Issued: 28 Feb 2022
A recent bus trip to the Garden Route Mall was as could be expected an enjoyable outing for the young adults with disabilities who attend activities at the Optima Centre of the George Association for Persons with Disabilities (APD) in Pacaltsdorp, but at the same time a most informative feedback opportunity for the GO GEORGE bus service.
As part of ongoing engagement with the disability sector, GO GEORGE accompanied the group of 22 Optima attendees and two staff members on a scheduled bus trip, departing from a bus stop close to the centre. Some of them have never been on the bus before.
Even the wait at the bus stop brought a smile to many faces, listening to Robin Mouton, an inspiring and resourceful blind passenger motivating one of the communication team members to pursue a passion for music – a topic of which he has a vast knowledge and understanding.
This time was also used constructively to educate the youngsters about the facilities aimed towards universal accessibility such as the tactile paving at the bus stop, the elevated platform to reduce the step-up into the bus, audio alerts that the ramp is being deployed and not ready yet for boarding by either blind passengers or people using mobility devices. General tips on using the service included where to look for the right bus and route, how to scan the Smart Card and the use of the priority seats for passengers with special needs, as well as using the button to request the bus to stop.
Back at Optima after the outing, the G0 GEORGE team conducted an informal feedback session with the group to evaluate their experience and to inform future support and guidance regarding their use of the bus service.
“Time spent with our passengers who have special needs always leaves us with much to think about,” says James Robb, GO GEORGE Manager. “The system has been designed to be as user friendly as possible for all our passengers, but it would be presumptuous to assume that we have thought of everything and that all needs are being addressed. GO GEORGE values and encourages feedback from all categories of bus users and continually aims to improve the service accordingly where possible.”
Anyone needing more information about the bus service is welcome to phone the GO GEORGE Call Centre on 0800 044 044, visit the website www.gogeorge.org.za, or follow the Facebook page to stay up to date with the latest bus news and service notifications.
CAPTIONS:
Walking to bus stop 2:
The group departing from the Optima Centre in high spirits – the more experienced passengers very eager to share their superior knowledge.
Q and A at bus stop:
Waiting for the bus was the perfect time to answer questions and share user information with the less experienced passengers.
Khadija with new passengers 2:
Khadija Luangula (GO GEORGE communications champion) took time to explain to the three first-time passengers how to use the bus. They are from the left, Shannon Fielies, Lubabalo Langbooi and Nigel Makenna.
Ice cream at Mc D:
The one-hour trip validity gave the group from Optima just enough time to have a quick ice cream at Mc Donald’s before getting on the bus back to Pacaltsdorp without having to pay again.
Wheelchair docking:
Xavier Esterhuizen is an old hand at travelling with the bus and needed no assistance to dock and fasten his wheelchair in the dedicated space.
PERSVERKLARING: GO GEORGE verkry insig van passasiers met gestremdhede
Uitgereik: 28 Februarie 2022
‘n Onlangse busrit na die Garden Route Mall was soos verwag kon word ‘n aangename uitstappie vir die jong volwassenes met gestremdhede wat aktiwiteite by die Optima-sentrum van die George Vereniging vir Persone met Gestremdhede (APD) in Pacaltsdorp bywoon. Dit was egter ook ‘n uiters insiggewende terugvoergeleentheid vir die GO GEORGE-busdiens.
As deel van voortgesette betrokkenheid by die gestremdheidsektor het GO GEORGE die groep van 22 Optima-deelnemers en twee personeellede vergesel op ‘n geskeduleerde busrit wat van ‘n bushalte naby die sentrum vertrek het. Sommige van hulle het nog nooit voorheen bus gery nie.
Selfs die wag by die bushalte het die groep laat glimlag by die aanhoor van Robin Mouton, ‘n inspirerende en vindingryke blinde passasier wat een van die kommunikasiespanlede wou motiveer om sy passie vir musiek na te streef – ‘n onderwerp waarvan hy ‘n uitgebreide kennis en begrip het.
Hierdie tyd is ook konstruktief gebruik om die jongmense in te lig oor die busfasiliteite wat gemik is op universele toeganklikheid vir passasiers, soos die tasbare plaveisel by die bushalte, die verhoogde platform om die instap in die bus te vergemaklik, klankwaarskuwings dat die skuins loopvlak ontplooi word en nog nie gereed is vir blinde passasiers of mense wat mobiliteitstoestelle gebruik om in te klim nie. Algemene wenke oor die gebruik van die diens het ingesluit waar om te kyk vir die regte bus en roete, hoe om die Slimkaart te skandeer en die gebruik van die prioriteitsitplekke vir passasiers met spesiale behoeftes, asook om die knoppie te druk om die bus te versoek om te stop.
Terug by Optima ná die uitstappie het die G0 GEORGE-span ‘n informele terugvoersessie met die groep aangelê om hul ervaring te evalueer en inligting in te samel wat toekomstige ondersteuning en leiding oor die gebruik van die busdiens kan rig.
“Tyd saam met ons passasiers wat spesiale behoeftes het, laat ons altyd met baie om oor na te dink,” sê James Robb, GO GEORGE-bestuurder. “Die stelsel is ontwerp om so gebruikersvriendelik as moontlik vir al ons passasiers te wees, maar dit sal vermetel wees om aan te neem dat ons aan alles gedink het en dat alle behoeftes aangespreek word. GO GEORGE waardeer en moedig terugvoer van alle kategorieë busgebruikers aan en poog deurlopend om die diens dienooreenkomstig te verbeter waar moontlik.”
Enigiemand wat meer inligting oor die busdiens benodig, is welkom om die GO GEORGE-inbelsentrum by 0800 044 044 te skakel, die webwerf www.gogeorge.org.za te besoek, of die Facebook-blad te volg om op hoogte te bly van die jongste busnuus- en dienskennisgewings.
BYSKRIFTE:
Walking to bus stop 2:
Die groep vertrek in vrolike luim by die Optima-sentrum met die meer ervare passasiers baie gretig om hul “verhewe” kennis te deel.
Q and A at bus stop:
Die wagperiode by die bushalte was die perfekte tyd om vrae te beantwoord en gebruikersinligting met die minder ervare passasiers te deel.
Khadija with new passengers 2:
Khadija Luangula (GO GEORGE-passasiersdiensbeampte) het aan die drie onervare passasiers te verduidelik hoe om die bus te gebruik – dit was hul eerste busrit. Hulle is van links, Shannon Fielies, Lubabalo Langbooi en Nigel Makenna.
Ice cream at Mc D:
Die een-uur ritgeldigheid het die Optima-groep net genoeg tyd gegee om ‘n vinnige roomys by Mc Donald’s te geniet voordat hulle terug op die Pacaltsdorp-bus moes wees sonder om weer te betaal.
Wheelchair docking:
Xavier Esterhuizen is ‘n ou hand as dit by busry kom en het geen hulp nodig gehad om sy rolstoel in die aangewese ruimte te parkeer en vas te maak nie.
