At Unique Mobility Plymouth, we were all set for our Bus Accessibility Session with Plymouth City Bus when – true to the old saying – two buses arrived at once!
In addition to Emma from Plymouth Citybus with her red local route bus, we were delighted to welcome Andy from Dart Line Coaches who brought along his coach, specially fitted with a wheelchair lift.
We were joined by a fantastic group of people using a wide range of mobility equipment including rollators, wheelchairs, scooters, and powerchairs. The event provided a relaxed, supportive environment for attendees to practise boarding and parking safely in the wheelchair bays.
Emma issued Access Training cards to participants, confirming they’d received guidance on travelling with their equipment. She also took the time to listen to past experiences and challenges, explaining what support is available for accessible bus travel.
The real showstopper was the Dart Lines coach’s wheelchair lift – a feature that impressed everyone and sparked excitement about future coach travel.
Our Recommendations when Choosing the Right Mobility Aid for Bus Travel
When it comes to bus travel, compact and lightweight mobility aids can make a big difference. Smaller Class 2 scooters like the Monarch Air or Globe Trotter Auto-Folding Scooter are ideal for public transport thanks to their portability and ease of manoeuvre. For those using powered wheelchairs, folding powerchairs such as the Q50R Carbon offer convenience and easy storage on board. Full-time powerchair users may also board standard buses, with mid-wheel drive models like the Dietz Sango Slimline or Quickie Q300M Mini offering excellent turning circles for tight spaces. Active manual chair users can benefit from compact power assist devices like the Empulse R90 or F35, providing extra push when navigating ramps or uneven ground.