It was my first experience to ride ferry, train and LRT from Penang to KL on 21 Nov.
Kakak and I started our trip at 5.30 am. My brother sent us to Penang jetty.
At Penang jetty, there is the waiting area designated for wheelchair users, the elderly and pregnant women. I tried to get a wheelchair through a narrow doorway. Unfortunately, I cannot get in the waiting area.
When the ferry arrived, we were let in by guard. I had no idea that this ferry ride would be. I just followed the passengers and to get on the ferry. There is the small step that led up to the ferry.
Wow...I was in the ferry! So enjoyable!
When ferry arrived Butterworth, I followed the passengers to walk towards the bridge.
Someone asked me where I wanna to go. I told her I needed to go to the KTM station to ride a train at 8am. It was 5 hours train ride from Butterworth to KL Sentra. She immediately responded that I could not use the bridge. There is the staircase.
I had no idea how to get to the railway station???
I saw the Rela (volunteers corp). He showed me the signboard that indicated the shuttle bus services provided in every 15 minutes. The priority would be given to the elderly, pregnant women, oku and small kids. I was so happy when I saw the signboard. There is the picture of rapid bus…which means I could get in the bus.
But, the Rela told me it is the van but not the bus. I was shocked! While in the waiting area I started getting worried…...
I tried to explain to him that my electric wheelchair only can fit into the van which has enough space. He smiled. He told me that my wheelchair could fit into the van. He was so confident.
I was in terrible doubt. The van that is accessible is the kind of the van which has the wheelchair lift.
I continued to ask him if there was any other option to go to KTM station. He explained to me that it was far away. It is not within walking distance. I only could go by van.
I continued to ask him that any bus stop nearby this area. So I could go by bus to the train station. Unfortunately, there is no bus station nearby and go to direction of KTM station.
I have no choice. The only thing that I could do was waiting for the van.
The first van arrived. He checked the first row of seat which is not a folding chair. He said I needed to wait the other van.
The worst assumption I made….that all the vans are not disabled friendly for sure.
I explained to Rela man. The only option was to carry me to sit on the seat. Also, the wheelchair folded up.
After roughly 20 minutes, the second van came.
They immediately tried to put the electric wheelchair into the van just after they carried me to sit on the seat. Two batteries of the electric wheelchair, the weight is near to 8kg. It is too heavy. They failed in their attempt to get a wheelchair in the van. After a few tries they gave up......
Three men sweated. The Rela man signed and said: “susahnya……tak boleh pi liao… (difficult….cannot go…)”
Again, I told them that they needed to fold up the electric wheelchair.
Now, they tried to understand what I mean. They nodded. They figured out how to do it. Finally, they did and succeeded to fold and put the wheelchair in the van.
There was a lot of work for sure because van is not accessible.
I really appreciate their helps. Without their helps, I could not go to the railway station. If I could not go to the railway station that means I could not go to KL.
To go into the train
We reached KTM station just after 5 minutes.
Rela man, driver and kakak (my assistant) were busy to unfold the wheelchair…install the batteries, cushion...Then, they carried me to sit on wheelchair.
After that, I approached the KTM counter. The official checked our tickets and guided us to the train station by lift. I was surprised that the lift is disabled friendly. That means the lift buttons are not only in the lower position (in which wheelchair users can easily press the lift buttons) but also in braille format. This is what we need.
When I wanted to go into the train, I saw the gap between the train door and the station platform. I feared the smaller front wheels stepped into the gap. Two officials helped me. But, they were inexperienced. The big back wheels slightly stepped into the gap. I did not fall forward from my wheelchair because I used the wheelchair seat belt. The safety belt I use same as the type of auto seat belt.
I did not see any safety belt on the train seat. So I chose to sit on my wheelchair rather than the train seat. My main concerned is safe.
I sat in the front. There is some space. Some difficulties when the passengers laden with the big luggage wanted to pass through to find their seats.
Tutu…tu..tu….The old train was moving. I could go to KL. My happiness was beyond the description.
Train toilets
There are two types of toilets in the train: square toilet and sitting toilet. The small step is in front of toilet door. The toilets are too small. The toilet door is hard to open. It is difficult even for able-bodied persons.
When someone inside the toilet, the light switch outside of the toilet door turns to red. The toilet door automatically locked. People outside hard to open. That is how it was supposed to be.
But, many times it was not working. Toilet light switch was not working and door not locked.
Person inside the toilet shouted when the door opened from the outside. Person who tried to open the toilet door shocked. The door closed faster. This was the most embarrassed moment that had happened. It had happened for five times. Hahahaa….
If I could manoeuvre inside the train, I hoped to approach them telling them had someone inside the toilet.
Toilet is the most common facility that we need regardless of gender, race or physical ability.
Kakak and I started our trip at 5.30 am. My brother sent us to Penang jetty.
At Penang jetty, there is the waiting area designated for wheelchair users, the elderly and pregnant women. I tried to get a wheelchair through a narrow doorway. Unfortunately, I cannot get in the waiting area.
When the ferry arrived, we were let in by guard. I had no idea that this ferry ride would be. I just followed the passengers and to get on the ferry. There is the small step that led up to the ferry.
Wow...I was in the ferry! So enjoyable!
When ferry arrived Butterworth, I followed the passengers to walk towards the bridge.
Someone asked me where I wanna to go. I told her I needed to go to the KTM station to ride a train at 8am. It was 5 hours train ride from Butterworth to KL Sentra. She immediately responded that I could not use the bridge. There is the staircase.
I had no idea how to get to the railway station???
I saw the Rela (volunteers corp). He showed me the signboard that indicated the shuttle bus services provided in every 15 minutes. The priority would be given to the elderly, pregnant women, oku and small kids. I was so happy when I saw the signboard. There is the picture of rapid bus…which means I could get in the bus.
But, the Rela told me it is the van but not the bus. I was shocked! While in the waiting area I started getting worried…...
I tried to explain to him that my electric wheelchair only can fit into the van which has enough space. He smiled. He told me that my wheelchair could fit into the van. He was so confident.
I was in terrible doubt. The van that is accessible is the kind of the van which has the wheelchair lift.
I continued to ask him if there was any other option to go to KTM station. He explained to me that it was far away. It is not within walking distance. I only could go by van.
I continued to ask him that any bus stop nearby this area. So I could go by bus to the train station. Unfortunately, there is no bus station nearby and go to direction of KTM station.
I have no choice. The only thing that I could do was waiting for the van.
The first van arrived. He checked the first row of seat which is not a folding chair. He said I needed to wait the other van.
The worst assumption I made….that all the vans are not disabled friendly for sure.
I explained to Rela man. The only option was to carry me to sit on the seat. Also, the wheelchair folded up.
After roughly 20 minutes, the second van came.
They immediately tried to put the electric wheelchair into the van just after they carried me to sit on the seat. Two batteries of the electric wheelchair, the weight is near to 8kg. It is too heavy. They failed in their attempt to get a wheelchair in the van. After a few tries they gave up......
Three men sweated. The Rela man signed and said: “susahnya……tak boleh pi liao… (difficult….cannot go…)”
Again, I told them that they needed to fold up the electric wheelchair.
Now, they tried to understand what I mean. They nodded. They figured out how to do it. Finally, they did and succeeded to fold and put the wheelchair in the van.
There was a lot of work for sure because van is not accessible.
I really appreciate their helps. Without their helps, I could not go to the railway station. If I could not go to the railway station that means I could not go to KL.
To go into the train
We reached KTM station just after 5 minutes.
Rela man, driver and kakak (my assistant) were busy to unfold the wheelchair…install the batteries, cushion...Then, they carried me to sit on wheelchair.
After that, I approached the KTM counter. The official checked our tickets and guided us to the train station by lift. I was surprised that the lift is disabled friendly. That means the lift buttons are not only in the lower position (in which wheelchair users can easily press the lift buttons) but also in braille format. This is what we need.
When I wanted to go into the train, I saw the gap between the train door and the station platform. I feared the smaller front wheels stepped into the gap. Two officials helped me. But, they were inexperienced. The big back wheels slightly stepped into the gap. I did not fall forward from my wheelchair because I used the wheelchair seat belt. The safety belt I use same as the type of auto seat belt.
I did not see any safety belt on the train seat. So I chose to sit on my wheelchair rather than the train seat. My main concerned is safe.
I sat in the front. There is some space. Some difficulties when the passengers laden with the big luggage wanted to pass through to find their seats.
Tutu…tu..tu….The old train was moving. I could go to KL. My happiness was beyond the description.
Train toilets
There are two types of toilets in the train: square toilet and sitting toilet. The small step is in front of toilet door. The toilets are too small. The toilet door is hard to open. It is difficult even for able-bodied persons.
When someone inside the toilet, the light switch outside of the toilet door turns to red. The toilet door automatically locked. People outside hard to open. That is how it was supposed to be.
But, many times it was not working. Toilet light switch was not working and door not locked.
Person inside the toilet shouted when the door opened from the outside. Person who tried to open the toilet door shocked. The door closed faster. This was the most embarrassed moment that had happened. It had happened for five times. Hahahaa….
If I could manoeuvre inside the train, I hoped to approach them telling them had someone inside the toilet.
Toilet is the most common facility that we need regardless of gender, race or physical ability.
Unfortunately, the old train toilets are not accessible to wheelchair users. Our most basic rights have always been forgotten…
By Khu Li Fang
