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Disabled to sue bus company

8:00am Wednesday 24th August 2011 in Darlington Photograph of the Author By David Roberts , Chief Reporter (Darlington)

LIST OF COMPLAINTS: Gordon Pybus, of Darlington Associated on Disability. LIST OF COMPLAINTS: Gordon Pybus, of Darlington Associated on Disability.

A GROUP of disabled people is taking a North-East bus company to court over allegations of discrimination.

Darlington Association on Disability (Dad) has hired lawyers after three of its members complained of several incidents of discrimination by Arriva North- East.

The allegations include:

• Buses not stopping for passengers with wheelchairs;
• Wheelchair users being refused access because there are already pushchairs on board; and
• Verbal abuse when disabled people tried to board or alight from the bus.

Dad has now enlisted disability discrimination specialists Unity Law to handle the case.

Ann Dodsworth, 60, from Darlington, is one of the claimants.

She said she has contacted Arriva on numerous occasions after treatment at the hands of drivers left her feeling humiliated.

On one occasion, her carer had to lower the ramp to let her on a bus after the driver refused to get out of his seat, she said.

Another time, she claimed she was not allowed on a bus because she was told she was too heavy to use the ramp.

Mrs Dodsworth, who has multiple sclerosis and has been in a wheelchair since 2002, said: “Some of the drivers are absolutely brilliant, but when you get a bad one, he’s very bad.

“You can tell by the face, he’s thinking, ‘Oh God, what have I got here?’ “It’s complete humiliation.”

Gordon Pybus, the chairman of Dad, claimed that nothing had been done by Arriva, despite issues being raised about the company’s treatment of disabled passengers on several occasions.

He said: “We’re at the point now that, with no action forthcoming from Arriva, and with the growing number of complaints coming our way, we felt we had to take this to the next level.”

Chris Fry, managing partner at Sheffield-based Unity Law, said that, under the 2010 Equality Act, companies should have due regard for equality issues.

He said: “What that means is they have to implement adjustments which ensure disabled people are not treated less favourably as a result of their disability.

“What we want out of this is a positive change. We’re hoping that systems will be improved and training will be provided to bus drivers.”

A spokesman for Arriva said: “We are satisfied that we comply with the current guidelines with regard to the Disability Discrimination Act.

“We will, of course, continue to investigate any individual concerns and deal with them in the appropriate manner.”

Anyone who has experienced similar problems can contact Dad on 01325-489999, text 07624-818780 or email equalaccess@darling tondisability.org

Comments(9)

harry2 says...
6:02pm Wed 24 Aug 11

There is no place at all along clifton road where a wheelchair passenger can get on a bus because there are no bus stops.

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Dannyspectra says...
6:39pm Wed 24 Aug 11

One thing to remember is that buses run on a first come first served basis and it's the drivers job to ask someone to move or fold buggies etc so wheelchair users can board the bus if the person will not move there is nothing really a driver can do, the ramps to gain access to the buses do have a maximum weight they can cope with. As for rude drivers there is no excuse really! The only thing is to educate people that wheelchair users need access, but now I have seen that the pushchairs are turning into prams that cannot be folded and with some buses with only a wheelchair bay on one side of the bus and no where safe to accommodate both passengers rock in a hard place!

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smithy1970 says...
8:32am Thu 25 Aug 11

Dannyspectra wrote:
One thing to remember is that buses run on a first come first served basis and it's the drivers job to ask someone to move or fold buggies etc so wheelchair users can board the bus if the person will not move there is nothing really a driver can do, the ramps to gain access to the buses do have a maximum weight they can cope with. As for rude drivers there is no excuse really! The only thing is to educate people that wheelchair users need access, but now I have seen that the pushchairs are turning into prams that cannot be folded and with some buses with only a wheelchair bay on one side of the bus and no where safe to accommodate both passengers rock in a hard place!
it clearly states on a bus that priority is to be given to wheelchairs over pushchairs after all they are wheelchair friendly buses not pushchair friendly if a pushchair is unable to be folded to allow access for a wheelchair then the pushchair/pram should not be allowed on the bus in the first place

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Dannyspectra says...
10:07am Thu 25 Aug 11

smithy1970 wrote:
Dannyspectra wrote:
One thing to remember is that buses run on a first come first served basis and it's the drivers job to ask someone to move or fold buggies etc so wheelchair users can board the bus if the person will not move there is nothing really a driver can do, the ramps to gain access to the buses do have a maximum weight they can cope with. As for rude drivers there is no excuse really! The only thing is to educate people that wheelchair users need access, but now I have seen that the pushchairs are turning into prams that cannot be folded and with some buses with only a wheelchair bay on one side of the bus and no where safe to accommodate both passengers rock in a hard place!
it clearly states on a bus that priority is to be given to wheelchairs over pushchairs after all they are wheelchair friendly buses not pushchair friendly if a pushchair is unable to be folded to allow access for a wheelchair then the pushchair/pram should not be allowed on the bus in the first place
It also does not say "you must" it's all worded so that it makes you think it does but is only advisory!

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DevilOnMyShoulder says...
8:21am Sat 27 Aug 11

It's a very strange one, the drivers as someone has put it are between a rock and a hard place.

at the minute all a driver can do is ask a buggy to drop down, like someone has said a "Pram" can't. if the space is free you can't refuse one on the off chance you'll get a wheelchair.

I personally have had someone walk on and sit in the buggy bay, and refuse to move when a buggy came on, even though the seat opposite was free, because she knew her rights.
Not what you call morally right is it.

It'll be a funny old world when the law does change and the drivers have the right to make the person/buggy move for a wheelchair, the I fear the headline will read, "Mum's sue bus company for discrimination" after a pram is made to move for a wheelchair.

I agree that commonsense is needed. If it's a local service and every, say 10 minutes, then I don't actually see the problem with ANYONE waiting.

however on the flip side if the bus comes only, say every 2 hours. then people should have the sense and decency to move.

As I must say most do, however you get the odd person who'll dig their heels in.

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apatterson says...
4:11pm Sat 3 Sep 11

I think this rather demonstrates the overall contempt Arriva North east regularly demonstrates to its customers. Bus drivers are often rude and aggressive, buses are frequently late, and the buses themselves often breakdown. There seems to be no such concept as customer care. I think their treatment of the disabled, and the old too, is an absolute disgrace. They seem to be a law unto themselves. I can't remember United being as bad as this shower!

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apatterson says...
4:11pm Sat 3 Sep 11

I think this rather demonstrates the overall contempt Arriva North east regularly demonstrates to its customers. Bus drivers are often rude and aggressive, buses are frequently late, and the buses themselves often breakdown. There seems to be no such concept as customer care. I think their treatment of the disabled, and the old too, is an absolute disgrace. They seem to be a law unto themselves. I can't remember United being as bad as this shower!

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apatterson says...
4:12pm Sat 3 Sep 11

I think this rather demonstrates the overall contempt Arriva North east regularly demonstrates to its customers. Bus drivers are often rude and aggressive, buses are frequently late, and the buses themselves often breakdown. There seems to be no such concept as customer care. I think their treatment of the disabled, and the old too, is an absolute disgrace. They seem to be a law unto themselves. I can't remember United being as bad as this shower!

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Overkill_uk says...
1:33am Sun 4 Sep 11

apatterson wrote:
I think this rather demonstrates the overall contempt Arriva North east regularly demonstrates to its customers. Bus drivers are often rude and aggressive, buses are frequently late, and the buses themselves often breakdown. There seems to be no such concept as customer care. I think their treatment of the disabled, and the old too, is an absolute disgrace. They seem to be a law unto themselves. I can't remember United being as bad as this shower!
I would just like to point out that i am bus driver and in all the years i have been with the company i have only ever received one complaint and am "ALWAYS" helpfull and friendly to people reguardless of ANY disabillity, saying drivers are a law unto themselves is stereotyping all drivers which i think is wrong, customer care is one of the companys main points when you join ARRIVA.

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