PRESSURE is continuing to mount on Lothian Buses to drop its controversial pram ban after the Equality and Human Rights Commission stepped in to the row.
Ros Micklem, the organisation's Scottish director, said a "common sense approach" was needed. She said ensuring access for passengers in wheelchairs should not mean excluding parents with young children.
Her intervention adds to the pressure on L
othian Buses, after the city council called for an end to the "fiasco" this week.
A cross-party group of councillors is set to meet the bus company, after transport leader Phil Wheeler criticised their "heavy-handed" approach.
Lothian Buses says its policy is in line with disability discrimination laws. It claims the ban is necessary because a significant number of parents refuse to move out of the disabled space or fold their buggies when asked.
Campaigners say that it is discriminating against parents with young children. They maintain they should be allowed to use the space, provided it is not needed by a wheelchair user.
More than 1220 people have signed a petition calling on the Scottish Parliament to ensure equal access for parents to public transport. They have also won support from ECAS, the city's leading disability group.
Ms Micklem said: "The Equality and Human Rights Commission recognises that Lothian Buses is trying to comply with disability discrimination law.
However, we believe that this does not have to be an 'either/or' argument about the competing needs of wheelchair users and parents with small children. We feel that there is scope for a more flexible approach that would benefit both parents and disabled people.
"A common sense approach is needed, one that allows parents with buggies to access the space when it is not needed by a wheelchair user, on the clear understanding that the space would be given up for a wheelchair user if necessary."
Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, who recently led a delegation of parents to discuss the issue with Lothian Buses, said: "This is very good news. The commission is specifically to deal with equality issues. I hope that Lothian Buses will sit down and work out a common sense approach."
The company, however, has said it is not prepared to change its policy. It only allows buggies on buses that can be folded if required, although campaigners say these are unsuitable for children under six months.
George McKendrick, Lothian Buses operations manager, insisted the commission's comments were not inconsistent with the bus company's policy.
He said: "We welcome the Equality and Human Rights Commission for Scotland's endorsement of Lothian Buses' policy which is that we are happy to accommodate buggies and pushchairs in the wheelchair space as long as they can be folded up and put away if required to allow a wheelchair user to travel."
The full article contains 473 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
