Lib Dems call on bus companies to open their doors

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 1st Apr 2004

Liberal Democrat GLA campaigner for Lambeth and Southwark Cllr Caroline Pidgeon and Lynne Featherstone AM, Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson on the London Assembly have taken Transport for London (TfL) to task over access to double buggies on buses.

Milena Gissono contacted the Liberal Democrat Team because as a mother with twins, she was having great difficulty getting onto buses in the Rotherhithe area. Drivers have been refusing to open the middle doors on their buses, to allow her access with her double buggy.

Stagecoach, one of the local bus companies, and TfL have responded to representations from Lynne Featherstone AM stating that they will only open the middle doors for wheelchair users. Double buggies should be folded up before passengers enter the bus!

"It is completely unacceptable for TfL and other bus companies to expect a parent with young twins to fold up their double buggy before getting on a bus. How on earth can they be expected to hold on to toddlers whilst doing this? They are putting children's safety at risk." said Cllr Caroline Pidgeon.

" TfL need to rethink this policy which restricts access to parents with double buggies" said Lynne Featherstone AM.

"Once low floor buses are eventually introduced this problem should be a thing of the past for parents with double buggies. However, in the meantime we believe that drivers need to be told to help passengers by opening the middle doors, rather than just driving on by" added Lynne Featherstone AM.