The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government has launched five dedicated school buses designed for students with disabilities. These buses are intended to facilitate their transportation to and from school, aiming to enhance accessibility for these students.
The Transportation Department plans to introduce a total of 80 school buses, covering all areas within Jakarta. Although the initial launch features five buses in early January 2024, Acting Governor Heru Budi Hartono has expressed the government’s commitment to gradually expand services, providing specialized support for students with disabilities in Jakarta.
“We will progressively expand the fleet of buses dedicated to people with disabilities. Additionally, we will enhance various facilities based on the outcomes of evaluations,” stated Acting Governor Heru Budi Hartono in a press release on Wednesday (17/1/2024).
The specialized school bus designed for students with disabilities accommodates up to 36 individuals, including 7 passengers in wheelchairs, 10 seated passengers, and 19 standing passengers. Each bus is equipped with hydraulic technology, eliminating the need to manually push wheelchairs onto the bus. A special platform is installed to lift wheelchairs for easy boarding and disembarking.
Moreover, each school bus introduced by the DKI Jakarta Government is equipped with CCTV and textile flooring, serving as a tactile guide for visually impaired students.
The inaugural routes initiated by the Jakarta government include Rorotan-Marunda, which will serve schools such as SLB Negeri 8, and Plumpang-Kemayoran, catering to SLB Negeri 9. Route selection is based on the transportation needs of students in these areas.
Students can use this bus service free of charge; no ticket fees are required. This initiative aims to simplify the commute for students and enhance public transportation amenities for all demographics in Jakarta.