Federal Constitution
Article 8 paragraphs 2 and 4:
“No one may be discriminated against, in particular on grounds of (...) a physical, mental or psychological disability.”
“The law must provide for measures to eliminate inequalities that affect persons with disabilities.”
In relation to public transport, the Disability Discrimintation Act (DDA) stresses that new vehicles and new stops and stations, as well as those that are being upgraded for reasons including maintenance, network development and operational safety, must meet the needs of passengers with reduced mobility. In such cases, modifications for persons with reduced mobility can be carried out at a reasonable cost. Buildings, equipment and vehicles that cannot be adapted for disabled people easily and inexpensively, must be adapted as part of a special programme (“DDA implementation project”) by the end of 2023 at the latest. The Federal Parliament has earmarked CHF 300 M spread over 20 years to finance such cases. The cantons must also expect additional costs of around CHF 300 M for these special cases. Customer information systems and ticket machines must be adapted in accordance with the law by the end of 2013.
The PTAO broadly defines the actual meaning of “accessible public transport”: trains, buses, trams, boats and funiculars must in principle be accessible to people with hearing, mobility or visual impairments, and as accessible as possible to people with cognitive impairments. The PTAO also stipulates the financing conditions for implementation.
The PTTRO contains a detailed specification of the general technical standards relevant for persons with reduced mobility using public transport. It also stipulates the specific standards for buses/trolley buses and funiculars. For the specific standards for trains it refers to the implementing regulations of the Railways Ordinance, and for the specific standards for boats, to the implementing regulations of the Shipbuilding Ordinance.
