Services to Persons with Disabilities by OASTH
You can call on one of two telephone lines, 2310-933930 & 2310-952638, to find out how you can be transported with the special vehicles for PwDs of OASTH and everything you need to know to receive the best possible service by the Transportation Bus Service.
In addition, the five-digit number 11085 of the OASTH information center is also available.
Hours of operation of the PwD hotlines and the information center are: daily from 7:30 to 22:00.
Announcements for Persons with Disabilities
For the convenience and information of Persons with Disabilities who are entitled to an unlimited travel card for the year 2024, taking into account:
the No. 21258/15.3.2024 (Government Gazette B 1806/22.3.2024) Joint Decision of the Ministers of Finance, Social Cohesion & Family, and Infrastructure & Transport, as well as,
the protocol no. 24376/28.3.2024 clarifying circular of the Ministry of Social Cohesion & Family, which concerns the granting of PwD Movement Passes for the year 2024, we propose that the following message be added via telematics to the bus stops and inside the buses, as well as to the website of OASTH:
“THE ISSUE OF PwD CARDS FOR 2024 WILL BEGIN AT CITIZENS’ SERVICE CENTERS (CSCs) ON APRIL 4, 2024, AND ENDS ON OCTOBER 31, 2024.”
35 of the most central OASTH bus stops of Thessaloniki got a voice!
In particular, the Transportation Bus Service of Thessaloniki, which has persistently been supporting persons with disabilities, has modernized and expanded the audio announcement system of bus arrivals, at selected stops, which were determined in collaboration with the Panhellenic Association of the Blind - Regional Union of Central Macedonia and the Panhellenic Association of Paraplegics - Annex of Macedonia-Thrace.
The system was operated at some stops by remote control and has now been extended to a total of 35 stops. Importantly, the system has been completely modernized, and is now activated by the user with a button instead of the remote control.
So, persons with a visual impairment arriving at the stop do not need to have an activation device with them (which they may have forgotten at home, or which may have run out of batteries). Simply pressing a button, they are informed of the arrival time of the buses servicing that stop.
The 35 stops are equipped with the button that activates the sound announcement on the signpost. For the essential facilitation of people with visual impairment, the volume of the sound has been checked and adjusted so that it can be heard over the noise of a busy day.
The audio announcement of bus arrivals was implemented by OSETH within the framework of the National Action Plan for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
“The Transportation Bus Service of Thessaloniki continues to practically support our fellow citizens with disabilities. OSETH's support has been consistent, and we will continue along these lines, with activities, actions and services that improve their daily lives,” underscores OSETH's President and CEO, Costas Tangiris.
OASTH, with particular sensitivity to Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), has been offering, since April 7, 2005, the pioneering program of free service for PwDs with four (4) specially adapted vehicles (3 in regular scheduling, and 1 reserve). This innovative service is already in its eighth year of daily operation, from 06:00 to 22:00, and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 07:00 to 23:00, at the great satisfaction of the persons with disabilities served, their families and the community of our city. Each PwD transport is planned from the day before, following telephone contact of the PwD or a member of their family, or a member of the staff of Paraplegic Associations or Institutions accommodating PwDs, on one of the two telephone lines, 2310-933930 and 2310-952638 (contact hours 07:30–21:30), available exclusively for that use. In the context of this social project, OASTH also provides pre-agreed group transportation for Persons with Disabilities for social purposes.
The organization’s main priority is to ensure that the movement of PwDs is provided under the best conditions of ease, comfort and safety. For this reason, the buses are modern, equipped with special boarding and disembarking equipment, air-conditioned, with the possibility of providing cool bottled water in the summer months (if technically possible), while there is also an attendant present, who ensures safe boarding and disembarking, as well as the over quality of service to PwDs.
To date, 382 PwDs have expressed interest in the free service program and are being served by it (more than 284 of which are wheelchair users or have severe mobility impairments, and thus priority in the right to travel, 10 are completely blind, and 88 have milder mobility or other impairments).
The total number of trips carried out from the start of the service until December 2012 was 82,485, 70,836 of which concerned users of wheelchairs or persons with severe mobility impairment, while the remaining 11,649 concerned people with visual impairment or other forms of disability.
Every month, more than 1,000 PwDs on average are being served, the purpose of their transport being work, healthcare, education, or entertainment purposes.
The satisfaction rate of travel requests by telephone appointment is 91.5% (the goal is the gradual fulfilment of up to 100% of service requests), while the reliability of the implementation of pre-agreed appointments reaches 100% and with absolute accuracy.
In addition to the above-mentioned services, the Organization takes further steps towards caring for PwDs, offering the following services:
Approximately 80% of the buses have an access system for PwDs and a kneeling system to facilitate their boarding, as well as to facilitate other persons facing challenges (elderly, pregnant women, etc.)
Inside the buses, 4 seats are provided for persons with impairments or facing other challenges (elderly, pregnant women, parents with small children, etc.).
There are special arrangements for service obligations to persons with disabilities, while provision is also made for the entry on the buses of visually impaired people who are accompanied by a guide dog.
Since September 2007, a telematics-powered system of visual and audio announcement of the stops has been operating aboard all buses, to facilitate people with hearing and/or vision impairments.
OASTH has already installed the system of audio announcement of the arrival buses at smart telematic stops, operated by the same remote controls used by the visually impaired for the traffic lights. The system is being pilot-tested at the stop at the School for the Blind, and will be expanded to 19 new stops, in collaboration with, and in accordance with the instructions provided by, the Panhellenic Association of the Blind and the Foundation for the Protection of the Blind of Northern Greece "THE SUN” - SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND.
Service Regulations for Persons with Disabilities
Decision A-31039/2459/25.5.2007 & amendment, and supplement thereof with decision A-65033/5731/08 published in the Government Gazette Issue 438/Β’/11-3-2009.
Regulations of the Organization - Operation and Service of Transporting Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) on OSETH’s special buses.
Pursuant to the provisions of par. 3 of article 17 of Law 3185/2003 (GGI A' 229/ 26.9.2003), throughout the provision of urban transport services to the passenger public in its area of responsibility, O.A.S.TH. is obliged to supply and put into circulation, for the free of charge (no fare) transportation of persons with mobility impairments and other Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), two (2) exclusive vehicles specially adapted for the transport of wheelchairs and the companions of PwDs. Also, OASTH has one (1) additional vehicle that will act as a backup for the aforementioned two (2) vehicles.
O.A.S.TH. is also obliged to put into circulation the third-backup vehicle on days of increased demand when the requested transportations of PwDs are not 100% covered.
In each wheelchair position, the restraining and safety means prescribed by applicable legislation will be installed.
The seats of the Companions will have approved seat belts.
The vehicles will have a heating and cooling system and, if technically possible, an integrated refrigerator to cover the water needs of transported PwDs.
The exterior coloring of the bus will be white, with O.A.S.TH. retaining the discretion to have its logo and brand placed on it, as well as social messages regarding services provided to PwDs, or to cover the entire external surface of the vehicle.
O.A.S.TH. is obliged to provide said services to PwDs as follows:
During weekdays from 06:00 to 22:00 (i.e. in two shifts), with both of the two (2) vehicles in each shift, and adding the third vehicle whenever there is increased demand.
On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 07:00 to 23:00 (i.e. in two shifts), with one (1) vehicle in each shift and adding the second vehicle whenever there is increased demand.
PwDs will be served with the aforementioned vehicles, after a telephone pre-arrangement-appointment made either the day before or on the same day (at least two hours before the time of the transport, for the orderly operation of the service) of the movement of PwDs and their companions to and from their destination (residence, entertainment, hospital, etc.).
Using the aforementioned vehicles and upon prior consultation with PwD Parents' Associations or PwDs Associations, etc., transport can also be organized for social purposes (events, etc.), arranged at least two (2) days before the day of the transport.
PwD transports with the aforementioned vehicles are performed to and from the entire area under the responsibility of O.A.S.TH.
In order to be served with the special vehicles of O.A.S.TH., PwDs and their companions contact the competent staff of O.A.S.TH., either the day before or on the same day of the transport, at at least two (2) telephone numbers published by O.A.S.TH., which operate, at least, during the hours 07:30 to 21:30 on all days (weekdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays), to announce the transportation and any relevant information (place and time of boarding - disembarking, etc.).
First priority in the right to travel belongs to the physically impaired PwDs (users of a wheelchair, or persons with severe mobility impairment that does not allow them to use conventionally accessible buses) (Priority “1”), who are given the opportunity to contact O.A.S.TH. from 07:30 to 10:00 on the previous day, to be the first to plan the journey they want. Next come those with 100% vision impairment (Priority “2”), who are given the opportunity to call O.A.S.TH. from 10:30 to 12:00 to plan the journey they want, and then, from 12:30 to 14:00 come the rest of the PwD categories (Priority “3”) who will be served in the available free time slots, or with combined transport, after fulfilling the transportation requests of the first two categories of PwDs. After 15:00 it is possible for all 3 categories of persons with disabilities to plan travel in the remaining available free time slots or with combined transport. In order to serve as many PwDs as possible, the following restrictions apply:
(a) Each PwD has the right to a maximum of one (1) return journey to and from their destination or two (2) one-way journeys per day.
(b) If all submitted travel requests have been satisfied and there are available time slots in the already configured schedule of service, the possibility of additional travel is provided, for all categories of PwDs, beyond the limitations defined in the preceding subsection (a). The additional travel requests are submitted by phone, either the day before after 18.00, or on the same day of travel at least two (2) hours before it takes place.
The mandated bodies of O.A.S.TH. asses the PwDs’ requests for transportation, organize and plan the circulation and route, or routes, of the vehicles, so that as many PwDs as possible are served in the best possible way.
In order to join the program services by the aforementioned vehicles, every PwD is required to submit a relevant application with the necessary information for their service (name, surname, home and work address, contact numbers, usual destination, etc.), the disability and its rating (which is documented by submitting a certificate issued by the competent public health service), as well as any other additional information that will facilitate the processing of their request.
Every PwD traveling with the aforementioned vehicles is required to arrive on time at their appointment for travel. For the smooth execution of the daily service schedule, the vehicle does not wait for the prospective PwD passenger and their companion for more than five (5) minutes from the scheduled appointment time. The control of compliance or non-compliance with the above will also be done through the Telematics System of O.A.S.TH.
If the PWD does not arrive at the pre-arranged appointment even after the above additional time of five (5) minutes, they lose their right to the specific transport and the special PwD transport vehicle departs to continue its schedule.
The provision of further service to Persons with Disabilities will be reviewed by the authorized bodies of O.A.S.TH, in cases where, for any reason or cause, the interested parties:
Do not come to the prearranged appointments, in accordance with the provisions in paragraph 3 of this article.
Do not proceed to the timely cancellation of scheduled appointments, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 5 of this article.
Such PwDs will be served in second priority compared with the other beneficiaries of their “priority” category, as defined in paragraph 5 of article 4.
PwDs are obliged to inform the authorized employee of O.A.S.TH. in a timely manner {at least from the previous day or at least two (2) hours before the agreed time of the transport}, about the cancellation of an already arranged transport. If there is no timely notification of cancellation of an already confirmed transport, the transport will be “charged” to the PwD as a no-show.
In the event that OASTH cancels or is unable, for any reason, to carry out the planned transport, or the special vehicle is delayed, beyond five (5) minutes from the predetermined appointment time, OASTH is obliged to inform the PwD passenger in a timely manner in any convenient way.
The details of PwDs may not, in any way, be made public by O.A.S.TH. or any member of its staff, or to be given to any third party (confidential personal data).
O.A.S.TH. ensures the training of the staff of the PwD transportation program through specialized seminars.
For the best and safest possible service to PwDs, O.A.S.TH. offers to the persons transported:
Attendant, mandatory on the 1st shift on weekdays. If the PwDs transported are not accompanied, the Attendants, or the Drivers (on days and times when there are no Attendants), ensure the assistance of the PwDs, so that their boarding and disembarking takes place in the safest possible way. It is clarified that the Attendants and Drivers are not obliged to carry PwDs away from the special service vehicle. They are obliged to assist PwDs in boarding and disembarking, at the exact predetermined meeting point, to which the PwD arrives at their or their companion's sole responsibility.
The supply of bottled water (0.5 lit) during the summer months (July – August), if requested by the transported PwD.
With the aim and objective of providing the best possible services to PwDs, O.A.S.TH. may cooperate with PwD Associations of Parents and Guardians, or Associations or Federations of PwDs (paraplegics, etc.).
The present Regulations are amended each time by a decision of the Minister of Transport and Communications, after a recommendation from O.S.E.T.H. and opinion of O.A.S.TH.
he validity of these Regulations begins on the 1st of the month following the publication of this decision in the Government Gazette, replacing the No. Α-75442/6521/26-1-2005 (Β’ 146) decision “Organization-Operation and Service Regulations for Transporting Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) on OASTH’s special buses,” which will no longer be valid.
