A disabled mum has slammed First Bus for 'discrimination' after claiming drivers repeatedly refuse to let her on board her wheelchair and her baby boy's pram.
Heather Sturdy says there have been around 10 occasions where drivers have 'shut the door in her face' when she attempts to get on the number 75 bus on Balmore Road, Ruchill with her young sons, Kayden, five, and Brodhi, 14 weeks.
The 32-year-old has described how drivers insist there is 'no room', when she has seen no evidence of this, and refuse to look at a letter which was issued to her by First Bus declaring that if there is space, then she is allowed on with her wheelchair and buggy.
Heather relies on the service to take eldest son Kayden to school and attend hospital appointments for youngest child Brodhi, who was born eight weeks premature. She says that the ordeal has left her 'at a loss' and that being constantly left out in the cold is having a detrimental impact on her and her kids' physical and mental health.
Heather told the Record: "I deliberately got a particular style of pram so it would fit into the spaces available on buses, but I'm still not allowed to board.
"I always have to wait for the next bus when they don't let me on but sometimes they're cancelled so we're forced to walk half an hour to Kayden's school, which isn't ideal for me or my baby as we've both got health conditions.
"I feel like this is discrimination against parents in wheelchairs. I don't drive, trains are awkward for me and taxis are too expensive. If I can't get on the bus, how am I supposed to get about?
"The situation is really affecting my five year old too. He's got severe anxiety getting on buses now and gets really upset, tense and panicky whenever we're not allowed on. It's not fair on either on any of us."
Heather was knocked back from boarding a First Bus for the first time in October last year, when Brodhi was just five weeks old. The driver said there was no room on board but Heather says she checked and there was no one with a wheelchair or buggy already on.
A number of further incidents prompted Heather to complain to First Bus. The transport company then issued the mum with a letter which stated that wheelchair space on most vehicles can accommodate up to two small prams or normal sized unfolded pushchairs and, if not occupied, should be prioritised for wheelchair users.
But on Monday, January 9, Heather was again turned away, this time twice in one day. The exhausted mother captured footage of the confrontation, where she can be heard pleading with one of the drivers to read the letter from management, while he argues that he 'doesn't need to' and brands the request as 'a joke'.
In a second recording, another driver shouts 'you two aren't allowed on together', referring to Heather and her carer, who she requires assistance from at all times and who pushes the pram for her as she can't do it herself.
The driver remarks that 'prams and wheelchairs cannot travel at the same time' before closing the doors and driving away.
Heather says the encounters have left her 'very upset' and is now imploring First Bus to introduce clear rules for disabled passengers with children to be applied across the board so she can journey without fear of being rejected.
Heather continued: "Lots of nasty things have been said to me. Drivers have made comments like 'I'm sick of this crap' and they often cheekily ask my carer who she is. One even said I shouldn't be out on my own and another said that it's not their responsibility to look after my children.
"The rules need to be clear for passengers in wheelchairs who are parents with prams and drivers need more training. They need to accommodate us.
Linda Shields, Operations Director for First Bus Scotland, told the Record: “We are very disappointed to hear about the ongoing challenges that this customer has had on our No.75 route in recent weeks. We sympathise with their situation are continuing to work with our drivers and the customer to find how we may be able to support on this route.
“All First Bus drivers are trained to ensure safe carriage of everyone on board and to deliver a high standard of customer care to everyone. Unfortunately, on some services, depending on the size of the bus and its capacity, we’re unable to accommodate large wheelchairs and large prams together.
"In these instances, drivers will advise on the next bus arriving and will inform the next driver that there is someone waiting to be helped."
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