Most people see a Tube strike and think:
“Right, I’ll just work from home or take a different route.”
For a lot of disabled people in London, it looks more like:
“Which stations are actually step-free, which buses are accessible, how much extra time do I need, and is there even a reliable alternative that won’t leave me stuck halfway?”
Because disruption doesn’t just change the route — it changes whether the journey is possible at all.
Why journeys aren’t simple (especially in London)
Travel in London is already complex for disabled people.
Add something like a Tube strike into the mix, and the whole system becomes unpredictable.
1. Tube strikes shrink accessibility options overnight
During strikes, many disabled people lose access to:
- Step-free Tube stations they normally rely on
- Assistance staff at stations
- Familiar, predictable routes
So suddenly, the “accessible route” might not exist anymore.
And that means starting from scratch.
2. Alternative transport isn’t always equal
When the Tube is down, the advice is usually:
“Just take the bus.”
But it’s not that simple.
Because buses can mean:
- Longer travel times (which impacts pain, fatigue, energy levels)
- Multiple changes instead of one direct route
- Unpredictable boarding space for mobility aids
- Crowding that makes access harder
So “backup transport” isn’t always a true backup.
3. Every journey becomes a full risk assessment
Before leaving the house, disabled people may be checking:
- Which stations are step-free and open
- Which bus routes avoid inaccessible stops
- Whether lifts are working (and whether that info is actually accurate)
- How to get home if everything is delayed
Tube strikes turn an already detailed planning process into something even more uncertain.
4. The “what if everything goes wrong?”
Most people plan a journey.
Disabled people often plan:
- The journey
- The backup route
- The backup to the backup
- And sometimes, the decision to not go at all
During strikes, that decision point comes up more often.
Because accessibility isn’t just about getting somewhere — it’s about getting back safely too.
5. The invisible pressure of “just get on with it”
There’s often an assumption that people can simply adapt during disruption.
But adaptation has limits.
When energy, mobility, pain, or sensory overload are already part of daily life, added disruption doesn’t just feel inconvenient — it becomes exhausting.
So while the city is adjusting to strikes, disabled people are often recalculating entire routines in real time.
What would actually help during disruptions like Tube strikes
Not “solutions” for disabled people — but better systems:
- Reliable, real-time accessibility updates (not outdated station info)
- Consistent step-free bus and rail integration
- Clear, centralised disruption planning info
- Proper staffing support even during industrial action
- Built-in accessible contingency routes, not improvised ones
Because accessibility shouldn’t disappear when the system is under stress.
Finally
Tube strikes are temporary.
But for disabled people, they highlight something permanent:
accessibility is often fragile, conditional, and dependent on too many moving parts.
For some people, it’s an inconvenience.
For others, it determines whether the journey happens at all.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not overthinking it — you’re planning around reality.