Almada 21 st October 2011 FLIPPER FL exible transport services and I CT P latform for eco-mobility in urban and rural Euro PE an a R eas FLIPPER Project Final Conference Almada, 21 st October 2011 Prof. Aristotelis Naniopoulos, AUTh, Thessaloniki Spyros Iatropoulos, KEKPA, Volos “FTS enabling to sustain life models of people with disabilities”.

Almada 21 st October 2011 FLIPPER FL exible transport services and I CT P latform for eco-mobility in urban and rural Euro PE an a R eas Disability statistics Disabled people represent 80 million persons in the European Union (more than 15% of the population), the equivalent to the population of Belgium, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary and the Netherlands together. One in four Europeans has a family member with a disability. Six Europeans out of ten know someone, in close or more distant circles, who has a disability. People with reduced mobility represent more than 40% of the population.

Almada 21 st October 2011 FLIPPER FL exible transport services and I CT P latform for eco-mobility in urban and rural Euro PE an a R eas Disability statistics Disabled people are two to three times more unemployed Many disabled persons are ‘discouraged workers’ and don’t even attempt to enter the labour force. Persons with disabilities are less likely by more than 50% to reach third level education. One out of two disabled persons has never participated in leisure or sport activities. One third of the disabled population has never travelled abroad or even participated in day-excursions due to inaccessible premises and services. Compared to non disabled people, more than twice disabled people meet their friends and relatives less than one or two times per month. Source: Eurostat

Almada 21 st October 2011 FLIPPER FL exible transport services and I CT P latform for eco-mobility in urban and rural Euro PE an a R eas Life models of disability Medical (institutional) model of disability Disability is a medical problem of each individual. Disabled people are often institutionalised, segregated and remain perpetual patients The social model of disability: The social model considers disability a problem of the society construction. Disability is a group of elements, many of which are created by the disabled person’s social environment.

Almada 21 st October 2011 FLIPPER FL exible transport services and I CT P latform for eco-mobility in urban and rural Euro PE an a R eas Why special transport services Missing links of the mobility chain - for wheelchair users/ mobility disabilities: - inaccessible vehicles - inaccessible stops and stations -for people with restricted vision - lack of accessible information -for people with mental disabilities - in some cases lack of autonomous transport ability - prejudices

Almada 21 st October 2011 FLIPPER FL exible transport services and I CT P latform for eco-mobility in urban and rural Euro PE an a R eas Why FTS/ DRT Guaranteed access to essential social and health destinations Reduces the everyday burden of family members to use their private cars Reduction of traffic and pollution in the city centre Support by assistants during embarkation and disembarkation, as well as during the trip – essential in many cases of persons with mental disabilities Low cost of the service. Sense of security for passengers Eases the problem of “missing links” of the mobility chain  FTS promotes the social model of disability

Almada 21 st October 2011 FLIPPER FL exible transport services and I CT P latform for eco-mobility in urban and rural Euro PE an a R eas The case of three special services in Greece received support by INTERREG Programme Two special DRT services in an Urban complex Thessaloniki – OASTh Thessaloniki – AINEIAS (SUNRISE Project) A special DRT service in a provincial city Volos – KEKPA (FLIPPER Project)

Almada 21 st October 2011 FLIPPER FL exible transport services and I CT P latform for eco-mobility in urban and rural Euro PE an a R eas OASTh DRT service Operated by Thessaloniki’s public transport operator Established in 2005 with two accessible vehicles 3 buses are now available with a fourth, smaller one, as a spare 7 drivers are used, while an escort is present at each journey Each vehicle can carry up to 4 wheelchair users as well as escorts The vehicles are equipped with electric lifts, air- conditioning, fridge

Almada 21 st October 2011 FLIPPER FL exible transport services and I CT P latform for eco-mobility in urban and rural Euro PE an a R eas OASTh DRT service The vehicles’ exterior decoration is designed by the famous Greek artist Constantin Xenakis

Almada 21 st October 2011 FLIPPER FL exible transport services and I CT P latform for eco-mobility in urban and rural Euro PE an a R eas Service characteristics Covers the Thessaloniki urban agglomeration “Door to door” service Mainly focused on passengers with mobility disabilities The service is free of charge Reservations are made via telephone call, at least two hours before the journey The TDC is responsible for accepting these calls and arranging the journey Communication with drivers is achieved using mobile phones or private radio communication network Special software is used by the TDC

Almada 21 st October 2011 FLIPPER FL exible transport services and I CT P latform for eco-mobility in urban and rural Euro PE an a R eas Service characteristics. Request Suggested journey Confirmation by user Design of journey

Almada 21 st October 2011 FLIPPER FL exible transport services and I CT P latform for eco-mobility in urban and rural Euro PE an a R eas The AINEIAS DRT service Operated by the Municipality of Thessaloniki Established in 1996 with two vehicles 2 new buses were acquired in 2005, in total three vehicles are in operation 5 drivers and 5 escorts are used Each vehicle can carry up to 3 wheelchair users as well as seated passengers The vehicles are equipped with electric lifts, air- conditioning The escorts are responsible for the safe operation of the lifts and the safety of the passengers.

Almada 21 st October 2011 FLIPPER FL exible transport services and I CT P latform for eco-mobility in urban and rural Euro PE an a R eas The AINEIAS DRT service

Almada 21 st October 2011 FLIPPER FL exible transport services and I CT P latform for eco-mobility in urban and rural Euro PE an a R eas Service characteristics Covers the Municipality of Thessaloniki as well as some areas of the Thessaloniki’s urban complex 50 persons per day Annually approximately trips “Door to door” service Mainly focused on wheelchair users and people with mental disabilities Continuous cooperation with organizations and Institutions of People with Disabilities Minimum charge

Almada 21 st October 2011 FLIPPER FL exible transport services and I CT P latform for eco-mobility in urban and rural Euro PE an a R eas The KEKPA DRT service Operated by the Municipal organization for health and social affairs Established in 1996 as a students’ transport service 3 vehicles were used, one more was added for FLIPPER Operates on a daily basis, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Two vehicles can carry wheelchair users as well as seated passengers. A lift is available 4 drivers and 3 escorts are used in the morning, 1 driver and one escort in the afternoon Mainly focused on passengers with mobility and mental disabilities

Almada 21 st October 2011 FLIPPER FL exible transport services and I CT P latform for eco-mobility in urban and rural Euro PE an a R eas The KEKPA DRT service

Almada 21 st October 2011 FLIPPER FL exible transport services and I CT P latform for eco-mobility in urban and rural Euro PE an a R eas The KEKPA DRT service There are 8 predetermined destinations, however it is a “door to door” service am. The service is Demand Responsive. Routes are predetermined during the rest of the day. Call centre 7.30 a.m. till 2.00 p.m. Special software used Major challenge for KEKPA the expansion of the new municipality of Volos From the beginning of October the Board of Directors of KEKPA decided to raise the fare to 5 euros per person per single trip in order to achieve sustainability of the service

Almada 21 st October 2011 FLIPPER FL exible transport services and I CT P latform for eco-mobility in urban and rural Euro PE an a R eas What KEKPA has achieved in FLIPPER project continuation of a precious service for the city of Volos that was about to be abolished extension of its fleet of buses with the addition of a new one development of a feasibility study concerning users’ needs and service’s viability development from April 2011 of the pilot application service, expansion to new potential users acquisition of the “INMOSION” software to plan journeys cooperation with the local urban bus service for facilitating transfers outside Volos production of promotional material for the project (general poster, brochure, bus design intervention, pilot application poster and brochure) evaluation of pilot application and of the users’ satisfaction

Almada 21 st October 2011 FLIPPER FL exible transport services and I CT P latform for eco-mobility in urban and rural Euro PE an a R eas The KEKPA DRT service

Almada 21 st October 2011 FLIPPER FL exible transport services and I CT P latform for eco-mobility in urban and rural Euro PE an a R eas Main characteristics of the three services and areas Area population Main groups served Vehicles OASTh Mobility disabilities 4 AINEIAS Mobility and mental disabilities 3 KEKPA Mobility and mental disabilities 4

Almada 21 st October 2011 FLIPPER FL exible transport services and I CT P latform for eco-mobility in urban and rural Euro PE an a R eas Main conclusions from the examination of the three services DRT services are considered by users very successful and vital for their everyday living, particularly for wheelchair users and the families of people with mental disabilities There is a need for services expansion, but the cost coverage has not been solved. The economic situation threatens the existence of the services

Almada 21 st October 2011 FLIPPER FL exible transport services and I CT P latform for eco-mobility in urban and rural Euro PE an a R eas Main conclusions from the examination of the three services DRT can greatly contribute in sustaining the social model of disability User surveys show that these services are of primary importance for people with disabilities and their families The cost of DRT services cannot be fully covered by the users, i.e. people with disabilities and their families. The society: government, local authorities, sponsors, individuals, voluntary groups must be prepared to appropriately compensate costs, in terms of citizens’ equality and social values