Ray Bellisario
(pictured) has endured terrible treatment at the hands of some bus drivers.
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| John Bellisario refused access: fighting for the right to travel on buses |
However, people such
as John Murphy who responded in an ill-informed way on Facebook do not help the
situation:
"Ok everyone's saying poor this poor
that, time to throw a spanner in the works, he could have arranged a private
ambulance to his hospital appointment with ease, the bus drivers were following
the correct procedures, after the wake of the 7/7 bombings they have to be more
stringent when it comes to Health and Safety! Also they mobility scooters are a
monstrosity to say the least, saying to sack the drivers for following the
correct procedures just shows the ignorance surrounding this.
He is also eligible to the mobility scheme! Which he can easily purchase a car from if not he can get it for his primary carer.
Again this is the PC police out in force as well."
He is also eligible to the mobility scheme! Which he can easily purchase a car from if not he can get it for his primary carer.
Again this is the PC police out in force as well."
To John Murphy, yes
he could have opted for transport to the hospital, most London hospitals offer
such a resource. However, arranging such transport is not at you put it, easy. When
using this form of transport you often have to be ready to travel hours before
your hospital appointment time. For people with chronic pain conditions, or for
someone like me who has a neurogenic bladder, being without the means to use a toilet
for more than 40 minutes creates a crisis.
Your contention that
post-7/7 wheelchairs or mobility scooters, that fulfil the measurement
criteria, are not allowed on buses is simply untrue. Calling an aid such as a mobility
scooter a monstrosity, a piece of equipment that helps someone who cannot walk
without great difficulty and pain, sums up your humanity.
Your knowledge of
the Motability scheme is also lacking. In the first place you don't purchase
the vehicles, they're leased for a three or five -year term; secondly how do you
know he can afford to run the vehicle; and third, you are assuming the man in
question has a primary carer.
Finally, I do agree
to a some degree to your defence of drivers. Calling for people to be sacked in
such circumstances is not always the most helpful way to go. Most bus drivers
are decent people; and will go the extra to help out elderly and disabled
passengers. Some, sadly fall short of proper disability awareness, and need
training.
However, the answer
to the problem of bad drivers lies with trade union organisation within the industry.
Where there is poor organisation in garages you are more likely to have drivers
who are intimidated by management and who will follow bad instructions and
advice from managers whose only concern is the maximisation of company profits.
Therefore, the
sooner we get 100% organised bus garages, especially in large conurbations such
as London, the sooner we will see all drivers fully trained in disability
awareness training. In fact we could go one better and bring the buses back
into the hands of the public sector; bring back bus conductors and dignity for
all travelling on our buses.
