Uiwang City Exclusively Selected as Top-Ranked in All Three Categories for Transportation Convenience Facility Satisfaction in Gyeonggi Province

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Uiwang City announced on the 3rd that it has been selected as the only local government to rank within the top 5 in all three categories—transportation methods, passenger facilities, and pedestrian environment—based on satisfaction survey results for transportation convenience facilities for the transportation-disadvantaged, conducted by Gyeonggi Province.

Gyeonggi Province conducted a survey of 400 Uiwang City residents including people with disabilities, elderly people, children, pregnant women, and those accompanying young children to establish a support plan for promoting transportation convenience for the transportation-disadvantaged.

As a result, satisfaction rates (including neutral responses) in Uiwang City showed 87.4% for transportation methods, 86.4% for passenger facilities, and 79.1% for pedestrian environment, demonstrating high satisfaction across all sectors. Dissatisfaction responses were 12.6%, 13.6%, and 20.9% respectively for each category.

In the transportation methods category, the Uiwang City Transportation-Disadvantaged Movement Support Center operates mobility support services with slope-type vehicles that allow wheelchair users to board while seated. The center maintains 11 such vehicles, which is 22% more than the legally required 9 vehicles. Last year, the service recorded approximately 14,000 usage instances.

This year, the city is making continuous efforts to improve convenience for transportation-disadvantaged users by reducing vehicle usage fees and expanding eligibility criteria.

In the passenger facilities category, the Uiwang Station escalator installation project, which has been underway since last year, is scheduled for completion in October of this year. Additionally, the city is working to improve passenger convenience through expansion and improvement of the bus information system (BIS) for swift and accurate traffic information, implementation of next-generation intelligent transportation system construction projects, and installation of heating reduction devices and windbreak facilities at bus stops.

In the pedestrian environment category, the city is focusing on improving traffic environments at 21 protection zones for vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly. Beyond installing safety facilities such as road markings, slip-resistant pavement, signage, and safety fences, the city is continuously installing consideration facilities for transportation-disadvantaged users, including foldable waiting chairs and sunshades for pedestrian signal waits.

This year, the city plans to operate a traffic safety guidance program to create a safe commuting environment for children and install yellow carpets around elementary schools.

Lee Man-jae, director of the City's Transportation Administration Division, stated, "Going forward, we will continue to make efforts to expand special transportation vehicles and improve transportation facilities and pedestrian environments. We will also provide meticulous management of easily overlooked areas such as curbs at bus stops, braille blocks on sidewalks, and waiting time indicators at crosswalks, so that the transportation-disadvantaged can move in a more convenient and safe transportation environment."