In the near future, Trent Barton will be introducing a fleet of new buses to the Keyworth Connection route which connects Keyworth and Tollerton with Nottingham. I am very pleased to report that these buses will be accessible by passengers in wheelchairs.
The buses will be equipped with movable ramps which can be extended or retracted by the driver whenever a wheelchair user wishes to get on or off the bus. Although the drivers will not be allowed to push the wheelchairs (because of health and safety rules), I am assured that the ramps will be very easy to negotiate by users of either manual or electrically powered wheelchairs. There will be an area near the front of each bus where a wheelchair can be safely parked during the journey, without fear of its rolling around during sudden manoeuvres by the bus.
The ramps can be operated anywhere, regardless of the height of the kerb at the bus stop.
There will be opportunities for wheelchair users to practise getting on and off buses, e.g. during turn-round times at the Broad Marsh terminus.
The new buses are expected to come into service in August or September 2007.
