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By Melanie Hawkes, PDA WA Director
Accessible public transport relies on more than ramps and designated spaces. It also requires awareness, communication and consideration when passengers have different access needs.
PDA WA Director Melanie Hawkes recently encountered this while travelling home from Optus Stadium. In her own words, Melanie shares what happened when she could not safely access the designated wheelchair space on her bus.
Recently, I got on bus 656 after the Dockers game at Optus Stadium to come home. The bus was already there with the ramp out, so I drove straight on, even though it was a bit full.
In the wheelchair area, I found someone with a walker. On the opposite side, there were three people sitting with no visible mobility aids. I asked whether they could move so I could use that space.
The woman in the middle, who would have been around my age, in her mid 40s, said, “No, he can’t move.” Pointing to an older man on her right, she added, “He’s blind.”
I was struck by her words, so I tried reasoning with her. I suggested that someone in the next row could move so they could take those seats. Nobody moved, and again, she said, “He can’t move because he’s blind.”
Meanwhile, the person with the walker was trying to fold it to make space for me, but my wheelchair takes up the space in front of all three seats. It is not safe for me to travel sideways while facing the middle of the bus. The safest position for me is facing the back with my chair tilted slightly so I do not lose my balance.
In any case, the person with the walker had a right to be there. The sign above the seats in that area even said so.
The woman then asked me, “Why can’t you stay where you are?”
I was in the aisle, just before the wheelchair space. No one would have been able to pass me. I also explained that the wheelchair area has a slip resistant surface, which is safer for me. She remained adamant that the blind man could not move. He did not say a word or move during the conversation.
I was not going to argue any further, so I decided to get off the bus. There was no space to turn around, which meant I had to reverse all the way off the bus and down the ramp. I waited for the next bus and was fortunate that it did not rain.
I am not against people who are blind. In fact, I have friends who are blind or have low vision. However, blindness is no excuse for rudeness or ignorance. If the man was able to walk onto the bus, surely he could have moved a couple of rows and found a seat elsewhere.
What I do not appreciate, and this applies to any disability, is people taking advantage of the benefits intended to support someone with disability. This could include using a priority seat, companion ticket or ACROD parking bay when the designated space is required by the person it was created to support.
People with disability are not there to provide benefits for others. I simply wanted to get home as quickly and safely as the next person.
Melanie’s experience highlights that accessibility is not about placing one disability above another. It is about recognising different access requirements and ensuring designated spaces can be used safely and as intended.
Everyone should be able to use public transport with dignity, safety and independence. Achieving this requires accessible services, greater public awareness and consideration from everyone.
Have you experienced a similar accessibility barrier while using public transport? PDA welcomes stories from people with physical disability. Sharing your experience can help raise awareness and strengthen our advocacy for more accessible and inclusive communities.
Share your story with PDA:
https://www.pda.org.au/share-your-story/
You can also strengthen PDA’s collective voice by becoming a member. Membership is free:
