WE refer to the article headlined, 'Disabled in bus row', which appeared in the South China Morning Post, on April 6.
It is a great pity that all bus companies have apparently been lumped together for the intended 'drubbing' by the disabled persons' representatives at the Governor's forthcoming summit.
Citybus has consistently demonstrated a commitment to improving access to its fleet of buses for all customers, whether disabled or not over the years. Everything possible has been done to improve the current generation of double-deck buses as requested by the disabled groups.
This has included, among others, the fitment of many brightly coloured handrails and stanchions in easy grip configuration, palm press bell pushes, more visible step edgings as well as large format destination indicators, priority seat signs and lowest possible entrance steps consistent with the design of the chassis. Citybus is also looking at public address technology to automatically announce the location of the bus and its next stop in English and Cantonese.
In addition, Citybus already has a demonstrator Volvo B6R bus on trial for potential use on low density routes, which can 'kneel' to permit easier access. This bus is operating in the Southern District now and will appear at the Governor's Summit on May 3 to be publicly launched.
Citybus has told the Transport Branch, Transport Department and the disabled groups that have attended the regular liaison meetings in the past, that bus operators have gone as far as the current double-deck chassis design permits, in terms of improving access. Because Citybus realises that the industry has to go further to improve access for wheelchairs, it has commissioned two chassis manufacturers to design and build a new generation of low floor double-deck buses. The prototypes will arrive in Hong Kong in the first quarter of 1996. These vehicles will have low floors and single-step entrances. Citybus has asked the manufacturers to equip them with wheelchair access devices as well and space for the carriage of wheelchairs will be built in.
