Let's get your wheels on the bus (From Haringey Independent)

Let's get your wheels on the bus says London TravelWatch

1:17pm Friday 3rd September 2010 in Readers' Letters

Let's get your wheels on the bus

As the transport watchdog for Haringey, we have campaigned for bus stops in the area to be fully accessible. People in wheelchairs, with pushchairs and with mobility problems need to be able to get on and off buses easily.

Transport for London recently published a league table of boroughs across London, which showed Haringey is 14th in the list, with 53 per cent of bus stops being accessible. This is above the London average, but could easily be improved.

Every bus in London is low-floored and has a space for wheelchairs, but there is absolutely no point having accessible buses if people cannot get on or off them. There is still a lot of work to do to ensure that all bus stops are fully accessible. Buses must be able to pull into the kerb particularly if the bus driver needs to use the ramp. Bus doors must not be obstructed and parking restrictions must be obeyed around stops. We will continue to press TfL and Haringey council to do anything necessary to ensure bus stops are accessible for all.

You can tell us of any problems you have with bus stops by emailing or writing to us.

Tim Bellenger, director of research and development, London TravelWatch