[sustran] fwd: accessible public transport comment

[SUSTRAN Resource Centre]

I should share this comment on an item in the last SUSTRAN News Flash (#40).
Paul
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From: "Adolf Ratzka" <ratzka at independentliving.org>
To: <sustran-flash at jca.ax.apc.org>
Cc: <madeleine.goetzinger at sida.se>
Date: Wed, 20 Sep 2000 14:20:20 +0200

Regarding accessibility for old and disabled people in public 
transportation

The latest SUSTRAN newsletter featured a report by SIDA, the Swedish 
International Development Agency, on Urban Transport and Development 
Assistance. The 44-page report omits a large part of the population, 
namely older persons and those with disabilities. Not a single 
references is made to this group whose members are dependent on public 
transportation probably more than any other sector of the public in any 
country, developing or "developed".

This oversight might be explained by the present attitude to public 
transportation for older and disabled Swedish citizens. Needs of this 
group are primarily met by special  -  as opposed to mainstream  -   
solutions, for example, special minibusses, exclusively for the use of 
disabled persons. Intercity trains might have, at best, one wheelchair 
accessible seat per departure and destination. Intracity busses while 
increasingly of the low-floor type, still leave an approximately 25 cm 
high step at the entrance which presents an unsurmountable obstacle to 
users of power wheelchairs or unaccompanied users of manual wheelchairs, 
unless they are wheelchair acrobats.

Given this domestic record Swedish agencies and consultants need to 
learn that  SUSTAINABLE  public transportation includes  ALL citizens.

Adolf D. Ratzka, Ph D
wheelchair user
Institute on Independent Living, Stockholm, Sweden
http://www.independentliving.org
______________________________
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