Waking up in Geelong

With works all over the rail network, train replacement buses have been a familiar sight around Melbourne. But in recent times something new has appeared alongside them – train replacement accessible taxis.

Thankfully inaccessible high floor buses are becoming a thing of the past – on paper the bulk of buses are now accessible to passengers using wheelchairs or mobility aids.

Some buses can be lowered by the driver so they are closer to the kerb. If needed, the bus driver will also use a ramp to help passengers board the bus. Low-floor buses have allocated spaces for passengers using wheelchairs or mobility aids. This area is marked on the floor with a wheelchair symbol.

But for some reason during major works, passengers requiring accessible transport are directed to taxis instead of buses.

Sent to a separate pickup area.

Where wheelchair accessible taxis are waiting for intending passengers.

Each with a ‘DDA approved train replacement bus’ signs in their front window.

So why provide a separate mode of transport for passengers using wheelchairs or mobility aids?

I suspect clueless passengers is one reason – as soon as the driver had to deployed the ramp, some dumbarse will try and walk over it.

Multiply by that by the number of buses needed to replace a rail service, it’s easier to keep the fleet of buses moving with the ‘self loading freight’ crammed aboard, and use taxis running point to point, unconstrained by zombie passengers getting in the way of manoeuvring wheelchairs and mobility aids.

Footnote

Accessible taxis are also used to transport passengers while lifts are being repaired or upgraded at City Loop stations.

Transporting passengers to the nearest station that is still accessible.

They have also been used to transport passengers from stations where there are lifts but not ramps.

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