What Are the Accommodations Available for the Transportation Disadvantaged?
Transportation Convenience Facilities
- A “transportation convenience facility” refers to facility or equipment utilized for the convenience of the transportation disadvantaged in using modes of transportation, common carriers, or roads. Transportation convenience facilities include wheelchair boarding facilities, elevators for the disabled, moving walkways for the disabled, and rest facilities where mothers with infants may nurse (Article 2, Subparagraph 7 of the Act for the Increase in Transportation Convenience of the Transportation Disadvantaged).
Safe and Convenient Use of Buses
- A bus operator shall provide adequate time for any transportation-disadvantaged individual to board and disembark for safe and convenient use of the bus, provide convenience on boarding and disembarking, and, if in possession of low-floored buses or buses with structures allowing convenient and safe use by transportation-disadvantaged individuals (hereinafter referred to as “low-floor buses, etc.”), appropriately space regular and low-floored buses (Article 14 (1) of the Act on Promotion of the Transportation Convenience of Mobility Disadvantaged Persons).
- Operators in possession of the following proportion of low-floored buses, etc., have higher priority in being licensed as a route passenger automobile transportation business (Article 14 (2) of the Act on Promotion of the Transportation Convenience of Mobility Disadvantaged Persons, Article 14 (1) of the Enforcement Decree of the Act on Promotion of the Transportation Convenience of Mobility Disadvantaged Persons).
· Low-floored buses: following proportions
√ Special and Metropolitan Cities: 1/2 of the buses to be operated
√ Cities and Counties: 1/3 of the buses to be operated
· Buses with wheelchair lifts: 1/2 of the buses to be operated
- When mayors and county heads establish plans to improve services for local transportation– disadvantaged individuals, or governors establish plans to improve services for transportation- disadvantaged individuals, they are charged with considering the introduction of low-floored buses, etc., improving bus stops, roads, and other facilities considering the accessibility of the traffic weak for the operation of low-floored buses, and introducing low-floored buses accordingly. In such cases, the mayors, county heads, and governors shall provide financial support within their budgetary limits to regular route passenger transport business entities, as prescribed by the Enforcement Decree of the Act on Promotion of the Transportation Convenience of Mobility Disadvantaged Persons (Article 14 (3) and (4) of the Act on Promotion of the Transportation Convenience of Mobility Disadvantaged Persons).
Safe and Convenient Use of Subways
- At least one-tenth of a subway car is designated for the exclusive use of the transportation disadvantaged for their safe and convenient use of subways (Article 15 (1) of the Act for the Increase in Transportation Convenience of the Transportation Disadvantaged).
· Seats in the areas designated for the exclusive use of the transportation disadvantaged shall be built with design and material convenient for the use of the transportation disadvantaged. The color must be distinct from ordinary seats (Article 4 (1) of the Enforcement Rule of the Act for the Increase in Transportation Convenience of the Transportation Disadvantaged).
· The exterior of any car designated as an area for the exclusive use of the transportation disadvantaged shall bear pictorial marks signifying that the facility is for the use of the transportation disadvantaged (Article 4 (2) of the Enforcement Rule of the Act for the Increase in Transportation Convenience of the Transportation Disadvantaged).
· Areas for the exclusive use of the transportation disadvantaged must have at least two spaces for the exclusive use of wheelchair users, equipped with wheelchair fastening equipment and handles (Article 4 (3) of the Enforcement Rule of the Act for the Increase in Transportation Convenience of the Transportation Disadvantaged).
< Useful Tips for the Transportation Vulnerable to Enjoy Riding the Subway>
· The subway provides convenient rides for over ten million Seoul citizens. Still, Seoul Metro is expanding various convenient traffic services for everyone, even the transportation vulnerable.
· 'Ride Again (Ttota)’ is an application providing subway transportation services to the transportation vulnerable.
√ Connect to ‘Ride Again’ and press ‘transportation vulnerable’ to discover which stations are equipped with high-speed battery chargers for electric wheelchairs and video telephones (for sign language).
√ You can also get information about elevator inspections and status of repairs, which obstructs passengers in wheelchairs or passengers with strollers from using the subway.
√ Moreover, functions also include calling a call taxi for the disabled by sending a text message through the app. If you are color-weak, press ‘≡’ on the left top of the screen to distinguish the color of the routes.
· Ask the call center or customer information center for a transportation helper.
√ If you are not a smartphone user or are not able to use the Ride Again (Ttota) app, call the call center (+82-1577-1234) or visit the customer information center in person. You will then be presented with various transportation helper services, such as information for the visually impaired, an extra wheelchair, and support to cross wide gaps between the subway and platform.
√ Services also include supporting the visually impaired riding the subway alone. Please inform the customer information center at your present station or call center where to go, and an employee will be happy to help you with your ride, assist you at transfer stations, or guide you to an exit.
√ There are wheelchairs at each station. So all you need to do is call the relevant station or call center to be provided with one.
· Visit Seoul Metro (www.seoulmetro.co.kr) for more information about convenient facilities for the transportation vulnerable.
< Source: Useful Tips for the Transportation Vulnerable to Enjoy Riding the Subway >
