Action Plan of Beijing Municipality for Further Improving Accessibility Construction 2019 – 2021

In recent years, the construction of barrier-free environment in this Municipality has  been significantly improved. However, barrier-free facilities are still  idle, occupied, or damaged from time to time. The phenomenon of  stressing construction but neglecting administration is relatively  prominent. There still exist problems of non-standard, incomplete, or  unsystematic barrier-free facilities. In order to thoroughly implement  the people-centered development concept, fully implement the  arrangements and requirements made by the CPC Central Committee, the  State Council, the Party Committee of Municipal Government and the  Municipal Government on the construction of barrier-free environment,  effectively solve the prominent problems in the field of the  construction of barrier-free environment, make up for the shortcomings,  improve the long-term mechanism, and constantly improve the  standardized, refined and normal management level of barrier-free  facilities, these Proposals are formulated in accordance with the  Regulations on the Construction of Barrier-free Environment, the  Measures of Beijing Municipality for the Implementation of the Law of  the People's Republic of China on the Protection of the Disabled and  other laws and regulations, and in combination with the preparation for  the Beijing 2022 Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games.

I. General Requirements

1. Basic principles

Adhere  to problem orientation and highlighting priorities. With the surrounding areas of the venues of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and  Paralympic Games, areas within the 4th Ring Road, and urban sub-centers  as the key regions, and with urban roads, public transport, public  service places, and information exchange as the key areas, make up for  the weakness of facilities, improve the long-term mechanism, and realize  normal management.

Adhere  to cost control, compliance and applicability. We shall, on the  basis of clarifying responsibility boundaries of the government and  social subjects, improve performance evaluation and incentive mechanisms  and properly deal with cost control in the whole process to avoid  extravagance and waste.

Adhere to the combination of efforts of governments and regions at different levels, dominated by regional management. Improve the system of duties and  responsibilities performed and the division of labor and cooperation performed by municipal-level departments, districts, sub-districts  (towns/townships) and disabled persons' federations to raise the level  of construction and management of barrier-free facilities.

Insist  on multiple co-construction, co-governance and sharing. Improve the  work mechanism led by the Party committees, led by the governments,  coordinated by the society and participated by the public, and build  diversified, open and dynamic platforms for co-construction, so as to  improve co-governance and sharing.

2. Objectives by stage

Pre-phase preparation stage (by the end of December 2019). The City Disabled Persons'  Federation shall lead the construction of the unified "Information  Management System of Barrier-Free Environment Construction in Beijing",  and prepare the Standardized Atlas of Barrier-Free Environment  Construction in Beijing; the municipal competent industrial authority  shall, in accordance with its duty and labor division, prepare the work  plan of improving the barrier-free environment in the industry, field  and system, define the tasks and time limit in each stage, and carry out  relevant rectification work; all district people's governments shall  carry out self-examination, establish a list of barrier-free facilities,  summarize all kinds of problems, and study rectification measures of  problems in barrier-free facilities in public places.

Key promotion stage (by the end of December 2020). All district governments and the municipal competent administrative department of trade shall complete the rectification on the problem that the barrier-free facilities fail to be used effectively in major area or major field, and rectify the problems that the barrier-free facilities are damaged or should be there but not in place, and make sure to make rectification as much as possible.

Phase of comprehensive improvement (by the end of December 2021). Stress shall be laid on solving the problem of being not up to the standard, not available and not forming a completed setting, and push forward the construction of a long-acting mechanism for the administration of  obstacle-free facilities, so as to markedly raise the normative,  applicable and systematic level of the obstacle-free environment in the  whole Municipality.

II. Key Tasks

1. Free of obstacles on urban roads

(1) Blind-friendly pavement. To investigate the status and study the standards of the blind-friendly pavement. The restoration and construction of such constructions should ensure the "blind-friendly pavement" helps. The daily  supervision and administration on the blind tracks shall be strengthened  to implement the requirement of immediate handling upon acceptance of  complaints, and stop the occupation and damage of the blind tracks  without delay.

(2) Sidewalks. Ensure that sidewalks in all kinds of crossings, entrance and exit set up curb ramp to make smooth slope and non-slip ramp, and best match the height between the curb ramp and the lane. The pedestrian sidewalk, pedestrian overpass and underground passage shall be provided with barrier-free ramp and barrier-free guide signs for wheelchairs. Slope curbs shall be set up at both ends of  pedestrian crosswalks, sound prompting devices for crossing shall be  installed, and corresponding management measures shall be improved.

2. Accessibility of public transport

(1) Ground public vehicle. Strengthen maintenance of barrier-free facilities of buses and training of drivers and conductors to ensure clear marks and effective use of slope boards and fixing devices of wheelchairs on the existing barrier-free buses. Gradually increase the barrier-free buses, to bring the allocation rate of urban barrier-free buses to 80%. Upgrade and improve the guiding information system, and strive to achieve the use of voice and subtitles inside and outside the bus. Strengthen the transformation of barrier-free bus platforms,  and construct and improve stone ramps and blind tracks at the edges of  entry and exit platforms.

(2) Rail transportation. Optimize rail transit stations' interior and  exterior barrier-free marking systems, strengthen the daily maintenance  of barrier-free elevators, lifting platforms, barrier-free toilets and other facilities, and optimize rail transit stations' connection with  surrounding barrier-free facilities.

(3) Public parking lots. Public parking lots, accessory parking lots and  parking lots for parking and transfer vehicles that have been put on  record shall be installed in the vicinity according to the set  proportion and standard, and signs shall be put up at conspicuous  places. Strengthen the daily use and management of barrier-free parking  places, and intensify law-enforcement inspection and punishments to  ensure their normal use.

3. Accessibility in public service venues

This  Municipality's public service places of all kinds shall, in accordance  with the principles of accessibility and convenience, and the design  norm of building barrier-free access, optimize barrier-free access, build a slope at the entrance and exit, and set up low-positioned service facilities, barrier-free elevators, barrier-free  toilets (barrier-free lavatory stalls) as well as barrier-free facilities such as voice-announcement devices, subtitles and signs for barrier-free information exchange facilities.

(1) Government affairs service window. The government service center shall  set up a sketch map of the building at the entrance or an eye-catching  place of the building, and set up the voice broadcasting and electronic  display screens at the important information reminder place.

(2) Hotels and restaurants. According to the relevant standards, star  guesthouses shall set up barrier-free rooms at the ratio of 1 to 2%, and  chain express hotels shall set up at least one room that is convenient  for wheelchair users to stay in; encourage and guide the travel accommodation reservation website and mobile application (APP) are encouraged and guided to  increase information on barrier-free accommodation facilities.

(3) Restaurants of shopping malls and supermarkets. Qualified large- and medium-sized shopping malls and supermarkets shall be equipped with reasonable shopping carts suitable for wheelchair users and have guiding signs of barrier-free shopping set up; qualified restaurants shall be encouraged to conduct renovation of barrier-free facilities.

(4) Medical institutions. Second-class and above medical institutions shall  set up barrier-free toilets, community medical institutions shall set up  barrier-free toilet stalls, and indoor passageways of various medical  institutions shall set barrier-free handrails. Medical institutions  where conditions permit are encouraged to provide medical guiding  services in sign language.

(5) Schools. Make efforts to push forward the construction of barrier-free  campus environment to create favorable conditions for the integrated  education. The ordinary classrooms of schools of all types shall be  equipped with desks for the use of students taking wheelchairs in light  of the actual needs; at least one barrier-free lavatory (barrier-free  lavatory stall) shall be set up in a building where main teaching and  living rooms are located, and a barrier-free lift shall be set up if  conditions permit. The barrier-free renovation of special education  schools shall be carried out in accordance with the Standards for the  Architectural Design of Special Education Schools.

(6) Banks. The banking outlets shall provide barrier-free information  services such as voice broadcasting, text prompts, Braille writing marks and  telephone booking. Eligible banks shall provide sign language services,  and 24-hour self-service banks shall set up self-service facilities at  low places.

(7)  Places of cultural and sports recreation. Cinemas and theaters,  libraries, museums, cultural centers, stadiums and gymnasiums shall be  equipped with proportional wheelchair seats and barrier-free facility  location maps; the barrier-free marking system shall be improved and  barrier-free accesses shall be set up at entrances and exits of gate  machines to realize barrier-free passage. Cinemas shall, if possible,  install sound appliances that are convenient for persons with visual  impairments. Municipal and district libraries shall set up reading rooms  for braille, and equip with reading aids.

(8)  Park Scenic Green Square. Qualified parks, enclosed tourist attractions  of level A or higher as well as large and medium -sized squares and  green belts shall set up barrier-free tourist route maps and  barrier-free facility location maps. The key cultural relic protection  sites opened to public that fail to meet the conditions for  renovation shall be equipped with temporary barrier-free equipment, and  the corresponding services shall be provided.

(9)  Public toilets. The public toilets at or above Class B shall be  equipped with independent barrier-free toilets while the toilets of  other types shall be equipped with barrier-free toilets that can be used  normally and safely.

(10)  Residential communities. The barrier-free renovation of residential  quarters shall be incorporated into the planning of the comprehensive  renovation of old residential quarters, the renovation and improvement  of the environment of back streets and small lanes, and the construction  of beautiful villages for unified implementation, and barrier-free  ramps and wheelchairs shall be set up at the entrances and exits of  residential buildings. Elevators may be installed in old residential  buildings that meet the conditions in accordance with relevant policies.  The service places for the convenience of people in residential areas  shall be equipped with necessary barrier-free facilities.

4. Accessibility of information exchange

(1)  Media services. Fully implement the information barrier-free  construction and renovation of government websites and public service  applications. City Radio and Television Stations shall gradually  increase subtitles in the broadcast of television programs, and shall  gradually increase the time of sign language translation in the  broadcast of news programs.

(2)  Living services. Encourage water, electricity, gas, heat,  communications, finance, medical health, and other public service  websites as well as relevant e-commerce platforms to conduct  barrier-free transformation. Actively promote barrier-free information  services such as mobile navigation and electronic maps.

III. Division of Responsibilities

1. Improve the work responsibility system of governments and departments.  The municipal industrial administrative department of trade shall, in  accordance with its responsibility division, take the lead in organizing  the special campaign of the construction of barrier-free environment in  its own trade, field and system, formulate standards, define  requirements, and make model projects. Each district government shall be  responsible for organizing the implementation of the special campaign of barrier-free environment construction within its jurisdiction, detailing tasks and defining labor division. All sub-districts (towns/townships) shall, relying on the working mechanism of "the  sub-districts and townships blow whistle, departments check in" guided by the Party building, organize the owners or managers to strengthen  the transformation, maintenance, protection, and management of  obstacle-free facilities. The Municipal Law Enforcement Bureau shall  guide all district people's governments and relevant municipal departments to carry out joint law- enforcement activities, clear up and  rectify in a centralized way the problems of the occupation and damage  of obstacle-free facilities in the key areas. The municipal and district  federations of the disabled shall, on the principle of being practical,  easy to implement and widely benefiting, put forward the requirement of  rectification of barrier-free facilities and organize special  assessment and satisfaction survey.

2. Clarify the main responsibility of construction and maintenance. Strengthen source governance and reinforce the fulfillment of responsibilities for construction, acceptance, management, and  maintenance of barrier-free facilities. The responsibilities of the construction unit shall be defined, the project failing to construct the obstacle-free facilities such as the blind-friendly pavement shall not be checked and accepted, and the construction unit shall be ordered to complete the construction of the blind-friendly pavement within the prescribed time limit, and the penalty shall be imposed on the construction unit failing to complete the make-up construction on time. The responsibilities of the owner and  manager of barrier-free facilities are clarified to ensure that the barrier-free facilities damaged or broken are maintained in time.

3. Clarify responsibility for cost control. The municipal industrial administrative department of trade and the district government shall  undertake the first responsibility of cost control of the construction  of the barrier-free environment, establish and improve the overall  evaluation and examination mechanism of the project, take the details  into full consideration, choose scientifically and reasonably the mode of adding the construction, renovation, expansion or new construction, and do well the cost control of the whole process before,  during and after the building to optimize the construction cost. Taking  advantage of the opportunity to conduct large-scale demolition and  construction is strictly prohibited.

IV. Safeguard Measures

1. Strengthen organization and leadership. The Municipal Working Group of  the Special Campaign for the Barrier-free Environment Construction of this Municipality (hereinafter referred to as the Municipal Working Group) shall be established with the principal leader of the Municipal  Government acting as the group leader, the designated leader of the Party  Committee of the Municipal Government and the designated leader of the Municipal Government jointly acting as the group leader. The assigned  leader of the Publicity Department of the Party Committee of the Municipal Government, the deputy secretary general of the Municipal Government and the City Disabled Persons' Federation, the Municipal  Bureau of Finance, the Municipal Planning and Natural Resources  Commission, shall act as the deputy group leaders and all district governments and municipal departments concerned shall, as member units,  jointly promote the implementation of the work. The Municipal Working  Group Office shall be set up in the City Disabled Persons' Federation,  and shall be responsible for the daily specific work. The deputy secretary-general in charge of the Municipal Government shall be the  director of the office. Every district government and relevant municipal  department shall set up special working team according to their actual  circumstances, draw up the implementation scheme for their respective  district and department, and submit it to the Municipal Working Group  Office for record.

2. Strengthen the basic work. Actively promote revision of the Regulations  of Beijing Municipality on Construction and Administration of  Barrier-free Facilities, study and promote formulation of local  standards for construction and administration of barrier-free facilities  which comply with national standards and municipal requirements.  Intensify the publicity of barrier-free concept and knowledge, strengthen the publicity of the "barrier-free Promotion Day", and make "love of the capital city depicted by its barrier-free environment" become a social consensus. Strengthen the building of professional barrier-free institutions, barrier-free experts, and barrier-free supervisor team. We will strengthen targeted training for practitioners in key areas. Encourage enterprises to participate in the research, development and production of barrier-free products and technologies, and promote the  construction of barrier-free and smart cities.

3.  Make proper financial arrangements. The funds required for the special  campaign shall be included in the annual budgets of all districts and the annual budgets of relevant municipal departments for overall guarantee. It is required to establish a performance evaluation and reward mechanism for the special rectification, formulate and refine the  relevant performance evaluation index system, and give financial support to the districts that achieve remarkable results in the  implementation of special rectification in lieu of subsidies with  rewards.

4. Tighten daily supervision. The Municipal Working Group Office shall  circulate a notice on the work progress of all district governments and the responsible departments of all trades and industries every quarter.  Improve the linkage mechanism with the 12345 public service hotline and  smooth the channels for complaints and reports on the issue of  barrier-free facilities. Give play to the role of Party representatives, deputies to the people's congress, members of the political  consultative conference, volunteers, the disabled and social  organizations at all levels and form a joint force of supervision.

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(All information in this document is authentic in Chinese. English is provided for reference only. In case of any discrepancy, the Chinese version shall prevail.)

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