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Preparation for 2008 Beijing Olympics and Paralympics
With the “pressure” of Beijing Olympics and Paralympics in 2008, the Chinese government boosted the building of accessible facilities for people with disability in large cities in China starting from 2001. The major reform took place in subway stations, buses, public bathrooms and pavement of major roads. Most subway stations in Beijing became accessible; Accessible buses and taxis increased in large quantities; and almost all roads in Beijing have pavement for the blind and blocking the pavement will be punished. The People with Disability Act of China was also reformed in 2008 prior to the Olympics.
Accessible facilities in subway stations.
The yellow stripe is the pavement for the blind.
The icons for 2008 Paralympics. The design is based on Seal Scrip, a traditional form of Chinese characters.
Accessible bus
There are still many problems in accessible facilities in China. A lot of ramps added to old buildings were too steep to be accessible for wheelchair users; the law enforcement in maintaining the accessible facilities were very poor; only a few parking lots have designated parking spaces for people with disability (people with disability were only allowed to have drivers’ license starting from 2010); and many accessible facilities were forgotten after 2008, left with poor care and no longer accessible to people with disability.
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