Ramp to help lift wheelchairs onto buses (illustration)
Photo: Jupiter
Katz. 'Israel owes more to its handicapped than any other country'
Photo: Niv Calderon
Buses to become handicap accessible
Transportation Ministry planning to make public transportation, bus stops more convenient for people suffering from disabilities
Good news for handicapped people: The Transportation Ministry is planning to make all buses and local transport stations accessible for people with motion disabilities.
The planned improvements include making the stations' level identical to the height of the bus' first step, meaning people with motion disabilities will not have to climb onto the bus but simply walk straight into it without a step blocking their way.
There are 600,000 handicapped people living in Israel. According to ministry officials, the work will begin in the coming months and be completed within four years.
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Inner-city buses will have a ramp installed near the back door with a device for lifting a wheelchair onto the bus.
In addition to regular signs, each bus stop will have signs written in Braille in order to help blind people know each line's route. In addition, loudspeakers installed on the buses will declare the line number and destination upon the bus' arrival at the stop.
According to the Transportation Ministry, the changes will be implemented in 70 cities across the country.
Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz said Saturday evening, "The State of Israel owes more to its handicapped than any other country, due to the high number of people suffering from disabilities as a result of Israel's wars."
