MTA suggests balloon-tyre wheelchairs for use on beaches
The Malta Tourism Authority has proposed the purchase of two wheelchairs which use balloon tyres to give people with disability easier access to sandy beaches.
The proposal was made to the National Commission, Persons with Disability. The MTA proposed that the two special wheelchairs could be used in a pilot project.
Should the experiment work, the MTA would consider having two such special chairs for each sandy beach, Education and Social Policy Minister Dolores Cristina said in reply to a parliamentary question.
Balloon wheels prevent wheel chairs from sinking into soft sand.
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16 Comments
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Charles Micallef
Apr 27th 2010, 15:07
Finally an excellent idea from MTA!
John Micallef
Apr 27th 2010, 14:35
I hope that on the Maltese sand they work, as compared to other countries our sand is very fine.
Hope this was considered.
Note: How they will be acessed? As in prety bay for example their is not even a lifeguard all summer, figure out a wheelchaire attendant.
j n ebejer
Apr 27th 2010, 14:08
Let's bet we are going to have these starting off from St.George's bay -for a change! The rest of the island - that is St.Thomas and Pretty Bay in the South will be contented with the new incinerator at the new power station!
paul abela
Apr 27th 2010, 14:06
let's hope we dont have to pass through all the red tapes...permits and what not....and summer goes by without having the wheel chairs...wake up Malta
M.Gauci
Apr 27th 2010, 13:42
An absolutely brilliant idea. How very refreshing. Let's do it ASAP.
A. Schembri
Apr 27th 2010, 14:02
How very refreshing indeed. especially after that heat one knows he/she is ending up in the sea!! hahaha
Seriously I agree with you M. Gauci!
Noel Zarb
Apr 27th 2010, 13:32
Two per every sandy beach??? ONLY?? so the other people wait then??
Luke Buttigieg
Apr 27th 2010, 13:36
It's a pilot project, just a test
Kenneth Cassar
Apr 27th 2010, 13:39
How many would you suggest?
Noel Zarb
Apr 27th 2010, 13:39
"Should the experiment work, the MTA would consider having two such special chairs for each sandy beach, Education Minister Dolores Cristina said in reply to a parliamentary question."
A. Schembri
Apr 27th 2010, 13:44
I thinkit is an excellent idea. 2 for the pilot project, if successful 2 per sandy beach. I think this is quite reasonable. however should the demand grow, then addtional one can be hopefully purchased. People in wheelchairs deserve to have such a facility.
John Ebejer
Apr 27th 2010, 13:49
Indeed, how many would you suggest? And what's wrong with waiting somewhat? Everybody does.
And while at it, how about ENSURING that all beaches are manned by properly-trained and round-the-clock and adequately-fitted lifeguards?
Ian Galea
Apr 27th 2010, 14:07
So, according to your statistics Mr.Zarb, how many wheelchair-bound people arrive simultaneously at every sandy beach?!!??
nOEL zARB
Apr 27th 2010, 14:13
I would suggest at least 10 per sandy beach, plus I would improve the accessibility before investing in these wheelchairs...Correct me if I am wrong...But I doubt Golden Bay and Ghajn Tuffieha are accessible for wheelchairs...Last I recall, Armier is not either, Ghadira might be accessible.
Noel Zarb
Apr 27th 2010, 14:14
At present not many people go, but I am sure that if these chairs are offered, more people would go to the beaches.
Kenneth Cassar
Apr 27th 2010, 15:08
@ Noel Zarb:
Fair enough. The reasonable thing to do would be to test the demand before leaving plenty of baloon-tyre wheelchairs to rust unused at the beaches. I'm sure the National Commission for Persons with Disability, to whom the MTA's innovative proposal was made, would suggest an increased number if it knows they would be used.