Students at a Harrogate specialist college say new two-wheelchair buses are making it easier to travel together and access the community.
To mark International Wheelchair Day on Sunday (1st March), The Harrogate Bus Company partnered with Henshaws Specialist College to highlight the impact that additional wheelchair spaces can have for students and support staff.
The operator, part of Transdev, was the first in Yorkshire to introduce buses featuring two wheelchair spaces.
As of March 2026, the vast majority of Harrogate Bus Company’s fleet now includes two wheelchair spaces as standard, with more accessible vehicles continuing to be introduced across the North of England.
Henshaws Specialist College supports thousands of people living with a range of disabilities, helping students prepare for employment, develop independence and build social connections.
For students Georgia (20), Lucy (26) and Elle (20), using a wheelchair means having specific requirements when travelling by bus, including access ramps and dedicated wheelchair spaces.
Georgia said:
“International Wheelchair Day is important because people need to know more about wheelchairs.”
Elle added that such days “raise awareness about wheelchairs and the lives of wheelchair users.”
College staff say one of the ongoing challenges has been the difficulty of travelling together when only one wheelchair space is available on a bus. In some cases, students have been unable to board if the space is already occupied, requiring alternative arrangements to be made.
Last week, students boarded one of the two-space buses at the college and were able to travel together on the same vehicle.
One student said:
“It is good because you can travel with a friend who also uses a wheelchair."
Another added:
“It’s important that wheelchair users can access the community easily, and having an extra space means you and a friend can travel on the same bus together with two wheelchairs.”
A member of support staff said having two wheelchair spaces gives both students and colleagues greater confidence when using bus services.
Each Harrogate Bus Company vehicle is fitted with a built-in wheelchair ramp, wheelchair-facing stop announcement screens, hearing loops for passengers who use hearing aids and audio next-stop announcements.
Transdev drivers receive training from industry experts on situational awareness, best practice and the safe operation of wheelchair ramps.
As part of their Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) training, drivers also take part in roleplay scenarios to experience manoeuvring a wheelchair onto a bus.
Across Yorkshire and Lancashire, including sister companies, Transdev expects to operate a total of 70 buses with two wheelchair spaces by the spring.
The company also provides free bus passes for Henshaws students and support staff to support travel independence training and access to the local community.
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