Once again a number of bus route changes have lately been announced so as to make the system more cost effective and to satisfy the demands of the public. Complaints on the service provided by Arriva and the availability of appropriate routes seem to be on the decrease.

However, these frequent changes in the bus routes and updating of networks are proving confusing and causing difficulties to persons with special needs especially those with intellectual disabilities. This is one sector of the population whose requirements have not been given enough attention and very little effort to address them during the planning stage or after. One must admit that, with the coming of Arriva, some improvements have been registered with regard to persons with impaired mobility. The same cannot be said regarding persons with intellectual disability or visual impairment.

Making public transport more accessible could reduce spending

The Malta Federation of Organisations Persons with Disability (MFOPD) feels that it must voice its concerns over the various shortcomings, re-assert the rights of disabled persons and make some proposals.

According to article 9 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the state is obliged to establish non-discriminatory access conditions for the transport of persons with disabilities to enable them to live independently and make use of public transport with ease and without undue worrying on overcoming difficult obstacles. This would be achieved if:

1. Rules for non-discrimination and mandatory assistance are established. Such assistance should apply at the terminal, during boarding and alighting and during the journey. Provision should be made at designated terminals so that disabled passengers can notify their arrival and need for assistance.

2. The state should endeavour to improve existing infrastructures where this is necessary to enable easy access for persons with reduced mobility and wheel-chair bound persons during boarding and alighting. Some bus stages lack dropped kerbs and are still not compatible with the ramps of Arriva buses.

3. Information regarding the service before and during the journey should be accessible in alternative formats to persons with disability. These should include large print, Braille and electronic communication that can be accessed with assistive technology.

4. Bus time-tables as displayed at the bus stages are proving difficult to understand and follow, besides not being strictly adhered to. Real time information screens with voice functionality will make life easier for persons with visual impairment and those with intellectual disability.

5. Each location must be serviced with at least one direct route to Valletta. Interchanging , especially where interconnecting bus stages are not situated close by, are proving very challenging to all persons with disability.

6. Persons with intellectual disability need special attention during journeys. Some form of identification should be introduced for the attention of the bus driver who must be aware of the route requirements of the concerned person. The driver must ensure that he/she arrives and alights at the correct destination or bus stage. Special pre-paid tickets on which one can write the name of the customer, the destination and mobile number of the contact person should be introduced for the attention of the driver or assistance at the terminals. Priority seating similar to that for the mobility impaired should also apply for such persons and situated close to the driver who can keep an eye on them and be able to direct them.

7. Disability awareness training should be provided as part of the initial and ongoing training of drivers and assistants. NGOs representing disabled persons should be consulted and involved in preparing the content of the training.

8. The state should endeavour to instil public awareness of the difficulties faced by disabled persons and has a moral obligation to help when possible.

We believe that transportation is one issue that must be given particular attention by the competent authorities to uphold the right that persons with disability live independently and participate fully in society.

The state has to ensure that transportation is made accessible to persons with disability on an equal basis with others. This can only be achieved if an effort is made to identify and eliminate obstacles and barriers. Simply introducing lower bus rates for people with a disability, although welcomed by most, is not going to solve the problem.

The state spends substantially on providing special transport to persons with disability attending schools, respite homes, day centres, etc. Making public transport more accessible and user friendly could perhaps reduce this spending drastically.