Comments on: NST - September 25, 2006: Disabled want better access to public transport http://www.petertan.com/blog/2006/09/25/nst-september-25-2006-disabled-want-better-access-to-public-transport/ Living One Day At A Time Sun, 20 Jul 2008 07:29:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: forrestcat http://www.petertan.com/blog/2006/09/25/nst-september-25-2006-disabled-want-better-access-to-public-transport/#comment-15772 forrestcat Sun, 29 Oct 2006 03:13:16 +0000 http://www.petertan.com/blog/2006/09/25/nst-september-25-2006-disabled-want-better-access-to-public-transport/#comment-15772 Hello. I am currently studying in Adelaide where the city has committed to disable friendly buses,O-Bahns and trams in recent years.I would like to say what joy it is to see wheelchair bound people travel in buses and trams in Adelaide and I would really like to see the same in Malaysia.I would like to express my full support for any effort to make the public transportation in Malaysia's major cities.I believe it is essential that we continuously remind RapidKL and LRT/monorail operators to commit to disable friendly features in all their stations,LRTs and buses. Regards. <strong>Peter: Thank you for your support. If we have to constantly remind the public transport operators to include accessible facilities, then it is obvious that these companies are being run by people who do not know what they are doing. This is apparently the case with Rapid KL and all other operators who were blind, not only to the needs of wheelchair users, but also the elderly and those with mobility impairment.</strong> Hello.
I am currently studying in Adelaide where the city has committed to disable friendly buses,O-Bahns and trams in recent years.I would like to say what joy it is to see wheelchair bound people travel in buses and trams in Adelaide and I would really like to see the same in Malaysia.I would like to express my full support for any effort to make the public transportation in Malaysia’s major cities.I believe it is essential that we continuously remind RapidKL and LRT/monorail operators to commit to disable friendly features in all their stations,LRTs and buses.

Regards.

Peter:
Thank you for your support. If we have to constantly remind the public transport operators to include accessible facilities, then it is obvious that these companies are being run by people who do not know what they are doing. This is apparently the case with Rapid KL and all other operators who were blind, not only to the needs of wheelchair users, but also the elderly and those with mobility impairment.

]]> By: blueheeler http://www.petertan.com/blog/2006/09/25/nst-september-25-2006-disabled-want-better-access-to-public-transport/#comment-14372 blueheeler Sat, 30 Sep 2006 05:53:57 +0000 http://www.petertan.com/blog/2006/09/25/nst-september-25-2006-disabled-want-better-access-to-public-transport/#comment-14372 Hi, the S'pore MRT system came under fire a few years ago also, as the older stations failed to provide lifts for those who need them. The new stations all have them, and I think the older stations are being upgraded. But no matter how user-friendly the S'pore MRT stations are, once you wheel yourself out of a station onto the pedestrian pavement, you're still faced with an unending obstacle of unlevelled walkways... It's shameful how a 'rich' country treats its less-fortunate... <strong>Peter: You said it all.</strong> Hi, the S’pore MRT system came under fire a few years ago also, as the older stations failed to provide lifts for those who need them. The new stations all have them, and I think the older stations are being upgraded.

But no matter how user-friendly the S’pore MRT stations are, once you wheel yourself out of a station onto the pedestrian pavement, you’re still faced with an unending obstacle of unlevelled walkways… It’s shameful how a ‘rich’ country treats its less-fortunate…

Peter:
You said it all.

]]> By: mrs jeff buckley http://www.petertan.com/blog/2006/09/25/nst-september-25-2006-disabled-want-better-access-to-public-transport/#comment-14301 mrs jeff buckley Thu, 28 Sep 2006 14:41:24 +0000 http://www.petertan.com/blog/2006/09/25/nst-september-25-2006-disabled-want-better-access-to-public-transport/#comment-14301 wah masuk papers ah?? neat... i know i owe you lunch date... <strong>Peter: There is a point to be made there. That image clearly shows that management of public buses have no consideration when it comes to people like me. You owe me more than a lunch date.</strong> wah masuk papers ah?? neat… i know i owe you lunch date…

Peter:
There is a point to be made there. That image clearly shows that management of public buses have no consideration when it comes to people like me. You owe me more than a lunch date.

]]> By: KL Commuter http://www.petertan.com/blog/2006/09/25/nst-september-25-2006-disabled-want-better-access-to-public-transport/#comment-14221 KL Commuter Tue, 26 Sep 2006 18:47:11 +0000 http://www.petertan.com/blog/2006/09/25/nst-september-25-2006-disabled-want-better-access-to-public-transport/#comment-14221 I was thinking, if Rapid KL was flexible enough in allowing wheelchair users to enter from the back, the problem is half solved no? Paying the fare is not a major problem. Anyway, disabled persons are let in free with the “Handicap Complimentary Travel”? Rather than install automatic expensive ramps with the already bought 100s of buses how about have manual foldable ramps that fold into the floor panel, or are “plucked” out of the bus wall and placed at the door? Pretty primitive, but make sure it’s lightweight, safe and easy to use la. Educate the general public how to operate the ramp and the bus driver needn’t assist most of the time. And of course, remove some seats, or install foldable ones, and have accompanying safety features (more handles). As for it being to steep, if the ramp is extended onto the kerb, and not the road, then I think that will be manageable. I don’t know Peter, what do you think? Or else, it should be a good idea for bus stops to be raised a little higher than the usual kerb. Well, at the same time, don’t put steps there la. I’m also not sure whether disabled persons are comfortable having strangers help push them up the ramp? BTW, in this link “rail ramp” sounds like it. http://www.portaramp.co.uk/acatalog/Vehicle_Ramps.html And well, in the long run, have low leveled, stepless buses with automatic ramps. And make sure they work. <strong>Peter: So many things can be done to make public buses accessible but none is in their list of priorities. I do not know what else to say.</strong> I was thinking, if Rapid KL was flexible enough in allowing wheelchair users to enter from the back, the problem is half solved no?

Paying the fare is not a major problem. Anyway, disabled persons are let in free with the “Handicap Complimentary Travel”?

Rather than install automatic expensive ramps with the already bought 100s of buses how about have manual foldable ramps that fold into the floor panel, or are “plucked” out of the bus wall and placed at the door? Pretty primitive, but make sure it’s lightweight, safe and easy to use la.

Educate the general public how to operate the ramp and the bus driver needn’t assist most of the time.

And of course, remove some seats, or install foldable ones, and have accompanying safety features (more handles).

As for it being to steep, if the ramp is extended onto the kerb, and not the road, then I think that will be manageable. I don’t know Peter, what do you think?

Or else, it should be a good idea for bus stops to be raised a little higher than the usual kerb. Well, at the same time, don’t put steps there la.

I’m also not sure whether disabled persons are comfortable having strangers help push them up the ramp?

BTW, in this link “rail ramp” sounds like it.
http://www.portaramp.co.uk/acatalog/Vehicle_Ramps.html

And well, in the long run, have low leveled, stepless buses with automatic ramps. And make sure they work.

Peter:
So many things can be done to make public buses accessible but none is in their list of priorities. I do not know what else to say.

]]> By: walk the talk http://www.petertan.com/blog/2006/09/25/nst-september-25-2006-disabled-want-better-access-to-public-transport/#comment-14195 walk the talk Tue, 26 Sep 2006 06:40:22 +0000 http://www.petertan.com/blog/2006/09/25/nst-september-25-2006-disabled-want-better-access-to-public-transport/#comment-14195 Cheap Talk? Empty words? More verbal diarrhoea? Perhaps? We get lots of promises and little, if any, action from the authorities, but whatever happens:- Let's all united to press hard for a disabled friendly Malaysia. <strong>Peter: We would rather call it accessible Malaysia. But yes, let advocate for such designs. Everybody will benefit from this.</strong> Cheap Talk? Empty words? More verbal diarrhoea?
Perhaps?
We get lots of promises and little, if any, action from the authorities, but whatever happens:-
Let’s all united to press hard for a disabled friendly Malaysia.

Peter:
We would rather call it accessible Malaysia. But yes, let advocate for such designs. Everybody will benefit from this.

]]> By: Finding Me http://www.petertan.com/blog/2006/09/25/nst-september-25-2006-disabled-want-better-access-to-public-transport/#comment-14154 Finding Me Mon, 25 Sep 2006 02:36:34 +0000 http://www.petertan.com/blog/2006/09/25/nst-september-25-2006-disabled-want-better-access-to-public-transport/#comment-14154 they expect you to fly across to the steps ... squeeze thru the doorway.. and up onto the bus... all the while doing a wheelie..... IDIOTS!!! <strong>Peter: If only I could fly...</strong> they expect you to fly across to the steps … squeeze thru the doorway.. and up onto the bus… all the while doing a wheelie….. IDIOTS!!!

Peter:
If only I could fly…

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