The Everyday Ageism Project: Inadequate Access to Transport

The Everyday Ageism Project

The Everyday Ageism Project aims to capture people’s everyday experiences of ageism. Research by EURAGE shows that across the European region, ageism is the most commonly experienced form of prejudice, yet relatively little is known about how it is experienced, who experiences it and the situations which may leave people vulnerable to age discrimination.

By providing a safe forum for people to anonymously share their experiences, the project aims to understand the consequences of ageism and the ways that age discrimination can affect people’s everyday lives. We also wish to encourage people to share their stories to show that ageism does exist and that it is a valid problem worth discussing.

Click here to submit your experience of ageism.

Monday, 4 November 2013

Inadequate Access to Transport

Suitable transport should be provided for the elderly “starting NOW”

The incident concerns a bus company, not all of its bus fleet allows passengers to enter buses without a short climb or a long climb to the upstairs compartment. Legislation was brought forward for disabled people to have the right of entrance, (even those in wheelchairs) but nothing seems to be done for those aged and may have a companion with them. Suitable transport (i.e. buses) ought to be provided on ALL routes to enable the elderly to get around, starting NOW. Buses are converted for disabled people, but not all of them, which is required by law. No such requirement has to be met by bus companies, when carrying Elderly people. This is why it is a matter of ageism.

Having been asked to remove myself in front of other passengers, by the bus driver made me fell embarrassed, demeaned and angered. Reporting the incident to the Head Office of the bus company, merely resulted in a letter explaining that it was entirely up to the bus driver whom he carried, which is both wrong as a matter of law and a matter of the bus complained requirements.