Essex mobility scooter user says bus rules discriminatory

Nicola Davis is calling for the rules to be looked at again

A woman said disabled people were being discriminated against after being asked for a permit to ride her mobility scooter on to a bus.

Nicola Davis tried to get on a Lynx bus in Norfolk to get to Sandringham, but was asked to show a permit proving she was able to ride it on board.

Ms Davis, from Essex, said the rule would prevent disabled people using public transport.

Norfolk's Lynx Buses said it was following national guidance.

The Department for Transport has been asked for comment.

Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) rules confirmed riders need a scooter permit approved by each bus operator.

'Barrier to public transport'

Lynx Buses said if Ms Davis secured a permit in Essex, the company would "honour this next time they are in the area, providing they contact us in advance".

Ms Davis, who started using a mobility scooter two years ago, recently bought a motorhome so she could travel around the country with her family.

"As a disabled person I've now got a barrier that for me to use public transport, I've got to have all these tests, and all these permits," she said.

"If I want to go on the bus in London, it's a different permit, if I want to use the train in London, it's a different permit.

"So my liberty has been taken away, my independence has been completely taken away, because it's not feasible for me to go and take tests at hundreds of different bus companies and train companies and tram companies."

Ms Davis likes to visit her son in Manchester, where she had counted 40 different bus companies as well as tram firms.

"This has just brought to the fore, another ableist society thing, that is actually discriminating against disabled people."

She called for the legislation to be looked at.