WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1986
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ON
TO IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, A NUMBER OF MEASURES WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED THE POSSIBILITY OF ACCIDENTS HAD BEEN CARRIED OUT. THESE INCLUDED TEMPORARY BARRIERS TO FENCE OFF THE WORKS AREAS AND TO PREVENT PEDESTRIANS FROM RANDOMLY CROSSING CASTLE PEAK ROAD.
TRAFFIC CONES AND TEMPORARY LIGHTING HAD BEEN SET UP TO PROVIDE A WARNING AND TO PHYSICALLY SEGREGATE THE TWO DIRECTIONS OF TRAFFIC FLOW, AND TEMPORARY REFUGE ISLANDS WERE BEING PROVIDED AT THREE SIGNAL-CONTROLLED CROSSINGS FOR PEDESTRIANS.
TAXI VOUCHER SCHEME TO ASSIST DISABLED
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THE GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING A TAXI VOUCHER SCHEME AND A MAXI TAXI SCHEME TO IMPROVE TRANSPORT FACILITIES FOR THE DISABLED, PARTICULARLY THE WHEELCHAIR DISABLED WHO CANNOT USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT EXCEPT TAXIS.
THIS WAS DISCLOSED BY THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON NEIL HENDERSON, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY
(WEDNESDAY) WHEN REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HENRIETTA !P ON TRANSPORT FACILITIES FOR THOSE DISABLED PERSONS WHO COULD NOT USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT.
MR HENDERSON SAID THE TAXI VOUCHER SCHEME PROPOSED THAT THE WHEELCHAIR DISABLED AND THOSE WITH WALKING DIFFICULTIES SO SEVERE THAT THEY COULD ONLY USE TAXIS WOULD BE ISSUED WITH TAXI VOUCHERS BY THE GOVERNMENT. THESE VOUCHERS WOULD BE TO THE VALUE OF $55 PER MONTH AND PERMIT THEM TO MAKE AN AVERAGE OF TWO JOURNEYS PER WEEK FOR SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL PURPOSES.
THE REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE HAD AGREED LAST WEEK THAT A PILOT SCHEME SHOULD BE TRIED OUT AND THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOW EXAMINING DETAILS OF ITS IMPLEMENTATION, HE SAID.
THE 12-MONTH PILOT SCHEME WOULD BE ADMINISTERED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SOCIAL WELFARE AND MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.
CONSIDERATION WAS ALSO BEING GIVEN TO INTRODUCTION OF A MAXI TAXI SCHEME USING SPECIAL TAXIS THAT COULD EASILY ACCOMMODATE A WHEELCHAIR, MR HENDERSON SAID.
THESE TAXIS WOULD GIVE PRIORITY TO THE WHEELCHAIR DISABLED PERHAPS AT CONCESSIONARY FARES AND WOULD SUPPLEMENT THE REHABUS SERVICE WHICH DISABLED PEOPLE NOW USED FOR GETTING TO WORK AS WELL AS BEING AVAILABLE FOR USE FOR SOCIAL PURPOSES.
/MR HENDERSON
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