Safety comes first on buses
The mother who claimed she was left distressed after being refused entry to a No 526 bus because she could not fold up her toddler's pushchair no doubt had some reasons to feel aggrieved. It appears that she herself needed a walking stick and that the bus was almost empty at the time.
However, I certainly do not agree with the comments made by Cllr Judith Rowley who says she is very concerned about Travel West Midlands policy towards passengers with pushchairs and that drivers should not take it upon themselves to refuse passengers.
West Midlands Travel has done its best to accommodate passengers with pushchairs on their vehicles, but for safety reasons and in accordance with the regulations governing the conveyance of passengers, gangways must not be obstructed, which happens when there are several large pushchairs.
The driver is responsible for the safety of his passengers and if he sees that by allowing too many pushchairs on board there is a danger to other passengers then he his quite within his rights to refuse entry, although he may get some abuse for doing so.
D Hickinbottom, Lewis Street, Tipton.
