A disabled former MP has called for “clear guidelines” on bus spaces for wheelchair-users after she claimed she wasn’t allowed to board because of a buggy.
Dame Anne Begg was waiting for the number three First bus on Rosemount Viaduct in Aberdeen at around 3.30pm yesterday when the alleged incident happened.
She said when the bus pulled up, the driver would not let her board because a buggy was already occupying the disabled space.
The driver allegedly told her it was “the law” that wheelchair users couldn’t get on while a buggy was in place.
Signs on buses ask passengers to give the seats to disabled people, and Dame Anne said the young family had already began to move.
The former Labour MP, who represented Aberdeen South from 1997 until this year, has now written to the bus company seeking answers on their seating policy.
She said: “It is marked as being a priority area for disabled people and most of the time if someone has a buggy they are happy to pack it up.
“The driver said ‘it’s the law’. Luckily for me I know quite a lot about the law.
“I think there need to be clearly guidelines to drivers so they know what to do in these situations.”
Dame Anne also sent an online message to First through social media page Twitter.
They responded: “Hi Anne, the driver is required to ask the person with the buggy if they are willing to move. Apologies this has happened.”
Nobody from First Bus was available for comment last night.