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?

I think @Noodlesnotstrudels is thinking of the case of Paulley v FirstGroup PLC, where the Supreme Court found that bus companies should have policies to help wheelchair users as part of their equality duties. Drivers should ask other passengers to free up a wheelchair space, and they should find out why if they do not do so. If, in the driver’s opinion, they could easily move to another part of the bus, the driver should take further steps to persuade them, e.g. rephrasing the request as a requirement or refusing to drive on.

It tends to be thought of as London-specific because not all buses in other areas have spaces actually designated for wheelchair use.

But a wheelchair user should always be able to access the only space they can use on a bus unless it’s being used by another wheelchair user.

if people weren’t selfish idiots who believe their suitcase has more right to the space then I could see your point but the fact is wheelchair users regularly end up stranded trying to use public transport due to the selfishness of others.

I think you've misread the post you're quoting. The poster is not saying there is a duty to clear space, but a duty not to let wheelchair users on if there is no space for them.

Report incident to the bus company. They will have cctv and will investigate. I would report to police as well. Shame that no one came to your assistance.

Surely getting everyone off the bus as quickly as possible to avoid it escalating is best here. Stopping the bus and engaging with unhinged people, unless you’re a police officer, is not going to end well. If I was the driver I’d just want to get everyone to where they want to be as quick as possible so people can get off the bus and not get tied up in any escalated behaviour. And tbh, the comments on here from other people saying they have been in similar situations, where the bus driver would not sort out problems, suggests they have some sort of policy and process in place here.

It's not discrimination. The company has made reasonable adjustments in providing the space. It's up to passengers to use their brains and not obstruct it.

Are you for real? So luggage in an accessible space, usurps a wheelchair user?

And if the passenger says no?

Do you come onto every Mumsnet thread and say that (as we only ever get one side of the story) or do you only do this to OPs with disabilities?

I think bus drivers take so much abuse that it's easier for them to not confront passengers and have the abuse shares out between the passengers. I once, obviously, leapt off the bus with my daughter in her push chair to let a wheelchair on, and the bus driver seemed surprised. I think buses make (lazy) people turn very nasty.

Ahh look!

The problem has arrived.

Any bus drivers around to tell this person to leave the thread?

I'm sure he was just trying to get home safely to his family that day and not be injured or worse for the sake of a wheelchair space. Next time call the police.

Perhaps it was the leaping that surprised him? I think most people just get off normally.

If there is anything in a wheelchair space other than another wheelchair, it should be removed when a passenger in a wheelchair gets on. That is the law. OP expecting to access the wheelchair space isn't expecting the world to revolve round her. Your comment is disgusting and ableist.

I’m sorry this happened, OP, and I’m sorry the bus driver was so crap!
where I live, drivers would make people move and get off if necessary to accommodate wheelchairs.

If they're going to lower the ramp then it absolutely is their duty.

Because wheelchairs are not allowed in the aisle. The chair has to be positioned properly with it's back against the wall, and brakes applied.

The correct thing to do is ask passengers to clear the space and if they don't, not to lower the ramp.

An unsecured wheelchair in the aisle is dangerous for everyone on the bus.

Only if the wheel chair space is full of other wheel chairs

DH and quite a few of his friends have driven buses in London (they are immigrants and it’s a job you can qualify for relatively easily). Each one of them have stories of threats and violence towards them.

Bus drivers will not get out of the cab and intervene because if they get harmed the bus company will blame them for putting themselves in danger.
If they refuse to drive off and stop the bus they will be hauled into the management for not driving to their timetable.
Unless it’s a situation where they need to call the police they will probably play a recorded message then keep driving.

I have been on a bus where a very aggressive passenger, screaming abuse, caused the driver to refuse to move while he called the police to deal with her - yes, it was a woman.

Bus drivers can't physically move anyone, surely people know that? Do people really expect bus drivers to man handle passengers and their property? They would be sacked.

They can refuse to drive on though untill everyone cooperates

Unless it’s a situation where they need to call the police they will probably play a recorded message then keep driving.

Or not lower the ramp in the first place, because passengers ignored the recorded message asking them to move.

I don't blame any drivers for not wanting to remonstrate with passengers, but this man made it worse by allowing a wheelchair on when there was no safe space for it.

I can't imagine what goes through the minds of the selfish bastards who ignore the recorded messages.

Only those with disabilities, obviously 🙄

I am sorry you had to be put in this situation and I am sorry for the 100’s if not 1000’s of disabled people who face this daily. I don’t know the legalities of what the driver should have done but I do know people with an iota of decency and common sense would have given priority to the wheelchair user. It is, sadly, a regular occurrence that people are assaulted on public transport and are too afraid to intervene and the driver is only human too. We need real change and real awareness of what other people have to face daily and what we take for granted.