Public transport in Greece may deny boarding to disabled people

Instead of prohibiting public transport from entering the line, which does not have infrastructure for people with disabilities, the Greek Ministry of Transport allows drivers to refuse boarding to disabled people.

In case the transport infrastructure does not meet international requirements for transporting disabled people, the ministry said in a decision published shortly before the end of 2023, the transport news website reported on Wednesday. athenstransport.com.

In the sense of the usual Greek paradox, at the same time, according to the new Regulations on the rights of passengers on regular and special public transport lines (buses, trolleybuses) and fixed route means (metro, tram), every citizen, and especially disabled people or persons with limited mobility , has the right to board and use, without any direct or indirect discrimination, public road transport means and fixed route means, paying a fee determined by law for each category of means of transport.

At the same time, the legislation also clearly states that refusal to book and issue tickets, as well as refusal to board a vehicle for persons with disabilities or limited mobility is permitted in exceptional cases, if this is unsafe and impossible from an operational point of view “and in order to that carriers comply with applicable safety requirements established by international law, legislation EU or national, as well as health and safety requirements established by competent authorities, or where this is due to the design of the vehicle or infrastructure, including stops and terminals or departure areas.”

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport is beginning to introduce fines for carriers, as well as compensation for people with disabilities for not being served on public transport. It is noted that transport carriers are obliged, in particular:

• take measures to ensure accessibility of transport for people with disabilities and limited mobility, and in general for those who need assistance (for example, pregnant women, disabled people, elderly people, small children), and also encourage the use of public transport by everyone.
• ensure the functioning of the infrastructures existing in the network of the instrument for which they are responsible, as well as in the relevant public reception areas, to ensure accessibility for people with disabilities, etc.
• take care of marking the seats in vehicles and wagons for the above-mentioned persons.
• ensure that these persons comply with applicable safety requirements established by international, European or national legislation or health and safety requirements established by competent authorities
• develop guidelines and procedures for disability awareness training for personnel in direct contact with passengers.
• Drivers, in turn, must, among other things, take special care when boarding disabled people or people with limited mobility, ensure their safe transportation, for example, give way and secure a wheelchair, and also advise passengers to give way to people who need assistance, for example, pregnant women, elderly people and disabled people.

Laws and government statements for the protection of people with disabilities, about which said Prime Minister Mitsotakis in December 2023: “It is the central responsibility of the state that people with disabilities achieve the position to which they are entitled in life.” The main thing, however, is that people with disabilities stay at home and do not try to travel by public transport, since the government does not want to spend money on modernizing public transport…

PS We are waiting for mass lawsuits from organizations of disabled people in the EU courts, accusing the Greek state of “pure discrimination”. However, as experience shows, this government will simply ignore the claims, because the gods that they consider themselves to be cannot deal with the affairs of the small worms that crawl under their feet.

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