Last week Doug Paulley and the bus industry welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision about what should happen when the wheelchair space is occupied – in this specific incident by a buggy user – and a wheelchair user wants to get on.
It’s taken four years from that day, in Wetherby, when Mr Paulley tried to get on a First Bus, until now.
The result is good and bad news. The Supreme Court – the last stop in a long line of legal actions brought by My Paulley – has ruled that operators should be persuasive in their signage and drivers should be more forceful: Even if this means refusing to drive the bus.
The good news is that the Court agreed the driver has no legal powers to throw someone off the bus.
When you read the original Leeds trial transcript it is very clear that the driver acted supremely professionally, and went beyond the call of duty in an attempt to find a comprise.
It is also clear that the un-named woman felt she was being perfectly reasonable by refusing to vacate the space (her baby was asleep). And, that Mr Paulley felt he was being totally reasonable by attempting to use it.
Now, all new First buses come with a wheelchair space and buggy space opposite, making it unique amongst the ‘big five’.
But, the bottom line is that everyone needs to be nice to each other. It’s about respect for other passengers. We can change signs, but changing cultures is harder.
Mel Holley
Editor
