As part of the work of the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Accessibility Commission, representatives of disabled associations came together at the ESHOT General Directorate. The situations that cause problems in the access of the disabled to the rubber-wheeled public transportation service and solution suggestions were discussed.
Within the scope of the accessibility studies of the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, the managers and representatives of the disabled associations in the city came together at the meeting held at the ESHOT General Directorate. ESHOT General Manager Erhan Bey, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Secretary General Eser Atak, ESHOT Deputy General Managers and relevant department heads, Disabled Services Branch Manager Mahmut Akkın and Transportation Department managers attended the meeting. After the metropolitan administrators gave information about the work of the units, the representatives of the disabled associations took the floor one by one and expressed their problems and solution suggestions.
Warning systems are installed
ESHOT General Manager Erhan Bey emphasized that all 2.5 buses included in İzmir's bus fleet in the last 451 years are suitable for disabled access. Stating that four handicapped midibuses, which are only for disabled passengers and can carry seven wheelchair passengers at the same time, were produced and put into service for the first time in Turkey, Mr. We have modified it and put it into service. We also install audio and visual warning systems in our vehicles. We plan to have it in service by the end of the year,” he said. Mr. reminded that they are in constant communication with the representatives of the association on the way of disabled-friendly public transportation service, and noted that they will continue to work for the solution of the problems.
The target is a 100 percent accessible city.
Eser Atak, Deputy Secretary General of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, pointed out that their goal is to make Izmir 100 percent accessible for the disabled. Stating that the most important works in this direction should be done in public transportation services, Atak said: “We have come a long way in rail systems and sea transportation. We will also implement accessible applications for our buses, stops and transfer centers. Our aim is an Izmir where our disabled citizens can be included in social life without any help from anyone.”
The managers and representatives of the disabled associations, who took the floor in turn, conveyed the problems they experienced while getting on and off the buses at the stops. Particularly, the problems about not approaching the bus stop, not having an exit ramp to the sidewalks and not allowing more than one wheelchair passenger on the buses at the same time were mentioned. Metropolitan managers explained that maximum sensitivity is shown in approaching the station, but buses often cannot dock at the stops due to inappropriate parking within the stops. It was stated that the traffic police should carry out more strict inspections in order to solve the problem, and that they are in constant communication with the Izmir Police Department on this issue.
joint working group
It was decided to form a working group and design an 'exemplary stop' for the construction of exit ramps to the sidewalks near the bus stops. It was stated that technical and legal studies should be carried out on the issue of allowing more than one wheelchair passenger to board the buses at the same time, and the decision will be made accordingly.
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