Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy is appalled to hear that people with mobility scooters have been denied access to Arriva buses.
Following a recent incident on the number 15 bus, it has come to light that Arriva Buses now require people with mobility scooters to have a permit to board.
The incident a resident, using a scooter, who was denied boarding due to not having an "orange mobility pass" — a requirement they were unaware of. When the driver contacted the depot, it was confirmed via loudspeaker that travel with a scooter is not allowed without a permit and the resident was left stranded at the side of road.
In the FAQ section of Arriva’s website it explains that ‘Permits are required to ensure safe use of mobility scooters on board’.
However, this change appears to have been implemented without any prior communication or public notice about the permit requirement.
Commenting on the news Janet said:
“I am appalled by the behaviour of Arriva Buses. People with mobility issues should never be denied travel on the basis of their additional needs.
“I understand that during this incident 10 passengers got off the bus in protest of this poor behaviour from Arriva. Sadly, it did not make a difference.
“From looking at Arriva’s website I can see that it stipulates that permits are now required. However, I am not aware of any communication from Arriva about requiring a permit and I have not seen any posters, nor campaigns.
“I can see the reasoning behind the decision but clearly people are going to be caught out if Arriva do not engage with their customers and the community regarding these crucial changes.
“Therefore, I am writing to Arriva to express my concern and to encourage them to get the message out so that we do not have people stranded at the side of the road due to their requiring of a scooter.”
ENDS
Mae Janet Finch-Saunders, yr Aelod o’r Senedd dros Aberconwy, wedi dychryn o glywed bod bysiau Arriva wedi gwrthod rhoi mynediad i bobl â sgwteri symudedd.
Yn dilyn digwyddiad diweddar ar fws rhif 15, mae wedi dod i'r amlwg bod Arriva Buses bellach yn ei gwneud hi’n ofynnol i bobl sydd â sgwteri symudedd gael trwydded i deithio ar y bws.
Yn y digwyddiad dan sylw, cafodd preswylydd sy’n defnyddio sgwter ei wrthod gan nad oedd ganddo "docyn symudedd oren" - gofyniad nad oedd yn ymwybodol ohono. Pan gysylltodd y gyrrwr â'r depo, cadarnhawyd trwy uchelseinydd nad oedd caniatâd i’r teithwyr deithio gyda sgwter heb drwydded a gadawyd y preswylydd wrth ymyl y ffordd.
Yn adran Cwestiynau Cyffredin gwefan Arriva mae'n esbonio bod 'Trwyddedau yn ofynnol i sicrhau defnydd diogel o sgwteri symudedd ar fysiau'.
Fodd bynnag, mae'n ymddangos bod y newid hwn wedi'i roi ar waith heb unrhyw gyfathrebu ymlaen llaw na hysbysiad cyhoeddus am ofyniad y drwydded.
Wrth sôn am y newyddion dywedodd Janet:
"Mae ymddygiad Arriva Buses yn ddychrynllyd. Ni ddylai pobl sydd â phroblemau symudedd fyth gael eu gwrthod rhag teithio ar sail eu hanghenion ychwanegol.
"Rwy'n deall bod 10 o deithwyr wedi dod oddi ar y bws yn ystod y digwyddiad i brotestio yn erbyn ymddygiad gwael Arriva. Yn anffodus, wnaeth hynny ddim gwahaniaeth.
"O edrych ar wefan Arriva gallaf weld ei fod yn nodi bod angen trwyddedau erbyn hyn. Fodd bynnag, dydw i ddim yn ymwybodol o unrhyw gyfathrebu gan Arriva ynglŷn â’r gofyniad am drwydded a dydw i ddim wedi gweld unrhyw bosteri, nac ymgyrchoedd.
"Gallaf weld y rhesymeg wrth wraidd y penderfyniad ond yn amlwg mae pobl yn mynd i gael eu dal allan os nad yw Arriva yn ymgysylltu â'u cwsmeriaid a'r gymuned ynglŷn â'r newidiadau hanfodol hyn.
"Felly, rwy'n ysgrifennu at Arriva i fynegi fy mhryder gan eu hannog i gyfleu'r neges yn glir fel nad oes gennym bobl yn sownd ar ochr y ffordd oherwydd eu bod yn gorfod defnyddio sgwter."
DIWEDD
