New Hong Kong minibuses will cater for the elderly, disabled
All new minibuses will have 19 seats, an extra half-step at the door, stop buttons at passenger level and handrails on seats to assist the elderly, while three wheelchair-friendly buses will also be tested
Two new models of green minibuses will have features to cater for elderly and disabled passengers for the first time in Hong Kong, and will gradually replace existing vehicles.
From Tuesday, all newly registered green minibuses will have 19 seats, an extra half-step at the door, stop buttons at passenger level and handrails on seats to assist the elderly, a representative from Hong Kong Scheduled (GMB) Licensee Association, one of Hong Kong’s two scheduled green minibus associations, said. The association aims to gradually replace all of Hong Kong’s 3,272 green minibuses.
“We want these buses because the government wants to upgrade our transportation industry to help more people”, said Vincent Wong, chairman of AMS Public Transport Holdings Limited, which has ordered 100 vehicles so far.
New 19-seat minibuses to hit Hong Kong roads next week
The buses, made by Japanese company Toyota Motor Corporation, the world’s largest automotive manufacturer, cost HK$700,000 each.
In addition to the new 19-seater buses, three low floored, wheelchair accessible minibuses will also operate on a trial basis along selected hospital routes, which are yet to be decided.
“Transport is not that convenient for people with disabilities in Hong Kong at the moment, so this is good news for the people,” Frankie Yick Chi-ming, legislator for Transport, said. “We are yet to see the actual demand, but I’m sure it is possible for further expansion,” he added.
Optare, a British bus manufacturer, is making the wheelchair friendly model, in their first time producing minibuses for the city.