Although a mobility scooter is meant to allow you to keep a level of independence if you do need to head into a local town you might need to take some public transport however there is no legal requirement for bus or train companies to carry mobility scooters.
Mobility Scooters & Buses / Coaches
There is not currently any legal obligation for buses or coaches throughout the UK to carry a mobility scooter. The UK Public Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR) says that single-decker buses should all be accessible since 2016, and double-deckers since 2017.
Each independent bus service however will be different, and we’d always advise users speak to bus companies prior to traveling to ensure they can carry your travel mobility scooter.
However, in the UK the department of Transport and the UK Confederation of Passenger Transport, have set out various guidelines to travelling with a mobility scooter.
Class 2 scooters may be taken onto public transport, Class 3 cannot
Class 2 Scooters or more commonly known as lightweight mobility scooters which are designed to be used on pavements can be taken on public transport. However, all types of class 3 scooters are not permitted to be used on a bus or coach due to the weight & size restraints they come with.
Class 2 Scooter Restrictions:
- The lightweight scooter must be no wider than 600mm and 1000mm long
- The overall turning circle of your scooter must be no more than 1200mm
- The overall combined weight including the rider must not exceed 300kg
- The overall weight limit can be dependant on the individual bus service so it’s worth checking this before you plan to travel
To be able to travel on a bus you must have a valid permit to use that transport, this permit has to be applied for in advance.
Once you turn up to the bus depot the bus operator will assess your ability to ride your mobility scooter efficiently such as ensuring you can manoeuvre your scooter and use the access ramp to access various parts of the bus safely.
Once you have done this, you’ll be provided with a permit which will allow you to travel on the bus across permitted routes. If you have a permit from one operator, it should be accepted by any other bus company taking part in the scheme.
Rules for bus travel with a scooter
- Once on the bus you’ll need to ensure your mobility scooter is stored in the designated wheelchair space
- The motor on your mobility scooter must be turned off and the scooter should be parked in gear to avoid any movement
- If the bus or coach already has a mobility scooter on board sadly you will not be able to travel
London buses operate on a different scheme
The Transport of London (TFL) currently uses a different mobility scooter permit to other counties within the UK. This scheme is called the Mobility Aid Recognition Scheme.
The TFL scheme is the same as the current CPT schema although TFL offers a rage of training as part of the permit application to ensure you can use your scooter comfortably.
London bus drivers should accept permits from other bus companies in the CPT scheme.
How about costs?
Currently most bus permits can be acquired without any costs.
