Geoff Adams-Spink BBC News Online disability affairs reporter

London Mayor Ken Livingstone, said he was "shocked and surprised" to find that 50 per cent of disabled people in the capital have suffered abuse or bullying.

The findings come from a survey of disabled Londoners which was published to coincide with the Mayor's Disability Capital Conference in Docklands on Saturday.

"What shocked me was the recounting of all the cases where people have been physically or verbally abused," Mr Livingstone told BBC News Online.

London Mayor Ken Livingstone at the disability conference

"It's the same thing that happened a generation ago to black people who would be called 'nigger' as they walked down the street, or people would spit at them."

"I wasn't aware of this at all - I knew a lot of people can be very uncomfortable around disabled people, but I was really surprised to find all these cases of people being beaten up or pushed around."

The mayor said that now that the extent of the problem had been identified, a serious effort would be made to deal with it.

"We can get the police to tackle violence against disabled people in the same way that they deal with attacks on the Muslim, Jewish or lesbian and gay communities," he said.

Catalogue of incidents

The research findings come from around 500 questionnaires which have so far been returned.

One respondent said a dog had been allowed to bite them because they were in a wheelchair.

I was really surprised to find all these cases of people being beaten up or pushed around Ken Livingstone

Another was told by two mothers with prams to get off the bus.

Abuse was reported coming from members of the public, health and social services staff and shop assistants.

"In many shops I let them go into my wallet to pay for things," said one person.

"Sometimes I get no change or they steal money."

The conference also discussed issues like transport, housing and access to education.

Mr Livingstone wants to make London a beacon of good practice in opening up the city to disabled people.

"We're way behind others," he said.

"The city that clearly has gone the furthest is San Francisco, where mayors 25 or 30 years ago set the standard that we will struggle to reach over the next generation."

But he insisted that measures that have been adopted will help London to catch up.

"Every new building constructed must be accessible, and as all the old buildings get refurbished and modernised they should also become accessible."

Better access

Transport was the biggest area of concern for two-thirds of those who took part in the survey.

Transport for London Commissioner, Bob Kiley, said the only way to improve access was "aggressively".

Bob Kiley spoke about improving transport access

"Of the 280 tube stations, barely 40 are somewhat accessible," he said.

"I'd like to see that number converted into 140 - which would be half the stations - by 2015."

"It'll be expensive but we'll raise the money one way or another."

"What I'd like to be able to think is that we can return to the world-class status London had 60 or 70 years ago."

Disability Minister Maria Eagle, who also addressed the conference, said the key thing was to focus on disability in the way that London was doing.

"Good practice is always good to see," she said.