Proposals to improve new bus service (2)

The new buses and new practices for public transportation have been implemented as from July 3. Brochures have been distributed to every household and the public has been informed of the applicable bus rates including new schemes for frequent users and further discounted fares on a number of ticket types for students and pensioners having the Kartanzjan.

However, disabled persons including their accompanying person have not been given any reduced rates as opposed to the practice of the main public transport operators in Europe such as those in London. In the past the use of public transportation for wheelchair users was not possible and the lack of entitlement had to be accepted along with the lack of equal opportunity for the use of the buses. Now that the buses are of the low-floor type with ramps, access to wheelchairs and mobility impaired persons has become possible and public transportation by buses shall be complying with the requirement of the United Nations Conventions to provide equal rights and equal opportunities for disabled persons.

Disabled persons receive a pension of less than 60 per cent of the minimum wage and as such their pension is quite below the minimum established amount needed in order to have adequate financial resources and hence below the poverty margin. Thus the provision of discounts in public bus tickets would be fair and reasonable as it is for students and pensioners. Due to special needs, expenses for disabled persons and their families well exceed those of others who do not have special needs.

Moreover, in view of lack of accessibility of footpaths due to lack of proper flush ramps at ends, obstructions and lack of continuity of accessible footpaths and the general need to move in the road along with the vehicles, subsidised/free fares of an accompanying person would also be fair.

Can the authorities concerned take action to introduce reduced/free rates for the disabled and one accompanying person at the earliest?