
Kids can now ride bus for free in and around Bristol
"Our £1 child fare is already one of the cheapest tickets in the whole country but, ideally, children and young people should be able to travel by bus for free. "That's something I've heard loud and clear," she added.The free travel scheme will apply to most local services, though some, such as airport routes, will be exempt.
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The Independent
6 hours ago
- The Independent
TikToker who lives on cruise ship debunks common myths about life at sea
Christine Kesteloo, a TikTok content creator, spends six months a year living on a cruise ship with her husband, who works as a chief staff engineer. She describes the experience as a 'constant vacation' and debunks common myths, asserting that cruising is safe, and the water is drinkable. Kesteloo's main complaint is passengers not washing their hands before using the buffet after the gym. Perks of her lifestyle include visiting 109 countries and not having to pay for essentials like food or laundry. Due to her husband's position, she is not permitted to gamble in the ship's casino and prioritizes guests' comfort, such as giving up her seat by the pool.


BBC News
8 hours ago
- BBC News
Disability: ‘I just want to get home to my family,' says wheelchair user
Katie Trodler was due to fly home from Hamburg, Germany, when the assistance staff failed to turn up. The plane was delayed for an hour while they waited, with the pilot telling the mum-of-one he would "physically carry" her on to the plane if the problem did not get fixed. As a wheelchair user she said it was an "embarrassing" experience, but according to her and others is not a unique one."I'm not choosing this situation. I'm not a passenger that's kicked off. I'm not drunk and disorderly. I just want to travel like everyone else on the plane and get home to see my kid and husband," said Katie, from Holywell, Flintshire. According to Welsh Paralympic gold medallist David Smith, the way people with a disability get on and off a plane, and the problems they experience, "hasn't changed in the last 20 years". The Civil Aviation Authority, the UK's aviation and aerospace regulator, said investment from airports and airlines had resulted in "significant improvements" for disabled passengers and those with reduced mobility, but admitted there was "much more" to week former Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson published a set of recommendations after leading a UK government-commissioned review looking at how airline and airport staff support disabled Rights UK has called for urgent action, and said disabled people have been made to feel like "second-class citizens". Katie has been a wheelchair user most of her life after a cancerous tumour damaged her spine when she was 10 months became a regular in the skies 15 years ago when she started a long-distance relationship and now frequently flies for the most part the flying process was "smooth", she said, but when Covid hit, the 37-year-old noticed a difference in the service."Staffing levels are much lower. When I flew from Hamburg the assistance didn't turn up and the plane got delayed by an hour," Katie said. "It was so embarrassing because everyone on the plane knew why their flight was delayed."The mother-of-one said she often felt like a burden when flying and that staff and passengers are not happy when there is a delay. "I think it adds an extra layer. It's already stressful worrying if your chair is going to be in one piece when you arrive and on top of that you feel like they hate you as a passenger."Katie added she has needed to "argue" her case to use her personal wheelchair when checking in at airports, as staff had previously insisted she use a porters chair without the correct support which had to be pushed by someone said: "Where's the dignity? Where's the autonomy?" Karen Beattie, 64, had a motorbike accident in 1994 leaving her with a spinal many years she did not fly after hearing about the "hassle" of getting on and off a plane and the worry of equipment being now tries to get abroad at least once a year, but dreads flying because she does not know what assistance she will receive from the airport and from Prestatyn, Denbighshire, said to get on to a plane she needs to use an aisle chair rather than her own manual chair, with staff helping by lifting under her arms and legs."They didn't work together and didn't lift me high enough causing the aisle chair to fall over," she said, recalling one experience. "They had to try and put me back on my chair and it was then that I was nearly dropped. I was concerned that I would have bruises and even a pressure sore."Another time, Karen said she was left "mortified" when a pilot blamed loading her wheelchair as the reason for a delayed take off. "You're just hoping that the ground could open up and swallow you because you become the spectacle, you become the entertainment before the fight takes off."I complain to the airport every year but there hasn't been any improvements," she said. Paralympic gold medallist David Smith said the process for him to get on to a plane was "quite soul-destroying" and had not changed in the last 20 years."I don't think we've made any progress," said David, from Swansea, who has cerebral palsy."I find a lot of the assistance staff aren't suitable for the job. People who can't help with moving and handling where their job is to literally lift me from one point to another."Recently, David said he had noticed more care taken by the ground staff when handling his 36-year-old said: "I think there's less damage nowadays than there used to be back in the day. So that's good."David added he understood some logistical problems cannot be helped, but said employing the right staff and providing the correct training could prevent bad experiences for future flyers with a the findings led by Baroness Grey-Thompson, last week's review said airline and airport staff were receiving "inconsistent" training, providing 19 recommendations, including disability awareness training being rolled out for all aviation roles, such as crew, ground services and hospitality. A spokesperson for the UK Civil Aviation Authority said it "regularly" set standards on accessibility at the UK's main airports and reported on how these are met, resulting in "significant improvements" for disabled passengers."We strongly believe that everyone should have access to air travel and expect all passengers from the UK to be able to enjoy the best possible flight," they authority acknowledged "there is still much more to do" following Baroness Grey-Thompson's report, adding: "We continue to hold airlines to account in meeting their obligations to disabled and less mobile passengers across all parts of their journey."Kamran Mallick, CEO of Disability Rights UK, said: "Flying is not a luxury. It's a fundamental freedom that should be accessible to everyone. For too many disabled people air travel is marked by stress, anxiety, indignity and exclusion. "Airlines, airports and regulators must recognise that disabled people have the right to fly with the same independence, safety and dignity as everyone else. Anything less is unacceptable."


The Sun
9 hours ago
- The Sun
I spent three days in one of the world's best ‘stopover' cities and found beautiful hiking islands and rooftop pools
HEADING on a long-haul getaway this summer? Asia's most cosmopolitan city, Hong Kong, is a great stopover destination for anyone looking to break up the journey. But don't just take my word for it. Last year alone saw Hong Kong International Airport serve more than 53 million passengers. And tourists are flocking to the city. 4 4 I was visiting for a three-day adventure, en route to see family in New Zealand — and it was an absolute delight. Getting into the city from the airport was easy on the Airport Express train, which took 24 minutes and cost just HK$ 115, about £11. My home for the duration was the Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour hotel, which has 665 rooms, with panoramic views of the waterside. The kingsize bed surrounded by windows was not only a welcome comfort after a long flight, but the views made it easy to map out activities for our short visit. If you'd rather take in the fresh air after being stuck on a plane, there's also a photogenic rooftop pool, equipped with a sauna and steam room, and a slick 24-hour gym — great for jetlag. We quickly learned that exploring the city by public transport is cheap and stress-free using a rechargeable Octopus smart card, which covers the trains, buses, ferries, coaches and trams. But we were keen to use our feet — and luckily found just the place to do that. Lantau is the largest of the Hong Kong archipelago's 260 islands and easy to reach via the Ngong Ping 360 cable car over tree-covered mountain tops. The journey to the top is an experience in itself, offering a breathtaking view of the city as well as the astonishing Macau bridge, the world's longest sea crossing. Once at the peak you'll be in a hiker's paradise. Make sure you're wearing comfy footwear, as it's certainly worth making the 268-step climb to see the 112ft-high Big Buddha up close. I visited the pretty city that straddles both Asia and Europe The impressive bronze statue overlooking the South China Sea looked even more magnificent in real life than it does in pictures. Make sure, too, to pay a visit to the nearby Po Lin Monastry while you're here. The building dates to 1902 and monks still live here. Back on Hong Kong Island, if giant pandas are a must, head over to Ocean Park in the Southern District to see Ying Ying, who gave birth to twins last summer. You won't be disappointed. If it's good food you're after, you won't be short of options in Hong Kong. The restaurant scene in the city is buzzing, ranging from luxury options with jaw-dropping views of the skyline to lively night markets dishing up sizzling satay skewers for just a few pounds. Given our penchant for cocktails, we started our evening with Dirty Martinis at Felix on the 28th floor of The Peninsula, the city's oldest hotel which opened in 1928. Overlooking Victoria Harbour, where the lights shimmer in the evenings, this bar certainly has the wow factor — and not just because of its punchy tipples. Dining spectacular The views are equally impressive from Hutong restaurant, next door, which specialises in northern Chinese dishes. The dark, dramatic decor adds to the sultry atmosphere, taking inspiration from the ancient Chinese alleyways, or hutongs, and is punctuated with dozens of red paper lanterns. It attracts a lively international crowd and for good reason as its traditional tasting menus, designed around seasonal ingredients, are out of this world. The six-course dinner spectacular will set you back around £90 a head but you won't regret it — especially if you've never visited China before. We were served elegant plates of delicate dim sum crammed with meats, vegetables and pickles, indulgent Wagyu beef puffs, that were as moreish as they sound, and spicy prawns drenched in a fiery Sichuan dressing. 4 The piece de resistance, however, was the flaming Peking duck, which is blazed under a flame to give it a crispy coating and carved table-side by a skilled chef. If you're after something a little more low-key yet still authentic, head to CView, perched on the 16th floor of the M+ cultural building in West Kowloon. The zen space has won awards for its knockout Shanghainese cuisine — think aromatic soups and freshly caught seafood like whole crab served with crispy rice. Bellies full, we meandered down the Avenue of Stars on the waterfront to see the Symphony of Lights — a nightly show that runs all throughout the year. Gazing out across the city, we marvelled as the buildings lit up in a kaleidoscope of colours. It sure made for a magical ending.