Bus driver refused to make passenger leave

[MobilityCat]

Last night on the very crowded bus I was unable to get to the wheelchair space to park, as it was full of luggage and people. The only place available was in the doorway.

A person stood next to me in the doorway and refused to move to allow people off, saying it was I that was in the way.

I asked him to move out of the doorway so other passengers could get off, but he wouldn't so I told him that he was being inconsiderate and he started shouting and swearing at me. I told him to move away and leave me alone.

He persisted so I called twice to the driver to get him off the bus, but the driver took no action to make him leave, so I was left to manage his abuse.

He then stood in front of me and threatened me, so I raised my walking stick and pointed it at him as a warning. He backed away but carried on threatening me.

I told him that I didn't want to hurt him but if he didn't leave me alone and continued threatening me I would.

He moved further away from me, but continued to swear at me, but since he was no longer a threat I just ignored him.

I was bullied as a child, but learned to stand up against bullies as they are basically cowards, but Is it asking too much to expect the driver to protect their passengers?

@rwalker What I meant by my post is that the driver should have asked people to move out of the wheelchair space. If they didn't comply, he should then have refused to move the bus (remaining in his cab) until they did so. If the passenger threatened him or anyone else (as it appears they threatened the OP), he should have contacted his base and requested police assistance. This is what I meant by training and security. He should be trainined in the law and how it is applied, how to keep himself and others as safe as possible (including wheelchair users) and how to manage escalating situations. If the police were funded properly, he would also have confidence that they'd actually show up if he did require assistance. Of course, it would also be nice if other people stood up for those like the OP rather than remaining silent.

What I'm trying to get across is that people in wheelchairs are not an inconvenience. Their needs as public-transport using individuals should not be brushed aside because some people assume they're simply too difficult to accomodate. And by saying that it's ok for bus drivers not to do their job (and asking people to move out of the 1 and only space that's safe for a wheelchair user to travel in IS part of the driver's job), you're effectively saying that the needs of people with disabilities don't matter.

@ArminTamzerian No, the bus driver didn't do his job. He shouldn't have driven anywhere with a wheelchair user in an unsafe position. He also should have asked people to move out of the wheelchair space.

Incorrect. That's not his job. Its up to the passenger to get their equipment in the correct place, not the driver.

So your saying passenger safety isnt the drivers responsibility?

the driver should ensure the wheelchair is correctly positioned in the one place it can safely travel. It is dangerous for everyone if the wheelchair isn’t safely in position

You cannot be serious. You think every time a person in a wheelchair gets on, the driver turn off the bus, gets out of the cab, and goes and checks it's positioned properly?

Lol, no you don't.

No they make sure they are in the wheelchair space. It’s not rocket science!

You said that the drivers job is "to ensure it's correctly positioned" .

It's not and you now realise that.

The drivers job is to drive the bus. Passengers can sort their own arguments out

Correctly positioned means in the right space - the only space! - on the bus facing the right direction. The driver doesn’t need to leave the cab to ensure that is the case!

to drive knowing a wheelchair isn’t correctly positioned is dangerous.

It's up to the driver to lower the ramp for the passenger and their wheelchair, ONLY when the wheelchair space is free.

So no, he didn't do his job.

Obviously the rule is now that wheelchair users have first call on the space. Buggies should be foldable so parents can fold them and move out of the space.
Our local bus drivers (outer London) would normally tell someone with a buggy to move out of the space, but I suspect that if the bus was completely packed he probably wouldn't ask anyone to get off to give you room. Locally most people in wheelchairs would not attempt to get onto a bus if it was so full.

I should add that people are not meant to travel in with open buggies in the corridors as it is dangerous, but I've seen mothers refuse to move from the chair space because they say that they can't fold them. If they refuse to co-operate I expect they should be asked to get off, but I doubt that this happens.

@snowmichael@snowmichael@snowmichael the driver has cameras and a mirror in the the bus so they can see everything that's happening.

Not sure why you tagged me in a thread I've not been involved in?

I was responding to something else, sorry