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Join us and support our right to access buses

Transport for All

Support Doug Paulley and our right to ride on buses
WHEN: 9am, Wednesday, 18th January 2017...

Support Doug Paulley and our right to ride on buses

WHEN: 9am, Wednesday, 18th January 2017

WHERE: In front of the Supreme Court, Parliament Square, Little George St, London SW1P 3BD (nearest accessible Tube station is Westminster. Buses: 148, 211)

After months of waiting, the judgment in Doug Paulley’s case vs First Bus Group is finally to be handed down at the Supreme Court next Wednesday at 9.45am.

As you may know their decision could have wide implications for wheelchair and mobility scooter users who want to travel by bus in the UK. If the original verdict in Mr Paulley’s favour is upheld by the Supreme Court, then the requirement in law to give a wheelchair/mobility scooter user access to the wheelchair space will be absolutely undeniable, and all bus companies will have to enforce it. This is the reason why Transport for All has supported Doug from the beginning.

On this day, we would like to gather with as many TfA members as possible to show First Bus Group that disabled people everywhere are standing up for our right to ride.

Join us to show our support for Doug Paulley on this historic day.

 

Please email Raphael if you would like to join the rally: raphael@transportforall.org.uk

Please note that at 9.45am, one of the Justices will deliver a brief summary of the Court’s decision lasting around five minutes. The number of spaces for wheelchair users is unfortunately very limited. On top of the space booked for people who’ve got a close connection to this case, there are an extra 6 places available which will be allocated via ballot by the Supreme Court (Click here for more information).

 

Doug Paulley vs First Bus Group

Wheelchair-user Doug Paulley had successfully sued First Bus Group in 2013 after he had been denied access to one of their buses because a bus driver didn’t enforce priority in the wheelchair space and a buggy owner refused to make room for him. But this decision was overturned by the Appeal Court in November 2014. The Supreme Court will now give their verdict on Wednesday.

 

12 disabled and older Londoners share their story for their right to ride on buses

Doug Paulley’s case is not an isolated one. In June last year, Transport for All published the stories of 12 disabled and older Londoners who struggle to access buses every day – Even here in London, where TfL’s official policy supports wheelchair priority, being left at the bus stop when a wheelchair space is occupied is a regular occurrence.

We hope that Doug’s appeal will be upheld. Disabled people fought for and won the wheelchair space, and the right to be able to travel on buses. We can’t let this right be eroded by a failure to enforce it as a wheelchair bay.

A man standing in front of a painted brick wall smiling at the camera. He is holding a cane and is wearing glasses, a black jacket and a grey t-shirt. A man standing in front of a painted brick wall smiling at the camera. He is holding a cane and is wearing glasses, a black jacket and a grey t-shirt.

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