site.btaPeople with Disabilities Protest in Sofia for Accessible Environment and Transport

People with disabilities protested outside the Sofia Municipality building under the slogan "Personal Mobility and the Right to a Dignified Life", calling for a more accessible urban environment, transport and equal access to public life. The protest took place on May 5, the European Day of Protest for the Equality of People with Disabilities.

Participants held placards reading "Let Us Live with Dignity under the Same Sky" and "Specialized Transport or Specialized Chaos? We Want an Audit Now!".

"We are people with disabilities who face difficulties due to the urban environment and public transport. There are 15,000 taxis in Sofia, but not a single one is adapted for people in wheelchairs," said Georgi Kolev, Chair of the Union of the Disabled in Bulgaria and one of the organizers of the protest.

According to him, there are about 12 specialized minibuses in the capital, which are far from sufficient for more than 20,000 people in need of such services, including visually impaired people, wheelchair users and citizens with reduced mobility.

Kolev recalled that in 2024 representatives of the organizations met with former Deputy Mayor for Transport Iliyan Pavlov, when a Sofia Municipality programme covering more than 20 sites like metro stations, underpasses, intersections and pavements was presented, aimed at making them accessible for people with disabilities. "We have sent letters and held meetings, but nothing has been done so far. That is why today we are saying: please, do something for us," he said.

Among the problems highlighted were poorly constructed pavements, lack of ramps, inaccessible underpasses, as well as cases where tram drivers and public transport drivers do not assist with the use of boarding platforms for people with reduced mobility.

Deputy Mayor for Social Activities Nadezhda Bacheva met with the protesters and told journalists that the Municipality is working step by step to improve accessibility, but the process is hampered by the lack of an adopted budget.

According to her, more than EUR 2 million was allocated in 2024-2025 for improving accessibility in schools and educational institutions. She added that more than 17,000 sq m of pavements with lowered curbs and accessibility elements were built in 2025.

"People have the right to move freely everywhere. When something has not been done properly for a long time, it cannot be fixed all at once. Sofia is a large city and this takes time," Bacheva said.

Transport Directorate Director Ivan Nikolov said mobility remains one of the main challenges. He explained that the Municipality cannot independently oblige taxi companies to provide accessible taxis for wheelchair users and that a national legislative solution is needed.

According to him, specialized transport is currently provided entirely with municipal funding. More than 22,000 people are eligible to use it, compared to 17,000 in 2017. "We have 17 vans, with three more delivered this year, and an additional six buses through a municipal company. With 23 vehicles, we are trying to provide this service to everyone," Nikolov said.

He added that nearly 80% of public transport is already accessible through low-floor vehicles, and that in 2026 the surface transport is expected to ensure 100% accessibility.

Deputy Mayor for Construction Nikola Lyutov, who also met with the protesters, said that more than 170,000 sq m of new pavements were built in 2025, and over 7,000 sq m since the beginning of 2026.

Regarding underpasses, he noted that a newly established unit for transport facilities within the Sofia Municipality will map and catalogue all more than 500 transport facilities in Sofia, including underpasses, overpasses and others.

"We will know their accessibility index and risk index, so that we can be proactive rather than only reactive," Lyutov said. He added that the lack of a state and municipal budget complicates long-term capital investment planning, but stressed that efforts to improve accessibility are continuing in parallel.