Memorandum on Accessible Transportation from Disabled Persons’ to Relevant Government Agencies and Transport Operators
The word Accessible, here refers to the goal of enabling access by all,including elderly, women with children and disabled persons. Accessible, also implies that disabled persons can, without assistance, approach,enter, pass to and from, and make use of an area and its facilitieswithout undue difficulties.
The phrase disabled personsincludes allpeople with physical, sensory or cognitive conditions which are notsensitively nor seriously taken into account in the planning, drawingand implementation of social policies or structural designs.
WE HEREBY URGE
1.0 THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO:
1.1 RECOGNISE that providing an accessible environment andaccessible transport benefits EVERYBODY, especially the growing numberof elderly people and also parents with young children. It is not onlydisabled persons that benefit. 1.2 INTRODUCE POLICY to provide accessible transportation inphases, particularly in urban areas. 1.3 OFFER INCENTIVES to transport operators for providingaccessible vehicles. 1.4 PREPARE, PUBLISH and ENACT standards for accessiblepublic transport vehicles and transport infrastructure (based onuniversally accepted practice but appropriate for conditions and usersin Malaysia); then REQUIRE new public transport vehicles andinfrastructure to comply with these standards. 1.5 ENACT AND ENFORCE legislation requiring that disabledpersons not be excluded from activities solely because of the designand operation of public transport vehicles and transport infrastructure. 1.6 ENCOURAGE the immediate appddcation of accessible designfor public transport vehicles and transport infrastructure even beforethe legally enforced standards take effect. 1.7 ENFORCE the design standards for an accessible externalbuilt environment – this is the missing link between accessibletransport and accessible buildings. 1.8 SET TARGET DATES for the achievement of a fullyaccessible transport system in Malaysia. We suggest the year 2010. 2.1 WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Federal Government to develop design standards for accessible public transport vehicles and transport infrastructure that are appropriate to conditions in Malaysia; 2.2 INCLUDE ACCESSIBILITY for disabled persons in theformulation of all new or revised structure / local plans. 2.3 SURVEY their area for accessibility and develop a listof priorities for removing barriers to access. In doing so, IDENTIFYpriority routes to be made accessible and take action on these. 2.4 ENCOURAGE and provide INCENTIVES for new development to incorporate accessible built environment. 2.5 PROVIDE RATING SYSTEM to all built environments forcompliance with access requirements. 2.6 ENFORCE all existing by-laws and design guidelines foran accessible built environment. 2.7 SET TARGET DATES for the achievement of full accessiblestatus, including target dates for interim goals such as accessibilityof priority routes. 3.1 PLAN to gradually achieve accessible services by a target date,even before legislation requires it. 3.2 REVISE operating practices and regulations to remove barriersfor disabled person. 3.3 TRAIN AND SENSITISE staff at all levels to be aware of theproblems of disabled person and to know how most appropriately to assistthem. 3.4 ENSURE that every new vehicle or new infrastructure isaccessible to everybody, particularly the elderly and disabled persons. 3.5 PHASE IN low-floor buses in urban areas where conditions aresuitable. Low-floor buses benefit everybody, not only disabled persons.
