London public transport

Eden23

Hello, I'm Eden and have only recently become a wheelchair user. I'm a 67 yr old male from Walthamstow.  At the moment I have a self-propelled model on loan from the Red Cross. I'm not good at steering myself around and don't have much arm strength anyway so the only times I venture out is if a friend pushes me and then it's only to the local park and café. I want to use London buses so I can travel further afield and have some sort of social life. I have questions about bus use - do all buses have ramps, do I have to tell the driver where I wish to alight and will he/she notice me if I move towards the door where I need to get out, what if the space for users is taken up by buggies etc, if I am wheeled on face first should I turn the chair around so I can get out face first? Any advice would be appreciated. Cheers, Eden

Alex_Alumni

Hi there @Eden23 and welcome, thanks for your query London can be an exciting place to visit, and as a wheelchair user myself, I know it's not always the easiest city to navigate. 

When it comes to information and advice on travel around the capital, I can recommend Transport For All, they have a page all about buses as well. Here's the key information:

• Ramp: Buses usually have a ramp at the middle doors (wheelchair and mobility scooter users board via these doors). Some single-decker buses have a ramp at the front doors. 

Mobility Aid Restrictions 
Priority space 

• On each bus, there is at least one space in which wheelchair and mobility scooter users have priority over other passengers: the dimensions of the wheelchair priority space vary, but it should be big enough for wheelchairs with the following dimensions: 1200mm long and 700mm wide.  

• Wheelchair and mobility aid users always have priority to use the space over buggy users 

Mobility scooter guidance 
Mobility scooters are permitted with the following maximum dimensions 

• Maximum width: 600mm 

• Maximum length: 1000mm 

• Maximum turning radius: 1200mm 

• The Mobility Aid Recognition Scheme can provide a card to owners of scooters that TfL have approved for travel on buses. This will prove to the bus driver that your mobility scooter is allowed on board. To apply, contact TfL’s Travel Mentoring Service on 020 3054 4361. 

In my own experience of London buses, at first I didn't know the ramp came out the middle automatically, so once I was redirected I was able to get on. If the ramp is in the middle, the space itself is across from the ramp doorway. I believe you'll need to park so that the back of the chair is next to the safety barrier/edge of the space, but there's usually enough room to maneuver and to face forwards (if you prefer) when getting off the bus. 

I did need a few passengers to shout and let the driver know I wanted to get off, and did find when I got on once the space was taken up with standing school kids, but after I asked them to move, all was well. 

I hope this helps to reassure you and answer things, but if you have other questions, please ask! 

Eden23

That's very helpful, Alex. I just need to pluck up the courage and get back out there. Cheers 

Steve_in_The_City

@Eden23 Please don't worry about using buses. They all have ramps. I live a bit more central than you do (I used to go the dogs at Walthamstow and loved it; oh, happy days).

@Alex_Scope has given good advice. People WILL call out to the driver when you alight to make sure you can get off safely. Make sure you are looking forward towards the exit, because reversing down the ramp backward is extremely dangerous. Some years ago I witnessed a man in a wheelchair reversing off the bus backwards and his wheelchair toppled backwards and he hit his head on the pavement. So make sure you can see where you are going.

People with luggage and prams in the disabled area will give way. The ramp is usually centrally located by the getting off doors, so you just let the driver know you want to get on the bus and the driver will open the doors and will extend the ramp. There are then clear instructions as to how you should position yourself.

When it comes to getting off, people will call out to the driver.

I can get on the bus using a lightweight tri-walker. Getting off is difficult, but people always come to my aid and help me.

I think you have two problems: Not being able to steer well and not having sufficient strength to propel yourself.

With steering practice makes perfect. Take it slowly. Just look ahead and think about where you need to be, what corners you have to turn etc. Anticipation keep you one step ahead of the game. I taught an elderly lady how to steer, and she went from being really frightened to use her mobility scooter to being confident. When in your wheelchair look ahead at all times and if things seem difficult just stop and have a think.

Your other problem is that you don't have strength to propel yourself and need a friend to push you. Just buy an electric wheelchair (power chairs as I think they are called these days). Then you can be independent and go where you like.

When I first became disabled everything seemed impossible and I felt trapped. But I learnt how to get around on my mobility scooter and my tri-walker. It appears very daunting at first, but once you have put yourself out there and tested the water, it is not so bad or scary,