It is not easy for people with disabilities to travel on weekdays. What options can they have if they want to travel without barriers like able-bodied people?
The Hong Kong Disabled Youth Association sent an inspection team earlier to visit 25 tourist routes and more than 70 scenic spots in Hong Kong for on-the-spot inspections to understand the accessibility of their entrances, passages, and traffic.
It was found that the average accessibility index of each tourist route was 3.25 out of 5 points; Hong Kong Disneyland and Kwun Tong even scored full marks.
The association also integrated the information obtained, printed the travel book "Guide 2022 for Barrier-Free Travel to Streets", and updated the website in both Chinese and English, hoping to arouse the recognition of the concept of "barrier-free tourism" from all walks of life.
The Hong Kong Disabled Youth Association sent an inspection team earlier to visit 25 tourist routes and more than 70 scenic spots in Hong Kong for on-the-spot inspections, and printed the travel book "Guide 2022 for Barrier-free Streets".
(Photo by Lu Nuojun)
The Hong Kong Disabled Youth Association (HKCA) was sponsored by the Labour and Welfare Bureau to launch the "Accessible Hong Kong 2021/2022" project. From July to October last year, a team of disabled and able-bodied people was dispatched Check out the districts.
According to the completeness of the barrier-free facilities of each scenic spot, they added the "barrier-free index" of each tourist route in the books, periodicals and websites, with one star as the lowest and five stars as the highest.
Rural, outlying islands and old areas scored lower
The survey found that of the 25 tourist routes, nearly half (48%, 12 in total) received more than three-star ratings, mainly located in New Town and Kowloon. Among them, Hong Kong Disneyland was the only one to win both in 2018 and 2022. Five-star rated theme park, and Kwun Tong routes including Kwun Tong Waterfront also received full marks.
In addition, Kowloon Walled City Park/Song Wong Toi, Yuen Long, Tai Ping Shan, Sha Tin, Peng Chau, Ngong Ping, Yau Ma Tei, Science Park and Ocean Park also received high scores of four stars.
Another 30% of the tourist routes (28%, 7 in total) were rated lower than two stars, mainly in rural areas, outlying islands and old areas, such as Central, Pak Tam Chung, Sai Wan Ho, Lamma Island-Yung Shue Wan, Shing Mun Water Tong, Sham Tseng/Tuen Mun, and Sheung Wan only got one star.
+5
The Youth Association pointed out that the areas along the line that need to be improved include thresholds at the entrances of buildings, lack of clear instructions, lack of guide paths, too wide gaps in the canal cover, too steep passages, and the main entrances of buildings can only be reached by stairs.
Tai O Rehabus must be reserved two weeks in advance
Wheelchair user Cui Yumei pointed out that during the inspection, she went to the old industrial building to visit characteristic shops, but found that the entrance and exit instructions were insufficient, and there were no barrier-free toilets.
She believes that many people with disabilities will avoid visiting because of this, and can only go to large shopping malls with more complete facilities. It’s about going to the shopping mall.” She also pointed out that, like many citizens, people in wheelchairs love to travel to the countryside during the epidemic, but taking Tai O as an example, at present they can only make reservations for the rehabus route that only operates on holidays two weeks ago. There is no other accessible means of transportation, and wheelchairs require more space. There is no way to avoid the holiday crowd. "I hope that in the future, I can travel at any time like normal people."
Another wheelchair user, Wu Qiaoling, pointed out that she had an unpleasant experience while inspecting the Peak Tower.
She said that there was a place in the place that required the assistance of staff to use the lift, but the staff at that time was not very good at it and seemed reluctant. She believed that although the facilities in the place were good, in addition to hardware, "people" were also barrier-free. a big element.
He Xuemei, vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Disabled Youth Association, pointed out that in addition to introducing readers to attractions, itineraries and accessibility information, the updated publication also adds information on the parking spaces of disabled persons near various attractions, hoping to improve their travel with family and friends. motives, and enjoy the fun of barrier-free travel with peace of mind.
Zhu Haohui, the executive director (administration and policy advocacy) of the association, pointed out that if the Central Market adds a reading floor plan to the iconic terrazzo staircase, and the wheelchair users of Disneyland can directly board the boat of "Forest River Journey" It is an arrangement worthy of reference; it also means that books and periodicals will be sent to facility managers of different government departments, hoping to continue to promote the improvement of barrier-free facilities in various scenic spots.
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