Laura from Unique Mobility and Emma from Plymouth City Bus stand in front of a double decker bus outside our Plymouth branch. Pictured with two powerchairs.

At Unique Mobility, we are dedicated to empowering individuals with mobility challenges. As part of our commitment, we recently invited Plymouth CityBus to our Plymouth Showroom to explore how public transport can be made more accessible and inclusive and test out some of our products for ease of access.

A Visit with Purpose

We welcomed Emma, Plymouth CityBus's Accessibility and Inclusion Officer, to our Plymouth showroom. With 28 years of experience as a driver and trainer, Emma now leads accessibility initiatives across the company. Her personal connection to mobility challenges, as the daughter of a wheelchair user, gives her unique insight into the barriers faced by passengers with disabilities.

Emma brought along a double-decker bus to demonstrate access features and discuss the rights of disabled passengers. The hands-on session provided invaluable knowledge to better support our customers and the wider community.

Testing Mobility Aids

Our team tested a range of mobility products on the bus:

  • Powerchairs like the Quickie Q300M Mini Pro and Dietz Sango Advanced navigated narrow spaces with ease.
  • A manual wheelchair with a pull-assist device also performed well.
  • While a compact folding scooter boarded smoothly, a larger scooter highlighted the need for bus-compatible designs for regular users.

Emma highlighted the importance of proper wheelchair positioning in the rear-facing bay to protect passengers during sudden stops.

Addressing Accessibility Challenges

Plymouth CityBus has seen an increase in wheelchair and mobility aid users, with drivers deploying ramps an average of 4-5 times daily. Emma outlined key policies to support disabled passengers:

  • Priority for Wheelchair Users: Drivers can ask passengers blocking the wheelchair bay to move and ensure users are securely positioned before moving the bus.

  • Alternatives if the Wheelchair Bay is Full:

    • Informing passengers of the next bus arrival time.

    • Offering to wait with the passenger until the next bus.

    • Requesting another bus from the depot if possible.

    • Arranging a taxi at CityBus’s expense.

Building Confidence for Public Transport

For individuals new to bus travel, CityBus offers personalised training. Drivers meet passengers at a convenient location to practice boarding, securing their equipment, and exiting the bus without the stress of a bus full of passengers. Although this doesn’t address all accessibility issues it does enable those new to bus travel to gain some confidence. Participants receive a travel assessment card, providing added confidence when using public transport.

What’s Next?

This collaboration marks an exciting step toward breaking down barriers for mobility aid users. Building on the success of this event, Unique Mobility will host a dedicated bus access training session in the spring at our Plymouth store.

Watch the video to learn more

Listen to Laura from our Plymouth Store speaking to Emma about the ways Plymouth City Bus can support individuals with accessibility needs to gain confidence with using the buses in Plymouth

 

Register Your Interest:

Complete our interest form here
Email: hello@uniquemobility.co.uk
Call: Contact our Plymouth branch

Together, Unique Mobility and Plymouth CityBus are working to create a more accessible world for all.

For more information, visit Unique Mobility or Plymouth CityBus Accessibility.

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