Accessibility on London's Buses
An exploration of how the accessibility of buses in London has evolved
Harrow bus station redevelopment (1981-06-12)TfL Corporate Archives
This "bus station of the future" opened in Harrow in 1981 and included accessibility design features: disabled toilets, drop kerbs, continuous hand rails, automatic door releases on pressure pads, and a public address system. Initial steps on the path to inclusive design
Image of Wheelchair Accessible Bus Stop (2015-03-16) by Transport for LondonTfL Corporate Archives
Many journeys begin at bus stops
As at 2024, 95% of stops in the capital are wheelchair accessible. A fully accessible bus stop has a kerb high enough for a wheelchair ramp, the step onto the bus is a reasonable height for people to board, and has no street furniture blocking door access
Aiding the Disabled: New buses will 'kneel' to make it easier for customers to board (1993-05-27)TfL Corporate Archives
In 1993 the first “kneeling” buses were trialled on the network for release in January 1994. These use hydraulics or pneumatics to bring the bus floor closer to the pavement, to accommodate those with reduced mobility
Set of British Design Classic stamps (2009-01-13)TfL Corporate Archives
Discontinuing the Routemaster
The Routemaster bus is an iconic symbol of our design heritage, but the reality was that it presented a range of accessibility issues as explained in 2013 by the Director of Performance for Surface Transport, Clare Kavanagh
Man boarding bus with guide dog (2006-01-01)TfL Corporate Archives
In a reflection in that 2013 oral history interview, looking at her career highlights Clare explains, " ... making the network accessible was an important one, that was a good thing to have achieved."
"Making the network more accessible" included fitting wheelchair ramps on all buses as of 2006, allowing those with reduced mobility or walking aids to board without any steps.
An iBus Display on a London Bus shows Information about the Next Stop (2013-12-18) by Thomas RiggsTfL Corporate Archives
iBus Technology was introduced in 2009
This audible and visual travel information (through announcements and display boards) tracks the location of London’s entire bus fleet. This was a great step forward for accessibility on London’s buses for visually impaired, deaf, and neurodivergent customers
Priority Seat on a London Underground Train (2012-08-29) by Darren RuaneTfL Corporate Archives
Priority Seating
Priority seating was introduced on all of London’s transport. This allows those with a reduced ability to stand to be able to sit in easier locations, closer to the doors. This is useful for people with reduced mobility so that they can alight with more ease
Publicity campaigns were also launched to educate and persuade those who can stand, to offer a seat to those less able to stand. As not all disabilities are visible, TfL Launched a “Please offer me a seat” badge, following the success of the “Baby on board” badge.
Guide dog bus (2016-06-17)TfL Corporate Archives
Assistance and service dogs are able to travel on all of London buses (along with anywhere else on the TfL network, including taxi). They can travel on either the lower or upper deck
Blind children get travel test on our buses and trains (1973-01-02)TfL Corporate Archives
1973 - Visually impaired students train to use the buses
As part of their training to become “mobile” from an early age, pupils had to work out where they were while on public transport by using techniques such as counting the number of times the doors opened
These travel days were arranged by the students' school, Linden Lodge. As part of the travel test a "one man operated bus" was taken to the school where the driver explained the differences now there was no conductor
Metro Travel News - New disability mentoring service (2012-02-17)TfL Corporate Archives
Parallels to the 1973 classes run by Linden Lodge for their pupils can be drawn with this article on TfL's travel mentoring service launched in 2012
A Continual Journey
Work to make buses as accessible as possible will not stop but TfL is proud that the measures taken have helped empower many
Want to know more? Take a look at our story about Accessibility Design on London's Underground or Unlocking London's Underground Network For All.
Story compiled by TfL from information in records at the Transport for London Corporate Archives.
The Corporate Archives seeks to preserve and make accessible records, not to interpret them. A wider range of material is available for physical consultation.
