A wheelchair user recently had to be helped by several strangers to board a bus, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

Residents have called for improvements to a bus stop in Highgate Hill to make it safer and more accessible. 

A ‘build out’ is a section of wider pavement with double yellow lines which prevents cars parking there. Buses can then always get to the kerb so a ramp can be dropped down for wheelchair users. 

However, last month local resident Maria Jennings witnessed a wheelchair user struggle to get on a bus due to cars and a broken-down bus blocking the stop. 

The ordeal, which lasted around 30 minutes, took place at the Channing School bus stop in Highgate Hill, opposite Waterlow Park. 

Maria said in order to resolve the issue the bus driver drove the vehicle further down the road and dropped the ramp onto the road. Passengers then helped the wheelchair user off the pavement and on to the road and up the ramp.  

But Maria said the curb was too steep to get down and forced wheelchair users to get on to the road to board, which reduced safety. 

Maria said: “Initally the resident was quite worried, because they could see the difficulty and the remark they made was that they wouldn’t want what happened to them to happen to somebody else because it obviously was an upsetting experience.”

Back in 2022 The Highgate Society along with Highgate Neighbourhood Forum sat down with the Haringey Council to discuss “long overdue” safety improvements for this section of road. 

These included a build out for the Channing School bus stop which would see the pavement widened. However, work including new bollards nearby and resurfacing were agreed, without the build out.

Maria said: “There are lots of concerns, disabled access seems to be the thing that goes. I’m aware of that article [from The Highgate Society], it’s from a long time ago and I can see that the stretch of pavement in question is very narrow. 

“If you’re in a wheelchair people have to step outside for you so it’s very difficult just negotiating the pavement let alone getting on a bus. 

“You’d have thought the council would have included a bus build out as part of plans especially when they’re spending a large sum of money. It’s bizarre and I don’t know how it happened, it really doesn’t make sense.”

Transport for London was both approached for comment.

Update (6th May):

Seema Chandwani, cabinet member for resident services and tackling inequality, said: “We would like to thank residents for their continuing feedback on how accessibility and safety can be improved in Haringey.  All residents should be able to access their local neighbourhoods and use public transport without barriers.

“We have already taken action based on feedback to improve visibility at the adjacent junction to make it safer for pedestrians including school children to cross the road. 

“We have designed the changes necessary to make the bus stop accessible for wheelchair users, which includes extending the footway and providing the right kerb height to make it easier for buses to stop and deploy a ramp so that wheelchair users can safely and more easily embark and disembark.

“We have now secured funding support from TfL in our efforts to improve accessibility to public transport at this location.”

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