You can just wonder what are all those special stones on the walkways. Well, they are supposed to help the blind people. Pity all people with disabilities in China. The State Council just announced last week a “formula of hope”, a five-year program, for all Chinese citizens with disabilities. There is certainly a need. Access to buildings for the handicapped is mostly incomplete and the special ramps are more than often blocked. Not to wonder you don’t see many handicapped people on the streets nor in office buildings. I just wonder where they are. Chinese people have a tendency to “hide” those people, I have the impression they still feel they are not a good image if shown in public. Companies even feel it is not good for their image to employ people with disabilities. In my own building I could never employ or receive people with disabilities – there is simply no elevator.
As for the special guide stones on the walkways, forget about them. The strips mostly lead to nowhere and are blocked by cars parking on the sidewalk, vendors or as pictured here, by bikes. Nice to have bikes, Green Beijing. But not for the blind.
Xinzhong Street, Dongcheng District. One of the many examples.
How will Beijing do during the Olympics? Maybe they can invite the press at some “show case segments” where it looks all right. But in the majority of the walkways, it is simply a no-go.
I really hope the new initiative of the State Council will not be limited to lip service.
On the other hand, the special tiles are a good idea. Must say, never seen this in Belgium…