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Photo taken on Aug. 27, 2008 shows the
barrier-free sign at a subway station in Beijing, capital of China.
Numbers of barrier-free signs have appeared recently at Beijing subway
stations as the Beijing Paralympic Games approaches.(Xinhua
Photo)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
BEIJING, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Beijing declared absolutely ready for the
Paralympics on Friday, pledging barrier-free facilities and services of
transportation for the disabled during and after the Games.
"We are working to offer personalized services for the disabled people in
terms of reservations for taxis and public vehicles, construction of ramps and
barrier-free toilets and others," said Liu Zhi, spokesman for the Beijing
Paralympic Games.
"All the facilities designed for the disabled will continue to use even
after the Games," he added.
The organizing committee has provided wheelchair users with 70 barrier-free
taxis during the Paralympics, accepting phone appointments by dialing 961001,
according to Liu.
"Besides, we have strengthened training for service staff who provide
reservation and relay service to realize entirely barrier-free trip for disabled
passengers," he said.
They could reach 96166 and 96834568, respectively, to request help for
taking public vehicles and subways.
To ensure barrier-free trip for the disabled people in subways, Beijing has
paved blind tracks and installed with Braille marks in gateways. Meanwhile, over
300 elevators, lifting platforms and stair-climbing vehicles were installed to
carry wheelchairs.
The city has 2,835 low-floor barrier-free buses and 600 barrier-free buses
for the disabled people, with blind paths, ramp roads, wheelchair waiting areas
and ground marks set to help them, according to Liu.
To help the blind pedestrians and wheelchair users, Beijing has paved
1,541-kilometer-long paths for the visually impaired in 880 urban roads, and
built 23,641 ramp crossings in such key areas as busy streets and peripheries of
the Paralympic venues.
Meanwhile, a total of 18 underground passages and 48 overpasses accessible
for wheelchairs, while some 450 overpasses and underground passages built with
special care for the visually impaired, Liu said.
The world's premier event for disabled athletes is to begin Saturday in Beijing, where more than 4,000 competitors from 148 countries and regions were readying for participation in a total of472 disciplines in 20 sports.
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