Just not good enough, RapidKL told
Ngu Ik Ying
Apr 18, 07 6:38pm:
Even before state-operated bus company RapidKL officially unveils its barrier-free buses on May 3, several “shortcomings” were exposed during a spot check this morning.
The exercise was conducted by 30 members of Malaysians against Discrimination of the Disabled, a coalition of groups representing the disabled, who gathered at the bus stop at the Bangsar LRT station in Kuala Lumpur for an hour from 10.30am.
They managed to test the facilities on two buses during this time, with a few of them attempting to get into and out of the vehicles.
Wheelchair-bound activist Anthony Thanasayan said it was disappointing that Rapid KL did not consult the coalition on the design of the buses, which started servicing certain routes in the Klang Valley from early this month.
"We thought they would meet us, but did not. The company is spending so much money on this but it will not improve the services. After all the hullabaloo over this issue, what we have now is just a mockery (of our needs),” he said.
He said, for example, the access ramp is too short and too steep, causing difficulty for wheelchair-users to board the bus independently.
“The ramp doesn’t cater to the needs of those who suffer from severe spinal cord injuries - they cannot push their wheelchairs up,” he said.
He said the disabled organisations have been requesting the company to hold a meet-the-people session, but that this has fallen on deaf ears.
"The company should change its attitude. Since they are doing this for us, why don't they talk to us to find out what we really need?"
Room for improvement
Former television personality Ras Adiba Radzi, a paraplegic due to a spinal cord injury, said she had trouble securing her wheelchair to the ramp.
While commending Rapid KL’s efforts to help integrate the disabled into the mainstream of society, she pointed out that facilities in Malaysia lag behind those in developed countries like South Korea and in Europe.
“It's a good start for Rapid KL but they should continue upgrading the facilities until these cater to the needs of different disabled people,” she said.
Another activist, wheelchair user Chong Tuck Meng, felt that bus drivers or conductors should receive professional training in handling wheelchair users.
Chong was appreciative of the drivers being helpful when he disembarked, but said wrong handling could prove hazardous to wheelchair users, who could fall. (See photo)
“They need to know the right technique to use in helping us, as well as how to stop the bus without hitting the kerb at bus stops, to prevent injuries to disabled passengers,” he added.
Drivers put a ramp in place and help to push wheelchair-users in and out of the bus. Locks and seat-belts are provided on board for two wheelchairs.
‘Promise fulfilled’
When contacted today, RapidKL senior manager (corporate communications) Katherine Chew confirmed that the company had bought 100 barrier-free buses as promised last year.
Some of these are currently in operation within the Klang Valley, with full deployment anticipated by early June.
“At the moment, our drivers are not trained yet but we will send them for training after we are done with the bus licensing applications and other arrangements,” she said.
Asked to comment on the claim that the company had not heeded requests from the disabled to be consulted, she clarified that several dialogues had been held with 13 organisations in the Barrier-free Environment and Accessible Transport Group.
She suggested that other groups interested could request to participate in the special public transport committee to be set up soon by the transport ministry.
In relation to complaints about the bus design, she said this is based on international standards and is meant to accommodate two wheelchairs at any time. However, the drivers will not turn away additional passengers.
The buses can be identified by the wheelchair icon on the front of the bus, she added.
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