Wahyuni et al.

/ Public Transport Accessibilityfor People with Disability

Public Transport Accessibility for People with Disabilities

Endang Sri Wahyuni1), Bhisma Murti 2), Hermanu Joebagio 3)

Department of Occupational Therapy, Health Polytechnic Surakarta

1)
2)MastersProgram in Public Health, Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta
3) Department of Teaching and Educational Science, Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta

ABSTRACT

Background: Data from the Ministry of Social Services Republic of Indonesia Social Ministry in
2009 showed there were 1,541,942 people with disability in the Indonesian population. Problems
often arise regarding access to public-transportation services for people with disability. Despite the
existence of UU No 4 in 1997 and UU No 25 in 2009 on accessibility for people with disability,
public transport seemed to be poor for them. This study aimed to determine the public transport
accessibility for people with disabilities and to provide alternative solutions.
Subjects and Methods: This was a qualitative explorative study. Data were obtained from people
with physical and mental disability, and provider (Division Head, Surakarta Public Transport Service
Bureau). Data were analyzed using triangulation.
Results: The local government of Surakarta has provided some transport facilities. However, these
transport facilities are in low standard and non-accessible to people with disability. Transportation
accessible to people with disability is not of priority. According to the provider this was because of
limited budget. Consultation and coordination amongst the providers were on going in order to
provide better transportation system accessible to people with disability.
Conclusion: Transportation system was not accessible to people with disability. But the
government provider in charge of transportation is planning to provide transportation system to
people with disability.

Keywords: transportation, facility, accessibility, disability, public services transportation.

Correspondence:
Endang Sri Wahyuni. Department of Occupational Therapy, Health Polytechnic Surakarta.

BACKGROUND Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia (2002)

For the general population, disability is says that the total number of people with
deemed "not normal" that makes a bad disabilities in Indonesia reached as many as
stigma in the community. The stigma 1,541,942 people. In Surakarta, persons
adversely affects the appreciation of the with disabilities around 1,237 people
capabilities and skills possessed and incite (Dispendapil Surakarta, 2012).
pity because they will burden the environ- The problems that arise are persons
ment. Though they really need is the with disabilities have difficulty in accessing
recognition of equality of opportunity and public services in their daily life activities
the rights of the environment, and not pity (Rahayu et al., 2013). Yet they are also an
or mercy alone (State RI, 2009; Colbran, Indonesian citizen who has the status, obli-
2010; Kusumaningtyas, 2014). gations, and rights to acquire equity equal
Data regarding persons with disabili- to other citizens in Pancasila and the 1945.
ties cannot be known with certainty becau- Constitution, therefore, the govern-
se people still exist that cannot be open ment should provide care, protection, and
with this condition and tend to be hidden facilities for persons with disabilities,
from the environment. Ministry of Social including the accessibility of public services

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particularly in the field of public transport convenience, usability, and independence

with the aim of improving the quality of life for persons with disabilities after seeing the
of persons with disabilities is based on the public transport service in the city of
principle of equality/ equal opportunity and Surakarta.
participation in various aspects of life and
living, especially with regard to accessi- SUBJECTS AND METHODS
bility, rehabilitation, employment, health This research is a qualitative exploratory
and education (Dwiyanto, 2008; Firdaus strategy case study approach. The case is
and Iswahyudi, 2008). the condition of public services in the field
However, the reality in the commu- of land freight transport (Bus Batik Solo
nity showed different circumstances. Access Trans) related to the accessibility of
means public services needed by persons persons with disabilities, barriers and alter-
with disabilities is still very limited. Cons- native solutions providers that can be
traints, usually associated with architect- applied to public transport in the city of
tural barriers which are difficult to access Surakarta. Data collection techniques such
by persons with disabilities so that they lose as interviews, observation and study of
the right to get the service (Tarsidi, 2008). documents (photos and videos). For the
Actually, the Government has promi- validity of the data the researchers used
sed ease of accessibility for persons with triangulation of data sources, methods and
disabilities in Law No. 4 of 1997 and Law theories.
No. 25 of 2009 on public services set expli- The informants are manual (with
citly that the public service must have some disabilities physically disabled, speech im-
principles that instructs the ease of acces- paired, visually impaired, and mental) in
sibility to persons with disabilities (State Surakarta using Batik Solo Trans Bus and
RI, 2009) and supported the Surakarta City providers namely Transportation Agency in
Regulation No. 2 of 2008 on Equality of this case the Head of Transport People
People with Disabilities (Surakarta muni- Surakarta.
cipal government, 2008). However, in
reality it is far from the availability of RESULTS
disabled-friendly facilities and infrastruc- The level of accessibility of public
ture so that they lose their right to obtain transport services to persons with disa-
similar services. bilities presented in Figure 1. The detailed
From the description above, this characteristics of the informant can be seen
study is very important in order to analyze in Table 1.
more about the accessibility of public A value of indicates that the public
services for the fulfillment of the rights of transportation component can’t be accessed
persons with disabilities in the field of properly, the value of 20 indicates that the
public transport in the city of Surakarta. components of public transport is less
The study focus on accessibility from accessible to persons with disability, a value
the perspective of service users (user) while of 40 means that the components of public
the barriers viewed from the perspective of transport difficult to access, the value of 60
the service provider (provider). Providers means that the components of public
and users are expected to collaborate in transportation can be accessed either by
realizing the disability-friendly public tran- persons with disabilities, the value of 80 if,
sport services are able to meet safety, as well as the value of 100 indicates that
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persons with disabilities can be very easy Table 2 shows summary of public transport
access to public transportation component. accessibility.
Table 1. Characteristics of research informants
Informants Status Age (Year) Gender Occupation Disability Type
1 User 19 Male Student Tuna laras
2 User 20 Male Student Tuna laras
3 User 26 Male Employee mentally disabled
4 User 26 Male College Student Tuna netra
5 User 30 Female Employee Mentally disabled
6 User 35 Female Teacher Deaf
7 User 39 Female Employee Deaf
8 User 40 Female Employee Speech impaired
9 User 40 Female Teacher Tuna daksa
10 User 43 Male Craftsmen Pottery Tuna daksa
11 User 44 Female Teacher Visually impaired
12 User 45 Female Employee speech impaired
13 User 46 Male Employee Visually impaired
14 User 46 Female Psychologist Tuna daksa
15 User 48 Male Teacher Tuna daksa
16 User 50 Female Employee speech impaired
17 User 59 Female Teacher Visually impaired
18 Provider 35 Male Transport Servicer Tidak ada

Table 2. Summary of accessibility

Transportation Service Currently Services Needs (User Expectation and Follow
Service Study based Existing Perspective) Up
on UU
A. Permen PU No. 1. Terminal: Physical disability:  Sosialisasi peraturan
30/PRT/M/2006 2. Floor of Ceramic a. Room with floor anti- dan standar yang lebih
about Technical 3. No special track for slip and non-slip sering kepada arsitek,
Guidelines on the terminal access b. Door with spacious Dinas PU & Dinas
Facilities and 4. Need Assistance min 90 cm Perizinan Bangunan di
Accessibility in 5. Many Stairs c. Special lanes and daerah-daerah, dan
Buildings and the 6. Ramp does not ramps masyarakat melalui
Environment standardized d. Ramp institusi (Dep. PU,
7. No special parking for sizestandardized 1:12 Ikatan Arsitek
B. Perda Kota people with e. Special parking with Indonesia, dll), dan
Surakarta No 2 disabilities Wheelchair media massa.
Tahun 2008 about 8. No worker can speak f. Spacious room to  Standaraksesibilitas
on Equality of cues access the wheelchair dijadikan bagian yang
Citizens with 9. Limitation of guideline g. Chairandhandrail diaudit dalam
Disabilities and traffic sign standard Design perizinan membangun
facilities h. The surface of the bangunan gedung atau
C. KepMen 10.Difficult access to floor / space ramps fasilitas
Perhubungan RI Public Facilities (toilet and flat publik lainnya.
No.KM. 71 th 1998 dan mosque)  Penerapan prinsip
about accessibility Deaf-Speech impaired: Universal Design
for the disabled and Autobus: a. Sing marker can be  Penegakan hukum
the sick in 1. Door slippery material seen clearly, writing dengan sanksi yang
transportation 2. Autobus door can’t with vivid color, size jelas
infrastructure. snuggle Shelter and large.  Clear and easy report

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D. Free Provisioning 3. Short seat with high b. Clearly speakers  Controlling and
Accessibility in handle c. Prevention of supervising
Buildings and 4. Wheelchair auditorium lighting bystakeholders
Environment, impassable auditorium yang  Coaching the
Institute of Social 5. Limitations signs for tepat untuk membaca counseling
Services directions when the gerak bibir accessibility
DisabilityDisability, door opens and closes d.Petugas yang dapat transportation services
Ministry of Social berbahasa isyarat operator.
Affairs 2005 Shelter: (driver,
E. Kemen PU No. 1. The narrow and steep Disabilitas netra: stewardess/setc.)
441/ KPTS/ 1998 of shelter door a. Rambu penanda  Untuk perencanaan
about technical re- 2. Material lantai shelter berupa suara/taktil terminal/halte baru
quirements and licin (Braille). Bagi low harus merujuk pada
environmental 3. Too high stairs vision, tulisan peraturanperaturan
public buildings 4. Steep and narrow dengan warna dan dan standar
ramp ukuran jelas dan aksesibilitas yang
5. Shelter space less besar telah ada
extensive b.Rintangan di jalan  Terminal yang telah
6. Limitation of sign in perlu disingkirkan ada dan belum
shelter (dysfunction c. Petunjuk arah aksesibel harus segera
running text) pergantian disempurnakan dan
permukaan jalan dilengkapi dengan
Pedestrian: yang tegas fitur yang dapat
7. Spaces use to trading, d.Jalur khusus, menghilangkan
parking, and permukaan rata dan hambatan aksesibilitas
gardening landai tersebut
8. Limitation of ramp  Bus yang
9. Limitation signs for Disabilitas mental: dipergunakan diganti
people with disability a. Petunjuk dan rambu- dengan berlantai datar
10. Height and level rambu yang jelas dan atau low floor bus
uneven surface baku dengan standar
flatness b.Bangunan yang aman aksesibilitas yang
11. Not all are equipped dengan sudut tumpul ainnya (seperti lebar
pedestrian bollards as pintu, ruang khusus
a differentiator kursi roda, dll) atau
between the curb and menyediakan bus
sidewalk khusus yang aksesibel
12.There are still trees, dan jadwal khusus
signs and pelayanan
complementary
 Variasi metode
objects blocking the
penyampaian
way
informasi dan
13.There is a ditch that is
kelengkapan rambu
not covered
disediakan
14.There are garden
 Memberikan
chairs facility
sosialisasi dan
pelatihan standar
pelayanan bagi
penyandang
disabilitas kepada
pengelola dan staf
terminal, bus, dan
lain-lain.

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90
80
70 autobus
Aksesibilitas

60
Tingkat

shelter
50
40 pedestrian
30 terminal
20
10
0
disabilitas daksa disabilitas rungu disabilitas netra disabilitas mental
wicara
Jenis Disabilitas

Figure 1. Diagram of the Public Transport Accessibility Services Disability

DISCUSSION writing should be large enough so that

1. User people can read clearly. When using text
a. Disability physically disabled rotates, the article should not move too
Problems faced by physically disabled quickly so easy to read.
persons with disabilities in accessing public c. Disability impaired
transport services, can be caused by Barriers visual disability include difficulty
environmental conditions that are less in architectural buildings and limited
accessible and safe for safety. This is similar facilities signposts user such as voice or
to Tarsidi (2008) which suggests that the tactile. In accordance with the conditions
barrier for wheelchair users is due to Syafi'e (2012), which states that for the
architectural design. blind, which is most needed is an audio
b. Disability impaired speech system, such as talking shops, architecture
For persons with disabilities impaired containing Braille on the handle stairs,
speech, faces obstacles in terms of: the warning block on public roads, in braille
limited facilities guide/ concierge who can keyboard, mobile point, and so forth. Public
speak cues and signposts the directions that Disclosure Authorized (2013) recommends
are not fully guaranteed safety in use/ that the blind must be provided tactile
access independently. The condition is information (Braille or tactile signs at bus
consistent with the statement that the shelters and terminals) to help access
barriers experienced by deaf, include information on transport services.
difficulty in lip-read in the auditorium in d. Mental disability
bad lighting and listen to the sound of the In persons with mental disabilities, not
alarm (Tarsidi, 2008). The statement was many obstacles if there is raw and clear
supported Aryani (2010), which explained instructions. They can mimic, look, ask
that the hearing impaired, the information questions, and follow the example of ac-
can be provided through the visual senses, tivities to do. This is in line with the
such as using fire warning bell, their lights opinion of Tarsidi (2008), which states that
flickering, sign language, and running text. the architectural barriers faced by persons
Public Disclosure Authorized (2013) sug- with mental disabilities, such as difficulty in
gested when using the running text, the finding a way in a new environment where

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there are no clear instructions and standard coordinate with other agencies that are
way. In addition, it is preferred for persons involved in building infrastructure, imple-
with mental disabilities is safety, so that it menting SOP rapit transit system and build
takes is making buildings with an obtuse portable shelters in places with limited
angle (Aryani, 2010). space. The move is in line with what is
2. Provider emphasized by the World Bank (2001),
a. Barriers government Surakarta which emphasizes the importance of coope-
Some of the barriers experienced by ration between national and international
Dishubkominfotrans, Surakarta City Go- institutions to strengthen the data needs
vernment in providing services Bus Batik (on the scale and nature) as well as acces-
Solo Trans-friendly for persons with disabi- sibility and mobility barriers faced by
lities in this study, namely: the lack of persons with disabilities and the elderly.
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