Pulhams Coaches has introduced an accessibility card scheme across its bus services in Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire.
The Helping Hand scheme went live on 20 February and enables passengers to obtain a free card bearing a short written instruction for drivers that can then be presented upon boarding. 12 variants are available and cover needs from deafness and visual impairment to requests for additional time to grab a seat before departure.
Cards are issued free of charge and can be customised to display emergency contact details.
The initiative is an extension of one already established within the Go-Ahead family of companies and follows adoption by Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel. It joins other community focused schemes within Pulhams, such as its partnership with Guide Dogs to provide free travel for volunteer puppy raisers, and a Chatty Bus initiative aimed at tackling social isolation.
“With the expansion and growth of Pulhams in recent years, and a series of new routes too, it felt like the right time to deliver the Helping Hand scheme via the network,” says Luke Marion, Managing Director of Pulhams. “It’s proven to be a popular and useful initiative for both the Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel, and reinforces our commitment to providing accessible transport for all.
“Helping Hand allows our drivers to be made aware of a customer’s needs or requirements without the passengers having to verbally communicate it.”
