Court Orders Skytrain to Accommodate Disabled Passengers
By Khaosod English

BANGKOK - The Supreme Administrative Court has ruled that Bangkok's skytrain system must install more elevators and other equipment to assist its disabled passengers.

The ruling followed a lawsuit by a group of wheelchair-bound citizens against the operators of the the skytrain, known officially as the Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS).

Currently, only five of 23 BTS stations are equipped with elevators for disabled passengers: Siam, Mo Chit, Chong Nonsri, National Stadium, and On Nut - one elevator for each station. No BTS station provides slopes for wheelchairs.

The lower Administrative Court dismissed the lawsuit in 2009 on the ground that the 2001 legislation protecting the rights of disabled citizens was enacted six years after the BTS system was built. However, the prosecutors appeal the verdict, and the Supreme Administrative Court overturned the ruling today.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1421831154


-- Khaosod English 2015-01-21

Another step in the right direction. It's sad that BTS fought this through the courts instead of acknowledging that equal access is better for the nation. It's just too bad the funding for the capital improvements won't come out of the pockets of the less progressive thinking BTS administrators.

It seems as though the BMTA are doing their bit for certain groups of passengers, including the disabled, by putting stickers by various seats on buses. These indicate which seats are available for monks, the elderly, pregnant women, and persons in wheelchairs, although how this last group get to, and then on the bus, is a moot point.

What is the point of elevators for the wheelchairs, when there is no chance for someone alone in a wheelchairl to get to the station. Maybe best to go to the courts and make the pavements wheelchair accessible first.

Definitely a good decision. Slowly, slowly this country is being dragged into the 20th Century. The judgement may have been handed down but I wouldnt hold my breath that the elevators will be installed anytime soon.

All Skytrain stations to be installed with elevators
Kawin Praneetlekha
Tanatpong Kongsai
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- ALL 23 stations of the original Skytrain network will have to provide elevators for passengers within one year following a ruling by the Supreme Administrative Court, which overrode the verdict of its lower court.

More than 100 elderly and physically-disabled people showed up in the courtroom yesterday to listen to the court's verdict. Up to now, just five stations were equipped with elevators.

Six years ago, the Central Administrative Court ruled that the Skytrain operator was not negligent given that at the time the BTS original network was developed, no laws required that such facilities must be provided.

Redemptorist Foundation for People with Disabilities secretary general Suporntum Mongkolsawadi and supporters had lodged a complaint against the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the Bangkok governor, the chief of BMA Public Works Department and Bangkok Mass Transit System) over the issue.

The original BTS network covers 23 stations under a concession granted by the BMA. All its newer stations for extension routes, so far, are equipped with four elevators each.

The Supreme Administrative Court yesterday said its ruling was based on a ministerial regulation, which comes into effect under the Rehabilitation of Physically-Disabled People Act BE 2534, and a regulation issued by the Commission on the Rehabilitation of People with Physical Disabilities.

In addition to the elevator requirement, the court also ordered that BTS trains be equipped with facilities friendly to wheelchair-bound passengers; for example, proper space must be designated for them as well as proper |railings.

The space designated for wheelchair-bound passengers must be at least 120 centimetres wide, and the railing must be at least 80 centimetres above the floor. Clear signs must be displayed at the entrance and exits of the trains to indicate the location of the wheelchair-friendly spaces.

"I am moved. The ruling reflects that the society is improving and heading towards fairness and equality," Suporntum said after the ruling.

Walop Salee, a person with physical disabilities, said with the elevators, pregnant women would also find greater convenience in using the BTS services.

Anat Arbhabhirama, who chairs the BTS Management Committee, said his firm was ready to comply with the ruling.

"It's just that we have to study the court verdict before making any further comment or taking any action," he said.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Amorn Kitchawengkul said the BMA in fact signed a contract to have four elevators installed at all BTS stations in November last year.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/All-Skytrain-stations-to-be-installed-with-elevato-30252418.html


-- The Nation 2015-01-22

A positive step noting that even where there are elevators they are frequently unmanned and locked and have to find somebody to unlock it. Just getting to the stations is a nightmare and probably impossible for somebody on their own who is wheelchair bound. The size of some of the kerbs are difficult to negotiate even with assistance, which is why wheelchair users are forced to use the road.

Court orders Sky train stations fit elevators !! bloody joke!!

This is Thailand. What court /government building / police station / bank has disabled access .

Simple answer NONE.

Its a good thing....but wait for the whinging when fares go up!

Geee. Bangkok Mass Transit System never thought of that. Hummm. The thinking in the transport industry here is ... well very much like a secondary school project.

Another step in the right direction.

Surely a ramp is more appropriate.

Another step in the right direction.

Surely a ramp is more appropriate.

Lets not escalate this into a flame war

What is the point of elevators for the wheelchairs, when there is no chance for someone alone in a wheelchairl to get to the station. Maybe best to go to the courts and make the pavements wheelchair accessible first.

absolutely, being disabled in this country makes you a second class citizen

Just one example of how the news gets slanted here...

Last night, I happened to be viewing the government's NBT website where they had a video news report on a government minister calling on/ordering the BTS to modify its stations to be made more disabilities friendly including through installing elevators.

BUT.... no absolutely mention anywhere in the news report that the government had just been slapped with a court order requiring them to do so.... Nice job....

BTW, at my local station on the Sukhumvit line, workers have already been out and at least spray painted on the sidewalk below marking off the space where the future elevator is supposed to be installed. But no sign of any actual work beyond that thus far.

This is a good first step...but what does the disabled person do when they reach their destination and take the elevator down to the street?

How do they get over the gutters, past the trees and telephone boxes in the middle of the footpath, the food vendors, the after thought police boxes, the zebra crossings that no one pays any attention to and all the other hazards that make it difficult for able bodied people?

The West had to start somewhere and I guess and Thailand does as well...so this can only be a good start...

They'll need to utilise them, too!

Perhaps a demonstration, by management, of some simple intelligence would help: balloons, for example, are supposedly banned on the BTS. Yet tourists often haul backpacks on to a train, sufficiently large to take up a the space of a single passenger - non-paying. And idle cyclists will block a good two spaces with disassembled bikes - again unticketed, presumably.

first question is why are the in denial about the handicapped. I realized the first night i went walking in my moo baan all the wheelchair bound people the came out not only after dark but after all the non handicap thai's were not exercising. they try to hide the handicap as if they do not exist first problem. but they are off the charts here because all the vehicle accidents.

A positive step noting that even where there are elevators they are frequently unmanned and locked and have to find somebody to unlock it. Just getting to the stations is a nightmare and probably impossible for somebody on their own who is wheelchair bound. The size of some of the kerbs are difficult to negotiate even with assistance, which is why wheelchair users are forced to use the road.

They will have to enforce that disabled folk have first priority on lifts/delevators, as some lazy s...ds will move into them rapidly.

This is a good first step...but what does the disabled person do when they reach their destination and take the elevator down to the street?

How do they get over the gutters, past the trees and telephone boxes in the middle of the footpath, the food vendors, the after thought police boxes, the zebra crossings that no one pays any attention to and all the other hazards that make it difficult for able bodied people?

The West had to start somewhere and I guess and Thailand does as well...so this can only be a good start...

This is a good first step...but what does the disabled person do when they reach their destination and take the elevator down to the street?

Oh so true, back up a bit there bucko, how does a disabled person even get to the BTS in the first place to commence their journey?

What next ramp/lifts fitted to the free big red #60 gov't bus?

How do they get over the gutters, past the trees and telephone boxes in the middle of the footpath, the food vendors, the after thought police boxes, the zebra crossings that no one pays any attention to and all the other hazards that make it difficult for able bodied people?

Aint that the truth, take a walk from Asok to Nana for starters.

It would be considerate, compassionate, and intelligent. Will never happen in Thailand.

A positive step noting that even where there are elevators they are frequently unmanned and locked and have to find somebody to unlock it. Just getting to the stations is a nightmare and probably impossible for somebody on their own who is wheelchair bound. The size of some of the kerbs are difficult to negotiate even with assistance, which is why wheelchair users are forced to use the road.

They will have to enforce that disabled folk have first priority on lifts/delevators, as some lazy s...ds will move into them rapidly.

I wouldn't be too surprised if the staff don't rent them out for "cholera" carts and such like!

In China they have escalators at the underground stations, which almost reach street level.

There is always a haul of about 20 steps to lug your heavy suitcases up or down.

Somewhere recently, I have read where those who have a mobility problem are referred to as 'handicapped" - NOT Politically Correct, and sometimes "Cripples". not very P.C. either.

What is the point of elevators for the wheelchairs, when there is no chance for someone alone in a wheelchairl to get to the station. Maybe best to go to the courts and make the pavements wheelchair accessible first.

Yes, that's the first thing that I thought of.

They'd need something like this to transit BKK sidewalks.