Leeds wheelchair user 'humiliated' as TfL ticket inspector wrongly demands her pass

Dr Hannah Barham-Brown, 32, boarded a bus between Chelsea and Euston on December 11, at about 11.30am.

The trainee GP and disability activist, who has recently moved from Roundhay to South Milford, regularly visits London for work.

As a wheelchair user, Dr Hannah qualifies for a Transport for London (TfL) disabled freedom pass and can travel at all times for free.

A ticket inspector boarded the bus and, as expected, nodded at Dr Hannah before checking the other passenger's tickets.

"A second inspector then came on and she made a beeline straight for me and asked for my pass", Dr Hannah said.

"I have never been asked for a pass in six years of travelling by London Bus."

Under TFL rules, any customers using a wheelchair or a mobility scooter do not need to show or validate a ticket for travel on London Buses.

Dr Hannah said: "I had to lean forward to take off my rucksack, while the bus was moving, and as I was staying in London for the week I had a lot of stuff on me.

"She just watched me struggle as I tried to empty my bag and I even had to ask her to hold my washbag while I searched for the pass - which was embarrassing.

"An older lady told her to leave me alone, but she replied that she was 'just doing her job'."

When Dr Hannah realised she didn't have her freedom pass on her, the inspector walked close to her wheelchair and gave her a "talk" about how she could be fined, which is incorrect.

Dr Hannah said: "She was misinformed but she also decided to make an example of me in front of a bus full of people, which was really upsetting."

Although Dr Hannah was certain she didn't have to carry a pass, the inspector's manner made her feel "humiliated".

Dr Hannah is heavily involved in politics and is used to managing conflict, but said the ordeal knocked her confidence and made her scared to use public transport.

She said: "It could have been far more traumatic. I'm used to advocating myself and my patients and managing confrontation as a doctor.

"But I was caught unaware and not expecting to come up against that response.

"Some people with disabilities aren't able to communicate easily, or go through their bag like I had to."

A survey from charity Scope, released in September, found that more than half (56%) of disabled people felt scared using or planning journeys on public transport.

Dr Hannah added: "This case exemplifies why. Disabled people are just so tired of having a system that doesn't work."

TfL has since contacted Dr Hannah to apologise for her experience and said that all tickets inspectors will be reminded of rules surrounding the freedom pass.

A spokesperson sad: "We’re very sorry for any offence caused when one of our ticket inspectors asked to see this customer’s disabled freedom pass.

"We want everybody to feel welcome on our services and people who use wheelchairs and mobility scooters don’t need to show a ticket to travel on buses.

"We’ve spoken to ticket inspector involved and have taken the appropriate action.”