Overview

• A Croydon mother reported up to 12 weekly instances of bus drivers refusing to lower ramps for her two-year-old son, Charles, who relies on a specialist NHS-provided wheelchair and medical equipment.
• Footage shared on TikTok, including a May 7 incident where a driver dismissed the wheelchair as a 'buggy,' has garnered over half a million views, sparking widespread public concern.
• Charles, who has chronic lung disease and requires a ventilator, feeding pump, and other life-saving equipment, faces risks if forced to board buses without proper ramp access.
• Transport for London (TfL) has apologized, calling the refusals 'completely unacceptable,' and launched an investigation into the incidents in collaboration with the bus operator.
• Advocacy groups note that nearly 30% of disabled passengers in the UK report similar boarding issues, underscoring broader accessibility challenges in public transport.