Wheelchair users in Edinburgh have reportedly felt unable to use Lothian Bus services due to a policy that front-mounted power assist devices must be detached and stored away before boarding.
An Edinburgh resident raised concerns to The Student following the experiences of wheelchair-using friends, who report that it has hindered their ability to move freely around the city, as removing front-mounted power assisted devices is extremely difficult.
To detach and reattach these power assisted elements is challenging to do rapidly and repeatedly as wheelchair users get on and off buses.
The Edinburgh local stated:
“I have been made aware of this issue as a result of the distress of my wheelchair-using friends for whom this policy has amounted to a de facto ban on their use of Lothian Bus services.
“This has significantly hampered their ability to move around the city.”
He continued: “this is a striking example of the ableism embedded in our civic services and public infrastructure.”
Meanwhile, Lothian Buses explains that this policy is “for the safety of all customers,” stating that front mounted power assist devices may take up too much space on the bus and have exposed braking discs and wires.
Power-assisted wheelchairs are motorised wheelchairs used by those with physical disabilities in aim of increasing their independence through reducing the need of force to push a wheelchair, extending the travel range of wheelchair users.
Image by Teya Taylor for The Student.