Door to Door: a travel guide for disabled people

Going by road: Buses & coaches

Buses

If you are a wheelchair user, buses are becoming more accessible as older, inaccessible vehicles are being replaced by modern low floor buses with ramps that enable wheelchair users to use them. Although not all buses described as 'low floor' are completely wheelchair accessible yet, over the next few years all buses will become fully accessible. You can see the timetable for full bus accessibility in the Legislation section.

If you do not use a wheelchair but have difficulty walking, climbing steps or holding handrails, you will find that modern buses are already much easier to use with level access or lower entry and exit steps, near to the doors, easier to grip handrails, and 'bus stopping' signs so that you know the driver will be stopping at the next stop.

The Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors, Conductors and Passengers Regulations say that the driver must provide reasonable assistance to wheelchair users and other disabled persons if asked, or if they think it might be needed. However, there may be circumstances when this may risk the health and safety of the disabled person, other passengers, the driver or security of the vehicle, in which case the driver may legitimately decline such a request.

If there are other non-disabled passengers in the wheelchair space, the driver should ask them to move so that a wheelchair user can board the bus, but the driver cannot make them move.

Wheelchair accessible buses have a designated space with a padded backrest for you to park against for you to travel in safety and comfort, you should always use this space.

Make sure that the back of your wheelchair is against the backrest. You should never travel sideways, or at an angle, as this is not safe and could be dangerous if the bus brakes sharply or is in an accident. Also make sure that you are not blocking the gangways and exits. Once in position, make sure that your brakes are on. If you have a powered wheelchair, make sure that you switch you power unit off, powered wheelchairs should never be left in freewheel mode.

If you can transfer between your wheelchair and a seat, getting a folded wheelchair on board can be a difficult procedure and there may not be much, if any space for the folded wheelchair on the bus.

Since October 2002 Assistance Dogs have been allowed on all buses, no matter what the age or type.

Postbuses

In many rural areas the Postbus service is the only form of public transport available, linking isolated communities. This service is operated by the Royal Mail with vehicles which carry passengers as well as deliver and collect mail some of which are wheelchair accessible. However, since the Spring of 2009 the Royal Mail has withdrawn many of its loss-making Postbus services. The Postbus website gives more general information about the service, but you should contact your local Royal Mail Customer Service Centre to check which routes are still operating and which ones, if any, use accessible vehicles.

Royal Mail Customer Service Centre:
Telephone: 0845 7 740 740
Textphone: 0845 600 0606

Coaches

People usually travel by coach for longer distances, or trips. At the moment, coaches used on scheduled coach services are not always very accessible to some disabled people, as they often have several steep steps up from the entrance door and are not usually wheelchair accessible.

Most coaches on scheduled routes in the UK will not carry powered wheelchairs or scooters. National Express (www.nationalexpress.com) will take folding manual wheelchairs in the luggage compartment but they normally require seven days notice. However since 2005 (under the Public Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 2000) all new coaches on scheduled routes must have improved access for ambulant and sensory impaired passengers and wheelchair access.

Apart from wheelchair access on the coach, there are other points you should consider when travelling by coach:

Check that both the departure and arrival coach stations, and any other stops along the way, are accessible.
If you need assistance getting on and off the coach always ask for this when you book your ticket.
Check if there is a toilet on board. However, even if there is, space inside will be limited and access to it may be down steep steps, so it is always worth checking if there will be any "comfort stops" along the journey.
If you have a special diet or will need food regularly during the journey it is advisable for you to take food with you on the coach.
You should always carry medication, food, money and valuables with you on the coach and not in the luggage hold.
It may be possible to reserve special seats with more legroom when you book your ticket, you will need to check with the operator.
If you need oxygen and the equipment you use is portable and small you may be able to take it with you, but always check with the coach company first.

Routes with Accessible Coaches

Companies operating long distance scheduled coach services are gradually replacing their fleets with accessible coaches, sometimes with a side lift, but more usually with a wheelchair lift incorporated into the passenger entrance at the front of the vehicle.

National Express
National Express is introducing a new generation of coaches onto the UK network that feature a wheelchair lift incorporated into the passenger entrance.

The easy access coach features a wider entrance and a completely flat floor throughout the coach to aid mobility for all. A streamlined NX Magic Floor Lift is incorporated into the passenger entrance and when deployed, the wheelchair is locked in place and the customer safely and securely uses the same standard three-point seat belt as other customers. Other features include reclining leather seats, air conditioning and a large toilet on the same level as the passenger accommodation (although the toilet itself is not wheelchair accessible).

A programme of routes is currently being planned to roll-out the accessible coach across the network, with the whole National Express network being fully accessible by 2012.

The following services are already operating with easy access vehicles. The majority of locations along these routes can be used by the easy access coach and wheelchair users, but you are requested to contact National Express Disabled Persons' Travel Helpline for further information before travelling.

The routes listed below give only the start and finish points; intermediate stops are not shown. Contact National Express for full route and timetable information.

240: Leeds - Gatwick Airport
314: Liverpool - Cambridge
333: Blackpool - Bournemouth
337: Coventry - Paignton
341: Burnley - Torquay (not including night or seasonal services)
390: Hull (Docks) - Manchester
403: Bath - London (side-entry passenger lift)
538: The Midlands - Scotland
560: Barnsley - London (not including night or seasonal services)
562: Hull - London
591: Edinburgh - London (not including night or seasonal services)
737: Oxford - Stansted Airport
767: Nottingham - Stansted Airport

To ensure that you can travel at your required time, and so that drivers are fully aware of when you are travelling, it is strongly recommended that you make a reservation in advance by telephoning the National Express Disabled Persons Travel Helpline on 08717 818179. A textphone is provided for customers who are deaf or hard of hearing on 0121 455 0086.

More information about the assistance which National Express can offer passengers is given on their website www.nationalexpress.com/coach/ourservice/disabled.cfm.

Oxford Tube: Oxford - London
The "Oxford Tube" is a scheduled coach service which uses wheelchair accessible vehicles between Oxford and London (Victoria Coach Station), with stops in West London. All the vehicles have low floor access and the service operates at very frequent intervals throughout the day, so wheelchair users do not have to book a space in advance - www.oxfordtube.com.

Green Line: London - Luton Airport
All the coaches on the Green Line 757 route are now fully accessible. Intending travellers should telephone the Green Line Helpdesk on 0844 801 7261 to make the necessary arrangements, giving at least 24 hours' notice - www.greenline.co.uk/assisted-travel/.

Excel Coaches: Ipswich - Stansted Airport; Grays - Stansted Airport
The Airdirect daily service runs every two hours from Ipswich to Stansted Airport and from Grays to Stansted Airport with wheelchair accessible coaches. To ensure a wheelchair accessible coach is available on the service you plan to use, intending travellers should give advance notice by telephoning 01279 681800 - www.excelcoaches.co.uk/services.aspx.

Reliance Travel: Gravesend - London Commuter Service
All the coaches operated by Reliance Travel on their morning and evening weekday commuter services are wheelchair accessible. One passenger in a wheelchair can be accommodated on each coach via a side-lift. Passengers wishing to travel in their wheelchairs must book by telephoning 01474 322002 at least 48 hours in advance, as space is limited and time is needed to reconfigure the coach - www.reliance-travel.co.uk/gravesend-commuter-coach.php.

Stagecoach: X5 Oxford - Cambridge (via Milton Keynes and Bedford)
The coaches operated by Stagecoach on the service are all wheelchair accessible. One passenger in a wheelchair can be accommodated on each coach but the space needs to be booked in advance by telephoning 01604 67 60 60 - www.stagecoachx5.com.

Coach stations

Some coach stations are more accessible than others so check beforehand. Check what distance you may have to walk from the car, taxi or bus set-down point to where you will board the coach. This is especially important if you have luggage and find it difficult to carry things. The coach driver may assist you with your luggage but it is your responsibility to see it on and off the coach. Similarly, when you reach your destination, always check what distance you will have to walk from the coach stop or coach station for any onward connection. Most major coach stations can provide assistance for disabled travellers if arranged in advance.

Coach hire

Many coach companies throughout the UK have adapted step-free coaches available for hire. The coaches are accessed by lift or ramp and some have on-board toilets at the same level as the seating, not down steep narrow steps.

Coach holidays

A small, but increasing, number of specialist companies offer UK and European coach holidays with fully accessible lift-equipped vehicles. Your travel agent may be able to identify a suitable company.

Going abroad by coach

Coaches used on scheduled coach services between the UK and Europe generally have several steep entrance steps and are not accessible to wheelchair users. For more information about travelling abroad is given in the Going on holiday section.