XN000022-1981-10-12 — Page 4

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1981

TRANSPORT CHIEF CALLS FOR EXPANSION OF REHABUS SCHEME

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THE 'REHABUS' MINIBUS SERVICE FOR THE DISABLED SHOULD BE EXPANDED +FAIRLY RAPIDLY TO ALL PARTS OF HONG KONG, PARTICULARLY THE NEW TOWNS, TO IMPROVE THE MOBILITY OF THE TERRITORY'S ESTIMATED 11 000 PHYSICALLY DISABLED PEOPLE.

AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO MAKE TAXI DRIVERS, PUBLIC TRANSPORT EMPLOYEES AND THE MAN-IN-THE-STREET AWARE THAT THEY HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY, BY THE IR ATTITUDE AND HELPFULNESS, IN AIDING THE MOBILITY OF THE DISABLED.

THE ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, MR PETER LEEDS, PUT FORWARD THESE RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN HE ADDRESSED A MEETING OF THE HONG KONG SECTION OF THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF TRANSPORT, HELD IN THE MARINERS CLUB, TSIM SHA TSU!.

MR LEEDS DESCRIBED THE REHABUS SCHEME, A SCHEDULED MINIBUS SERVICE OPERATED BY THE HONG KONG SOCIETY FOR REHABILITATION AND PARTIALLY SUBSIDISED BY THE GOVERNMENT, AS THE MOST IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT+ IN THE PROVISION OF TRANSPORT FOR THE DISABLED IN HONG KONG.

THE SERVICE, WHICH PROVIDES AS NEAR AS POSSIBLE A DOOR-TO-DOOR SERVICE OPERATING ON FIXED SCHEDULES AND FAIRLY FIXED ROUTES, BEGAN IN 1977 WITH TWO SEVEN-SEATER MINI-BUSES CARRYING 17 RÉGULAR PASSENGERS.

BUT DEMAND SOON OUTSTRIPPED SUPPLY AND, TODAY, 12 VEHICLES CARRY 127 REGULAR PASSENGERS OPERATING ON 11 ROUTES IN THE URBAN AREA.

SEVEN OF THE VEHICLES ARE 12-SEATERS, FITTED WITH A SIMPLE HYDRAULIC LIFT AT THE REAR ENTRANCE TO HOIST A PASSENGER IN HIS WHEELCHAIR INTO THE VEHICLE, WHERE THE WHEELCHAIR IS SECURED FIRMLY AS A PASSENGER SEAT.

MR LEEDS SAID THAT ORDINARY PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES COULD ONLY BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE MORE SERIOUSLY DISABLED AT ENORMOUS COST, AND HE DESCRIBED EXPERIENCE IN OTHER COUNTRIES TO ILLUSTRATE THAT SUPPORT FOR THE VIEW THAT ALL PUBLIC TRANSPORT SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO WHEELCHAIR PASSENGERS WAS, IN HIS OPINION, MISDIRECTED.

A DOOR-TO-DOOR SERVICE PROVIDED BY A STANDARD PRODUCTION-TYPE VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH A RELATIVELY CHEAP. EASILY-MAINTAINED BUT EFFECTIVE LIFT FOR WHEELCHAIRS WAS MUCH MORE COST-EFFECTIVE AND PROVIDED A BETTER SERVICE FOR THE DISABLED.

/+ALTHOUGH THE