Scottish bus company's stroller ban not necessary, according to disability law

From The Scotsman:

There is no legal requirement for Lothian Buses to enforce its controversial ban on prams, it emerged August 4.

The council-owned firm has come under fire for the policy which it says it needs to keep space clear for wheelchairs in order to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act. However, the Department for Transport August 4 insisted that while it is necessary to provide wheelchair space, it only needs to be vacated "if at all possible" when a disabled person gets on board.

ECAS, the city's top support group for people with disabilities, said there was no
need for it.

There is nothing in the law about which type of buggies or prams can be carried on buses, while city leaders have called for a report into the pram ban.

David Griffiths, chief executive of ECAS, said: "We are keen to see common sense and common courtesy prevail and do not understand how Lothian Buses reaches the conclusion that the DDA requires a total ban on prams being taken on the bus.

"I don't think anyone in a wheelchair wants people thrown off buses for them. It should be left up to the driver's discretion.

"I am worried this is being framed as a wheelchair users versus mothers battle and it is not like that."They have co-existed on buses fine until now."

Passengers on Lothian Buses are still able to take on buggies which can fold up to maintain a space for wheelchair users.

A survey carried out in the Evening News last week saw one mother allowed on to three buses with her pram despite the ban.

A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: "The Public Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR) requires new full-size buses to be wheelchair accessible. This means that there needs to be a designated wheelchair
space.

"It is acceptable for this space to be used by other passengers when it is not required by a wheelchair user but it should be vacated, if at all possible, when a wheelchair user requires it."