Bradford Bulls and First Bus have joined forces to improve travel options for wheelchair users across the city.
The collaboration focuses on delivering practical mobility instruction as part of an initiative to enable safer and more independent use of public transport.
One such workshop took place in the vicinity of Bartercard Odsal Stadium.
Attendees included individuals using manual wheelchairs, electric wheelchairs, and mobility scooters.
The programme incorporated guidance on secure boarding and alighting procedures, driver assistance options, and the process for acquiring a Mobility Scooter Pass.
According to Mubs Mahmed, who serves as social value manager at First Bus, drivers undergo comprehensive instruction on assisting customers with mobility requirements.
These practical sessions provide participants with the opportunity to experience bus travel from multiple perspectives.
The training aims to remove barriers preventing those with mobility challenges from reaching workplaces, educational institutions, medical facilities, and recreational venues, while also addressing isolation issues related to transportation.
The workshop forms part of an extended season-long alliance between the two organisations intended to enhance accessibility throughout the public transport network.
Ian Stafford, commercial manager at Bradford Bulls, expressed appreciation for the bus drivers involved in the programme.
He noted that the experience had provided valuable knowledge from both the drivers and wheelchair users themselves, which would inform the team’s future efforts to assist individuals with mobility requirements.