Improving accessibility for those with disabilities in Iasi
Iasi has made great steps forward in improving the accessibility of its public transport system for disabled people through the CIVITAS ARCHIMEDES Project. In 2009, audible warning equipment was installed in 20 signalised intersections along the CIVITAS Corridor to aid visually impaired persons. Many other initiatives have also been introduced.
In 2010, 50 stations and bus stops were built to provide easy and safe access to public transport for people with disabilities. Finally, in the beginning of 2011, the PT Company equipped ten minibuses with special equipment for physically disabled persons. The conversion of minibuses used by the local PT Company was made by equipping the vehicles with an electro-hydraulic lifting platform, that is suitable for wheelchair users. With the platforms installed at the back of minibuses, disabled people are now able to easily use safe minibuses to travel.Iasi City Hall collaborated with a private company which installed the equipment on minibuses. This company was selected by a transparent public procurement tender, according to the applicable legal provisions. Within the requirements of this procedure, Iasi specified the equipment must follow the international quality standards. The type of lifting platform designed for disabled people has a linear movement, 350 kg weight lifting capacity, is completely automatic, and can be adapted to a wide range of vehicles. The lifting platform is mounted in front of the backside door. When a disabled person wants to use the vehicle, the driver of the minibus must get off and start to use the special remote control to make accessible the equipment to the traveler and his wheelchair. In the near future, the PT Company wants to improve its fleet with buses directly equipped with automatic platforms for disabled people.
