Wheelchair users are often refused access to buses and in some cases drivers don’t bother stopping at all, according to research by the Dutch human rights committee College voor de Rechten van de Mens.

Wheelchair-bound researchers attempted to make 450 bus trips but in 8% of cases were left behind. In half the cases, the ramp to allow wheelchairs to enter the bus was broken, but some drivers also refused or just drove off, the report said.

By law 98% of Dutch public transport is supposed to be accessible to wheelchairs.

‘People in a wheelchair have to be able to count on the bus,’ said chairwoman  Adriana van Dooijeweert. ‘The very fact they are less mobile than others makes public transport accessibility crucial.’