BEIJING, Sept. 18 -- For Beijing, the Olympics and Paralympics have brought the clearest and bluest skies to the capital in the last 10 years, reduced traffic congestion by half, promoted the concept of queuing at bus stops and subway stations, improved infrastructure with new sidewalks and resurfaced streets, promoted public politeness, increased green spaces in the city and last but not least increased access for persons with disabilities in public spaces around the city.
It does not get any better for disabled persons living in Beijing than September 2008, at least near the Olympic park where the subway has elevator access for wheelchairs, where wheelchair ramps have been recently built for some local businesses, and where banners marking the Paralympics give a sense that disabled people will be out and about.
Increased disability access is evident in the many public buses that are equipped with automated wheelchair ramps and sound systems that indicate the number of the bus for blind persons. Also, one might spot one of the 30 new wheelchair accessible taxis on the streets.
An athlete in weelchair communicates with performers as she leaves the field after the closing ceremony of Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games in the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest, Beijing, China, Sept. 17, 2008.
In general and in short, Beijing is among the more physically accessible cities in Asia. But there are still problems. For example, some taxi drivers are not willing to pick up wheelchair users. The introduction of the 30 accessible taxis has actually added to the problem in a way, because drivers of regular taxis use them as an excuse for not picking up wheelchair users, saying that the potential passenger should take a special taxi instead. Drivers of buses with wheelchair lifts claim to not know how to operate the lifts, and the more honest drivers saying they do not want to make the effort. In some public restrooms, the handicapped stalls end up as broom closets or are simply locked. Around the city, signage will sometimes indicate that a space is handicapped accessible, when in fact there is no access.
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