Disability and Transport in South Africa Speaker: Mr. Phillip Thompson

1. Disability and Transport in South Africa Speaker: Mr. Phillip Thompson Disability and Transport in South Africa

2. EXISTING POLICY AND INSTITUTIONAL ISSUES Disability and Transport in South Africa

3. Historical Issues • Structural Inequality & Disenfranchisement of pwd’s • Capital Injections • Focused on new systems • Decay of existing systems • Emphasis on provision of infrastructure for road transport and private vehicles • Spatial Legacy of Apartheid • Increased opportunity costs for pwd’s • Length of trips for pwd’s leads to reduced life-value Disability and Transport in South Africa

4. Special Needs Passengers • Special Needs Passenger Framework • Fails to acknowledge principles of mobility, integration and universal accessibility • Deficient nature of any ‘special-need’ policy framework • Received high-policy attention • Failed to be filtered into planning and technical execution of projects • Ad-hoc address of SNP systems • Inconsistent nature of the instruments developed • Focus on capability and ‘need’ • ‘Needs’ not ‘Special’ • A base level of performance in transport systems Disability and Transport in South Africa

5. Universal Accessibility • Universal Accessibility • Relegated to low govt. priority • Not yet considered an integral part of a quality transport system • Misapprehensions/ Confusion • Relationship between universal accessibility and social sustainability • Demographic changes: more children and older persons • Global user benefits derived from accessible transport s • Considered as ‘optional extra’ • Lack of commitment for funding Disability and Transport in South Africa

6. Funding • Background • Lack of understanding concerning need to integrate universal accessibility from initiation stage • Diversity of funding sources requires co-ordination in implementation • Funding • Enhanced mobility has direct/ indirect costs • MAJOR indirect benefits & increase of public access to opportunities esp. for pwd’s • Linkage with sustainability • Meeting passenger demands & needs equitably • Perpetuation of poverty and ability of transport to act as a catalyst for transport reduction • What type of services? Disability and Transport in South Africa

7. Instruments • Legal/ Policy Instruments • UN Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (1993) • White Paper on National Transport Policy (1996) • Moving South Africa (MSA) – The Action Agenda (1999) • The Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (2000) • National Land Transport Transition Act (2000) • National Transport Master Plan 2005 – 2050 (2004) • United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Optional Protocol (2006) • Accessible Public Transport Strategy (2011) • Department of Transport Frameworks • Attempts to create policies weak • Technical standards poor • Ad-hoc conception, development and implementation Disability and Transport in South Africa

8. Deficiencies in the Instruments • Directorate Legal / Policy Instruments • Action Plan to Guide the Provision of Accessible Public Transport Systems in South Africa (2009) • Implementation Strategy to Guide the Provision of Accessible Public Transport Systems in South Africa (2009) • Very weak & poorly conceived documents • Fail to acknowledge requirements of disability sector • Fail to acknowledge international best practice • Do not ‘mesh’ with the South African context • No realizable goals or intentions stated • No measurables or performance indicators Disability and Transport in South Africa

9. Guiding Principles • Notion of “Seamless Transportation for All” • “A system that provides all travelers with a safe and a pleasant experience and that provides all users with unrestricted mobility in accessing economic, social, medical and life opportunities for everyone” • Principles: • Inclusiveness • Timeliness • Convenience • Affordability • Consistency • Safety/ Security • Reliability Disability and Transport in South Africa • Focus on WHOLE TRIP PLANNING

10. EXISTING IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES Disability and Transport in South Africa

11. Taxi Re-Capitization • No outcomes for pwd’s • A major transportation mode in urban South Africa • Strategy to ensure some vehicles were universally accessible • Lack of implementation Disability and Transport in South Africa

12. Rail Transport • Historic lack of Funding • Existing Rolling Stock problems • ‘Bridging the Gap’ still the major problem • Platform Correction needs to be prioritized Disability and Transport in South Africa

13. Rail Transport • Newly Designed Stations infrequently have major problems: • Cape Town Station • Doorfontein Station • Rhodesfield Station • Nasrec Station Disability and Transport in South Africa

14. Rea Vaya • Provision of Information : • Pre Trip • During Travel Disability and Transport in South Africa

15. Rea Vaya • High-Floor System Methodology • Lack of Compliance with the SABS 0400 • Integration problems with the surrounding urban-environment Disability and Transport in South Africa

16. Rea Vaya • What is ‘Disabled Friendly’? Standards? • Crowd-Control and Designated Seating? • Hydraulic Lift systems on Rapid Transport? Disability and Transport in South Africa

17. MyCiti • Improved Integration • Tactile Wayfinding Systems • But problems – stormwater outlets, posts Disability and Transport in South Africa

18. MyCiti • Vehicle Interfaces • Designated Seating Areas and Tie-Downs Disability and Transport in South Africa

19. MyCiti • Emergency Escape Systems • Systems need to be more strategically aligned, egress cannot simply out of the back of the stations into plantings Disability and Transport in South Africa

20. Urban Buses • Introduction of Low-Floor Buses • 2002/ 2003 Training – need to Systemize • Developing universal accessibility present Disability and Transport in South Africa

21. Urban Buses • Low floor buses for everyone ! Disability and Transport in South Africa

22. Long Distance Buses • No physical access, but issues related to sight and communication awareness is low Disability and Transport in South Africa

23. Gautrain • SNP Methodology at Initiation • No Sector-Engagement • UA Provided after Review • Many identified problems still to be addressed in Infrastructure and Operations Disability and Transport in South Africa

24. Gautrain • Signage-Related Issues • Ticketing • Information Disability and Transport in South Africa

25. Gautrain • Emergency Escape • Safety Issues Disability and Transport in South Africa

26. Gautrain • Rolling-Stock • Feeder-Bus Disability and Transport in South Africa

27. ACSA/ Airports • Overall Circulation Problems • Contraventions of the NBR / Code 0400 • Signage Issues • Safety of Issues e.g. Floors • E.g. ORTIA Terminal A & CTB • Contraventions of the NBR Disability and Transport in South Africa

28. Questions? • Phillip Thompson • Director: IDC Consultants • Tel.: +27 21 674 5193 • Fax.: +27 86 652 8108 • Cell.: +27 83 777 3672 • E-Mail: phillipt@idcgroup.co.za • Second Floor • Sunclare Building • 21 Dreyer Street • Claremont • Cape Town • 7708 Disability and Transport in South Africa