Access to public transport (29 August 2008)
Richard campaigns for
better disbaled access to public transport
‘Everyone must have access to public transport – not
just in theory, but in practice’, Richard Burden has said
today.
Richard is campaigning with local residents to ensure that everyone in Northfield has proper access to public transport.
People with mobility issues currently face many difficulties using public transport. This is graphically illustrated in a film produced as part of Richard’s work with local residents to keep the post office on Middlemore Road open.
The film shows the extreme difficulties faced by a wheelchair user in trying to make the journey from Middlemore Road to Tessall Post Office using public transport. He was only finally able to board the third bus that passed thanks to assistance from two passengers on board who worked at Victoria School and were trained in lifting wheelchairs.
This week Richard has raised the issue of disabled access with Birmingham City Council, Centro and National Express West Midlands. He has called on these three agencies to urgently address this issue.
Writing in his monthly Westminster Diary column, published today in the Bromsgrove Standard and online here, Richard said:
‘Many of the buses in Birmingham have disabled access – as they should. However, at a number of bus stops – such as those on West Heath Road – the height and condition of the pavement effectively means that the bus platform cannot be lowered sufficiently enough to allow someone in a wheelchair to access the bus unaided. Indeed, it is pretty difficult for them to do so even if they have assistance.
‘This is an issue that I have raised this week with Birmingham City Council, Centro and National Express West Midlands. If the ability of people in wheelchairs to board disability friendly buses is more theoretical than real, then this is a problem that all the agencies involved need to address.’
He added:
‘This is a serious problem for many of my constituents and I will continue to campaign with local residents to make sure that people with mobility problems have the proper access to local transport they need.’
Read more about Richard's work on post offices online here
