Scooter boss bids to find Metro solution

Aug 29 2008 by Sam Wood, The Journal

Users' anger

MOBILITY scooter users have been expressing their anger at Nexus over the ban since it was introduced on Wednesday.

Joseph Munroe, 95, who lives in sheltered accommodation in North Shields, has been driving his scooter for three years and has never had an accident.

Mr Munroe lives at Edith Moffat House on Albion Road and loaded bombs on to aircraft during the Second World War.

He is unable to walk far due to asthma attacks and arthritis in both his feet.

He said: “This ban is treating all scooter users the same. I have been driving my scooter for years and have never had any problems. We are all different. I don’t see why I should be banned from the Metro because others have had accidents.

“I love going out and about but I will really struggle now I can’t use the Metro.”

Scooter rules elsewhere

THE Tyne and Wear Metro is one of only a few systems in Britain which ban mobility scooters.

Nottingham and Sheffield have no such ban and there are no restrictions on passengers using the underground in both London and Glasgow.

But Liverpool’s Merseyrail and the Manchester tram system do have bans in place on their routes.

In fact, the tram network in Manchester has been off limits to scooter users since it opened in 1992.

Restrictions were first introduced on the Tyne and Wear Metro as a temporary measure in April, when scooter users were banned from travelling on the Metro alone and had to be accompanied.

But from Wednesday the new regulations came into effect outlawing scooters from all 60 stations across Tyne and Wear.

Nexus says it is looking into alternative arrangements, including community travel schemes and TaxiLink.