SHANGHAI’S new regulations on creating a barrier-free environment will come into effect from June.

Barrier-free refers to an environment where disabled, sick or elderly people and children can take public transport, communicate and receive social services independently and safely, said WangHaidong, an official with the Shanghai Disabled Persons’ Federation.

The latest regulations were passed by the city government in February and the previous ones effective in 2003 and amended in 2010 will be abolished.

“The new regulations are a leap forward toward a barrier-free society,” Wang said.

Shanghai began working on a barrier-free environment in the 1980s, involving major streets and new buildings.After 2010, this was expanded to cover information, public services and other areas of people’s daily lives.

The old regulations lag in terms of construction standards and could not satisfy the current demand, thus the need for a new one, said Wang.

“The new regulations encourage the participation of social forces, clarify the construction and maintenance requirements of barrier-free facilities, promote barrier-free information communication and improve barrier-free public services to help the disabled and seniors break communication barriers and get involved in society,” said Wang.

“The new regulations are more practical and detailed and raise the fines for damaging barrier-free facilities.” Under the new rule, anyone damaging or occupying such facilities face fines up to 20,000 yuan (US$3,053).

New, upgraded and expanded streets, public buildings, public transport facilities and residential complexes should meet the criteria of barrier-free facilities, according to the regulations.

Barrier-free facilities should have clear and noticeable signs, which should be included in the city’s guide system.

Public transport operators should install barrier-free vehicles based on demand, while Metro stations should set up facilities and connect them in transfer stations.

The regulations stipulate that public parking lots and parking lots at large residential complexes should set up barrier-free parking spaces with signs for the disabled, and the operators of parking lots should ask people not entitled to occupy barrier-free spaces to leave or report serious offenses to the police.

Tourist attractions and public cultural facilities should provide barrier-free services such as wheelchairs, audio guides or sign language for the disabled.