The aim of this study is to make it clear whether people with visually impairment and
wheelchair users can freely move and whether they can make good use of the
equipments in New Seoul Station building, which was opened on November 30, 2003.
This survey provided the following results;
There is no difference in level in the station yard of New Seoul Station which was
newly-built. Many textured paving blocks are installed all over the place in the
station yard. As a result, wheelchair users and people with visually impairment have
been able to move smoothly. Especially, establishment of a ticket office and ticket
gates for persons with disability let me conclude that the new station building was
designed under the careful consideration of persons with disability using.
However, the difference of peculiar characteristic in moving or needs between
wheelchair users and people with visually impairment has not been considered.
As the station building is designed so that the both parties may use the same
equipment, many equipments which are hard for the both parties to use exist all over
the place.
To make matters worse, there are few direction boards indicating equipments for
persons with disability. The new station building is difficult for people who use this
station for the first time to recognize the existence of the equipments.