7 replies to this topic

[Apparelyzed]

Amputee asked to prove disability

A man with no legs was asked to prove he was disabled before being allowed on to a bus in Manchester.

Double amputee Brian Callaghan, 60, was asked for his disabled pass entitling him to free travel, while boarding the number 17 First bus to Middleton.

"I've got no legs, it's pretty obvious," he replied.

Bob Mason, of First Bus services, apologised to Mr Callaghan for any embarrassment and said an investigation into the incident had been started.

Mr Callaghan, from the Blackley area of the city, is a former bus driver himself and said other passengers were outraged when the driver refused to move.

His wife, Maria, 58, had helped him onto the bus before purchasing her own £1.40 ticket."After my wife helped push me on to the bus, he shouted after us down the bus 'Oi, have you got a pass, mate?'."

"Everyone was shouting and saying: 'What's wrong with this driver, is he for real?'

"I felt all eyes on me - it was incredibly embarrassing and belittling.

"I'm an easy-going guy - nothing fazes me normally - but I was gobsmacked at the driver's attitude."

Fortunately, Mr Callaghan was able to show the driver his pass - but he was left embarrassed by the incident.

Mr Callaghan, who worked as a bus driver in Greater Manchester for 17 years until 1980, is planning to make a written complaint to First buses about his treatment on Sunday 25 March.

Investigation triggered

"In all my time working, I never once asked people for passes if they were obviously blind or disabled," he added.

"That's just unnecessary and unkind."

Mr Callaghan lost his legs three years ago through diabetes, one six months after the other.

Although he and his wife have a car, they occasionally use public transport to visit friends for lunch.

Mr Mason, First's service delivery director, said he was "saddened" to hear about Mr Callaghan's experiences.

"I'd like to apologise to him for any embarrassment and discomfort he experienced," said Mr Mason.

"We need to establish all the facts so that we can learn what transpired and introduce steps, if necessary, to ensure there is no repeat at any time in the future.

"We would be more than happy to send a representative from the company to meet with Mr Callaghan to discuss his concerns."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.u...ter/6521979.stm

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[Lucydog]

I really dont have a problem with this, although it might seem obvious, the driver was just doing his job. Doesnt sound as if he was rude or anything. Unfortunatly people will do anything to get away with not paying, and youd be surprised at how respectable they are sometimes. Just look at the number of lost/stolen/blue badges in circulation.
I wouldnt dream of taking offence if someone asked to see my blue badge for instance, and maybe it would be better if all these things were checked more often.

cheers
L

[Bulky]

I'm with LucyDog on this one. It's about delivery when asking for a disability pass/sticker/ID and it's about response when showing your disability pass/sticker/ID.

[Gary Anderson]

Have to say I agree with Lucy and Bulky on this one.

I regularly use public transport and despite having a wonky arm and using 2 sticks I dont presume that the diver will realise I am disabled. So what! I could still be trying to dodge a fare. It is not the first time in Glasgow that I have seen people coming on to the bus using false tickets, having picked them up from the street, or even sorse, feigning disability to travel for nothing telling the driver "sorry pal, I forgot my pass."

So, I have to say that the driver was correct and only doing his job despite what the "poor passenger" thinks. He was a bus driver, so he should know the rules.

It clearly states on all buses "please display passes to the driver" so what is his problem?

I would rather see the driver check all passes than find someone coming on the bus travelling for free who is not entitled.

[Tinbasher]

Gary Anderson, on Apr 4 2007, 06:58 AM, said:

Have to say I agree with Lucy and Bulky on this one.

So, I have to say that the driver was correct and only doing his job despite what the "poor passenger" thinks. He was a bus driver, so he should know the rules.

It clearly states on all buses "please display passes to the driver" so what is his problem?

I would rather see the driver check all passes than find someone coming on the bus travelling for free who is not entitled.

I agree. This has been played as him being asked to prove his disability but listening to him on the radio yesterday it was clear that the driver asked him to show his pass. Bus passes are localised and if he wasnt from the area he wasnt entitled.

I dont think this sort of publicity really helps us much at all.

Tom

[dom]

yup i'm all for people being asked to show their identity when using blue badges,i think it should be a regular thing,in the 4 years i've had one not once have i been asked to show the reverse side of my photo
i think there should be regular checks done as this would weed out the abusers and in the long run help the people who need them
on a note about the amputee i remember my dad telling me a story of about 40 years ago,he was with a friend at a local incapacity benefit office who were checking for abilities to work,his friend had an amputated leg just below the knee,the doctor started measuring it and apparently he said'i don't know why you keep measuring the bl**dy thing it has'nt grown since the last time!!

[brackman22]

I have to agree with the mob here. My last semester at UF (GO GATORS!) before I transferred to Purdue up here (GO BOILERS!) I rode the bus to campus and any other place I went. I would have my ID out and ready to flash to the driver before the bus arrived. Even then, I could feel all eyes on me as I rolled down the aisle and my chair was strapped to the floor. It didn't bother me. That's human nature. If this guy thinks that the passengers on that bus didn't notice that a double amputee had just boarded until the driver blew his cover and asked for his ID, he needs to lay off the wacky weed.

I feel more for the driver than the guy in the chair. The driver's being portrayed as an asshole when he was just doing his job. Especially if there is a sign on every bus about showing your pass like Gary said.


BRETT

Edited by brackman22, 04 April 2007 - 10:32 PM.

[ParaforGod]

I agree. We all talk about how we want to be treated the same as able-bodied people as most do. The aputee man needs to realize he was being treated the same as all the other passengers as he shuould be.