I am a powerchair user. There are many times I’ve been denied transport. I can understand when a bus is too full - maybe there’s a lot of people, maybe there’s already two wheelchairs on there, or two prams. It’s annoying, but that happens sometimes, and that’s not within their control. But when it’s factors that are within the control of either the drivers or the bus company, that’s when it gets ridiculous. 🫤
This past Monday afternoon, I waited patiently for my bus home (which was running late, but that’s a different issue) at the main stop by Christchurch hospital. I waited at the marked spot, along with the other bus regulars. We’re all used to each other, and they get me to go in front so the driver can let down the ramp. 🚌
The driver opened the doors and told me he couldn’t open the ramp. One of the other passengers asked why - they were hesitant to get on - and he explained that the handle was broken. As someone now used to this, I resigned myself to having to wait for the next bus - my fellow passengers, though, were quite upset on my behalf. 😠
If this were a one-off event, it wouldn’t be so frustrating. But I’ve quite honestly lost count of how many times I haven’t been able to get on a bus simply due to this one issue. I have so many questions. Are the buses not checked before they go out? Why are there buses on the road with broken accessibility features? What sort of upkeep is happening (or not happening)? ⛓️💥
What’s even more frustrating is when the fault is known, and nothing has been done about it. A few weeks back I had exactly this problem with my morning bus and had to wait for the next one. When I went to take the bus home that afternoon after work, it was the exact same bus. It had been kept on the road all day with a broken essential feature. It should have been replaced. 🔧 🚌
The first time this happened, I made a complaint to Metro. They advised that the bus company would reply to me. They still haven’t. 📮📧
This is only one example of the inaccessibility and unsuitability of Christchurch buses, too. Some of the Ritchies buses, for example, are ridiculously narrow. They run the 3 Airport route, so being that narrow doesn’t make a lot of sense in the first place, when you think of people travelling with suitcases and bags, let alone anyone with a wheelchair, mobility scooter, or even a pram. 👩🦽
There have also been multiple times that I’ve gotten onto a bus with a fault in the ramp safety feature. When the driver goes to drive, the bus will have zero power. Then begins a long process of troubleshooting and conversing over the radio to try to fix it, all while passengers are worried about how late it’s getting. Logically, I know that it’s not technically my fault, but emotionally it can feel like it. 😔
Then there are things that I suppose are more of a nuisance than anything. Seats in the wheelchair bays that don’t stay folded up and fall on you. Seats that are oddly heavy to fold up. Stop buttons that do not work (I always alert the drivers to this, and yet nothing seems to be done about it). 🫷
I currently have no option except to use public transport. A powerchair friendly vehicle is expensive, and funding is thin. But the lack of accessibility and usability of our buses is really not acceptable. 😡
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