25 November 2013

MEDIA RELEASE

Having a go on the bus day a big success

More than 120 people with impairments had the chance to experience travelling by bus at the recent Have a Go bus day.

Organised by Environment Canterbury and the Christchurch City Council, the event gave people with impairments the opportunity to build their confidence using the Christchurch bus system.

Environment Canterbury Public Transport Manager David Stenhouse says “The Have a Go day was an important opportunity for our staff and bus drivers to get a better understanding of the needs of people with a range of different impairments. It was also important for people with impairments to get hands-on experience with the buses to open the opportunities for them to get out and about using the bus.”

“Bus drivers and Environment Canterbury staff also got into the spirit of the day, getting into a wheelchair to experience what it is like for people with impairments to get on and off a bus.”

He says Metro staff found it was a real boost experiencing the excitement of the people getting on buses, sometimes for the first time. It was also encouraging to see the cooperation between agencies who work in the disability area.

CCC Disability Advisor Cam Scott says the key thing about events such as this was giving people ideas, planting the thought that travelling on a bus is possible.
“If people even start thinking about it now, that’s brilliant,” he says.

Rachel Mullins who uses a powerchair was one of those who got on a Metro bus for the first time. “It was a fantastic day,” she says. “Just having the chance to try out getting on and off a bus in a non-pressured environment was great – you knew you could take as much time as you needed to practice and get comfortable with it.

“When I first got there, I looked at the ramps and thought there was no way I was going to do that, but after 45 minutes I got on each of the three buses twice.”

The event also aimed to raise awareness of the accessibility of the Christchurch bus system, with three buses of different ages and accessibility standards on hand.

“It was useful trying the different buses. While I found it a bit tricky to get into the seating space on the oldest bus, I couldn’t believe how easily I could get on the newest bus,” Ms Mullins said.

People from a large range of organisations were there, including CCS Disability Action, Work and Income, Skillwise, IDEA Services, the Foundation of the Blind, Hohepa, Middleton Grange School, Papanui High School, Cashmere High School, Age Concern, Disabled Persons Assembly, Canterbury District Health Board and Burwood Hospital.

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