A disabled mum from Glasgow has hit out at First Bus after claiming their drivers have repeatedly refused to let her on board with her wheelchair and baby's pram.
Heather Sturdy is mum to sons, Kayden, five, and Brodhi, 14 weeks and says she has been refused entry onto buses around 10 times when she attempts to get on the number 72 bus on Balmore Road, Ruchill.
The 32-year-old said drivers have "shut the door in her face" and insist there is no room when she claims there is no evidence of this. She added they refuse to look at a letter which was issued to her by First Bus declaring that if there is space, then she is allowed on with her wheelchair and buggy, the Daily Record reports.
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Heather uses the bus to take Kayden to school and attend hospital appointments for Brodhi, who was born eight weeks premature. She says she has been left 'at a loss' and said the ordeal is impacting her and her kids' physical and mental health.
She told the Record: "I deliberately got a particular style of pram so it would fit into the spaces available on buses, but I'm still not allowed to board.
"I always have to wait for the next bus when they don't let me on but sometimes they're cancelled so we're forced to walk half an hour to Kayden's school, which isn't ideal for me or my baby as we've both got health conditions.
"I feel like this is discrimination against parents in wheelchairs. I don't drive, trains are awkward for me and taxis are too expensive. If I can't get on the bus, how am I supposed to get about?
"The situation is really affecting my five year old too. He's got severe anxiety getting on buses now and gets really upset, tense and panicky whenever we're not allowed on. It's not fair on either on any of us."
Heather was refused entry by a First Bus driver for the first time in October last year, when Brodhi was just five weeks old. The driver said there was no room but Heather says she checked and there was no one with a wheelchair or buggy already on.
As the incidents continued, Heather complained to First Bus, leading to the company issuing her with a letter which stated that wheelchair space on most vehicles can accommodate up to two small prams or normal sized unfolded pushchairs and, if not occupied, should be prioritised for wheelchair users.
But on Monday (January 9) Heather was again knocked back - twice in one day. The mum captured footage of the confrontation, where she can be heard pleading with one of the drivers to read the letter from management, while he argues that he "doesn't need to" and brands the request as "a joke".
In a second recording, another driver shouts "you two aren't allowed on together", referring to Heather and her carer, who she requires assistance from at all times and who pushes the pram for her as she can't do it herself.
The driver adds "prams and wheelchairs cannot travel at the same time" before closing the doors and driving away.
Heather says the incidents have been. very distressing and urged First Bus to introduce clear rules for disabled passengers with children to be applied across the board.
Heather continued: "Lots of nasty things have been said to me. Drivers have made comments like 'I'm sick of this crap' and they often cheekily ask my carer who she is. One even said I shouldn't be out on my own and another said that it's not their responsibility to look after my children.
"The rules need to be clear for passengers in wheelchairs who are parents with prams and drivers need more training. They need to accommodate us."
Linda Shields, Operations Director for First Bus Scotland, told the Record: “We are very disappointed to hear about the ongoing challenges that this customer has had on our No.75 route in recent weeks. We sympathise with their situation are continuing to work with our drivers and the customer to find how we may be able to support on this route.
“All First Bus drivers are trained to ensure safe carriage of everyone on board and to deliver a high standard of customer care to everyone. Unfortunately, on some services, depending on the size of the bus and its capacity, we’re unable to accommodate large wheelchairs and large prams together.
"In these instances, drivers will advise on the next bus arriving and will inform the next driver that there is someone waiting to be helped."
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