When Transport Becomes A Barrier

A photo looking down the aisle of an empty bus, facing lots of blue patterned seats, including two seats with signs indicating they are for Disabled customers. Over the photo, a pale grey circle houses the text 'When Transport Becomes a Barrier'. Beneath the image is the Equal Lives logo: Equal Lives is written in blue text, with a tagline written in purple - Free from disabling barriers. There are 3 orange birds flying into the air above the writing.

Part 1

I will start by saying I'm Helen, 59, had Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) for 30 years, bronchiectasis and lymphoedema (face & neck) post radiotherapy for neck/throat cancer. I had to come off Methotrexate a year ago because of becoming allergic after many years of being on it. Since then, have only been managing on low dose steroids, which I cannot stay on long term. I also have a uterine prolapse. 

I was recently given an x-ray appointment at the new Diagnostics Centre, NNUH. My initial thought was, ‘Great, it's nice and quick and efficient, clean and spacious.’ Then I realised the buses don't stop anywhere near it. 

It was a very warm day and I set off around the corner from my house to catch my bus. I saw a dreaded metal sign on path saying road ahead closed. I waited nonetheless for my bus. I'd allowed myself an hour to get to the hospital. The bus was a no show. On enquiry at the shop over road I was told there would be no buses down here all week due to road works. 

In my frustration and panic, I called a taxi. The driver dropped me off on St Stephens St to get a connecting bus. I then asked the bus driver if he'd kindly drop me where there isn't a stop, just so I'd be a bit nearer to the clinic. He reluctantly agreed and I set off, but I'd got off too soon and had a really long walk in the heat and got a bit lost. I was very hot and bothered by the time I'd got there, with 2 minutes to spare. 

Job done but then I had the epic (for me) walk back up to the main hospital to catch the bus, by which time I needed a coffee and a rest. Unfortunately, I have IBS and the stress and coffee resulted in terrible gut pain but I got my bus back to St Stephens St. Of course, I'd just missed my bus home so waited 30 minutes. 

The driver told me the bus would not be going to my usual stop and would instead stop at an alternative location. I got off there and had to face another long walk. I was shattered. 

I cancelled my eye test because I couldn't face the hassle. Little did I know, I'd have to face even more inconvenience the following week! 

Part 2 

The following week, the buses were still not running down Sandy Lane, so I had to set off extra early for a Star Throwers appointment in Wymondham. They are a cancer charity that offers some wonderful services for free for those affected by cancer. 

I am very paranoid about the lymphoedema I have as a result of my treatment. I know I'm lucky, I no longer have cancer but it still bothers me that I have this problem. So, Star Throwers offer a lymphatic massage from a trained nurse. 

The appointment had taken a long time to come around, so I wasn’t going to cancel it. Even at 9am it was hot, and as I struggled towards the bus stop, the bus came down the hill. I was still a long way from the stop. It went past me, but then stopped at a red light, so I went back and asked the driver if I could get on. I was met with a flat, ‘No, not here.’ 

I thought this particularly unfair with it being a diverted route and they could see I had a stick. So, I struggled on uphill in the blazing sunshine and battled the big flight of steps with my dodgy knee. 

A bus passed me and pulled up at the stop. I panicked and hurried onto it, sitting down out of breath. To my horror the bus did not turn left where I knew it should but carried on away from city, not toward. I asked which number it was and to my despair it was 38, not 39! 

I got off at the first available stop, nearly in tears, as I then had a huge walk back to the stop, very sweaty and exhausted by the time I got there. All by which time I hadn't even started my journey. 

When my bus turned up, a few minutes early, the driver turned engine off and got out, heading to Asda. He was late back so of course I missed my connecting bus in St Stephens as it pulled away just as I approached the stop. 

So eventually I get my bus to Wymondham but Star Throwers isn't on the bus route or any bus route, I believe, so I had arranged to meet a friend to drive me there. I then had to do it all again to go back and that final walk back home almost finished me off!

The massage was good by the way, so I booked another for my sins! 

I had to re-book my eye test again too!  

Written by Equal Lives member, Helen  

Equal Lives Summary 

Helen's story is not really about buses. It's about what happens when services are designed without fully considering the realities of disabled people's lives. 

Two routine appointments became physically exhausting, emotionally draining and unnecessarily complicated. The appointments themselves were accessible. Getting to them was not. 

Accessibility doesn't begin at the door of a hospital, clinic or community service. It starts with being able to leave home, travel safely, and arrive without pain, stress or exhaustion. 

Disabled people should not have to spend hours planning journeys, navigating diversions or overcoming barrier after barrier simply to access healthcare. By listening to disabled people and involving them in decisions through meaningful co-production, we can build a Norfolk where everyone can participate fully and independently.