‘Bus Days’ help London’s disabled

A travel mentoring service helping disabled people make the most of London’s bus network has been rolled out in Sutton. ‘Bus Days’ provide disabled Londoners with the opportunity to experience independent travel on a London bus in a safe and controlled environment. They are a collaboration between TfL, Sutton Community Transport, the Metropolitan Police Safer Transport Team and Go-Ahead. They are facilitated by an Innovation Grant from the London Borough of Sutton. This new scheme is one of eight similar projects already in place across the capital. The first session saw a London bus follow a pre-planned route around Sutton, with passengers able to get on and off along the way. They were accompanied by TfL travel mentors and Metropolitan Police Safer Transport Teams. The disabled passengers were shown how to use all the information at a stop and how to board a bus and stay safe. Wheelchair users are guided through using the ramp to get on the bus and their safety while travelling. Police officers also act out real life scenarios during the session that passengers may encounter on their journeys and advise them how to handle these situations. 

Director of Operations at London Buses, Mike Weston, said, ‘We are delighted to be part of the team that is bringing “Bus Days” to Sutton for the first time. They provide a fantastic opportunity for disabled Londoners to experience travelling on a bus in a supportive environment. We hope those who take part in this innovative scheme will find it a useful experience that will enable them to travel independently on the bus network in future.’