However, as you would expect with all things Council all is not simple. The shuttle service from Wickham Market, which replaces the 64, remember, normally leaving at xx50, now leaves at xx15 and connects with the 65, so 30 mins difference arriving at the destination. Coming the other way if you want to travel from Ipswich to Rendlesham instead of catching the 65 as usual, changing at Woodbridge, you now have to catch the 64, again 30 mins difference. Makes perfect sense. Not only that but as you will see the Council have failed to take into account disabled passengers or less importantly the buggy and trolley brigade.
I had to go on my regular trip to Wickham Market today so was able to sample both these services. It should be noted that my journey from Saxmndham to Wickham Market took an HOUR longer than usual, as I had to travel via Woodbridge and double back. Surely the shuttle could have operated to/from Marlesford to give passengers travelling both ways an easy connection. The Wickham shuttle was operated by JR
JR Executive Travel JR11 BUS at Wickham Market |
The Rendlesham Shuttle, however, was most unexpected. First's ex Excel and just about everything else coach 20515 was being used, and that really was an opportunity not to be sniffed at, so as I had allowed extra time to get home anyway I used that to take a trip to Rendlsham and back. Still gives a decent ride and heating was most welcome!
20515 at Woodbridge |
Still showing her former employment |
20515 at Redwald Rd, Rendlesham |
Well if that Wickham Shuttle is effectively a Private Hire then like the Bernies contracts that could use Ollies on it after DDA then the same applies to this. But that is irrelevant as having checked the regulations (and there are a lot of them) DDA only applies to vehicles carrying 22 passengers or more. WHAT??? Yes that's correct, only vehicles carrying 22 passengers or more need wheelchair accessibility etc.. Now correct me if I'm wrong but DDA stands for Disability Discrimination Act. It is designed so no one is excluded from using bus services regardless of disability. Except if you live in the sticks it seems, because if your bus service uses a vehicle carrying less than 22 passengers then you don't count, and by default are still discriminated against. Yes there is On Demand transport, such as Suffolk Links and Dial-a-Ride, but they all need to be prebooked. It does beg the question - when is discrimination not discrimination and why on earth haven't the disability rights groups been jumping up and down over this. Thousands of perfectly decent, usable buses will be scrapped over the next two years, yet a mobile shoebox with less than 22 passengers can carry on without a care in the world. Talk about a postcode lottery.
So to finish with another rare sight in Woodbridge! I seriously dislike that frog!
E200 44519 in Woodbridge on the 65 to Ipswich |
Don't know about 50 shades of grey, 20515 is in several shades of white. Bout time for a repaint methinks........
ReplyDeleteBoth 20515 and 20514 were meant to be painted blue, Excel livery Ithink but I'm not totally sure if that has been shelved or not.
DeleteThe paint program has been sidelined until after the end of the financial year,which i believe is the end of March,so as from April repaints will start again so i was told when the repaints at Simon Morris stopped,so it's yippee! get them camera's out again chaps,lol..
ReplyDeleteI have received the following email from Andy Saunders, which he has kindly given me permission to publish.
DeleteHi Steve:
I couldn't agree with you more about the DDA farce. As you pointed out
the Wickham Market shuttle is not wheelchair accessible, but First 20515
is notionally accessible, as it is fitted with a lift. But does the
timetable allow enough time for loading and unloading a wheelchair? I
doubt it.
On the subject of Beavers, these are still in use by one operator in
Suffolk - Suffolk Norse. They operate them on several services,
including the 179 and 163 into Ipswich. They have a wheelchair lift
accessible via doors at the back, but I suspect that use of this would
require seats to be removed, not something that can be done for the
casual intending passenger.
I have checked Suffolk County Council's "Suffolk on Board" website this
evening, and this has info about the 64 changes but no mention of
changes affecting Kettleburgh or Rendlesham/Tunstall. So they don't
help intending passengers. Regarding the Wickham Market shuttle, the
vehicle in use could quite easily negotiate Broad Road and Border Cot
Lane, so a connection to Marlesford would be feasible, as you suggest.
With a bit of thought on SCC's part, it would also be feasible to do a
Snape and Tunstall to Marlesford shuttle.
Don't get me started on the subject of destination displays on these
non-DDA vehicles. As well as the ones in your photos, PF Travel have a
bit of paper with small writing (when they have one at all) and Suffolk
Norse's Beavers have a tiny scrolling LED display which by the time it
has scrolled through, the bus has gone past and you've missed it.
Enough ranting for one evening. Keep up the good work.
Thanks for the comments, Andy i had forgotten about the Norse Beavers
Destination displays are an integral part of the DDA requirements so it sounds as though Suffolk Norse's technically compliant Beavers (provided they are required to comply on account of their seating capacity) are in fact non-compliant by virtue of the inadequate destination displays.
ReplyDeleteThere was an annonymous reply to this which for some reason didn't show up so here it is::
DeleteSuffolk Norse's beavers are classed as mobility buses though they do stage work so are exempt from DDA rules at present, Destinations are a problem on them but get around it the same way because of rural mobility use.