Recommendation to run 12-month mobility scooter trial on buses from April

Increased accessibility initially on one route, before increasing after six months

It's been recommended a trial - to allow mobility scooter users to travel on the Island's bus routes - should get underway next year.

The Bus Vannin Accessibility Steering Group has published its report looking into making public transport more accessible for passengers.

The report states the findings are due to go before Tynwald next month.

However, in a Tynwald written answer published this month, the Department of Infrastructure has now changed that date to next year.

Douglas South MHK Claire Christian asked the minister when he would be submitting the report on the adoption by Bus Vannin of the Confederation of Passenger Transport Code.

In response Chris Thomas said: "It is the department’s intention to submit a report to Tynwald on the adoption of the CPT Code in early 2023."

Manx Radio has asked the Department of Infrastructure to confirm the reason/s for the report being delayed.

A spokesperson for the department said: "It’s possible that the considerations currently taking place will lead to some amendments being made to the proposal prior to it being submitted to Tynwald in the new year."

The report was already delayed after originally being due before the court in October 2021.

In the report recommendations are made for a 12-month mobility scooter trial, initially just on route 21, starting next April.

Assuming there are no issues, routes 22 and 25 will be added after six months.

Other options considered included allowing scooters on all routes, introducing a dial-a-ride scheme for mobility scooter users or rejecting the provision altogether.

The recommendation for this trial comes after the group sought feedback from those who use the buses.

246 responses were submitted to the consultation, more than half of which came from passengers with a disability.

Among the issues raised were concerns around the poor pavements and uneven surfaces at bus stops, as well as wheelchair spaces being occupied by other users on buses.

Work has been ongoing to install new kerbs at bus stops to make them more accessible, while the report says drivers will undergo training between now and the start of the trial to ensure the scooters can safely use the buses.

After the trial is complete, it will be fully reviewed, with that report being submitted by June next year.