Accident sparks Metro scooter ban

Mobility scooter users have been banned from using the Tyne and Wear Metro unless they are with a helper after a man fell on to the track. They will have to be accompanied by a helper from Saturday 26th April 2008. The man's fall from his vehicle was the second mishap which prompted the move.

The restriction was introduced after a man fell on to the stretch of track at Howdon station, in North Tyneside, on Thursday morning. He was treated in North Tyneside General Hospital for head and facial injuries. Another incident which has led to the ban, was when an elderly woman on a mobility scooter crashed through train doors and onto the Metro track after boarding a train at Brockley Whins station, South Tyneside. The woman suffered bruising but was not seriously hurt. Ironically, she was accompanied by a friend.

Operator Nexus apologised but said it was needed to safeguard passengers' safety. A meeting is being held at St James' Metro on 30 April for disabled people. The rule applies to powered mobility scooters but not electric wheelchairs.

Bernard Garner, director general of Nexus said: "We're changing the rule on using mobility scooters on Metro for the safety and comfort of all our passengers, including scooter users themselves. We appreciate this will make travel more difficult for some users, but we feel we have no alternative - other than to stop scooters using Metro altogether, given new safety concerns surrounding their use. There has been a huge growth in the number of people using powered mobility scooters to get around and we need to keep pace with that."

Mr Garner said Nexus would be meeting disability groups to discuss passenger safety. The meeting will be held at the St James' Metro station. However, anyone who has a mobility scooter, but is unable to find someone to be a companion, will not be able to attend the meeting.

One of the many people who have been affected by this ban, is a Susan Calvert, who was interviewed by BBC Look North on Monday 28th April 2008. She has MS, and uses a mobility scooter. Before the ban came into force, Mrs Calvert, was able to get about not only on her scooter, but also by using the Metro. She was able to make hospital visits and go along to MS meetings on Tyneside. With this ban, Mrs Calvert will be restricted to just her local area, and not the whole of the Metro system. Her husband works all day as do the majority of her friends, and so cannot be her escort to help with guiding her on/off the Metro. She has been grounded by this ban.