A disabled woman wants action to make the use of seating on buses clearer after she was made to give one up for a pram.
Karen Robertson, 44, who suffers from Huntington’s Disease, was travelling from her home into Dundee to start her job with the council.
She makes the trip in from Invergowrie to work three days a week and she uses a rollator device to help her walk.
Karen’s condition affects her memory and mobility and can cause personality changes and problems with her breathing and speaking.
She was, however, still asked to give up her disabled seat on a Stagecoach East Scotland bus in April so a woman could put her pram in the space.
Two months later a woman with a pram got on to a bus on which Karen was travelling and put the pram where the fold-up seats were.
This did not stop two fellow passengers on the bus saying Karen should have moved her rollator for the pram.
Karen said: “In the first incident I placed my four-wheeled rollator in the disabled space on the bus.
“Two women with prams and youngsters got on the bus near Blackness Avenue.
“One woman wanted to put her pram in the disabled space. As I was already in that space with my rollator she complained to the driver and said I should move.
“The driver then told me that I would have to fold my rollator, but it doesn’t fold. The woman then got off the bus while complaining about me.
“Signs on the bus state that prams should only be put in the disabled space if it is not being used by a disabled person.”
During the second incident the woman placed the pram near some fold-up seats and did not even look at the disabled area.
Karen added: “I heard two passengers talking and saying that I had ignored the woman with the pram.
“I think more is needed to make the rules around disabled spaces on buses clearer.”
A spokeswoman for Stagecoach East Scotland said it had a dedicated area for disabled passengers with signage indicating that they had priority there.
He said passengers with buggies would be asked to move from this area for a disabled person.
He said: “Our drivers have been reminded of these procedures.
“We are sorry to hear that passengers on board Karen’s journey did not treat her with respect and kindness. I hope she has no future cause for concern when travelling by bus.”
John Eden, chief executive of the Scottish Huntington’s Association, said: “Sadly people living with the condition frequently have negative experiences using public transport.”
