Annual Report 2014
B. Opinion on Operating and Raising the Number of Low-Floor
Buses to Secure the Mobility of Persons with Disabilities
Article 6 of the Act on Promotion of the Transportation Convenience of Mobility
Disadvantaged Persons stipulates that the Minister of Land, Transportation, and
Maritime Affairs shall establish a plan to improve the transportation convenience
of mobility disadvantaged persons including persons with disabilities, the elderly,
and pregnant women. The 1st phase plan aimed to raise the number of low-floored
buses to 9,130 across the country, but the actual number of vehicles in operation
was as little as 3,899 buses (42.7% compared to the goal). A person with disability
in XX city submitted a complaint to the Commission for the violation of his right
to move as the solitary low-bus route was discontinued.
The Commission found that the relocation of low-floor buses to other routes, in
accordance with the bus route change permission, cannot be determined as direct
discrimination against persons with disabilities, however, that additional measures
should be taken to improve the situation as the number of low-floor buses in operation
fall short of the target set by the Act on Promotion of the Transportation Convenience
of Mobility Disadvantaged Persons and that the Mayor of XX city is obliged to carefully
allocate low-floored buses appropriately to every route in order to prevent mobility
disadvantaged persons from being out of the access to low-floored buses.
Therefore, on August 20, 2014, it expressed its opinion to the Mayor of XX city
to raise the number of low-floored buses and take into consideration where mobility
disadvantaged persons live, in comparison to where low-floored buses are currently
operating, when determining bus route change plans.
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II. Major Activities of the Commission