The debate about wheelchair spaces on buses goes ‘round and round’: access to public transport for people with disabilities as a human right

Abstract

This article examines the cases bought by Paulley concerning access to buses for wheelchair users when the wheelchair space is occupied by a buggy. It argues that the conclusion by the Supreme Court was unsatisfactory and a missed opportunity for a public statement about the rights of people with disabilities. It argues that reasonable adjustment is a problematic concept and fails to address the competing needs of social groups in terms of accessibility. This is compounded by traditional distinctions between disability and impairment and a failure to consider disability access in the context of human rights despite the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.