Monday 4 January 2010

Getting on and off buses in the current weather conditions

A few days ago, I raised concerns about the difficulty older folk in particular have had getting on and off buses in the snowy weather (see http://tinyurl.com/winterbusstops) and raised the matter of gritting at the stops with the City Council.

I also raised the matter with National Express Dundee about the need to lower the bus platform in all cases during this challenging weather. I have now received the following response from Lawrence Davie, the company's Managing Director :

With regard to access to our buses during the cold weather we have been repeatedly in touch with the Roads maintained team on specific problems with untreated stops and pavements. We have not had a good response as priority is being given to gritting arterial routes.

We have reissued a standing instruction to our drivers to allow less able passenger more time to board during cold weather and in all appropriate cases to lower the bus.

If there are any specific problems with individual drivers I am always happy to receive details so that we can follow them up.