Public Transport Accessible To Persons With Disabilities
Measures in Place: A Case of Kenya Bus Service
Presented By
Edwins M. Mukabanah
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Kenya Bus Service Management Ltd
(A member of Kenya Private Sector Alliance)
KICC, 26th June 2012
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Franchising
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The operation of the franchisee’s business is
pursuant to such plan or system that is
substantially associated with the franchisor’s
trademark, service mark, trade name, logotype,
advertising or other commercial symbol
designating the franchisor or affiliate.
Kenya Bus Service Management Ltd aims to prepare
locals investors to be able to participate in the
Metropolitan Transport Authority when the
Integrated National Transport Policy comes into
play.
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Transfer Knowhow (Method) to the informal sector in Public Transport
(PT)
Build Management Capacity in PT
Organise Para-transit operators into profitable formal enterprises
Lobby for greater government interest and participation in organised PT
Work towards creating a level business playing field with no wasteful
competition
Assist and lobby for capacity building in the management of bus
business
Promote bus as a preferred mode of travel for all, including PWD and the
Socially Excluded
Reduce cost of travel for the public good and increase the level of
service
Train Staff, especially road crew for Socio-Economical, faster but safer
driving
Make travel predictable, safe, secure and a 24/7 affair
Increase bargaining and purchasing power of bus operators
Assist manage externalities such as Pollution, Accidents, Congestion and
Gangsters.
Create decent jobs in the industry
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METROPOLIN TRANSPORT
AUTHORITY
KENYA BUS SERVICE
MANAGEMENT LTD
(Franchisor)
CENTRAL
WORKS
KENYA BUS
SERVICES LTD
BUSTRACK LTD
RAPID
(Franchisee)
LEXTERS
(Franchisee)
CENTRAL
TRAINING
ROYAL BUS
(Franchisee)
PYRAMID
(Franchisee)
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INFRASCO
(Franchisee)
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Public Service Vehicles
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An Operator of a PSV will adapt it to suit Persons With Disability (PWD) in such a
manner as may be specified by National Council For Persons with Disability
(NCPWD)
All such Operators should have complied with the above requirement by end of
2011 which is two years since this section came into operation
Incentives
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A private Public Transport (PT) Operator who improves or modifies his vehicle to
suit the needs of PWD is entitles to apply for fifty per cent of the direct costs of
improvements and modifications to NCPWD
Adjustment Orders
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If a proprietor fails to comply with provisions as stipulated on access to PT the
NCPWD will serve adjustment orders to compel the him to comply
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CHALLENGES PERSONS WITH DISABILITY (PWD)
GET IN ACCESSING PUBLIC TRANSPORT
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Public Transport in Africa – The
Pitfalls
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Lack of assistance to lead PWDs to the vacant seats in PT
Loud music played in PT vehicles which disorients PWD as they
try to familiarize themselves with the environment
Lack of courtesy among the PT Crew to let them alight at the
designated bus stops.
Lack of Passenger Information on the destinations PWD should
alight.
Absence of well made ramps for the visually impaired persons
using white cane to orient themselves as they board and alight
from PT Vehicles.
PWD are often treated as sick and unable people by PT
White cane users are viewed as beggars, therefor not able to
afford fares
Limited door space, gangways and ramps for PWD in wheel
chairs in PT
The expanse of the new roads; even with the zebra crossing
which is meant for pedestrians, drivers do not respect PWD
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Lack of enough space at the walk paths to enable the wheel chair
users or persons with physical disability to move with ease.
Parking Vehicles on pavements blocking those who use Pathways
The space between the seats on the PT is not comfortable for the
PWD especially those who cannot bend their knees due to the
physical disability they are living with.
Physically Challenged persons while being aided to enter PT they
get mishandled. Women feel sexually harassed and lose their self
esteem.
Lack of signs, drawings, symbols or writings on the road and PT
vehicles to direct them since most people are not sign language
literate.
Drivers are not conscious of the fact that some Pedestrians are
Hearing Impaired Persons. Many deaf persons have been
knocked down by drivers
Traffic Lights do not blip to guide the PWD when crossing roads
PWD are forced to walk long distances to Bus Stops e.g.
Muthurwa Stage
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Opaque PTs (dark windows) - Makes it hard for the deaf persons
to see where they are and where to alight. This has led most of
them being taken to far distances from their destinations. They
end up using extra money.
Absence of rules that govern PT operation on routes as licensed
to operate - this disorients a deaf persons in looking for their
destinations
Impatient PT drivers; since their deafblind persons takes a lot of
time trying to orient themselves to the place they are by touch
and smell given that they have multi disabilities.
Deafblind persons can only sense by touch - no one wants to
allow them into their PT vehicles; even fellow passengers do not
want to sit beside them.
Sometimes a PWD has to pay double fares for seats unoccupied
due to a deafblind child
Some PT crew harass the deafblind children or their parents.
They sometimes decline to accept them to get into PT.
Or road foot markings that guide the visually impaired are
lacking on our streets.
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GAPS AND CHALLENGES IN IMPLEMENTATION
OF ACT
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Characteristics of a Para Transit operation
 Private Sector driven – no government investment
 Demand responsive – no schedule (no timetables)
 Lack of standards - difficult and expensive to police
 Unpredictable – fare and time
 Profit Driven - rather than service delivery
 Individualized hence many players
 Informal operations - yet often licensed
 Limited compliance – tax and safety matters
 Does not meet the full cost of labour
 Thrives on illegalities
 Deregulated - wasteful/cut throat competition
 High degree of altruism
 Totters towards low capacity carriers due to fill and go mode
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Breeds Externalities
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Matatus thrives due to - “State Subsidy”
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Constitution Bill of Rights
Persons with Disability Act 2003
Integrated National Transport Policy
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To create a good
Legislative Framework
 Regulatory Framework
 Enforcement Regime
 Taxation Regime
 Public Transport Planning
 Public Transport Management
 Institutional Framework – Key to Implementation
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STRATEGIES FOR ENHANCING IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE ACT
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Separate:
 Infrastructure Owners
 Rolling Stock Owners
 Operators
 Staff
Take Over:
 Traffic Management
 Centralised Cashless Ticketing
 Public Transport Infrastructure Management
 Route Planning
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.
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND ROADS
INTEGRATED NATIONAL TRANSPORT
COMMISSION
Air
Driving
Standard
s Agency
Road
Transport
Tribunal
Marine &
Inland Water
Ways
Vehicle
Standard
s Agency
Road Transport
(Passenger & Freight)
Driver /
Vehicle
Licensing
Metropolitan &
Urban Transport
Authority
Transpor
t
Licensin
g Agency
Road
Safety
Agency
Consumer
Organisations
Rail
Pipelin
e
Research
and
Institute
Road
Transpo
rt
Museum
County, Rural &
Regional Transport
Authority
Operators
Individuals, Companies & Co-operatives / Motorised and Non-Motorised & Intermediate
Transport
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KBSM will endeavour to Advocate for
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Bus building standards according to the internationally recognized standards and
KEBS
That government enforces operators of public transport to invest in ‘Buses’ with
ramps for the People With Disabilities to board with ease
Creation of awareness among the Public Road Transport operators on the challenges
faced by the People With Disabilities
That the ministry of roads puts in place road signs that will help give directions to the
People With Disabilities
All the PT vehicles to have grab rails
Install traffic lights with signals to aid the people with disabilities when crossing at
Zebra Crossings
PT operators to treat People With Disabilities as any other passengers rather than
treating them as sick people, beggars or unable
All buses will have clear windows and follow designated routes at all times
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KBSM will endeavour to Advocate for
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some crew in PT to be trained in Sign Language to ease communication the
barrier with PWD
Training of Crew to be alive to the Plight of PWD when travelling in PT
Provision of Public Passenger Information in line with PWD needs
The display of destination boards on PT clearly describing the routing of the
vehicles
Securing of pedestrian walk paths to enable PWD walk with ease
Building of ramps at boarding stages to enable PWD board buses without
straining
The mandatory provision of lights on staircases of PT vehicles to assist the
Visually Impaired persons
That before PT vehicles are licensed, they must be compliant to The
Persons With Disabilities Act 2003
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PUBLIC RESPONSE TO THE REALIZATION OF
ADJUSTMENT ORDERS & TAX EXEMPTION
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Awareness has yet to be achieved and a lot more
needs to done on Orders and Tax
Body Builders lack an Institutional Framework
under which they can be given the PSV Standard
There are challenges to Employer regarding the Act
as this has led to many retirees opting register as
PWD to access retirement at 60 years and tax
exemptions.
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Do nothing approach
 Costs difficult to monitor. Good PT costs a lot; Bad PT costs a lot more
Regulatory Measures
 PT to operate PWD compliant vehicles
 Hypothecate Road User Charges to assist PWD
 Land Use Controls to favor PWD
 Area Bans e.g. Pedestrians only areas
Physical Restraints
 PT priority measures
 Traffic Calming and Signage
 Route Panning to create connectivity and designate stages friendly to PWD
Other Measures
 All roads to have paved walk ways
 Reduce on Street Parking
Application of Economic Instruments to promote PWD agenda
 Road Pricing, Area Licensing, Vehicle Ownership Charges, User Charges,
Parking Charges etc. to subsidies PWDs and other socially excluded travel
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Bring all the stakeholders on board and carry out Public Awareness to
enable full participation
Periodical evaluation on the services offered by PT to the PWDs periodic
Research and Surveys
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Adopt a PT National Policy that recognises rights of PWD
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Strong Regulatory Institutions
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Strong Consumer and Lobby Organisations
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Enforcement of Laws and Standards
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State Subsidy
Senior Citizens need to access markets, social
amenities and medical facilities
 Women need to access work, markets, social
amenities and medical facilities
 Children need to access medical facilities and
schools
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Accessibility of these Socially Excluded group will lead
to the attainment of MDGs
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