First way to travel from Madrid to Estepona. Buy a bus ticket, presented in time Méndez Álvaro station, get in the car, little movie, stopping for sandwich, perhaps ; a little nap ... Total: 7 hours of travel, 618 miles and 25 euros. Second way: buy a bus ticket, submitted on time in the season, failing to get on the first bus, or the second film did not see or stop for the sandwich, or siesta. Total: more than 24 hours, 25 euros (the same) and not one kilometer. Yesterday, Manuel Lobato had to settle for second choice. Because
Lobato, 50, paraplegic, wanted to travel with your wheelchair on the bus company Daibús, Ladies group. There was no ramp to climb and room for him to travel, but sent his brother to confirm your booking over the counter. After several failed options, a reclamacióny multiple visits to the window, he said that to: you again tomorrow. "I knew it was not all me, but wanted to try," he said yesterday the man at the box office Daibús. Sitting on the floor, her two children, Martha, 19, and Alberto, 14, who also stayed on the ground without his plan to start by year's end.
Marta sighs when asked if the travel problems are common. "We've spent a lot of times, a lot, there's always a catch," he said. Alberto, sitting beside her, without saying anything sight. And his father detailing the litany of waiting on trains, planes, taxis and other vehicles will travel in a wheelchair.
hoped that this time was different, but no luck. Manuel Lobato, who lives with his family in Logroño, bought three tickets for two weeks. Normally, traveling by train or plane but decided on the intercity bus for the first time because the company promised. Daibús offers 100% of the fleet equipped with tail lift for wheelchair access wheelchair and says on its web page that have a designated parking space per trip. Confident, the traveler came to the station yesterday with tickets in hand an hour before he left his bus. Started up the people and the driver said he was on the ground, the ramp did not work, that booking your place is debíaa "human failure." And Lobato was planted in the back of the bus tried to stop so they do not come out. "I was out of the way the police," said hours later. "They've lifted the weight, chair and all," adds his daughter. Rose to the ticket office and asked for another ticket.
First he promised to ride the bus one afternoon. Then he said he tried at night. "I refused, my health will not let me," he explains. And filed a claim in the window where he watched a worker yesterday faced circumstances across the glass. Daibús A spokeswoman declined to comment on the complaint of Lobato. "We will respond when we get the claim," he said. The family have provided other tickets this morning. Again at eleven o'clock. Without compensation by waiting, he said.
was not alone in the station. Lobato is a member of the Forum for Independent Living, a group that some 800 members who struggle for visibility of disability. Javier Romañach, one of the partners, was yesterday Méndez Álvaro station. "All I'm saying is that laws should be enforced and in our case is systematic failure," he says. Royal Decree 1544/2007, which regulates the accessibility for disabled people in transport, provides intercity buses should have seat reservations for the disabled, 6% of the population have disabilities related to mobility, according to the INE, and vehicles must include access for those traveling with their own chair.
"Ultimately we assume that we can not travel because it happens all the same, good words and a father and two children lying in the street," he adds. "The transport is a serious problem," adds to your Alberto Rodriguez, Cocemfe (English Confederation of People with Disabilities Fí Music and Organic). "It is improving reach the necessary adjustments gradually, but when a damaged ramp take long until the fix, "he adds. "The media companies promise but would need to have all adapted their fleet." Independent Living Forum Cocemfe receive complaints "continuous" because of problems with transport. Lobato complaints like that, if I take the bus, has lost more than a day to travel from Madrid to Estepona.
source: http://www.elpais.com/articulo/madrid/silla/ruedas/Vuelva/manana/elpepusoc/20081231elpmad_11/Tes