Inaccessible public transportation significantly limits mobility for people with disabilities. Many who wish to travel are forced to rely on private vehicles and assistance from others. This is the reality for Danu, a civil servant at a ministry based in Central Jakarta and a wheelchair user.
For those without private vehicles or personal assistants, the situation is even more challenging. Catur, from the National Movement for Public Accessibility (GAUN), recalls several instances where public transport staff were unsure how to assist wheelchair users, leading to refusal of service.
Catur’s colleague, Nenty Maria, who is hearing impaired, said inaccessible communication is another barrier. For example, station staff using loudspeakers might helpful for the visually impaired, but deaf transport users need visual cues.
These issues were the focus of the Connect#3 event, hosted by KONEKSI at Artotel Hotel in Jakarta, last Friday (27/9).
The panel discussion, titled “Research and Technology for Inclusive Urban Mobility”, was initiated by alumni of the Australia Awards short course program, with the support of KONEKSI and The Conversation.
Bringing together researchers, government, the private sector and organisations of people with disability, such as Danu, Catur, and Nenty, the event explored the ongoing barriers facing people with disabilities as users of urban public transport systems, as well as potential solutions, backed by innovation and research.
In her keynote speech, Adita Irawaty, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Transportation, emphasised that the government continues to promote accessibility, particularly through improving intermodal connectivity.
“The hope is that people with disabilities will find it easier to transfer from one mode of transport to another,” she said.
Researcher Dwi Phalita Upahita, Ph.D from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) shared that there are about 23 million people with disabilities in Indonesia, but 38% of them do not have access to public transport.
Dwi Phalita, who participated in the Australia Awards short course, conducted research on inclusive public transport, suggested that installing “assistive technology” apps in stations or at public transport stops could be an immediate solution. Meanwhile, Irvan Hidayat, Senior Researcher at Gojek (a ride-hailing company), noted that the company is continuously working to adjust its app to better serve the needs of people with disabilities. Gojek is continually enhancing their screen reader capabilities to ensure that people with disabilities can easily navigate and use all menu options within the Gojek app.
Trijatmi Erawati, Head of Customer Service at TransJakarta, highlighted their commitment to improving inclusive services. However, she noted that this requires the support of all stakeholders. For example, facilities designed to assist people with disabilities must also be safeguarded from damage or theft.
In line with KONEKSI’s mission to share knowledge across borders and strengthen the Australia-Indonesia relationship, the discussion also featured Dr Kelsey Chapman, a researcher from Griffith University in Australia.
While Australia’s public transport is considered relatively disability-friendly, Dr Chapman said there is still much room for improvement. She cited examples such as the wide gap between platforms and trains at some stations, which present a barrier for people with disabilities.
Dr Chapman also stressed that providing inclusive services is not just about meeting passengers’ needs, but also about maintaining the dignity of all passengers, including those with disabilities.
Jana Hertz, KONEKSI’s Team Leader, expressed hope that the discussion would inspire initiatives to respond to the challenges of inclusive development for both countries.
“I am confident that through intense discussion and collaboration, we will be able to generate innovative ideas that can answer development challenges.”
Connect! is the Communication Series convened by KONEKSI, designed to enhance awareness and understanding regarding the significance of research partnerships, Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI), and the Knowledge-to-Policy and Knowledge-to-Innovation cycles in achieving Indonesia’s developmental objectives. Connect! will serve as a platform for engaging conversations among researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals on key issues, fostering opportunities for knowledge exchange and collaboration within the research ecosystem.
