Pressure builds as bus bosses go it alone on banning prams

PRESSURE is growing on Lothian Buses to abandon its controversial ban on prams after it emerged the council-backed bus firm is the only big bus company in Scotland to not to allow prams on its services.

A straw poll of bus operators, including First and Stagecoach, conducted by the Evening News has shown that nobody has an outright ban on prams and the majority have left it to their drivers' discretion.

Lothian Buses drivers were last week reminded they are not to allow prams on board, so that the company complies with the Disability Discrimination Act.

The firm says it has to refuse prams in line with anti-discrimination legislation and passengers on buses can only take on buggies which can fold up to maintain a space for wheelchair users.

But unhappy parents claim they are the ones being discriminated against, with some claiming they have been forced to buy a buggy as a result of the policy.

Mhari Martin, 20, a sales assistant, bought a £400 pram for her five-month old daughter Brodie in February but today claimed she has been forced into buying a £110 buggy as the new ruling means she can on longer take her daughter to her city centre nursery from their Gilmerton home.

She said: "It just feels like they are discriminating against parents and it is not fair on people like me who have bought prams."

Councillors on the city's transport committee yesterday called for a report on the rationale behind Lothian Buses' policy, which will be brought to the next committee meeting in September.

Councillor Tom Buchanan, the city's economic development leader and SNP transport spokesman, said: "I have spoken to Lothian Buses and they have said they are obliged by law to accommodate wheelchair spaces but not pram spaces. However, I think a little bit of discretion could be applied."

A spokesman for Lothian Buses said: "This is not Lothian Buses' decision. It is government legislation, as laid down by the Disability Discrimination Act."

OTHER TRANSPORT FIRMS SAY . .

FIRST BUS
"If a disabled person is to use the service and the area is occupied by a pram, then the situation is explained and a request is made by the driver for the pram to be folded away. We try to accommodate both, but if unable to, then a first come, first served rule exists."

ARRIVA
" In the case of non-foldable prams, only prams that fit into the designated areas will be carried on our bus. Our drivers have the discretion to request that buggies are folded at busy times or if a customer wishes to board with a wheelchair."

STAGECOACH
"As the capacity on different types of bus can vary, we have no policy stating that buggies or prams are not permitted on our services. However, in the event of a wheelchair user wishing to travel when one or more buggy is in the space provided for wheelchairs, our staff politely request that mothers fold the buggies to make space for the wheelchair."

TRAVEL DUNDEE
"We have a designated area for both prams and wheelchairs, but it depends on the make of bus. We always try to accommodate everybody. It's case by case, we'll ask for a pram to be folded but if unable to, we'll inform the next bus of need for wheelchair space."

• www.lothianbuses.com