A Bus Too High to Board in a Wheelchair... The Sorrow of Disabled People Without 'Mobility Rights'

Disabled Groups Hold Protest Demanding 'Mobility Rights Guarantee'
'Transportation Vulnerable Act' Passed but Budget Support Only 'Discretionary Clause'
Local Budget Shortages May Hinder Low-Floor Bus Conversion
Low-Floor Buses Twice as Expensive as Regular Buses... National Subsidies Essential
Groups Urge 'Strengthening State Responsibility for Disabled Rights'

In 2016, a member of the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Disability Discrimination attempted to board a premium bus at the Seoul Gangnam Express Bus Terminal. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] #On the afternoon of the 3rd at Gwanghwamun Station on Seoul Subway Line 5, people in wheelchairs stood in front of the train platform. Holding placards with phrases such as "Protect the rights of persons with disabilities," "No rights without budget," and "Demand responsibility from the Ministry of Strategy and Finance," these activists, members of the "National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities" (Jeonjangyeon), staged this protest despite the inconvenience it might cause to commuters during rush hour. The activists claimed that persons with disabilities suffer from violations of their right to mobility, unable to freely use public transportation, and urged the government to "secure the budget for the introduction of low-floor buses."

Although the "Act on the Promotion of Convenience in Mobility for Transportation Disadvantaged Persons" (Transportation Disadvantaged Act), which includes measures to facilitate the movement of persons with disabilities and other transportation-vulnerable groups, was passed, protests from persons with disabilities have intensified. Critics point out that insufficient budget support from the central government limits the realization of practical changes such as the introduction of low-floor buses.

The Transportation Disadvantaged Act, which expands the mobility rights of transportation-vulnerable groups, was passed at the last plenary session of the National Assembly on the 31st of last month. The core of this law mandates the introduction of low-floor buses, which allow easy wheelchair access, when new public transportation buses are introduced.

However, disability rights organizations including Jeonjangyeon have raised strong opposition. The main issue highlighted by Jeonjangyeon is the budget clause. While the Transportation Disadvantaged Act requires the central government to support budgets for the introduction of low-floor buses and special transportation means such as taxis for persons with disabilities, the problem is that this budget support is a discretionary clause, not a mandatory one. A discretionary clause means that if the party involved has a different intention from the law's provisions, the party's intention takes precedence over the law.

Regarding this, Jo Hee-eun, an activist from the National Council of Disabled Night Schools, pointed out during the protest on the 3rd, "Local governments with insufficient budgets can simply say 'we can't do it because we don't have money.'"

Officials from the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities held a picketing on a train after finishing the press conference titled "Position Statement on Urging the Ministry of Economy and Finance to Reflect the Budget for Disability Rights" at Gwanghwamun Station on Seoul Subway Line 5 on the afternoon of the 3rd, demanding the guarantee of mobility rights for persons with disabilities. / Photo by Yonhap News

Low-floor buses refer to buses with a lowered floor inside. Conventional buses typically have a high floor because the engine is installed under the chassis, but low-floor buses feature a design where the engine is relocated to the ceiling, lowering the floor. This design eliminates stairs when boarding or alighting, making it easier for children of short stature, pregnant women with short strides, and persons with disabilities in wheelchairs to use. Additionally, many low-floor buses are equipped with dedicated facilities such as wheelchair spaces and automatic lifts connecting the bus interior to the ground.

The problem lies in the significantly higher cost compared to regular buses. Lowering the chassis and installing disability-friendly facilities increase the number of bespoke parts required.

Since bus prices typically vary depending on order quantity and options, it is difficult to estimate exact purchase costs, but local government data show a marked price difference between regular and low-floor buses.

An example of a low-floor bus equipped with a wheelchair lift. / Photo by Yonhap News

According to the "Guidelines for Settlement of Transportation Costs Based on Standard Costs of City Buses" announced by Seoul City in 2019, the standard price for regular medium and large buses was about 110 million to 123 million KRW. In contrast, the standard price for low-floor buses reached 200 million to 212 million KRW, nearly double.

In other words, bus operators who have been running regular buses must pay at least an additional 90 million KRW to switch to low-floor buses. To cover this, they must either raise transportation fares or receive subsidies from the government or local authorities.

In fact, large cities with abundant resources and the capacity to provide subsidies have succeeded in converting a significant portion of city buses to low-floor buses. For example, Seoul City announced that as of 2018, it had converted 3,112 buses, accounting for 44% of regular city buses, to low-floor buses. Seoul plans to increase the proportion of low-floor buses to 81% by this year and aims to convert all regular city buses to low-floor buses by 2025.

However, in local cities or rural areas lacking the capacity to invest in such infrastructure, the introduction of low-floor buses remains a distant goal. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, as of July 2020, the nationwide low-floor bus penetration rate was only 28.4%. Regions such as Gangwon (35.9%), Daegu (34.5%), and Daejeon (31.5%) also failed to exceed 40%. In Chungnam, the low-floor bus penetration rate was only 10%, meaning only one out of every ten buses in the region was a low-floor bus.

Using the lift of a low-floor bus. Low-floor buses are a very important means of public transportation for securing mobility rights for people with disabilities. / Photo by Yonhap News

Civilians also raised their voices, calling for measures to protect the mobility rights of persons with disabilities.

A 20-something office worker living in Seoul, Mr. A, said, "When I traveled to advanced countries like the UK and Germany, almost all buses had no stairs. What may seem trivial to non-disabled people can be a barrier that prevents persons with disabilities from going out." He emphasized, "I believe that Korea must also show a more inclusive attitude toward disability rights to truly become an advanced country."

Another office worker, Mr. B (31), said, "Even if the situation is somewhat better in large cities like Seoul, I think direct government support is necessary for local areas. Especially in local cities, there are many places where moving around without buses or private cars is very difficult. In such places, persons with disabilities are practically isolated."

Disability organizations have called for the central government to provide subsidies on behalf of local governments that cannot afford low-floor buses.

Park Kyung-seok, co-executive director of Jeonjangyeon, held a protest at the Seoul residence of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance Hong Nam-ki on the 20th of last month, condemning, "There is a legal provision that everyone is equal before the law and shall not be discriminated against. There is also a law that transportation-disadvantaged persons have the right to safely and conveniently use public transportation. But this right is not being guaranteed."

He continued, "We did not occupy the subway to seek pity. We want to ride the subway confidently like non-disabled people. But there are not enough low-floor buses, and in subways, we have to use dangerous lifts. This is the fault of the Minister of Strategy and Finance who controls the budget."

He urged, "These policies have been long-standing wishes of disability organizations. We must abolish the state's irresponsibility that has shifted disability onto individuals and families and achieve a paradigm shift in disability policy through strengthening state responsibility."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.