A Waterford disability rights campaigner says people’s wheelchairs are being damaged on the new city buses.

Bus Eireann rolled out a fleet of 17 new buses in Waterford last December.

However, wheelchair users say they’re less accessible than the older vehicles they replaced.

Karl Cretzan is a Committee Member of the Waterford Disability Network

“The entrance is not wide enough for a wheelchair to turn down into the bus to get on and off.

“Also, the wheelchair space has a vertical pole in the middle of the space which means it’s difficult to manoeuvre my wheelchair in and out of the space.”

He says it shouldn’t be happening in 2019.

“We, as wheelchair users, want to be as much independent as we can, to get around to college, to work, to go into town for the day.

Now we can’t because we’re damaging our wheelchairs on the new buses.”

Karl Cretzan and Michael Doyle

Michael Doyle is a Sinn Fein Candidate for Waterford City East. He says Bus Eireann told him that the new fleet complies with UN regulations.

“That flies in the face of what Karl is saying.

“The old buses that were in Waterford were much more accessible for everybody.

“Absolutely the efficiency and frequency has increased. We welcome investment in any public services as long as they’re fully accessible and inclusive.

“Karl’s wheelchair isn’t even the biggest. So, for people with even bigger wheelchairs it’s more of a problem for them.”

NTA Response

A spokesperson for the National Transport Authority told WLR News that:

“The new single-deck city bus fleet which was introduced on city routes in Waterford last December comprises 17 state-of-the-art buses. All new vehicles feature a bright new interior design, comfortable seating, a dedicated wheelchair space, a separate designated child buggy space, priority seats, USB sockets, complimentary Wi-Fi, CCTV security cameras throughout, as well as journey information screens.

“There will always be differences in the measurements or dimensions of different vehicles, however, the critical factor is whether the buses in question comply with the relevant requirements. In that regard NTA can confirm that all the new vehicles comply with the regulations and requirements relating to access and accessibility for wheelchair users*.

“The same vehicles are also in use in other parts of the country.”

*UNECE Regulation No. 107 (Uniform Provisions concerning the approval of Category M₂ or M₃ vehicles with regard to their General Construction).