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Birmingham teenager with dwarfism 'barred from buses'

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  1. kaputnik
    Moderator

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-28471957

    Birmingham teenager with dwarfism 'barred from buses'

    A boy with a form of dwarfism says he has been barred from buses five times in a fortnight in a row over his bike.

    Kain Francis, 17, from Kingstanding, Birmingham, said the bike was a "lifeline" to a social life as he did not have "much stamina" to walk.

    Kain, who is 3ft 5in (1.04m) tall, said one driver asked him for proof he was disabled.

    Posted 11 years ago #
  2. Tulyar
    Member

    I spotted this too - might be a point to ask Ian Craig about Lothian Buses policy on this issue, and work to getting a Transport Scotland Policy on cycles as mobility aids.

    This would of course be a great idea for a study - how access to cycles as mobility aids has an impact on the health, social engagement, and costs of mobility for a person with a mobility impairment. From observation I'd reckon.

    1) health - the opportunity to get exercise without loading up 'weak' parts of the body provides health gains.

    2) social independence - the ability to go further and more frequently without depending on the services of a driver and vehicle, when the 'walking range is severely curtailed.

    3) cost - personal cost in being able to afford fuel for a motability (says it all!) car, or taxis, or dial a ride bus. Public cost - underwriting 'special' bus services etc when standard bus & rail services can be used, plus greater use of standard bus & rail services, making these more viable.

    Posted 11 years ago #

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