I don’t know which has better accessibility here, busses or trains. On the one hand, trains are easier because the schedule is much easier for someone like me to work with, so I don’t make nearly as many mistakes, and if it were just that, I’d be able to take the train anywhere on my own. On the other hand, buses actually have better wheelchair accessibility. At least in the places I’ve taken them, you could just show up and get on, don’t have to go through the doors at the front of the bus either. For trains, you have to announce that you’ll be travelling by train with your wheelchair in advance, and when exactly, so they can show up with a portable ramp (or you’d have to have some way of carrying the chair on board). Then you’d most likely have to stay right next to the doors instead of at the seating areas (because many trains now are doubledeckers and have steps inside them leading both up and down, also the doorwars are incredibly narrow in any type of train) so if you’re travelling with friends there’s a good chance they won’t be able to get a seat near you. I also don’t know what happens if you’re late for some reason out ofyour control, or if your train is late and you miss a connection.

I don’t think I’m allowed to use the disabled seating, but I’ve often wanted to ask for a seat in whatever location when my backpain is bad (as it often is on the way back when travelling, at least). I’ve never asked though. Sometimes I’m unable to, but at other times I’ve been too afraid to ask, because I don’t think anyone would believe me.

Still, I don’t remember any way for wheelchair users to use the tube, though that might have only been because my TAB-privilege might have kept me from noticing.

I definitely would have picked you up (or at least offered to) if I was anywhere near you. Big hugs if you want them! <3

As for passing on the escalators, the rule in Britain is ‘stand on the right’, so you’ll have a line of stationary people being carried up (or down) on the right hand side, and another line walking past them on the left – all very orderly.

I can imagine some people would find it difficult, but for me it’s the best way to get around London.

I am glad that our buses are required to kneel and open all the automatic doors at every stop, whether the can see someone with a visible disability or not.

Are any of the regulars here from London? I don’t think it would even be possible for people who need accommodations to use the subway, given that it tends to be so incredibly crowded, one often can not even get in (has to be horrible for those who can not take crowds and lack of personal space or space to move) I don`t remember there being elevators, and the escalators were stuffed with people, many of whom were always trying to pass.

I know they got rid of the old, dangerous buses a while back, but still, not being able to use the subway in London…

Two years ago almost exactly, I was riding on a bus in one of the busier parts of town. I had been out shopping – bought myself some boots, and a couple of presents for people at home, so my lap was full of packages. Packages that covered my cane.

I was seated in the disabled area, because at that point I hobbled as if I was 4 times my age and it hurt so very much. A woman with a cane got on, and a middle aged woman across from me – also in the disabled seating – demanded I stand up. I turned to her and said ‘I wish I could.’

She grumbled about rude young people as she deigned to stand and give up her seat. The other woman with a cane sat down, and I turned to her and said, “Sorry I didn’t stand. I’m disabled too, my cane is in here under my bags.” She smiled at me. I said that I hated the way people judged my health by my age, because I was mad at the woman who’d tried to force me to stand. Yeah, maybe it was small and petty, but I’d been hurt. It still hurts, the memory.

When I’ve had to move for a wheelchair to use the same space, the drivers have been very polite. One came back and asked me if it was possible for me to move, and then requested the people in the seat behind me find other seats so I wouldn’t have to move far. Another asked if I would mind moving across the aisle so that he would have to move fewer people, and held my bag for me while I moved. Both of them definitely seemed to imply that if I couldn’t handle moving, they’d figure out something else.

I got on the bus one day and found all of the disabled seating had been occupied by high school students. I’m sorry, I found it difficult to believe that all 7 of them had disabilities. I said ‘Excuse me?’ No one moved. I said ‘I need a seat.’ Again, no one moved. The bus driver turned around and said, ‘Kids, one of you can give up your seat to the lady who needs it, or you can ALL get off my bus!’ He was great, one of the regular drivers on that line who I chatted with – in part because he treated me as a PERSON and remembered things like me needing him to kneel the bus to get on. Such an awesome guy. I felt very lucky that he drove on the line I used to get to and from school every day.

But I’ve also had the lousy ones. The ones who I ask to kneel the bus so I can step on more easily and they stare at me like I’ve grown horns or better yet tell me that it’s broken. The ones who won’t help me when people won’t get out of the disabled seats, or who start while I’m trying to get back to the seat (which has caused me to fall more than once).

My life has gotten a lot easier with regards to seating since I got my service dog. Because I need space to put him, no one gives me crap about wanting one of the disabled spots (which have more space around them). I do try to remember to thank people who get up and move – yeah, they’re just obeying the law, but I still appreciate that they think it’s worth doing. After all, respecting the law means respecting my rights as a PWD to have an accomodation.

~Kali
http://www.brilliantmindbrokenbody.wordpress.com

When I can, I try to get on the bus first/early. If a bus is starting its run and there’s lots of people at the stop, I try to make sure I’m near where the bus will stop and actively watch/wait for the bus to come. If I’m up to it and it’s a non-threatening route/time, I go near the back of the bus so I can sleep without feeling like everyone behind me is watching (long bus trips, often close to traveling whole route). If I’m having a poor day, I’ll sit a row or two behind the disabled seating or near the 2nd door if I am on a bus which uses two exits so I am close to the exit (most of the newer buses have flip up/down seats at the front which can be used for wheelchair users, a row of seating facing into that space and then the next row is disabled seating).

If I am having a very poor day or the seats already have at least one person on them (I like window seats so I can lean/sleep against window), I just sit on the first seat I see. I always feel a little anxious sitting down next to someone but I’m generally fine when they sit down next to me.

The buses into the city from my area are always packed and take up to an hour and a half depending on time/load. Generally I can get on the bus into the city when the bus is near empty but sometimes have to catch a connection to get it which means I get on when it’s full. I’m not up to standing/balancing/holding on for very long. If I can’t get a seat I will always just sit in the aisle if I can (blend in with others on the packed late friday/saturday night buses, people take their high heels off and just sit down in the aisle). Even when I’m sitting up the back I feel some of that self-loathing when no one gets up for someone who visibly needs a seat, you know that delay while people decide to get up? Generally people and bus drivers are pretty good and get up, the buses are always full and there’s a lot of uni students on that route so there’s always an expectation that someone on the bus will give up their seat. There’s not really enough “priority” seating, especially during “off-peak” when more visibly disabled and elderly people catch the bus into the city.

I find the train worse access wise. Going up long, steep ramps or stairs or waiting ages for slow, often broken down, lifts. Getting dirty looks (or feeling like I’m getting dirty looks) when I catch the lift up/down from a platform, especially if the lift is one of those really small cramped ones (you don’t need the lift, use the stairs/ramp). I’ve worked out which carriages to get on to be closest to the entrances/exits which are easiest. Even though there are escalators at one station, I often use the lift because, without any walking/getting through crowds on the platform, it gets me right at the carriage I need to get on that will arrive near the exit at my destination.

We have double decker carriages with a largeish vestibule level to the platform on either end of a carriage which generally have “priority” seating. I don’t like going up or down the couple of steps to either level so almost always sit/stand in the vestibule area. In off-peak, can generally get a seat in this largish area. In peak, the train is so FULL. CityRail (our train service) often exceeds “crush load” aka sardines on many lines (crush load = 135% of seated capacity of a train). See http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/train-crush-load-limit-to-triple/2009/01/03/1230681809446.html In my experience it is a lot less likely that someone will give up their seat on the train, mainly because when the train is so full of standing passengers the seated passengers kind of feel like they can hide more. If I can’t get a seat I will generally sit on the floor or if there is not enough room to sit stand very uncomfortable for 25 minutes. I won’t ask for a seat unless I feel almost certain I will pass out otherwise.