A WHEELCHAIR user was left upset last week after she claims a Diamond Bus driver refused to lower a ramp so she could board the bus.
Kearnie Yates was waiting for the No 51 in Batchley with her brother, Reece.
They say as the bus pulled up the driver refused to lower the ramp to allow wheelchair access.
“He didn’t want to know about my situation and just kept scoffing throughout the conversation,” said Kearnie.
“When we asked him why he wouldn’t lower the ramp, he simply told us – ‘I can’t be bothered’.”
Kearnie and Reece say they then had to wait 40 minutes in the cold for the next bus to arrive.
Kearnie has needed support from Reece since an accident in a gym leaving her unable to walk.
“I just want to be treated like a normal person,” she said Kearnie. “It’s just not fair.
“The only good thing about it was the kind stranger who tried to argue with the driver,” said Reece when recalling the incident.
“He was just walking by but when he heard what was going on he got really wound up too.”
After Kearnie posted the issue on Facebook another local woman, Anna Standley said: “Last week I was waiting to get on the bus with a chap on a mobility scooter.
“The bus driver refused to lower the ramp and told the man he wasn’t allowed on with the scooter even though there was enough space for him.
“I helped him get on as it wasn’t lowered, and the driver then made a phone call to ask if mobility scooters were allowed on.
“Next thing we know he’s off the phone and pulling away with the chap on board.”
Operations manager for Diamond Bus, Chris Bridges, said: “I’m taking this matter very seriously because all of our drivers are told to help disabled people on our buses if they request it.
“But until I get a correct statement of complaint it’s very difficult for me to investigate – ideally I need it within 24 hours of the incident happening.
“I need people to speak to us directly because we can’t work with what we see on Facebook.”
Upset: Kearnie and Reece Yates say they were shocked at the incident.
