More than half of Dutch bus stops inaccessible to disabled passengers
More than half of the bus stops in the Netherlands are not fully accessible for people with disabilities, particularly those with visual impairments, according to research by RTV Oost and other regional broadcasters analyzing data from the public transport partnership DOVA.
The analysis found that six out of ten bus stops lack sufficient aids for blind or visually impaired passengers. For people with mobility impairments who rely on wheelchairs or other devices, just under half of bus stops are inadequately equipped.
Jurre Siebert, a partially sighted resident of Arnhem who also has difficulty walking, relies on public transport daily. “I am dependent on public transport. I have no bike and no driver’s license. Public transport is my only option,” he told RTV Oost.
Siebert said accessibility is inconsistent. “It’s important for me that a bus stop is clearly visible. I prefer a shelter. But often there is only a pole by the road.”
Bus drivers’ awareness also affects accessibility. “Drivers must see you and be willing to help. If they’re having a bad day, that’s not always the case,” Siebert said. He acknowledged that drivers sometimes check if he is standing safely and ask other passengers to make space.
Most bus stops are owned by municipalities, and rural areas often have the least accessible stops. In Lopik, for example, 95 percent of stops are considered inaccessible. A municipal spokesperson said these are local stops along rural roads used by pedestrians, cyclists, and cars, often marked only by a sign. Because the number of users is small, the municipality does not plan to make the stops more accessible.
DOVA evaluates accessibility based on multiple criteria, including the presence of tactile guiding lines, whether the platform height matches the bus entry, and whether lifts and sufficient width exist for wheelchair users.
Larger urban municipalities perform better. Hengelo and Amersfoort score the highest, with more than 90 percent of bus stops accessible to both visually and mobility-impaired passengers.
Despite the challenges, Siebert appreciates having public transport. “In the past, I used taxis, but since I discovered public transport, my world has expanded. I feel freedom. I no longer have to stay within my own region,” he told RTV Oost.
