Culture and Tourism Mobility Included... Seoul City Expands Bus Program for Disabled People

Significant Expansion to Teens by Next Year

Seoul City announced on the 22nd that it will significantly expand the use program of the ‘Disabled Bus’ to support medium- to long-distance travel for cultural and tourism purposes, following its efforts to strengthen mobility rights for wheelchair users by expanding the operation of transportation means such as disabled call taxis. Starting in September, the city will launch the ‘Companionship Program with the Vulnerable Using Disabled Buses,’ enabling various groups, from large groups to small groups (such as families), to participate in a wide range of cultural and leisure activities.

The Seoul Disabled Bus is available to wheelchair users and their guardians registered with the Seoul City Disabled Call Taxi service. Since its operation, a total of 2,581 people, including 627 wheelchair users, have used the service as of June this year with 161 trips conducted.

From September this year, the program will diversify from the previous operation mainly using large buses, allowing small groups such as families to use the disabled bus. Improvements to the operation include ▲ adding 5 more disabled buses (1 large, 4 small) ▲ establishing new small bus programs for ancestral grave visits and tourism ▲ extending the usage period (from a maximum of 1 night 2 days to 2 nights 3 days), thereby enhancing convenience.

First, regarding the new program using small buses, a grave visit support bus will operate for about three weeks before Chuseok in September. This program was planned following warm gratitude from a disabled family who visited ancestral graves for the first time in 10 years during last year’s ‘Weekend Outing Companionship Service.’

Additionally, a chartered bus city tour will be operated, touring famous spots within Seoul. The routes include the downtown palace and Namsan course (Namsan (N Seoul Tower), Blue House, Gyeongbokgung Palace, etc.), the Han River course (Ttukseom Resort, Seoul Forest), and the night view course (Namsan (N Seoul Tower), Namsan Circular Road, Han River). Users can select one of the three courses. When using one bus, passengers pay a vehicle fee of 8,000 KRW plus admission and parking fees. Considering the convenience of wheelchair users, the service will operate door-to-door.

The existing ‘Disabled Bus Operation Program’ had a maximum usage period of 1 night 2 days, which posed difficulties for long-distance use. This has been extended to a maximum of 2 nights 3 days. Small buses will also be operated, expanding the usage scope to groups of three or more (including at least one wheelchair user), and the service will be available for same-day trips within the metropolitan area on a regular basis.

The ‘Companionship Outing Service for the Disabled,’ which supports various cultural experiences, will also be expanded. Organized by the Seoul Facilities Corporation, this service supports outings to desired destinations within Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon on the second and fourth Saturdays and Sundays of each month. Since its launch in November last year, participants have shown high satisfaction, prompting plans for expanded operation.

Meanwhile, all programs are available to ‘wheelchair users and their guardians registered with the Seoul City Disabled Call Taxi.’ Applications can be made through the Seoul City public reservation system from 90 days to 2 days before the program date.

Yoon Jong-jang, Director of the Seoul City Urban Transportation Office, stated, “We will support the expansion of tourism participation for the disabled by developing various services such as the Companionship City Tour, Grave Visit Support Bus, and customized programs.” He added, “Since leisure mobility is directly linked to citizens’ life satisfaction, we will continue to do our best to enhance tourism and transportation welfare using disabled buses.”