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Provincial Public Transport Policy for Special Needs Passengers
The above-mentioned policy was launched and undersigned at a function at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens on the 16th of April 2009. Here follows a summary of the policy.
Provincial Public Transport Policy Statement for Special Needs Passengers
The Provincial Government Western Cape acknowledges the public trans-port requirements of passengers with special needs. It undertakes to promote these requirements into the planning, provision and management of public transport system in the Western Cape so that the system, over time, becomes universally accessible to all its passengers. Where mainstream public transport does not provide reasonable accessibility the Department will promote the pro-vision of an alternative demand responsive service that can be used by passengers with special needs, if not already provided as part of the available range of transport services/"family" of services.
Independent travel within the public transport component of the travel chain will be promoted with the use of universal design principles, which promotes the design of a product or an environment that is widely usable and without bias, through access to appropriate and relevant passengers with special needs.
Collective efforts within the PGWC to-gather with other stakeholders such as the South African Rail Commuter Coro-ration, will strive to make other compo-net parts of the special needs passenger's journey fully accessible over the longer term.
Organizations of and for Special Needs Passengers to represent themselves on all matters affecting them are acknowledge-edge and will be promoted. In this re-sect the interface between passengers with special needs, the unit responsible for disability coordination in the Depart-mint of the Premier, the Western Cape Network on Disability and the provincial office of the Disabled People South Africa (DPSA) will be encouraged.
The PGWC will develop and refine this policy statement, as it considers necessary, to take into consideration the com-mints of individual and organizations that add value to the policy.
Actions to Promote the Provision of Public Transport for Special Needs Passengers in the Western Cape
In order to implement the policy state-mint for the provision of public transport for SNP's the Provincial Government Western Cape propose to implement the following actions to promote the provision of public transport for SNP's in the Western Cape.
Commuter Rail
Continue its joint initiative with the South African Rail Commuter Corpora-tion (SARCC) to progressively retrofit existing key commuter rail stations in order to make them more accessible to SNP's.
Encourage the SARCC to plan and build all new commuter rail stations to be accessible to SNP's.
Encourage the SARCC to improve the accessibility of its rail carriages to SNP's.
Road Based Public Transport Services
Support the continuation of the City of Cape Town's public trans-port information services provided by the Metro Transport Information Centre (MTIC) for the City of Cape Town area and, in particular, the availability of its services to Special Needs Passengers through appropriate technology.
Support the provision of similar public transport information ser-vices for the remainder of the Province by either expanding the ser-vices of the MTCI or the provision of similar services by the respective district municipalities.
Encourage the re-design and pres-entation of existing information on services, ie improving the layout of the timetables in order to enhance understanding as well as to in-crease the font sizes and back-ground contrast in which timetables are printed.
Public Transport Vehicles
Prepare and publish, in association with the Department of Transport, guideline requirements for accessible public transport vehicles. These requirements will include the provision of reasonable accommodation of SNP's who use wheelchairs, the use of audio and visual address systems and other appropriate features. Guidelines will be pro-duced for buses, midi-buses, mini-buses, and metered taxis.
Public Transport Facilities
Ensure that all new public transport facilities are planned to be accessible to SNP's and, if identified as a key facility within the public trans-port network, the facility is to be constructed so in the short to me-dium term.
Prepare a programme to make key existing facilities in the public transport network accessible.
Ensure that all other public trans-port facilities and stops allow for the deployment of ramps and lifts away from the main travel way.
Encourage that all major public transport facilities where passengers experience long waiting peri-ods are provided with at least one accessible ablution facility and specifically in urban areas:
Encourage that major public trans-port facilities are provided with audio and visual announcement systems indicating the arrival/ departure of vehicles.
Encourage that all stops are pro-vided with kerbed stopping areas and shelters.
Public Transport Operations
Ensure that all future contracted public transport services within the Province progressively include the operation of accessible services until all contracted services are either accessible and/ or an alter-native demand responsive service is available.
Require that an appropriate num-ber of accessible vehicles operate on non-contracted service routes and/or alternative demand re-sponsive service is available.
Investigate the implementation of concessionary fares, for cares, companions and assistive animals (guide/hearing dogs), etc that accompany SNP's who are registered as requiring their presence so they are able to accompany the SNP at a reduced/no fare.
Investigate, in association with the respective local authorities and operators, the provision, training and payment for operating de-mand responsive services that ac-knowledge the different characteristics of urban, peri-urban and rural areas, eg Dial-a Ride, broker-age or volunteer services.
Training of public transport service personnel
Encourage all operators and their staff(including ancillary personnel involved in the day-to-day opera-tions) to undertake sensitivity train-ing with respect to SNP's in order to learn how to properly assist and treat passengers with appropriate attention to the differences among individuals with disabilities.
Encourage all drivers and other operational staff providing public transport services to receive train-ing in the proper use of ramps, lifts, and wheelchair and passenger restraint systems, if fitted to the ve-hicles they operate.
Ivor Blumenthal, CE of the Services Seta, says the organization is continually trying to find creative and practical mechanisms for creating access to the world of work for people with disabilities. "A series of strategic projects will be launched in the next two months to facilitate entry. We are encouraged by the progress made and hope to expand on this" says Blumenthal.
by Sarah-Jane Bosch
From Association for People with Disabilities newsletter (vol 10. Issue 2) of May 2009
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