According to the Pancyprian Organisation of the Blind, public transport accessibility does not meet basic human rights standards despite international obligations.
The organisation claims the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works has failed to implement both international conventions on disability rights and EU regulations requiring accessible buses.
This impacts disabled passengers’ ability to live independently and participate fully in society.
Rather than adopting a human rights-based approach to disability, the ministry continues to support outdated policies and terminology, including participating in charitable fundraising events that disability organisations have called to end, the organisation says.
Despite widely publicised upgrades to make the bus fleet more accessible, the ministry has shown “unprecedented indifference” to reports from disabled passengers of harassment, discrimination and ableist behaviour, according to the organisation.
Multiple complaints have been raised directly with the Transport Minister but appear to have gone uninvestigated.
These include buses failing to stop for visually impaired passengers, drivers preventing disabled passengers from using designated priority seating, and the failure to activate already-installed stop announcement systems – a requirement under EU law that has cost hundreds of thousands of euros to implement.
The organisation also reports that bus companies have cancelled stops in city centres and peak-time services, forcing some disabled workers to rely on expensive taxi services that can cost up to €40 per day – nearly a full monthly salary for many earning around €1,000.
“Driver behaviour is often degrading, offensive and even aggressive towards passengers with disabilities, showing a complete lack of respect for their dignity and rights in general,” the organisation said in their statement.
The organisation argues these practices have become a barrier to employment, with some disabled people having to decline public sector positions due to unreliable transport.
It calls on the Republic of Cyprus to implement an accessible public transport programme that recognises visually-impaired people as equal citizens with rights adopted by the United Nations almost 80 years ago.
