- Some car parks don’t have any special spaces, they only have “Normal” spaces. They can be very difficult or impossible for disabled people to access.
- Some car parks have Disabled Access (“Blue Badge”) spaces. They are specially designed and located to make it possible or easier for some disabled people to use the car park.
- Some car parks also have “Parent and Child” spaces. They are specially designed and located to make it easier for people with young children to use them.
- When a parent with young children uses a car park that only has “Normal” and “Blue Badge” spaces, they are generally not permitted to use a “Blue Badge” space. They have to use a “Normal” space. It’s not as easy, it’s a pfaf, but it can be done.
- Some buses don’t have any special spaces, they only have “Normal” seats. They can be impossible for some disabled people to access.
- Some buses have a “Wheelchair” space. They are specially designed and located to make it possible for wheelchair users to use them.
- Some buses also have “Buggy” spaces. They are specially designed and located to make it easier for people with young children to use them.
- When a parent with young children uses a bus that only has “Normal” seats and a “Wheelchair” space, they are generally permitted to use the “Wheelchair” space. They could use a “Normal” seat, unless disability prevents them. It’s a pfaf, but it can be done.
If the wheelchair space on a bus is in use and isn’t vacated… no wheelchair user can get on.
And if I use my mobility scooter on the bus, I am required to use the wheelchair space.
If that space is already taken I cannot board – even if the rest of the bus were completely empty.
If I wait for the next bus (in my area they run approximately every 30 minutes) I sometimes see buses at peak times (such as when there are high tides that cover the only road onto the island where I live) that have stairs which able-bodied people can use, but which I cannot access.
During those high tide times the buses stop running to and from the island up to two hours before and after the high tide, meaning that if you cannot access the last bus you’ve got a wait of several hours.
I could take a taxi at cost of £20 each way – an expensive trip to go into town.