World Association of the Major metropolises
The goal was turning Taichung into a caring, conside- rate and accessible city for people with disabilities.
In 2010, they were a total of 108.075 people with disabilities living in Taichung, a number that represents over 10% of the total number of individuals with disabilities in Taiwan. Buses for students with physical disabilities and the Rehabilitation Bus service not only make it easier for people with disabilities to go to school or the hospital for rehabilitation appointments, but also offer them more opportunities to participate in daily social life and other interactions with society. This leads to an environment in which opportunities are equal, all can participate, and minority special-needs groups can live with dignity. All these elements promote a more harmonious society. The Buses for students with physical disabilities project ensure the right of students to education. Student buses, all within legally mandated service lifetimes, transport students who have physical disabilities and cannot travel to school on their own. Around 570 students use this transportation service daily. The Rehabilitation Bus services project offers up to 227 rehabilitation Bus services that can be reserved for people with disabilities, including moderately or more severely disabled persons and those who may have difficulty travelling for medical care, job interviews and training, business purposes, to receive extra-curricular education, and participation in social activities. Services include arrangement of large or small sized Rehabilitation Bus pick-ups and special tour bus services. In general, the number and quality of buses for students with physical disabilities in Taichung are the highest in Taiwan. In addition, the Rehabilitation Bus services offered in Taichung had the highest vehicle growth rate in Taiwan between 2011 and 2013. Taichung is the only one of Taiwan’s five special municipalities to offer free bus services.