As driverless buses become a reality, how can we ensure disabled passengers continue to receive the support they need?
A couple of weeks ago, I was waiting for a bus at a busy high street stop and, true to form, three turned up at once. As they jostled for space, one was left hanging half outside the yellow markings, angled towards the kerb. The small crowd of passengers made their way along the pavement and began to board, and among them was a wheelchair user.
All buses in the UK must be wheelchair accessible, so passengers can usually be accommodated provided that there is enough space. In this instance, however, deploying the ramp would prove to be difficult, owing to the angle that the bus had pulled in at, and the resultant gap left between it and the pavement. (....)