Wheelchair User Slams Andorra Bus Operator for Ramp Failures

A man with reduced mobility living in Canillo has criticised Coopalsa, Andorra's national bus operator, for chronic failures in its accessibility features, leaving wheelchair users unable to board vehicles reliably.

The 45-year-old resident, who has used a wheelchair since September 2025 and lives alone in government-subsidised housing, said he was assured by a social worker that all Coopalsa buses were fully adapted with working ramps and that drivers had received training on their operation. In emails, the worker relayed certification from the company that the service was suitable for his needs.

However, the man reports repeated problems over around 20 trips, mainly on routes from higher parishes like Canillo to the central valley. He described the buses' elevating platforms—required for rear-stepped vehicles—as frequently jammed or broken due to poor maintenance. "If I've taken the bus 20 times, the ramp has worked only three or four times," he said. "When it's not one issue, it's another."

Drivers, he added, often lack knowledge of the controls. On his first trip, the driver could not locate the switch; a second bus eventually assisted, though the platform failed again on descent. Passengers have frequently lifted him aboard manually.

A recent incident on line L4 highlighted the delays. Heading to a driving course at El Pas led by Albert Llovera, the man waited at Canillo as the driver struggled for 10 minutes to deploy the ramp, which then snagged on a streetlight and released accumulated grime—evidence, he said, of years without use. Passengers grew frustrated, holding up about 40 people heading to work, though they sympathised. A second driver from Encamp, also untrained, initially ignored his instructions before succeeding.

An Encamp resident who witnessed the episode called the second driver's attitude "apathetic and indignant," confirming the ramp appeared long unused.

The man expressed frustration and shame at causing delays, insisting the fault lies with Coopalsa. He contrasted Andorra's situation with Badalona, Spain, where he underwent nine months of rehabilitation at the Institut Guttmann and found buses properly maintained. He also raised concerns about snow piled on Canillo pavements, blocking wheelchair access to the primary care centre despite a complaint to the comú.

Coopalsa stated that all regular line vehicles are adapted and drivers trained, with only occasional reinforcement buses lacking full adaptation. The company said it has no record of such incidents.