Petition 1206

(For official use only) PUBLIC PETITION NO. PE1206 Should you wish to submit a public petition for consideration by the Public Petitions Committee please refer to the guidance leaflet How to submit a public petition and the Guidance Notes at the back of this form. 1. NAME OF PRINCIPAL PETITIONER Catrìona Black 2. TEXT OF PETITION Petition by Catriona Black, on behalf of Mums Need To Use Lothian Buses Too, calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to encourage public transport operators and appropriate stakeholders to provide parents and carers of babies and young children with equitable access to public buses when using prams, travel systems and buggies. 3. ACTION TAKEN TO RESOLVE ISSUES OF CONCERN BEFORE SUBMITTING THE PETITION The various individuals in our group have contacted Lothian Buses, ECAS, MPs, MSPs and councillors. These include: Lothian Buses ECAS Malcolm Chisholm MSP Iain Gray MSP Fiona Hyslop MSP Kenny MacAskill MSP Elaine Smith MSP Margaret Smith MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP John Barratt MP Gavin Strang MP Pete Wishart MP Cllr Phil Wheeler Cllr Ewan Aitken Cllr robert Aldridge Cllr Steve Cardownie Cllr Jenny Dawe Cllr Allan Jackson Cllr Colin Keir Cllr Elizabeth Maginnis 1 4. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Without warning, on 13 June 2008, Lothian Buses asked its drivers to refuse access to anyone attempting to travel with an unfoldable pram or travel system. This comes from a company whose strap line is “Easy Access for all”, at a time when The Scottish Government and local councils are doing all that they can to encourage people out of cars and onto public transport. Lothian Buses insists that this new stance is necessitated by the Disability Discrimination Act, but there is no reference in that act to buggies, prams, or travel systems. Other major bus companies such as First do not apply the same rule, and even ECAS, Edinburgh’s disability access organisation, disputes Lothian Buses’ claim. The Department of Transport has clarified that "It is acceptable for this space to be used by other passengers when it is not required by a wheelchair user but it should be vacated, if at all possible, when a wheelchair user requires it." In Edinburgh parents and carers are now required to use only lightweight, foldable buggies which can be stowed at short notice. Such buggies are not suitable for young babies, and therefore infants and their parents or carers are explicitly excluded from the public transport system. This policy demonstrates a huge lack of understanding of the challenges facing parents and carers of infants. How does one fold and stow a buggy whilst dealing with ancillary equipment such as changing bags, and whilst holding a baby incapable of walking, standing, sitting, or if very young, unable to support the weight of its own head? How does one then hold an infant safely in one’s arms while the bus is in motion? And how does this work for twins? All of the parents of young babies to whom we have spoken agree that they would readily leave the bus to vacate the space, rather than attempt this ridiculously dangerous feat. The distinction, therefore, between foldable and non-foldable buggies, is irrelevant. Wheelchair users do not travel by bus as frequently as those travelling with infants, and the general consensus is that while the space is empty it should be available to prams, buggies and travel systems regardless of their type (as has been the case until recently). If a wheelchair user should need the space, the vast majority of parents or carers would vacate it without question. The immediate effect of this ban has been to isolate people (mostly women) during the difficult first months of parenthood. They have found themselves trapped, unable to travel far from home, or to reach nurseries, clinics, support groups and other essential services. Those who have more than one baby or young child are also excluded. This situation has left many parents and carers of babies and young children feeling bullied and discriminated against, just as wheelchair users have felt in the past. We don’t want to exclude wheelchair users from their spaces; we 2 just wish to share the space, sensibly and courteously, when it is available. We support the common-sense approach called for by ECAS, and suggest that improved signage in buses would be enough to ensure that wheelchair users are given priority. We want to live in a society where everyone’s needs are recognised and respected, and where no single group is excluded unreasonably. All we want is a public transport system which really is easily accessible for all. Find out more on our Facebook group, Mums Need To Use Lothian Buses Too (www.babies-on-buses.co.uk) 5. DO YOU WISH YOUR PETITION TO BE HOSTED ON THE PARLIAMENT’S WEBSITE AS AN E-PETITION? YES x NO CLOSING DATE 17.10.08 COMMENTS TO STIMULATE ON-LINE DISCUSSION Lothian Buses has made a mockery of its strapline, "Easy Access for All", with its recent ban on prams and travel systems. This has left many parents and carers of babies and young children isolated and unable to access vital services. We want to live in a society where everyone’s needs are respected, and no single group is excluded unreasonably. People who use prams, buggies and travel systems have no protection in law, and need the protection of the Parliament. 3 .

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