Budapest by wheelchair

Taking a look at Budapest, the beauty of the city is unquestionable. Looking at it more carefully, however, the flaws are revealed. Hectic traffic, grimy streets, incessant noise. Even for the aborigines, it takes some patience to tolerate it.
What the majority of the people fail to notice is that, beyond the aforementioned weaknesses, the city is barely barrier-free. There have been some promising steps forward; still, the pace of the transformation of the city into usable by everyone, is fairly slow.
A comprehensive study carried out by Studio Metropolitana Urban Research Centre Public Society in 2004 (the only one done in the field) reports on some serious deficiencies, many of which, have not been solved ever since. The study was ordered by the General Assembly of Budapest to have a profound insight into the situation and serve as a tool for future steps. The findings of the study many times coincide with the everyday experience of city dwellers with special needs. “Should you decide to use public transport, it is unthinkable to leave without knowing the timetable by heart. Even so, you are bound to find some discrepancies between what is written and what occurs,”  says Klára Erdélyi, member and employee of the Independent Life: Association of Disabled People and a daily user of the BKV's services. Timetables indicating only the departure times from the terminus, can serve as starting points when planning a trip. “15-25 minutes’ delays are quite common – she adds. I also remember occasions when I waited more than an hour for number 105, which is rather unpleasant, especially during wintertime.”
The same line caused inconvenience for other passengers, too. Krisztina Dóra, executive vice president of Ability Park, a place for sensitivity training through playing to the difficulties of physically challenged people travel by public transport, too. “I called the BKV info-line on a daily basis to find out why the low-floor bus had not come. I was advised to refer to the timetable on the company's webpage. It turned out to be as unreliable as the printed one in the bus stop. Several times I had to return home and phone for information, but my calls were only recorded by an answering machine which promised to get back to me in 24 hours.” (BKV seems to be reluctant to provide information on the phone, not only for passengers. The press office accepts press inquires only via email, and is not allowed to name any experts in charge. The answers are given in writing and unsigned.)
Haphazard bus service is only one side of the argument. Low-chassis buses do not necessarily provide solution for wheelchair users’ problems. The ramps of the buses are manually set, thus drivers have to touch and set the filthy metal. Little wonder that some are unwilling or sometimes unable to do it due to damaged parts. “I couldn’t get on the bus several times, because the screws were broken. Although it was reported to the garage, the bus ran for weeks without being repaired,” Erdélyi complained. BKV denied working such vehicles. Bus drivers usually have a positive attitude to people with special needs, but some are ignorant, or hostile. Just like drivers parking their cars in vacant parking spots reserved for disabled people.
“It is a common practice for many to occupy the parking spaces reserved for people with special needs. When I politely ask the drivers to leave, I often get real hostility,” said Pál Szekeres, Olympic champion fencer, president of The Hungarian Sports Federation for the Disabled. “Negligence and the failure to set good examples from the part of the government foment this kind of attitude” – Szekeres believes. “Until focused on installing necessary apparatus rather than instilling appropriate attitudes the situation won’t change. It is particularly worrisome that the city’s leadership is apt to overlook the problem and the development of an area/district solely hangs on the benevolence of the people in charge.”

An issue of demand and supply

Szekeres laments the absence of a controlling body which would enforce legislation. "No music band wishing to perform in the USA, including the Rolling Stones, can start the concert without the permission of an enforcement agent, who checks whether the venue is barrier-free. Should they not comply with the regulations, not only will they lose a few hundred physically challenged fans, but thousand of others, too,” he explained. “It’s an issue of demand and supply. We are consumers too, it doesn't make business sense to forget us,” claims Dóra.
Indeed, from a simple business standpoint, it is difficult to understand the municipality's stance, which, in many cases seem to curb, rather than accelerate, the clearance of hurdles.
Receiving, reviewing, and processing requests for exceptions to the barrier-free design specifications in the event of retrofitting existing properties is within the jurisdiction of municipalities. So is ensuring that public places are accessible. However, when asked about a building renovated with foresight, ensuring safe and comfortable access, Ágnes Wolford, head of the Építésigazgatási Iroda of District VIII., could not name any by heart. She could cite examples of what must remain intact. "The National Museum and its imposing stairs should not be altered on any account. One must always weigh up the pros and cons of such a step and act accordingly." "No one requires local authorities to ruin the facade of museums, I take no offence if I am admitted through a side entrance" - said Tibor Serényi, who uses a special bicycle-wheelchair combo to travel in the city.
“The stand of the National Office of Cultural Heritage is to leave heritage buildings the way they are,” said Mária Bene lawyer, of the National Federation of Disabled Persons' Associations (MEOSZ). Our argument against it is if the conservation of the original state is their primary aim, why did they switch from candles to electricity, and so on? Unfortunately we can do little until 2010-2013, when the new law comes into force.” Bene also works as a rehabilitation engineer. Her task is to give advice and assistance to architects, engineers in design in the early stages of new development. Though the recently revised version of OTÉK (national parameter book of construction) includes more and clearer guidelines on barrier-free design, the assistance of such an engineer is essential. “It is not sufficient to follow the instructions, special expertise is needed to avoid hitches,” Bene added. Still, they are rarely hired. “Construction companies with billions of revenue find the fifty-thousand-forint commission too high. So, many times we do the job for free.” In the absence of a similar expert, the municipalities’ approval of authorization requests can be (and is) challenged.
Interestingly, when asked about the solution, it is the change of the attitude, not that of the inaccessible underground passages, the incoherent public transport system, the high curbs or the steep and slippery ramps, what these people appeal for in the first place. Was the mindset to change, both the leaders' and the new generations,’ the need for accessibility would not be overlooked. “What is absolute necessity for us, is safe and comfortable for everyone,”  adds Pál Szekeres. A pretty good starting point to changing the perception.

Photo by Boglárka Katona