Petition to Restore Rights and Protect the Freedom of Movement for Wheelchair Users

Everyone has the right to move freely and participate fully in society. Yet, recent legal changes threaten this basic freedom for wheelchair users.

Thanks to a recent high court ruling, bus companies are no longer obliged to ensure that wheelchair spaces are available and vacated for wheelchair users. As a result, these spaces are often occupied by pushchair users, luggage, or shopping, and bus drivers are no longer enforcing rules to free the spaces for those who need them most. Instead, wheelchair users face rude refusals and discrimination, further restricting their independence and mobility.

Wheelchair spaces on buses are vital—they provide a safe, accessible place for mobility devices, enabling disabled individuals to travel with dignity and independence. When these spaces are occupied or when drivers refuse to ask others to vacate them, it can cause significant delays. For example, being told to wait for the next bus because the driver won’t ask a pushchair user to fold or move can mean arriving late to work, university lectures, appointments, or important events.

My family has experienced this firsthand. We have been refused access to six buses before finally being allowed on. We do not have reliable alternatives like trains because many stations are not accessible, and changing lines or accessing stations often requires multiple accessible stations—something that’s not always possible. This ongoing struggle severely limits our ability to participate fully in society.

My son’s wheelchair was stolen in January—more than just property theft; it’s an attack on his freedom. We only just managed to replace it after weeks of waiting. During that time, his mobility was severely restricted, and his opportunities to attend university, work, or participate in social life were compromised.

https://gofund.me/1a79f8da

Laws protecting against discrimination and theft are weak, allowing such crimes to effectively imprison disabled individuals in their own lives. Stealing or damaging a wheelchair or mobility device should be recognized as a crime against freedom itself, not just property.

We must act now.

We call on policymakers, transport companies, and law enforcement to:

Reinstate and enforce obligations for bus companies to ensure wheelchair spaces are available and vacated for wheelchair users, respecting their right to mobility.
Hold accountable those who unlawfully occupy or refuse to vacate wheelchair spaces.
Treat theft, damage, or sabotage of mobility devices as serious crimes against freedom and mobility, with appropriate penalties.
Strengthen laws to protect disabled individuals’ right to move freely, attend education, work, and participate fully in society without obstruction or fear.
Everyone deserves the freedom to move, to participate, and to live without barriers. We must ensure that wheelchair users are respected, protected, and empowered to move freely.

Sign this petition to demand urgent action and a future where the right to mobility is protected and upheld for all. And please share and promote it.