(29 Mar 2016, 7:05 pm)S813 FVK wrote Whitby and Plymouth Park and Rides also got a mention, mainly focusing on the fact that they use Double Deckers on there because of popularity (alright, only 33.3% [50% max] of the Whitby Park and Ride is operated by a double decker) and he then outlined why deckers are not used in Scarborough. The main reason being for keeping the service going quick without any holdups as most people will want to sit upstairs including the older generation who aren't the best at walking or climbing stairs. It is a fair point really, even if it does sound slightly discriminative but even then, the services hardly need double deckers anyway.
I understand what you mean about people struggling up the stairs and increasing boarding/alighting times, I got on the GNE X21 the other day and a passenger with crutches decided that he wanted to sit upstairs at a table seat and I was the next passenger to board and the whole thing caused a pile up for passengers who wanted to go and sit upstairs, especially as most of the remaining passengers boarding were young and also wanted to sit upstairs. It's not just people with difficulties though, it's the same with parents and toddlers where you get the toddler slowing making their way up and down the stairs with the parent(s) following behind.
The above doesn't just apply to seaside resorts, the situation also applies to double deckers pretty much everywhere really, I sometimes experience these scenarios on the 7.