Doug Paulley's blog

disability, data protection, activism and other such

Wheelchair spaces on buses and Party Politics

Posted on by Doug Paulley

I appreciate and am truly humbled my the support offered and given freely by so many people and organisations (in particular disabled peoples’ organisations). I welcome non-partisan parliamentary support for this issue.

I wish to make it clear, however, that there are certain groups whose politics and behaviour is such that I have profound idealogical concerns about working with them. Whilst they are free to access any of the information I have put out, and I cannot control what they do with it, I will not work with the BNP, the EDL, UKIP or allied parties. Hence anything with such organisations’ stamps on is not sanctioned by me.

Doug Paulley

Equality vs Equity

Posted on by Doug Paulley

equity-vs-equality

(With thanks to the Becoming Radical blog for the image.)

If and when we win the case in the Supreme Court, I think we should rename the Equality Act to the Equity Act.

A lot of people seem to be talking about Equality between non-disabled pushchair users and wheelchair users. That may be Equality, but it’s not Equity.

Equal rights of access to the wheelchair space on buggies means I sometimes can’t travel – whereas pushchair users have the option of folding their buggy and traveling if I’m in the space. Particularly if they use sensible buggies, slings for newborn kids, etc. etc.

Spaces: car parks, buses, wheelchairs and buggies

Posted on by Doug Paulley

spaces

  1. Some car parks don’t have any special spaces, they only have “Normal” spaces. They can be very difficult or impossible for disabled people to access.
  2. Some car parks have Disabled Access (“Blue Badge”) spaces. They are specially designed and located to make it possible or easier for some disabled people to use the car park.
  3. Some car parks also have “Parent and Child” spaces. They are specially designed and located to make it easier for people with young children to use them.
  4. When a parent with young children uses a car park that only has “Normal” and “Blue Badge” spaces, they are generally not permitted to use a “Blue Badge” space. They have to use a “Normal” space. It’s not as easy, it’s a pfaf, but it can be done.
  1. Some buses don’t have any special spaces, they only have “Normal” seats. They can be impossible for some disabled people to access.
  2. Some buses have a “Wheelchair” space. They are specially designed and located to make it possible for wheelchair users to use them.
  3. Some buses also have “Buggy” spaces. They are specially designed and located to make it easier for people with young children to use them.
  4. When a parent with young children uses a bus that only has “Normal” seats and a “Wheelchair” space, they are generally permitted to use the “Wheelchair” space. They could use a “Normal” seat, unless disability prevents them. It’s a pfaf, but it can be done.

If the wheelchair space on a bus is in use and isn’t vacated… no wheelchair user can get on.