Most buses now disabled-friendly

This letter is published in today's Leicester Mercury:

Most buses now disabled-friendly

Regarding the letter from Val London ("Problems faced by the disabled", Mailbox, June 18) I have a few comments to make.

Bus operators have until 2017 to make all their fleets "disabled- friendly", not 2012, though most operators are well ahead of this deadline, Arriva Midlands among them.The only Arriva routes in our area still normally worked by "step entrance" buses are the X3 to Market Harborough, 80 (University Halls of Residence) and 152/153 (Leicester-Desford-Coalville/Market Bosworth).

Regarding service coaches, National Express are putting "disabled-friendly" coaches on many of their routes now, with more to come. The Disability Discrimination Act only covers vehicles used on scheduled services, so private hire and touring coaches are not covered by it.

I wish Val and people with disabilities well. I hope these details help.

Terry Kirby, Campaign for Better Transport (Leicestershire)