Handicapped people will no longer have to worry about lifting their wheelchairs in the capital of China as the municipal government is making efforts to improve facilities accessible for them, reported Monday's Beijing Daily.
According to the municipal Planning Committee, new construction projects are all required to include the designs for disabled,
existing buildings to add the function and a number of scenic and recreational areas to complete the improvement in the end of this year.
In addition to ramps on roads and in buildings, voice traffic lights and braille instructions at bus stations and subway stops will be added. Meanwhile, buses will be facilitated with loading and unloading systems for wheelchaired people and subways will install special seats for wheelchairs.
The newspaper said an official team within the Beijing municipal government has been set up to oversee the project of building a comprehensive facility network to help those physically challenged.
(Xinhua News Agency November 12, 2001)
