Bus drivers offered empathy training (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Bus drivers offered empathy training by Richmond Aid

10:12am Friday 15th October 2010 in News By Christine Fleming

Bus User: Clare Watson

Disabled and blind volunteers have offered to give bus drivers extra training to raise awareness of vulnerable passengers’ needs.

Richmond Aid, which provides advice and information on disability, and Richmond’s visually-impaired society Visor, have joined forces to offer the free training.

It follows concerns raised over the challenges disabled passengers face when using the borough’s buses.

A spokesman for Richmond Aid said: “We offered Fulwell bus garage the training, and are keen to work with them.

“It would be training on access and we would be involving our members, running through issues in practical terms with drivers.

“If we can reach the people on the ground and work closely with them, it could make a big difference.”

Issues with transport access for disabled passengers in Richmond were put under the spotlight in July, when wheelchair-user Clare Watson lifted the lid on her daily battle to board buses.

She revealed how she was regularly being left behind at bus stops, and being told ramps were not working.

And after various discussions over the past three months about issues bus-users faced it was announced at a community meeting on Wednesday, an offer had been made to London United’s bus garage in Fulwell, to help with extra training.

It is now hoped bus companies and charity groups could soon be working together to make sure services remain top priority.

Bob Burgis, a visually-impaired volunteer at Visor, said as drivers have to undertake regular training it would be an opportunity to use one of these sessions to highlight the issues facing less able passengers.

He said: “We have got one of the best transport systems in the country around here, and are very well-served with buses – but that means drivers are in high demand.

“All drivers have a training day once every two months, and we’re trying to get on to one of those so we can say ‘Look we’re not having a go at you, we’re just trying to help the people we want to help – and help you to help them’.”

Fulwell bus garage has not yet confirmed if it will go ahead with the training, but a spokesman for London United said it does take the issue seriously.

He said: “London United takes an active role in assisting Richmond Aid with the work it does for visually-impaired people .

“All our drivers are trained in dealing with disabled and visually-impaired passengers through a training course.”