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Anna Landre
@annalandre.com

A hilarious play-by-play of the worst ramp deployment I've ever experienced today (@ TfL) The train doors open -- no ramp in sight. I get my wheelchair as close to the edge as I can and see staff member w/ ramp down the platform. I flag him down. Him: "I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THIS! 1/8

2 reposts8 likes

Anna Landre
@annalandre.com

"'I'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE! I'M NOT RAMP TRAINED!" He staggers over, puts the ramp down clumsily ... upside-down. Handle-side up. Me: "It's upside down! It has to be flipped over." At this point people behind me are panicking and trying to push past me to get off. 2/8

Anna Landre
@annalandre.com

He turns the ramp around, but just so the bottom end is now at the top. It's still upside down. Me: Ah ... no, not that way! Flip it! LIKE A PANCAKE. FLIP IT LIKE A PANCAKE." (I suddenly recall that pancakes are different in England and hope they still involve flipping) 3/8

Anna Landre
@annalandre.com

The man next to me on the train is now getting involved, also telling him "No, flip it!" He flips it. However, the raised bit on the ramp that fits into a slot in the train to secure it is not secured. I am aware that the ramp may move or fall once I get on it. 4/8

Anna Landre
@annalandre.com

I debate whether to fight that battle with him, but given that it looks ... sort of okay, and the people behind me are really freaking out about not being able to get off the train (amateurs, those able-bodied folk), I decide to risk it and go down the ramp. I do not die! 5/8