Wheelchairs [unoccupied] on public transport

The request was partially successful.

Dear Department for Transport,
Please supply a statement :
a] as to whether an unoccupied wheelchair in a bus,tram, train,taxi/phv, coach etc is a wheelchair or an object or luggage as for example a pushchair, wheeled walker or shopping trolley and
b]of any relevant rules or laws [other than commercial terms and conditions] concerning carriage, boarding, stowage, restraint, crash-testing etc

what prompts this request is the increasing use by wheelchair users who can transfer to seats of folding lightweight electric wheelchairs with lithium batteries. the aim being to avoid the need for say a wheelchair accessible taxi/phv or the 1 wheelchair per bus restriction on most buses and some trains.

also please say if you are aware of any weight limits for lifting by transport personnel. I believe that the Southport Hackney Drivers raised this locally. |For example, National Express coaches limit is 20 kgs. The maximum allowed by some airlines is 32 kgs which i imagine some taxi drivers lift in and out.

Yours faithfully,

Dick Fowler

Department for Transport

1 Attachment

Dear Dick Fowler

Please find attached the response to your correspondence about Wheelchairs
on public transport.

Thank you,

Department for Transport
PO Correspondence
5/22 Great Minster House
33 Horseferry Road
LONDON
SW1P 4DR

http://www.dft.gov.uk/about/contact/

show quoted sections