Revision of the law to make public transport handicap-friendly
Published: Thursday, Nov 30th 2023, 11:10
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Inclusion Handicap is calling for a revision of the Disability Equality Act. The umbrella organization of disabled people's organizations complains that from 2024, Switzerland will be in an unlawful situation to the detriment of people with physical disabilities.
The accessibility of public transport in Switzerland still has major shortcomings, criticized Inclusion Handicap at a media conference in Bern on Thursday. The Disability Equality Act introduced in 2004 was intended to make public transport freely accessible for people with disabilities within 20 years.
At the end of 2023, shortly before the deadline, more than 500 train stations and two thirds of all bus and streetcar stops would still not meet these requirements. As a result, many places will be in breach of the law from January 1, 2024. A new social consensus is therefore needed for the coming years.
Lack of supervision
In the transport sector, there is still no coordinated overall concept from the relevant stakeholders to ensure barrier-free public transport, the report continued. Public transport companies and the authorities at municipal, cantonal and federal level are called upon to act.
Four to five years ago, momentum was gained in the area of rail transport, but only after the Swiss Federal Audit Office exerted pressure on the Federal Office of Transport (FOT), the umbrella organization continued. The situation is even worse for local public transport. In Switzerland as a whole, there is a lack of a body that takes the lead and defines, decides, coordinates and monitors binding implementation measures.
New measures required
The unlawful situation is unacceptable and clearly shows that the interests of people with disabilities are not being given the necessary priority, Inclusion Handicap added. New measures are required as part of a revision of the Disability Discrimination Act (BehiG) in order to meet the legal requirements of people with a physical disability.
Inclusion Handicap is therefore calling for a new legal deadline for the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act by 2030 at the latest with binding interim targets. The FOT should assume responsibility for rail transport, and the cantons and municipalities should be held more accountable for local transport. In addition, the FOT is jeopardizing the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act with its cost-cutting measures. Only if the Federal Council increases the planned funding could solid and earmarked financing be guaranteed.
Inclusion Handicap is the united voice of around 1.7 million people with a disability in Switzerland. The political umbrella organization of disability organizations is committed to inclusion and respecting the rights and dignity of all people with disabilities.
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