The head of the blind association demands: Public transport must be understandable for everyone!

The head of the blind association demands: Public transport must be understandable for everyone!

The questions about accessibility in local public transport concern both those affected and those responsible. The current issue in Neubrandenburg is the perspective of blind and wheelchair users. Raimar Schwarz, head of the Neubrandenburg Blind Association and member of the Mecklenburg Lake District's public transport advisory board, addressed various forms of impairment and the challenges in local public transport in a lecture. He drew particular attention to the fact that there is no such thing as 100% accessibility and that the needs of blind people and wheelchair users are sometimes mutually exclusive, as Schwarz notes. It is a balancing act that the transport company has to manage.

Among other things, Schwarz brought up the fact that rail replacement services often use coaches that are unsuitable for wheelchair users. The stop request buttons on some buses are often not accessible to wheelchair users. Particular attention is also paid to the city's “silent buses,” which do not make any acoustic announcements. He reported difficulties identifying buses at the central bus station, where several routes depart at the same time. Schwarz emphasized: “It is embarrassing to be excluded as a disabled person.” In addition to the problems, he pointed to other cities such as Chemnitz, Nuremberg and Berlin, which already offer better public transport solutions.

Accessibility in public transport: a necessary goal

Local public transport in Germany is continually being made more accessible, a development that is important not only for those affected, but also for society. Loud deutschland-sperrfrei.de There are now ramps, guidance systems and floor markings at stops and train stations. These measures are essential for people in wheelchairs or with visual impairments. However, there are still many hurdles to overcome here, such as the not always comprehensive renewal of cobblestones or problematic access to train stations.

An inclusion study carried out in Nuremberg shows that 63% of those surveyed experience restrictions in local and long-distance transport. Peter Vogt, chairman of the Disabled People's Council, confirms that there are still stops that are not barrier-free. The federal government has set itself the goal of fully implementing accessibility in local public transport by 2026. To this end, barrier-free mobility stations will be further expanded and funds will be made available for necessary renovations.

Challenges and prospects

According to the Passenger Transport Act (PBefG), complete accessibility in local public transport should have been achieved by January 1, 2022. Unfortunately, that deadline has passed and the reality is different. Independent cities and districts are responsible, as they are confronted with high costs and insufficient resources. There is still a lack of financial support, both from the federal and state governments, to be able to carry out the necessary renovations.

Implementation is still a tough undertaking. Many renovation programs are on hold, and municipalities often do not have enough employees who can take care of planning barrier-free local transport. Central transport hubs with high usage volumes are often prioritized. The challenge remains that many older stops that require additional renovation will have to be added to the agenda at some point.

The different approaches and the commitment of people like Raimar Schwarz can create aha effects within the committees. “Because disability is not a characteristic, it happens through the environment,” is a clear message from the Advisory Council for the Disabled. It is time for regulatory policy and transport companies to show a good hand and work together to improve accessibility in local transport.