XN000022-1975-01-15 — Page 6

5.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1975.

TISABLED DEMONSTRATE DIFFICULTIES

IN TRAVELLING ON BUSES

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MEMBERS OF A GOVERNMENT INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING PARTY YESTERDAY (TUESDAY) SAW FOR THEMSELVES THE DIFFICULTIES HANDICAPPED PEOPLE HAVE IN TRAVELLING ON BUSES, AND DISCUSSED WITH THEM THEIR GENERAL PROBLEMS IN USING PUBLIC TRANSPORT.

THE WORKING PARTY WAS FORMED IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR TO RECOMMEND TO THE GOVERNMENT WHAT STEPS MIGHT BE TAKEN TO PROVIDE SURFACE TRANSPORT MORE SUITABLE TO THE NEEDS OF THE DISABLED.

ITS MEMBERS COMPRISE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE, MEDICAL AND HEALTH, PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSPORT DEPARTMENTS, WITH MR. PETER LEEDS, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, AS CHAIRMAN.

YESTERDAY, WITH A DAIMLER FLEETLINE'' DOUBLE-DECK BUS MADE AVAILABLE BY THE CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY, A FACT-FINDING DEMONSTRATION WAS ORGANISED AT THE POLICE TRAINING SCHOOL, ABERDEEN, WHERE 10 DISABLED PERSONS WERE INVITED TO BOARD AND ALIGHT FROM THE BUS AND TO GO ABOUT ON THE VEHICLE WITH MEMBERS OF THE WORKING PARTY.

THE IDEA WAS TO FIND OUT WHAT PROBLEMS HANDICAPPED PEOPLE ENCOUNTER RELATING TO HEIGHTS OF STEPS. THE PROVISION OF HAND GRIPS AND GUARD RAILS, AND THE WIDTH OF ENTRANCES AND EXITS.

THE PARTY MEMBERS ALSO CONSULTED THE DISABLED AS TO WHAT THEY CONSIDERED FROM THEIR EXPERIENCE SHOULD BE PROVIDED OR MODIFIED IN ORDER TO MAKE THEIR TRAVEL ON BUSES EASIER AND MORE CONVENIENT. PROVIDING ASSISTANCE AT THE DEMONSTRATION WAS MR. E.L. REES, TRAFFIC MANAGER OF CHB.

LATER, THEY HAD A LENGTHY DISCUSSION WITH THE DISABLED ON THEIR GENERAL PROBLEMS IN USING OTHER FORMS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT, SUCH AS FERRIES, PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES AND TAXIS.

MISS M.A. MACDERMOTT, SECRETARY OF THE WORKING PARTY, TODAY DESCRIBED THE DEMONSTRATION AND DISCUSSION AS MOST USEFUL, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE VALUABLE INFORMATION FOR MEMBERS IN DRAFTING THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT.

SHE SAID THE WORKING PARTY IS EXPECTED TO SUBMIT ITS REPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT BY THE END OF THIS MONTH.

NOTE TO EDITORS,

COPIES OF A PHOTOGRAPH SHOWING MEMBERS OF THE WORKING PARTY WITH ONE OF THE HANDICAPPED PEOPLE ALIGHTING FROM THE BUS ARE DISTRIBUTED IN THE G.I.S. PRESS BOXES.

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