In 2009 I investigated why UK buses don't have the sort of bike racks they do in the USA and Canada. I found there was a UK pressure group that was trying to do this but apparently bike racks were not allowed under EU legislation. I banged my head on it for a bit and then gave up. Now somebody at the DfT had another look at the issue and on October 17th the IVS unit informed Bikes On Buses UK that buses CAN have a bike rack on the front or back as long as the vehicle remains within its maximum permitted length. This could have a real impact on the use of rural buses as it will extend their range and ridership. Moral of story: never take no for an answer.
http://www.bikesonbuses.com/recent-news/
Repost from http://www.aboutmyarea.co.uk published: 14th October 2014
A Suffolk MP has put further pressure on the Department for Transport to change the regulations regarding the issuing of blue badge parking permits to community transport providers.
Earlier this year, Suffolk Community Transport (SCT) called on the Government to review its policy after some of its members were refused a permit despite the vital role they play providing transport to the elderly and disabled.
The issue hit the headlines in May when Halesworth Area Community Transport (HACT) where refused a permit despite holding one for several years, with Suffolk County Council stating:
“Under the Government Blue Badge eligibility criteria that we are required to work within, the Regulations state that an organisation will only be issued with a Blue Badge if they both care for and transport disabled people who would themselves be eligible for an individual Blue Badge. Unfortunately as your organisation only transports and does not care for disabled people, I regret I am unable to authorise a badge for you.”
The HACT decision was overturned following a second appeal, however other community transport operators have faced similar difficulties when apply for the permit - which allows parking in restricted areas.
As a result SCT, which champions the role of the community transport sector in Suffolk, called on the Government to change its policy.
Now, SCT has received the support of Waveney MP Peter Aldous, who has written a letter directly to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department for Transport Robert Goodwill MP. In the letter Mr Aldous says:
“I believe SCT has put together a strong case and therefore I would be most grateful if the DfT could review the eligibility rules around organisational blue badges, amending the rules to state – ‘Community Transport Operators offering services predominately to disabled people should automatically be given an organisational blue badge’.”
SCT represents Suffolk’s 14 community transport operators including those in Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, Newmarket, Hadleigh, Stowmarket, Haverhill, Sudbury, Beccles and Halesworth. Its Chief Executive, Susannah Waters, said: “We are delighted to have received such strong support from Mr Aldous in our pursuit for a regulation change and we hope the DfT gives serious consideration to our request. It seems a very strange decision to prevent services providing transport for people with disabilities from parking is spaces reserved for people with disabilities. Our view is that the guidelines for local authorities, issued by the DfT, require fundamental change.”
