Disabled drivers are to be given special car parks in Beijing under new rules drawn up by traffic chiefs.

The Beijing Traffic Management Bureau announced yesterday 64 specially designed parking spots will be available from the end of this week.

They will be located in front of hospitals, shopping malls, hotels, and on several busy streets in the capital, allowing drivers with physical disabilities easier access," said bureau spokesman Yang Guoping.

Measuring six meters in length and two meters wide the same size as conventional zones the new lots will have a white wheelchair symbol painted in its middle to signify its exclusive use. Fees, however, will be the same as normal parking spaces.

Drivers who occupy the space illegally will face fines ranging from 50 yuan to 200 yuan (US$6-24).

Yang said more than half of the lots have already been marked out at 21 places in the eight urban districts of Beijing, including one at Dongzhimen Hospital in Dongcheng District, and two at Landao Mansion in Chaoyang District.

Traffic officials will monitor their effectiveness for a trial period. More will be considered if the first batch proves successful.

Beijing has some 622,000 registered disabled citizens among its 14 million population. The capital will also introduce 20 more specially-designed buses by the end of October, adding to the current five that offer disabled passenger's easier access, the Beijing Daily reported.

The buses have ramps instead of steps for wheelchair passengers.

And the capital's metro stations are expected to complete a 10 million yuan (US$1.2 million) project to install barrier-free access and facilities for disabled passengers by the end of next year. Work began earlier this months to install easy-access toilets with lower basins, special paths for the blind, telephone access and special-access escalators at 30 subway stations along the No 1 and No 2 metro lines.

New laws ordering the special facilities are the first of their kind in the country and came into affect in May. They stipulate public transport should take the lead in catering for the handicapped, and say hospitals, banks, airports, railway stations, public toilets and parks should follow by example.

(China Daily August 26, 2004)