Wheelchair user 'ordered off Coventry bus'

A wheelchair user says he was ordered off a bus in Coventry because the space was needed for pushchairs.



Terry Green, 67, from Binley, said the driver refused to move until he got off the vehicle at Pool Meadow Bus Station.

Mr Green said he had to walk more than two miles to see a friend at a care home, using his wheelchair as a walking aid, following Friday's incident.

National Express Coventry said it was "very sorry" for distress caused and was downloading CCTV to investigate.

Mr Green said there were some pushchairs on the bus already and "some more wanted to get on".

He said: "I got my wheelchair into the wheelchair space, put my brakes on and sat down and I was just sitting there and the driver decided he wanted space for the buggies so he then said well 'if you don't get off the bus', he'd stay there.

"I should hope they make sure that their drivers understand that the space is there for a wheelchair user."

National Express Coventry said the space needed to be used by parents with pushchairs and people using wheelchairs.

Spokesman Jack Kelly said it would speak to drivers on the route and contact Mr Green, but it sounded as if he "should have been allowed to stay on the bus".

He said: "What we ask is that all people who use that space use it in as friendly a way [as possible] to others and fold down pushchairs where safe to do so or wheelchairs if people are able and safe to do so."

Mr Green said he was "annoyed and very hurt" and his treatment brought "tears" to his eyes.

But he said the company's response was "fair comment" and he was "pleased" it was looking into it.

If this is as we are told, I'd expect a bus driver to be getting his P45 very shortly.