All disabled people have the right to accessible public transportation. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) Article 9 requires accessible transportation systems that enable independent living and participation in society.
This page centers disabled people's expertise on navigating and advocating for accessible public transit.
Jump to your country or region:
Accessible public transportation means:
- Physical accessibility: Buses, trains, stations, and stops that wheelchair users and people with mobility impairments can use
- Sensory accessibility: Audio announcements, visual displays, tactile guidance for blind and deaf passengers
- Communication accessibility: Clear signage, accessible information, staff trained to assist
- Reasonable accommodations: Flexibility for disabled passengers' needs
Vehicles:
- Low-floor buses (no steps)
- Ramps or lifts
- Priority seating
- Securement areas for wheelchairs
- Audio and visual announcements
- Accessible fare payment
Stations and stops:
- Elevators and ramps
- Tactile warning strips
- Accessible fare gates
- Audio announcements
- Accessible restrooms
- Clear wayfinding
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires accessible public transportation:
Title II covers public transit agencies (buses, subways, commuter rail operated by government entities).
Title III covers private transportation (Amtrak, intercity bus, private shuttles).
Fixed-route transit (buses, subways, light rail):
- Vehicles must be accessible
- Lifts/ramps must be maintained and operational
- Drivers must assist with boarding when needed
- Priority seating for disabled passengers
- Stop announcements required
- Service animals allowed
Complementary paratransit: If you can't use fixed-route transit due to disability, you're entitled to paratransit service (see Paratransit page).
Commuter and intercity rail:
- New stations must be accessible
- Key stations must be made accessible
- At least one car per train must be accessible
- Amtrak has accessibility requirements
Disabled riders frequently report:
- Broken elevators stranding wheelchair users
- Lifts that don't work
- Drivers refusing to deploy ramps
- Missing stop announcements
- Inaccessible stations
- Priority seating not enforced
- Document the problem: Date, time, location, vehicle number, driver badge if visible
- Report to the transit agency: Most have accessibility complaint processes
- File an ADA complaint: With the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) or Department of Justice
- Contact disability rights organizations: They may be able to help
ADAPT has a long history of transit activism, including the famous "crawl-ups" that pushed for accessible buses.
Transit Riders United and similar groups in many cities advocate for accessible transit.
Disability Rights organizations file complaints and lawsuits for transit access.
Canadian Human Rights Act and provincial human rights codes prohibit discrimination in transportation.
Accessible Canada Act (2019) sets framework for federal accessibility, including federally regulated transportation.
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and other provincial accessibility laws set standards.
Most major Canadian transit systems have accessibility features:
- Accessible buses (low-floor, ramps)
- Subway/SkyTrain accessibility varies by system and station
- Paratransit services (Wheel-Trans in Toronto, HandyDART in Vancouver, etc.)
- Transit agency: Start with their accessibility office
- Provincial human rights commission: For discrimination complaints
- Canadian Transportation Agency: For federally regulated transportation
Equality Act 2010 requires reasonable adjustments in transportation.
Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations (PSVAR) set technical standards for buses and coaches.
Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations (RVAR) cover trains.
Buses:
- Most buses are now accessible (low-floor with ramps)
- Wheelchair spaces required
- Drivers must deploy ramps
- Audio-visual announcements increasingly common
Trains:
- Book assistance through Passenger Assist (can book 2 hours ahead or turn up and go)
- Station accessibility varies—check before traveling
- Wheelchair spaces on trains
- Ramps for boarding
Underground/Metro:
- Step-free access varies significantly by station
- London Underground has step-free map
- Other systems vary
Free service to help disabled passengers:
- Help boarding and alighting
- Help with luggage
- Guidance through stations
- Can book ahead or request on the day
- Transport operator first
- Office of Rail and Road (ORR) for rail complaints
- Bus Users UK for bus complaints
- Equality Advisory Support Service for discrimination issues
EU Regulation 1371/2007 (rail passengers' rights) requires assistance and accessibility for disabled passengers.
EU Regulation 181/2011 covers bus and coach passenger rights.
Individual countries implement these with national laws.
Germany:
- Deutsche Bahn has accessibility services (Mobilitätsservice)
- Many stations accessible; some historic stations challenging
- Local transit varies by city
France:
- SNCF Accès Plus service for rail assistance
- Paris Metro partially accessible (full accessibility still in progress)
- Buses generally accessible
Netherlands:
- NS (rail) has comprehensive assistance services
- Most transit systems highly accessible
- OV-Chipkaart system
Most European rail operators have assistance booking services. Requirements vary—some need 24-48 hours notice, others offer turn-up-and-go.
Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) prohibits discrimination in transportation.
Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 set technical requirements.
Australia has compliance deadlines for transport accessibility, with targets gradually increasing:
- Buses: Increasing percentage must be accessible
- Trains: New trains must be accessible; station upgrades ongoing
- Trams: Accessible trams being introduced; platform stops expanding
Each state's transit system has accessibility services:
- NSW: Transport NSW accessibility information
- Victoria: PTV accessibility services
- Queensland: TransLink accessibility
- Transit operator first
- State/territory anti-discrimination body
- Australian Human Rights Commission
Countries that ratified the CRPD committed to accessible transportation (Article 9). Implementation varies dramatically.
In many countries:
- Public transit may be largely inaccessible
- Informal transport (minibuses, rickshaws) dominates
- New systems may be more accessible than old
- Progress is being made but slowly
- Disabled people's organizations are advocating
- Contact disability organizations in your country
- Research specific transit systems you need to use
- Connect with other disabled travelers for tips
- Advocate for improvements where possible
Experience:
- Racism from transit staff on top of ableism
- More likely to depend on public transit
- Transit deserts in communities of color
- Policing and surveillance on transit
Face:
- Reduced-fare programs have limits and bureaucracy
- Paratransit can be expensive
- Transit access affects employment options
- Can't afford alternatives when transit fails
May experience:
- Safety concerns on transit
- Harassment compounding disability barriers
- Need for accessible transit to flee abuse
Often have:
- No public transit at all
- Paratransit with severe limitations
- Extreme isolation
- Few alternatives
- Check accessibility of stations/stops in advance
- Have backup plans for elevator outages
- Know accessible routes
- Check real-time accessibility status if available
- Allow extra time
- Board at designated accessible doors
- Use priority seating/wheelchair areas
- Speak up if driver doesn't announce stops
- Report problems (but prioritize getting where you're going)
- Ask for supervisor if driver won't assist
- Document everything
- Report to transit agency
- Connect with disability rights organizations for patterns of problems
- Share experiences with other disabled riders
Document each outage (date, time, duration). Report each time. File a formal ADA complaint if the problem persists. Connect with disability organizations—this is a common systemic problem.
Drivers are required to deploy ramps/lifts. Get the bus number and driver info. Report to the transit agency. If it happens repeatedly, file an ADA complaint.
Research what accessibility exists. Apply for paratransit if available. Connect with local disability advocates working on transit access. Document barriers for advocacy.
¶ "I'm traveling to a new city and don't know if I can use transit"
Research the specific system online. Contact the transit agency's accessibility office. Connect with disabled people in that city for firsthand advice. Have backup plans.
- FTA ADA Assistance Line: 1-888-446-4511
- ADA.gov transit information: ada.gov
- Easter Seals Project ACTION: Accessible transportation resources
- Canadian Transportation Agency: otc-cta.gc.ca
- Provincial transit agencies
- Passenger Assist: Booking assistance for rail travel
- Transport for All: transportforall.org.uk (disability-led transport advocacy)
- Physical Disability Council of Australia: Transport resources
- State transit accessibility offices
Do you use public transit as a disabled person? Have you advocated for accessibility improvements? Know about transit in your city or country?
Share your knowledge: Contribution Form
We especially welcome:
- First-hand experiences with transit systems
- Tips for specific cities
- Information from countries not yet covered
- Advocacy strategies that worked
This page centers disabled transit riders' expertise. Accessible public transportation was won through direct action and continues to require vigilance.
Last updated: November 2025