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UK News

Christian charity welcomes Supreme Court 'wheelchair vs buggy' ruling

by Aaron James

Through the Roof was speaking after the court ruled drivers should require, rather than merely request, that non-disabled space users on buses move in order to accommodate wheelchair users.

It's after David Paulley was unable to get onto a bus in Leeds in 2012 because a mother with a buggy was already there. She refused to move and the driver said he didn't have the power to force her.

The judges stopped short of ruling drivers have a legal duty to force non-disabled people off buses if they refuse to move for disabled people, but they said drivers could urge them to move in other ways, for example by refusing to drive the bus.

Some campaigners have said their judgment doesn't go far enough, and only a legal duty on drivers will ensure wheelchair users always get on a bus.

Speaking on Premier's News Hour Ros Bayes, from Through the Roof, said: "We're pleased to see that the additional difficulties experienced by wheelchair users are being recognised.

"This doesn't give wheelchair users some special privilege over other travellers. It simply acknowledges that they're entitled to a level playing field - the same right to make a journey as everyone else."

Bayes added it was a shame something as significant as a Supreme Court ruling was required in order to make substantial changes for disabled people using public transport.

She said: "It's sad that we've reached a place in society where basic kindness and understanding requires legislation."

Listen to Premier's Alex Williams speaking to Ros Bayes on the News Hour:

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