Taking Mobility Scooters On Public Transport Buses

I recently saw that someone online was wondering if they can take a mobility scooter on a bus in the UK.

If the thought is to take one on the bus as a mobility scooter is usually seen, and not folded up, also to be able to ride the scooter straight onto the bus then I doubt that there would be many bus services that could accommodate this that are running as part of public transport services.

Although many newer buses on many routes in cities and towns throughout the UK can accommodate people much better now with wider entrances, more spacious areas at the front of buses, hydraulics to lower and raise the platforms for people to step onto and off of the bus easier and the ability to push a wheelchair easier on many buses, there are still a few problems in place that would make it difficult to ride a mobility scooter onto a bus.

Most mobility scooters are too wide to be able to manoeuvre onto and off of a bus without problems, the only way to take a mobility scooter onto a bus is with a folding one, and preferably one that folds without any or too many parts having to be removed first.

Also, the problem of being able to position the mobility scooter quickly and without problems on the bus would be difficult, unlike a wheelchair that can be turned and moved in a way that won’t cause any obstruction once securely position to one side near the front of a bus.

The power that a mobility scooter has could also make it difficult to steer on and off of a bus safely, and there’s also the fact that as many bus stops have shelters and some are more narrow than others, that even if the bus can accommodate a mobility scooter easily, that the task of trying to move through the bus stop may prove to be a challenge in itself.

While public transport lends itself much better now to people with mobility needs, there are still a few challenges faced that currently prevent some mobility aids from being used on some forms of public transport.

22 Responses

  1. Contax
    Contax at |

    Hi All, This got me thinking, how about a tail lift on back of rural busses to put mobility scooters on but then there would probably be a couple of scooters at every bus stop so that would never work, no way they could be carried inside a normal bus, look at the problems with the free bus pass when allowed to travel free at peak time the bus is full of free riders there is no room for workers trying to get to work.

    Reply
  2. Rachel
    Rachel at |

    I have a SHOPRIDER MONACO which is small enough to drive into my flat without too much difficulty. It is shorter and more easier to manoeuvre than the PICK-ME-UP which was allowed on buses. I have also been informed from the head office of FIRST BUS that is against the law for any bus driver to refuse any person using a class 1 or 2 scooter. I have problems with my hips and my husband can’t push me in my wheelchair. My scooter gives me independence that I would not have in a wheelchair. Also, if you are in a wheelchair, people expect you to not have two pennies to rub together in the mental department. I get the respect that I DESERVE, the same that able-bodied people get. It is discrimination for any transport such as buses, taxis and trains to refuse me. My scooter can go in a train and a taxi, and it can fit lovely on a bus. I need to be able to access any bus, as I need to be able to get to hospitals. Also, what is the point of me having a bus pass, when I can’t use it.

    Reply
  3. Russ Bazley
    Russ Bazley at |

    hi, I have read with intrest, the possible difficulties of boarding buses with a mobility scooter and welcome further response from people who either are or are not able to use this facility and if any preliminary advise/assessment was offered if any, many thaks Russ

    Reply
  4. fran benedetto
    fran benedetto at |

    Hi,

    I have a small mobility scooter, and did manage easily to get onto a bus last week, however i was told by the driver that this was not legal and i could be removed from the bus at anytime. when i arrived at my destination i rang the bus company and spoke to the appropriate person in charge of all of these issues, he informed me that scooters were not allowed on brighton and hove buses as the tiller on the scooter would cause the bus to lose its centre of gravity and be a danger…..i have to say in my defence that i weigh more than my scooter!, it is thin enough and light enough to manoevure in the bus with ease, as for the tiller, im afraid this is nonsense, if this were true then people would have to stand or sit with their arms in the air to prevent any change in the buses centre of gravity, i am now stuck at home, or faced with the choice of using a taxi which is £8( each way) for a 3 mile trip to my local shops, i also want to add, that i would happily wait for the next bus if one arrived and already had pushchairs on and no room for one more!, and i would seriously like some help in getting this law changed….my local company wont allow ANY wheelchairs on without inspecting them first, and i do not see why this same inspection cant be allowed for mobility scooters…..frustrated of brighton i am and will be forever it seems!

    Reply
  5. d fawcett
    d fawcett at |

    Hi, In response to Fran benedetto,i think they may have misunderstood what was meant when they talked about the tiller. What they will have meant is that the tiller can move when the bus negotiates a bend causing the center of gravity of the scooter to change whuich coukld cause it to tip up.
    Also devices which are fitted with handlebar type tillers are not permitted on buses due to the risk of injury to other customers…

    Reply
  6. Answers To Where You Can And Possibly Cant Take Your Mobility Scooter | Mobilityright.co.uk

    […] Can i take my mobility scooter on a bus? Answer: More often than not they are not allowed to be taken on a bus in the sense of you riding […]

  7. Mrs. Kathleen Haywood
    Mrs. Kathleen Haywood at |

    I would be gratefulto receive any helpful information regarding mobility scooter travel,or any sort of helpful hints,pamphlets,groups etc.but please no people selling products

    Reply
  8. Russ
    Russ at |

    Hi Kathleen, the first port of call would be to approach/contact your local shop mobility & community transport team, they should be able to help cheers Russ

    Reply
  9. steve organ
    steve organ at |

    AT LAST! ALL BUS COMPANIES MEMBERS OF THE cpt NOW ARE ISSUING SCOOTER PERMITS. SEE YOUR LOCAL BUS CO OR THE cpt / SCOOTERS WEBSITE FOR DETAILS. happy travelling!

    Reply
  10. robert Owen
    robert Owen at |

    I have just had a demo from Quingo mobility for 1 of their smaller scooters. Having gone through the sales info etc, I said that I needed to take this mobility on a bus, as I do not have a car. For this info, I had to phone MetroBus. Answer was “No, you cannot bring on our buses” end of story. They would only take non-powered wheelchairs. so a bit of a problem on this, but I will get there whatever, but any machine will have to be powered to take on a bus. I believe even the new Olympic eco friendly bus had to be re-deseigned to take wheelchairs and mobility scooters comfortably. where there is a will……
    Rob in Crawley.

    Reply
  11. Julia Oboyle
    Julia Oboyle at |

    Mobility Aid Recognition Scheme on London Busses.
    Check out this list of mobility scooters that are allowed on London Busses. If they have done this other companies should follow suite.

    http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/tfl-guide-to-approved-mobility-scooters.pdf

    Reply
  12. Julia Oboyle
    Julia Oboyle at |

    Further information here also

    http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/transportaccessibility/1171.aspx

    Having a pass that recognises you scotter as suitable is a brilliant idea.

    Reply
  13. derek
    derek at |

    It was intended to take powered scooters on buses and the rules were simple. if it has NOT got indicators (type 2) it can go on a bus. if it HAS got indicators (type 3). Simple. Then someone found a tape measure and made it that the maximan length of the scooter would be 1000mm when most scooters are 1200mm in length but the area they go into on the bus must be 1800mm and so we are getting a refusel to go on the bus
    This is set down by CPT and it is not helping

    Reply
  14. STEVE WEST
    STEVE WEST at |

    WHAT UTTER RUBBISH.
    BUS DRIVERS ARE LEGALLY OBLIGED TO ALLOW A DISABLED PERSON ACCESS TO TRAVEL WITH A SCOOTER
    I OFTEN DRIVE ON / DRIVE OFF BUSSES IN MY LARGE SCOOTER WITH ALWAYS THE HELP OF SYMPATHETIC DRIVERS – IF THEY REFUSE U CALL THE POLICE
    STEVE WEST
    LLANDAFF

    Reply
  15. owen crompton
    owen crompton at |

    I have bought a stand up Rollerscoot.amybody know if these ate legal to travel on buses

    Reply
  16. John S Gibbons
    John S Gibbons at |

    I recently applied for a mono?you scooter pass, sent in all relevant paper work, or application form, measurements and details of Scooter Two photo’s Me and Scooter.

    And as yet I have not received any reply, and have informed today I cannot use bus or any public transport, my application was in March this year. Can you please advise me on this matter.

    Reply
  17. jennifer walker
    jennifer walker at |

    i have just taken a test to ride my mobility scooter on to a bus you have to be able to reverse into the space for wheelchairs and buggies you also have to be able to reverse of the bus if necessary i passed with flying colours and got my pass straight away ring your local bus company about taking the test it is free and they brought the bus to me

    Reply
  18. Raymond Oliver
    Raymond Oliver at |

    I have tried to get a pass to get on bus for the last 8 weeks phoned 8 times thay said thay would sort it still waiting. Add to go to hospital a lot for tests cancer I needed to on buss got no help at all still waiting for pass like to say thank for not helping.

    Reply
  19. mr john edmunds
    mr john edmunds at |

    I have a very small mobility scooter less than 100cm /1000 mm which I use on Nottingham city transport getting is a bit of a squeeze but get off is nearly impossible very tight getting off I try going forward and and going backward bused
    are not scooter friendly at the moment.

    Reply
  20. Linda hudson
    Linda hudson at |

    How to be accessed first time to take mobility scooter on bus

    Reply
  21. peter fox
    peter fox at |

    i have just be refused to be aload on first bus going to radstock. both bus drivers have refused to let me on without a permit . when all week i have been on and off first buses with my mobilty scooter. it must have something to do with Saturday bus drivers. now thanks to them i cant get to my hospital appointments

    Reply

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.