Yangtze River Daily- Yangtze River Network, January 29 (reporter Sun Xiaotian Li Aihua) "The Government Work Report mentioned the list of practical matters of the Wuhan Municipal Government's people's livelihood in 2021, including 'helping the disabled with heart and affection'. I suggest: Wuhan Bus introduces more disabled buses. On the 29th, Liu Hongyi, an 18-year-old senior high school student, once again suggested on the Wuhan City Message Board of the Yangtze River Network to increase the number of buses equipped with barrier-free facilities.
Zhang Qiaoxia, a member of the CppcC Municipal Committee and chairman of the Municipal Association of the Physically Handicapped, brought the proposal of this year's two sessions to also pay attention to the travel of the disabled, and she praised after hearing the above suggestion: "The young man's suggestion is very good. ”
On-site visits: Most buses are not equipped with disability accessibility facilities
(Pictured is the 627 bus, which does not have barrier-free pedals for wheelchairs at the door.) Photo by reporter Li Aihua)
People with disabilities travelling in wheelchairs require assistive facilities to get on and off the bus. At present, what is the configuration of the barrier-free facilities for the disabled of buses running on the roads in our city? On January 29, the reporter conducted a field visit to this place.
In Hankou Jinqiao Avenue Wuhan Citizen's Home Station, the reporter has been on the 627 Road, 364 bus, both cars are ordinary buses, the reporter found that these two cars on and off the carriage need to step on two steps, there is no barrier-free pedal for wheelchairs to get on and off the door, there is no wheelchair fixed area in the car, and there are only a number of old, weak, sick and disabled seats in the carriage.
The driver of the 627 road said that if there was a passenger in a wheelchair who wanted to get on the bus, he would get out of the car to help carry the passenger to the car.
At the Huangpu Avenue Development Avenue Station, the reporter boarded the No. 248 and No. 229 buses respectively, no. 248 had no barrier-free facilities for the disabled, and No. 229 was equipped with barrier-free pedals, and there was a conspicuous wheelchair fixed area logo in the middle of the carriage. The reporter also observed that of the 3 No. 229 buses passing through the station, only one had barrier-free facilities for the disabled.
(Pictured is the No. 229 bus, which has an accessible pedal at the door that flips up for wheelchairs to get on and off.) ）
Feng Jun, bus route chief of bus 229, said that there are currently 47 vehicles driving online on route 229, but only 3 of them are disabled and barrier-free. Feng Jun, who was previously the bus 408 route chief, said that all 30 vehicles on the 408 line are new new energy vehicles, all equipped with barrier-free facilities for the disabled, but there are very few lines equipped with barrier-free facilities for the disabled.
The reporter learned from the second bus company that the company operates more than 1,100 vehicles online, and only more than 100 vehicles equipped with barrier-free facilities for the disabled. A staff member of the company said that ordinary buses are not equipped with barrier-free facilities due to design reasons, and with the replacement of buses, new models will increase disability-assisting accessibility.
The staff member said that the company will conduct corresponding training for each driver to help the disabled get on and off the bus and ensure the safety of the disabled.
(The picture shows the No. 229 bus, which has a wheelchair fixed area in the middle of the carriage.) Photo by reporter Li Aihua)
Member Voice: The young man's suggestion is very good, I hope that more disabled people can travel without obstacles
"The lad's advice was good." On January 29, Zhang Qiaoxia, member of the Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and chairman of the Municipal Association of the Physically Handicapped, agreed with Liu Hongyi's suggestion in an interview with the Yangtze River Daily-Changjiang Network reporter.
Zhang Qiaoxia said that there are currently more than 100,000 people with physical disabilities in Wuhan, and there is indeed a lack of standardized barrier-free vehicles in daily life. She said that the application scenario of buses equipped with barrier-free facilities is not only limited to the disabled, but also can meet the travel needs of the elderly with limited mobility, people who cannot walk independently due to sudden fractures and other diseases, infants and young children. Nowadays, with developed technology and convenient and humanized designs everywhere, there should be enough capacity to produce or transform barrier-free vehicles.
Zhang Qiaoxia revealed that she and Zhou Hua, a member of the CppcC Municipal Committee and chairman of the Hubei Disabled Persons' Association, drafted a proposal to provide customized barrier-free vehicles for the disabled. They suggested that relevant functional departments or enterprises set up a service platform, set up a certain number of barrier-free vehicles, and provide customized services for people with travel needs. "Just like customized buses, people who have needs can make reservations through the platform."
Zhang Qiaoxia explained that the disabled or elderly people with needs can purchase services through the platform, and for the extremely poor people, they can be subsidized by departments such as civil affairs or the Disabled Persons' Federation.
Zhang Qiaoxia said that if there are enough vehicles equipped with barrier-free facilities in the public transportation system, the disabled want to go out to visit shopping malls and supermarkets, go to the hospital for medical treatment, go to the bank to run errands, and they do not need to be accompanied by anyone, and they can take a ride in their own wheelchair.
Zhang Qiaoxia said that this year, she plans to negotiate with colleagues of the Disabled Persons' Federation and relevant departments to promote the introduction of barrier-free vehicles.
The reporter noted that the Municipal Bus Group replied to Liu Hongyi's suggestion on the city message board that in order to provide better services to disabled passengers, the problem of the imminent expiration of some vehicles in the early stage was fully considered in the procurement of new cars, and more than 300 bus vehicles with disability assistance facilities were specially purchased, which will be put into operation after the Spring Festival, hoping that passengers in need will travel more conveniently.
【Editor: Zhu Chenying】