Recently, I went on my first bus ride with my motor scooter. Mum, my step-dad Richard and Nitisha, a volunteer who takes me out, went with me. When the bus came, the driver parked in front of the bus shelter, which made it impossible to lower the ramp. Another bus had parked behind us, so he went to talk to his friend and ask him to back up. He did this (followed by a line of passengers who were trying to get on). My driver came back and reversed into position. Down came the ramp and I drove on.

Now, I am not used to my scooter yet, so I went straight into his cab! I reversed and had another go. This time I managed to turn the front wheel – but again, I hit the cab. I tried three or four times, and am glad to say that drivers’ cabs are made of strong stuff. At last I managed to turn into the aisle. Now came the problem of the small bay at the front of the bus. This time I discovered the strength of the seats and the pole. Again I made several attempts. Eventually, Richard climbed on, and told me to get out and sit on the seat. I was not happy about this – and tried again. All this time the bus driver was doing his best to help, and the other passengers sat waiting patiently. Mum had gone right to the back of the bus. She thought this was the safest place to be, whilst I was wrecking the front. Again, Richard told me to get onto a seat, and he would move the scooter in by hand. So I thought, “ I will not tell him how heavy it is. We shall watch him struggle.” The clever so-and-so flicked the switch that let him move it, and with some humping got it in.

By now the bus was about ten minutes late but nobody complained. I am glad we did not tell the driver we were only going four stops. We got to Crown Point in Leeds, and Richard and Nitisha managed to get the scooter off quite easily. The bus driver and passengers must have been very glad to see the back of us. When it was time to go back home again, Nitisha and I looked at the buses – and said no. Instead, I drove all the way home on the scooter. It was quite an adventure, but I think next time we will go by taxi.