An disabled Edinburgh poet claims she almost missed the opening ceremony for her own Fringe event after being unable to find a space on a 'packed' Edinburgh Tram.
Rosalind Alexander suffers from arthritis, vascular circulation disease and bone disease, severely limiting her mobility. The 66-year-old alleges that when she went for a tram on the morning of Saturday, August 13, she was met with a vehicle that had passengers “packed like sardines.”
She said she was unable to access the disabled space on the tram due to people taking up the designated areas. This brought her to tears, and forced her to grab a taxi, at a much higher cost, in order to make the opening of her own poetry event.
READ MORE: East Lothian nurseries close and children in hospital after 28 cases of E. coli detected
Rosalind says that this was especially difficult as the cost of living crisis has severely impacted her disposable income.
She said: “This problem has been going on for years but since the Covid-19 pandemic we have not had the Fringe. I did think with the pandemic that those running the Trams would look to ensure that the tram did not have people packed in like sardines.
“I went to go get the tram by Saughton Mains to travel into town as I had the opening ceremony for my poetry show at the Grassmarket. The tram was so overcrowded that I was unable to gain access to the disabled space and therefore had to order a taxi to make sure I could get into town.
“This was difficult due to the cost of living crisis and it left me feeling angry, frustrated, tearful and annoyed. I really hope that Lothian trams can look at how they can better control large crowds and to ensure that those with disabilities are not excluded from using this service.
“It really is quite a serious health and safety issue.”
The Edinburgh Trams team were contacted for comment.
READ NEXT:
An Edinburgh student has been left with just the clothes on her back after Southside fire
East Lothian cheesemonger could be named one of the nations best small businesses
Heartless Edinburgh man conned terminally ill friend out of almost £500,000
Edinburgh council staff given revised pay offer in bid to avert strikes
Edinburgh's top-rated Indian restaurants according to Food Awards Scotland
