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Advice please for using the buses in London when in a wheelchair

My husband and I have been to London several times but in the past few years he has developed some medical conditions that have caused mobility issues. He uses a walker at home but walks very slowly, tires easily. Last December we purchased a combination walker/wheelchair which worked very well for moving to the sights we wanted to see. We used the tube a few times in the stations that had elevators and black cabs when raining, but mostly just walked a lot.

Later this fall we will be returning to London and would like to use the buses for some of our transportation needs. Having never ridden the city buses I am requesting any advice for wheelchair users. Do we only use certain buses? Which door do we use?

Any advice is greatly appreciated. We are trying to do a bit more traveling before his health further declines. And London worked out very well last year.

We have oyster cards (too hard to try and use two different phones for tapping when managing a wheelchair) and I think I’ve read we only tap in for a bus but not out the way we do on the tube. So I think i have that part covered

Posted by
6558 posts

According to Transport for London "All our bus routes are served by low-floor vehicles, with a dedicated space for one wheelchair user and an access ramp. Buses can also be lowered to reduce the step-up from the pavement"

You would enter through the front door. And yes, you tap on but dont tap off. If you need help from the driver, just ask.

Posted by
1643 posts

The access ramp for wheelchairs on many buses is located at the door in the middle of the bus, the one that is mainly used as the passenger exit, not at the front door. The driver will spot you needing to get on and will activate the ramp from his seat. The only time you won’t get on a bus is if there is already a wheelchair user onboard. If necessary the driver will ask anyone using the wheelchair space to leave the bus - it’s happened to me when I was with my granddaughter and her pushchair.

Posted by
1849 posts

Wheelchair users have priority over other passengers who are using the wheelchair space. However, that does depend on the driver being willing to tell people with prams to get off the bus, so in practice it’s not always so simple.

Posted by
35681 posts

my wife uses a rollator and we are familiar with using the disabled area on buses in London.

I'd advise a read through of the guide provided by TfL (Transport for London) https://content.tfl.gov.uk/accessible-travel-in-london-leaflet.pdf

Particularly I'd have a look at page 16 where you can indicate to the bus driver that your mobility aid is approved for use on buses and that you have been trained how to use the bus. When you apply for the Mobility Aid card you can arrange for a Mentor to meet you and demonstrate the ins and outs. A very valuable service, delivered by people who care, freely available to all who have need and with no requirement to be a London resident.

It is my experience that the guide that I linked is well written and fairly comprehensive.

In central London most bus stops are raised and the bus can kneel in the front and extend a ramp from the middle (on a 3 door bus) or rear (on a 2 door bus). You flag down the driver in the usual way, then theoretically they stop in the right place, you press the blue disabled button next to the door, be patient, the doors will open and close and then the ramp will extend and then the door will open for you. the wheelchair/disabled/push chair area is directly in front and to the right of that door. There are both low level and higher level blue "stop please" buttons in that area and by the door. Use those instead of the yellow stop please buttons to indicate you need the ramp and extra time. When the bus stops position yourself near the door, and wait for the ramp before descending. Make sure you will be in a safe place before rolling out - sometimes a driver will put the ramp into a tree or bin or other hazard, or below the kerb.

A little practice and you'll be fine.

Welcome back to London!

Posted by
53 posts

Thanks so much for the advice, looking forward to additional transportation options as we explore this city again!