Natural gas bus

Safety and accessibility of public transport in the Hague region are important spearheads for HTM. For many years, users with electric wheelchairs have not been allowed on our city buses that run on natural gas. We use Article 4.17 of the General Terms and Conditions for City and Regional Transport as a basis for this:

4.17 Scootmobiles and other electrically powered vehicles are not allowed on the bus.

Not safe

To clarify the safety risk, in 2016 we investigated the behaviour of an electric wheelchair in the city bus. This study showed that an electric wheelchair will slide when turning right, even at low speed. In addition, the seat belt causes entrapment of the electric wheelchair user's upper body in such a situation. The study was repeated in 2017, but using various types of rough floor covering. It was found that applying these did not reduce the risk of injury. The research method we used was reviewed by the Inspectorate for the Environment and Transport at the request of our client Metropoolregio Rotterdam Den Haag. They concluded that the investigation was thorough and objective. HTM's eight electric buses are equipped with the Q'straint Quantum which does enable safe transport of users with an electric wheelchair. Research in 2018 showed that.

Research report 2016    Research report 2017    Research report 2018

Some asked questions and answers can be found here.

Because of the non-admittance of electric wheelchairs on the natural gas bus, some complaints have been filed in recent years. In 2016, the Human Rights Board (CRM) ruled that HTM discriminates against users of an electric wheelchair by not admitting them to the city bus. The investigation we conducted was not included in this judgement. When dealing with a complaint in 2020, the CRM ruled that HTM was right to use the safety exception. Incidentally, based on this case, the CRM made a recommendation to the Ministry of I&W on the regulation of the wheelchair restraint system that persons in electric wheelchairs can be safely transported in buses. The Public Transport Disputes Committee also ruled in favour of HTM and the complaint filed was declared unfounded. In May 2022, the District Court of The Hague ruled in a case brought by a user of an electric wheelchair who was not allowed to travel on our natural gas buses. In this case, HTM was also found in the right to use the safety exception.

HTM is busy buying spacious, accessible trams. The tender for these is in full swing. These new trams are expected to run in 2026 and replace the current red-beige trams on lines 1, 6, and 12. The current natural gas buses will be replaced by electric buses in 2024. For the requirements package, important input was provided by a number of (electric) wheelchair users . Safe transport for electric wheelchair users too is therefore part of this package of requirements for our new buses.