivers to assess the safety of each vehicle. The safety of our passenger is always our major concern."

THE PRAMS BAN FIGHT
22 July 2008: New mum Kirsti Mill is shocked to find she is banned from travelling on Lothian Buses with her baby son Oakley in his pram. The company has told drivers not to allow prams on board in order to keep space free for wheelchair users.

28 July: Parents begin a campaign to overturn the pram ban, enlisting the support of local MP John Barrett and MSP Margaret Smith.

30 September: The Equality and Human Rights Commission joins the city council in calling for a "commonsense" approach to the row.

5 November: MSPs condemn the "ridiculous" ban, after mothers present a petition with more than 2,000 signatures at the Scottish Parliament.

11 February 2009: Holyrood's public petitions committee calls on Lothian Buses to meet campaigners and try to find a solution. Capability Scotland, the Edinburgh Disability Forum and Ecas all call for a compromise to be found.

24 March 2009: Lothian Buses announces plans to bring in new vehicles with dedicated spaces for prams and buggies. It expects the new buses will make up half the fleet in two or three years' time.