The fundamental rights of Thai citizens as provided by the constitution means equality for all, and that includes access to public transport.
Life in the capital is much easier with facilities that help wheelchair-bound Pakkard Posee. photos by Panupong Changchai
But that's not the case for people with disabilities (PWD) who are almost always left out of the picture. The basic infrastructure of the city is, instead, a barrier to them, creating obstructions to living a normal life.
According to the Thailand Association of the Blind (TAB), far too many physically challenged people are forced to stay at home when they should be able to go out onto the streets when they wish. It is not known how many people are affected by the failure to provide proper facilities for the disabled, but the association says it is a significant number.
"Everyone should be treated equally," said Manit Intharapim, president of the Rail System Network for the Transportation for All. It is, he says, the duty of the state to provide accessible public transportation services in all forms to everyone, including PWD to allow them to move around.
Advocates for PWD and the elderly have been fighting the authorities for recognition of their rights for over 30 years, said Mr Manit. There have been incremental improvements, but not enough.
He urged the government to boost accessibility for physically challenged people to increase their chances of successfully negotiating the city. Road surfaces need to be repaired; more ramps must be built in public areas; and low-floor buses are needed.
Mass transit system operators need to comply with universal design principles for all people, he said. They also need to train attendants who can offer help to the physically challenged by understanding the different needs of those using their services.
Mr Manit recently spoke at a seminar on increasing the accessibility of public transport for PWD and the elderly, which was supported by the Redemptorist Foundation for People with Disabilities and the Health Promotion Foundation. The seminar was attended by disabled people, state officials and representatives from the BTS, MRT and Airport Rail Link.
Rail transport is the best choice for the PWD when getting around the city, Peerapong Jarusarn, 32, who is visually impaired, said.
The rail systems are equipped with a range of facilities including lifts, escalators, wheelchair ramps and electronic mobility devices for the blind to find their way around, said Mr Peerapong, TAB's secretary who usually uses trains to meet blind members in communities around the city.
More than 5,000 of about 20,000 people with visual impairment in the city depend on the rail transit systems on a daily basis, according to the TAB. Mr Peerapong urged authorities to consider incorporating universal design concepts into the systems in order to provide easy access for the elderly and people with disabilities.
Riding a bus can be confusing and frustrating for the blind as the drivers often do not stop properly at a bus stop.
“If we are lucky, a kind person can help us to get to our destination,” said Mr Peerapong. Often, people with visual impairments have to take a taxi, which costs a lot of money, especially if their destination is outside the mass transit loop.
An environment that is good for the elderly and the physically challenged, he said, is also good for everyone else.
Mr Peerapong said he was impressed with how MRT staff members had learned how to help the blind reach their destinations as the subway operator works closely with the TAB.
He urged all rail transport operators to consider a special carriage for pregnant women, the elderly, children and people with disabilities.
The TAB's secretary suggested operators consider renaming rail routes after distinctive features of the line included, instead of using a colour which is hard for the physically challenged to remember.
The line linking Nonthaburi province could be called the “Durian Line”, or a line passing through Samut Prakan province could be named the “River Mouth Line”, he said.
Meanwhile, wheelchair-bound Pakkard Posee is demanding additional wheelchair ramps which are restricted to some stations.
As a volunteer for the TAB and a salesperson for disability and mobility aids, Ms Pakkard needs to travel around the city to see other members and her customers.
Due to the limitations of rail transport access, she has to plan carefully to reach her destination. Mostly she travels to the city centre from her home near MRT Lumpini station.
"The physically challenged don’t want to be seen as a burden," she noted. Well-equipped stations will allow them to ride independently. “It’s such a hassle for us, not having ramps at a station."
Lifts are only available at 16 out of 34 Skytain stations. The Supreme Administrative Court earlier this year ordered City Hall to install lifts at the remaining 18 Skytrain stations within one year.
When Ms Pakkard wants to travel to BTS Siam station, she has to take a detour to Asoke despite her house being in Bon Gai on Rama IV Road, which is located only one station away from BTS Saladaeng.
"There's no lift to help me reach the platform at Saladaeng station," she said.
Ms Pakkard said taxis are a rare option for the wheelchair-bound as only a handful have the facilities to accommodate them.
Sarawut Eksuwan from the MRT said the underground rail agency is committed to making the transit system accessible to all people.
The MRT was working with the TAB to listen to the needs of the blind and respond to them, he added.
Mr Sarawut said the extended MRT routes will feature parking spaces for the disabled. Wheelchair ramps, lifts and escalators will also be installed. Attendants will be on duty to help.
Meanwhile, a BTS representative confirmed lifts will be installed at all stations.
Deals between the BMA and a company responsible for lift installation at the 18 other stations are under way, according to a BTS source.
A total of 10 lifts at five stations are already in place, the source added.
Airport Rail Link representative said its eight stations have been equipped with necessary accessibility features for disabled passengers.
A proactive training programme will be provided for staff to allow them to learn about physically challenged people's needs, the source said.
Ms Pakkard has to zigzag past obstacles on the pavement before she can get to the MRT's Lumpini station.