Unique Mobility teams up with Plymouth CityBus to improve accessibility awareness
Unique Mobility, a supplier of mobility and independent living products and services in the south west, recently invited Emma Courtier from Plymouth CityBus to its Plymouth showroom to discuss accessibility and inclusion in public transport.
Emma, who has been with CityBus for 28 years as a driver and trainer, now leads the company’s accessibility and inclusion initiatives. With personal experience as the daughter of a wheelchair user, Emma is passionate about making bus travel accessible for everyone.
Emma arrived with a double-decker bus to demonstrate accessibility and to answer questions about the rights of disabled passengers. For Unique Mobility, this visit provided valuable insights to better support customers and the wider Plymouth community.
Unique Mobility tested various mobility aids on the bus, including a selection of both powerchairs and mobility scooters as well as an active manual wheelchair with pull assist device.
The powerchairs and wheelchair successfully navigated the narrow bus passage and manoeuvred into the rear-facing wheelchair bay. The compact folding scooter performed well, however, a larger mobility scooter faced challenges due to size, underscoring the importance of choosing a bus-compatible model for regular travel.
Emma emphasized the importance of positioning wheelchairs with the backrest against the bus’s rear-facing support to prevent injury during sudden stops. While this can feel intimidating due to facing the rest of the bus, Emma advised the safety benefits.
Plymouth CityBus has seen an increase in wheelchair and mobility aid users, with drivers deploying ramps an average of 4-5 times daily. Emma outlined key policies to support disabled passengers. These include drivers asking passengers blocking the wheelchair bay to move and ensure users are securely positioned before moving the bus.
It is advised that if the wheelchair bay is full that passengers are informed of the next bus arrival time, with an offer to wait with the passenger until the next bus. Drivers should also request another bus from the depot if possible or arrange a taxi at CityBus’s expense.
All CityBus drivers undergo disability awareness training, including hands-on “Day in the Life” experiences, basic sign language lessons, and guidance on recognizing hidden disabilities. Initiatives like the “Help Me” cards ensure inclusive service for non-verbal passengers.
For those new to bus travel or anxious about navigating public transport, CityBus offers personalized access training. Drivers can meet wheelchair or powerchair users at their nearest bus stop—or even their home—to practice boarding, positioning, and exiting the bus in a stress-free environment. Participants completing the training will receive a travel assessment card, offering added confidence and support when boarding buses in the future.
Unique Mobility and Plymouth CityBus hope that their collaboration is an exciting step towards making public transport more accessible and inclusive for all. Unique Mobility plans to invite Emma and her bus to return in the spring to host a dedicated training session at its Plymouth store in Estover. Interested individuals can register by emailing hello@uniquemobility.co.uk or contacting the Plymouth branch.
In June 2024, the Motability Foundation announced that it had commissioned research into the transport accessibility needs of young people.
