I must be one of very few Londoners who doesn’t actually own an Oyster Card. I have been living in the capital for thirteen years now and use public transport quite regularly, but I have never needed one of the payment cards ordinary Londoners use to get on to tube trains and busses. Bus drivers just put out their ramps for me of course, and tube station staff just open the gate without me having to produce anything. Because as a disabled person I travel for free, it usually isn’t an issue.

However, there is a problem when it comes to Woolwich DLR station. Most Docklands Light Railway stations are small and don’t have passenger barriers; and the larger ones which do, like Stratford, are always well staffed. Woolwich, though, has barriers at both its entrances, but there is rarely a member of TFL staff waiting at either.

This causes me quite a problem.

I just got back from a very nice afternoon with John. We went up to the Olympic park together, and whiled away the afternoon, walking, chatting and making plans. After a late but tasty lunch, we both got the DLR back, John getting off at Canning Town where I continued on to Woolwich. I was still full of Sluvaki Wrap so I was in a good mood, but as usual there were absolutely no staff at the DLR station. I looked everywhere but couldn’t find anyone to open the barrier for me. The afternoon had been going so well until that point. I waited and waited, but nobody appeared.

In the end two lads kindly forced open the barrier for me, but without them I think I would have been there all night. Such incidents make me rethink whether I need an Oyster Card after all: using one would be difficult as I would need to open my bumbag, take the card out and somehow tap it onto the detector. That wouldn’t be easy for me, which is part of why it has never seemed worthwhile getting one. Plus, I would never need to top it up as all public transport is free for me anyway. But do the rare occasions when I need one, such as at Woolwich DLR station, make getting one necessary, given that if I don’t I would either have to force my way through the barriers, possibly damaging my powerchair, or spend the night at the station?