Being interviewed on out-of-action lifts at accessible London Tube stations

at Euston Station photo with permission from Alex Lentati
at Euston Station photo with permission from Alex Lentati

Lianna at Transfort for All asked me if I was willing to be interviewed about my experiences of out of action lifts at Tube stations in London one evening – interview to be about 7am the next morning. I gulped and said yes – its a bit early! here is the article in the Evening Standard by Joe Watts. Photos were taken later in the afternoon by Alex Lentati.

my bit –

‘They don’t realise importance of making stations accessible’

Eleanor Lisney, a wheelchair user who lives in North Greenwich, has had problems with lifts three times in the last year.

The worst incident occurred at Westminster. She said: “It was more frightening because it was unexpected. My chair was low on battery and I was scared that I may not have enough power to get home.

“I can’t just trundle off to Waterloo and it’s very hard to get a taxi. You could become stuck.

“Luckily a friend went in and found a member of staff, who took me around a back way to a lift that was only used by workers.”

Ms Lisney, 56, added: “The London Bridge lift for the Jubilee Line is closed until August. It’s really annoying because I like going to Borough Market.”

Lisney, who is studying for her PhD, said: “It feels like sometimes they don’t realise the importance of making the Tube accessible.

“It’s hard enough that so many stations are not step-free. But when the accessible ones are also put out of action it makes life very difficult.”

Read the rest at http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/disabled-and-parents-with-buggies-stranded-as-tube-lift-closures-soar-10299112.html