Rights or Privileges? Public Transportation for All

Although the rights of disabled persons have been recognized as inviolable through legislation in many countries, it is still arguable whether the nature of the context is correctly understood. The philosophical basis is seldom discussed, but clearly the expectations of people differ. They will be satisfied if possibilities of choice exist for products, and to a lesser extent for housing. For public buildings provided by the private sector, not all buildings are accessible and usable, and people often have to be content with the presence of alternatives. However, the situation must be different for public transportation. It is rarely the case that people are given alternative modes of public transportation to choose from, because the government license is normally given to a single business entity. The government argues that giving license to multiple will result in their bankruptcy due to overinvestment. This then will mean that users should have the right to universal service, i.e., non-discriminatory service for everybody. The provision of special transport services has in essence denied this fundamental concept to be realized, and the whole system has to be reexamined toward the ultimate goal of public transportation for all.

• Corporate Authors:

  Japan Society of Civil Engineers

  1-chome, Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku
  Tokyo,   Japan  160-0004
• Authors:
  • Kose, Satoshi
• Conference:
  • 10th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled People
  • Location: Hamamatsu , Japan
  • Date: 2004-5-23 to 2004-5-26
• Publication Date: 2004

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: CD-ROM
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: 6p
• Monograph Title: Transed 2004. Universal Transportation and Road Design: Strategies for Success

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accessibility; Civil rights; Mobility; Policy, legislation and regulation; Public transit; Social factors; Transit operating agencies
• Identifier Terms: Transed
• Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Society; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01130493
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 22 2009 12:55PM