How to make public local train in Indonesia more accessible for everyone?
Have you ever wondered how KAI, the Indonesian railway company, designs their services to accommodate the needs of train users in Indonesia? Have you ever thought about how they strive to make their services as inclusive as possible?
This is a topic my mom and I often discuss, especially as frequent users of public transportation, particularly trains. We often rely on trains to travel to neighboring cities in East Java, like from Sidoarjo to Malang or Sidoarjo to Surabaya.
But one concern that constantly bothers my mom is: What if someone with a disabilities wants to use the train? Will it be difficult for them? She’s curious because she has noticed that in Taiwan, there are many accommodations in place to help people with disabilities benefit from public transportation. However, she wonders if similar provisions exist in Indonesia.
The Fact is , it is really difficult for someone who have disability to use the train (Specifically in East Java)
In a previous medium article, which you can find here, we discussed the painful experience of boarding a train. There is a significant gap between the ground and the train door, which requires passengers to use a small ladder to board. Now, let’s imagine the situation for individuals who are unable to walk, either permanently or temporarily. How will they be able to access the train with such a significant gap between the train and the ground?
Yesterday, I took the train from Surabaya to Mojokerto, a city in East Java. The train was really crowded, so I couldn’t find a seat and had to stand for about an hour. While I was standing, I noticed a person with disabilities trying to get on the train, and it was a difficult situation for her. The gap between the platform and the train was a problem, and she needed assistance to be lifted onto the train. It was challenging for her to get inside, and it was quite sad to see.
This situation made my mom believe that trains are not inclusive or user-friendly for people with disabilities. My aunt, who really wants to use the train, faces difficulties due to her condition. She can’t navigate the small ladder and standing or finding a suitable seat on the train is also challenging for her. As a result, she feels excluded from using trains.
The problem does not stop from here, Seat for Disability is being unnoticed and misused by others.
When the train begins moving, I am standing among the seats like others who give up their seats for those who can’t find one. While standing, I notice small signs indicating seats reserved for people with disabilities. Unfortunately, these signs are quite small and not easily noticeable, as they are hidden near the door and the toilet. As a result, they don’t effectively convey the message.
What suprises me a lot is that the person who seats there is a non disability users which means they could use another seats or maybe able to stand. For context the train in east java especially is not design like a MRT in Jakarta or maybe KRL. Which means the user need to order the tickets from the apps or in the train station directly and they could choose their seats according their own will. So if we tried to order it and it is said without any seats , it means we have to stand up. and maybe wait for the seats to be emptied for us to be seat.
It makes me wonder how the seats that can be reserved for disability users actually work. How do they go about ordering these specific seats? Are these seats available to everyone, or do disability users have a separate seating order from non-disability users?
It turns out that there’s no specific informations related for a disability users to buy seats where there’s a specific seats that they could use.
From the pictures above I could not find anything related for disability users to be able reserve the specific needs. I could not find anything to input whether I have a special needs when ordering a tickets or add a new passenger in the apps.
From the pictures above as well, You could not find anything that related to the seats that I mentioned before. Whereas the screenshot above is the same train that I used on Saturday.
How can we assist individuals with disabilities, whether their disabilities are temporary or permanent, in ensuring a positive experience when utilising local trains in Indonesia?
- In my opinion, it is crucial for us to gain a deeper understanding of the behaviours, needs, and challenges faced by disabled individuals when using local trains in Indonesia. By actively learning from their perspectives, we can gather valuable insights that will help us make trains more accessible for everyone. It is essential to collect data and information about their specific requirements and the obstacles they encounter, so we can work towards creating a more inclusive and accommodating train system.
- To improve the experience for disabled passengers, we can empower them with the option to reserve seats either through mobile apps or at train stations. This allows them to have greater control and certainty over their journey, ensuring they have access to suitable seating arrangements that meet their specific needs.
- Ensure that information regarding accessible services, such as accessible routes, facilities, and assistance options, is readily available through announcements, signage, and online platforms. This allows individuals with disabilities to plan their trips and navigate the train system more effectively.
