Using public transport while on crutches

[Patanjali]

My other alternative to using a hire car is to travel by public transport.

However, I am using crutches at the moment and am somewhat frightened of using stairs at tube stations.

The journey I would be making would be from Ealing Broadway (or Greenford) tube station to Oxford Circus (or a nearby tube station).

Does anyone have experience of making this journey with such a disability? Or could anyone give me some advice on travelling on public transport while on crutches?

Have spent a lot of time researching this subject and things are a lot more unclear than I originally thought.

Hi op. There are stairs at both of those stations as well as escalators - both to get in and out of the stations and between the platform and exit. You could get buses but it will take a much longer time.

You can do it on crutches though. Just go slow and keep left. I reckon if you ask someone to help they will (well I would)

Useful link to plan journeys tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey/

What are you travelling for or to? May be able to offer more advice with context

I would use the bus.

Thank-you for your reply.

Do you know if there are lifts at both Ealing Broadway and Oxford Circus tube stations? I am thinking more about step free access.

Are the escalator and stairs very narrow (I can't remember)?

I've had a look at information at:
content.tfl.gov.uk/avoiding-stairs-tube-guide.pdf
and it does not indicate that these stations have lifts.

Thank-you for your reply.

I am travelling from W7 3DW to W1W 6JJ (Hallam Conference Centre)

Crutches on the tube are possible but it's not a huge amount of fun. Stay well to the right on escalators and be careful when stepping off them as your crutches can slip a little as you come off.
On the tube itself, don't be afraid to ask people in the priority seats to move. If that doesn't work/you don't feel comfortable doing it, position yourself at the back/front of the carriage with your back against a wall and your crutches slightly in front of you to give you more stability (kind of like a tripod).

Will you be doing it at rush hour?

Many thanks for your reply.

I will be travelling on Saturday and Sunday mornings (around 8am) and then back home at around 5.30pm. Happy to take more time on the homeward journey as it will be in my own time.

I feel fear about travelling on public transport (for fear of falling) but need to start getting around.

Presumably all London buses will have ramps if person on crutches cannot step into bus?

Step free access on the tube

content.tfl.gov.uk/step-free-tube-guide-map.pdf

Will look

I travelled around London on crutches but had nothing wrong with my legs it was my foot. If you have trouble raising your leg it will be harder.

Once in the tube I was fine, plenty of people offered seats but actually I preferred to stand because it was too hard to get up and down.

Get an across body bag, it will be invaluable.

8am at the weekend will be practically empty, but Oxford Circus will be hell on Earth at 5:30pm, and it has a serious flight of stairs down into the station and no lifts. I’d use the TfL journey planner and specify step free. Maybe catch the tube to Tottenham Court Road, which is step free, and catch a bus back a couple of stops to Oxford Circus.

“Presumably all London buses will have ramps if person on crutches cannot step into bus?“

Oh dear!!! Sorry, I’m disabled and not being mean, but I did laugh at the lovely naivety of that statement!

It’s hard enough to get bus drivers to use their ramp for wheelchair users, let alonesonro e who could arguably use steps just as easily (in their heads).

Modern buses can lower themselves so they are less far away in height from the pavement. That’s probably the easilestway onto buses.

I’d check out the journey before hand, avoid rush hour, and tell the staff at the first tube station that you are disabled and making the journey without anyone else, and see if they can offer any help, like phoning through to the next station and having someone meet you off the train/ up the stairs etc.

Personally I’d do the journey with a friend first, to see how do-able it is.

Good luck!