Filenews 23 April 2022 - by Vassos Vassiliou
The construction of 40 new pedestrian/cyclist crossings, 300 ramps for people with disabilities and pavements for the creation of integrated traffic chains is promoted by the Ministry of Transport. At the same time, 25 existing signposted confluences are upgraded with the addition of appropriate systems with audible warning and description of the built environment, with embossed signs and other necessary provisions for people with impaired vision and mobility, in all urban areas of Cyprus.
The above are included in a reply by the Minister of Transport, Yiannis Karousos, to a question by the MP of DIPA, Marinos Mousiouttas, regarding people with disabilities.
In the same answer, it is mentioned that public transport is also being upgraded with the design of stops and the creation of bus shelters, which include the provision of electronic information and audio announcement for the arrival of the bus at 500 central points all over Cyprus. Each shelter will have a marked space for people with disabilities.
Moreover, regarding the aspect of the question concerning the improvement of the provision of services to people with disabilities with regard to public buildings, pedestrian crossings and bus stops, as well as the existing infrastructure, the Minister of Transport says that the Department of Public Works ensures that all new projects that fall within its competence (buildings housing Government Services), roads of primary importance of the urban network, interurban-rural roads, networks of cycle paths, etc.) comply with all applicable legislation/pilot projects regarding accessibility to them for Persons with Disabilities and Reduced Mobility. According to the Minister of Transport, efforts are being made so that, depending on the available state funds, existing state buildings are made accessible, with priority given to those that serve the public, provided that this is structurally feasible. A similar effort is being made, according to the minister, regarding the existing roads maintained by the Department of Public Works so that, gradually, everyone becomes accessible to people with disabilities.
Mr. Karousos also mentions that in the context of traffic management and sustainable mobility projects, the Department of Public Works, after consultation with organized groups of People with Visual Disabilities, promotes in all new installations of traffic lights and pedestrian crossings of pelican type, the use of new systems (buttons, Pedestrian Push Button) with an audible notification and a description of the built environment with embossed signs. In addition, tactile systems have been installed at existing pedestrian crossings, traffic lights and pelican pedestrian crossings.
