Putco launches prototype bus offering accessible transport to people with disabilities

JOHANNESBURG - Bus company Putco has launched a prototype vehicle designed to offer accessible transport to people with disabilities.

The new bus has a roll-out ramp feature, giving access to wheelchair users, persons with mobility, hearing and other sensory disabilities.

On Friday, the company hosted a consultative session with the South African Disability Alliance and the National Council for Persons with Disabilities to get more suggestions on how they can improve the features on the bus.

The bus is also able to drop lower near pavements to allow for further accessibility.

Mandy Lattimore is a mobility-impaired activist who is with the South African Disability Alliance.

"One wants equality cause that’s what universal access is, it’s equality, it’s equal rights to access and to be able to work and to get to work, how do you get to work even if you find a place that’s accessible and will employ you, how do you get to work?

Putco spokesperson Lindokuhle Xulu explained how it will work.

"We're looking for the need in the communities, we go out and then we configure our routes accordingly based on that. The most important thing that came out of today is that we should be thinking about access buses as a separate thing. We should be thinking about all buses."

The company said it will have six buses in operation after concluding consultations.