With particular sensitivity to the needs of persons with disabilities, OASTH has offered since 7-4-2005 a groundbreaking program of free services for disabled persons using 4 specially designed buses (3 daily scheduled and 1 on reserve). This innovative service operates from 06:00 to 22:00 and on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 07:00 to 23:00, with particular satisfaction from the disabled people served, their families and the society of our city. Each transport of a disabled person is scheduled from the previous to the following day, after telephone communication by the disabled person himself or his relatives or through the staff of Associations or Bodies or Institutions that host disabled people, on the two (2) telephone lines 2310-933930 and 2310-952638 (contact hours 07:30-21:30), which are available exclusively for this use. As part of OASTH’s social contribution, the Organization also offers group transfers of persons with disabilities for social purposes.
The Organization’s main priority is to provide the transportation of people with disabilities with the best conditions of safety, comfort and convenience.
The Organization’s top priority is to transport persons with disabilities under the best conditions possible, with ease, comfort and safety. To that end, the buses are state-of-the-art, specially equipped to facilitate boarding and disembarking, fully air conditioned, with cooled bottled water provided during summer months (if technically possible), and an attendant who ensures the safe boarding and disembarkation and provides general assistance to persons with disabilities.
Up to date, approximately 980 disabled people, 640 people using wheelchairs and 340 people who use walking aids or visually impaired have expressed interest in the Free Service program and are being served. The total number of trips made since the service was launched until March 2025 is close to 150,000.
On average, more than 1,000 persons with disabilities are served each month by transport related to work, health, education or recreation.
The satisfaction rate of travel requests by telephone appointment ranges from 95% (the goal is the gradual satisfaction of up to 100% of service requests), while the reliability of implementing pre-arranged appointments reaches 100% with absolute accuracy.
In addition to the daily schedule of transport using the aforementioned free service for persons with disabilities, OASTH has also responded to requests by organizations and associations of disabled persons, working with them to provide free mass transport for groups of disabled individuals attending group activities, or scheduled events of a local, national or international nature. Specifically, groups of disabled people were transported for the following purposes:
• June 2008, as part of an international conference on the European “Grundtvig” lifelong learning programme for persons with mobility impairment or developmental disabilities in cooperation with the Special Psychiatric Hospital of Thessaloniki.
• March 2009, as part of the 4th Open Swimming Championship for persons with disabilities, in cooperation with the Hellenic Sports Federation for Persons with Disabilities.
• May 2009, as part of a transnational meeting under the European “Grundtvig” lifelong learning programme for persons with disabilities, in cooperation with the Parents, Guardians and Friends of Persons with Disabilities Association “Amimoni”.
• May 2009, as part of the Greek Special Olympics, in cooperation with the non-profit organisation, Special Olympics Hellas.
• September 2009, as part of the cultural event “Greek-Serbian Meeting of Artists with or without Disabilities”, staged by the Institute for Community Rehabilitation.
• December 2009, mass transfer of persons with disabilities with 5 buses to and from the KAPPA 2000 (Centre for Development of Culture and Adapted Sports) facilities in Peraia, Thessaloniki, as part of a social event highlighted by the theatre performance, There is no peak that can’t be conquered.
• March 2010, as part of the 5th Open Swimming Championship for persons with disabilities, in cooperation with the Hellenic Sports Federation for Persons with Disabilities.
• March 2010, as part of the European Disability Forum in cooperation with the National Confederation of Disabled People (ESAEA).
• March 2010, as part of the Panhellenic 5X5 Football Championship for the Blind, in cooperation with the Hellenic Sports Federation for Persons with Disabilities.
• December 2011, mass transfer of persons with disabilities with 5 buses to and from the KAPPA 2000 (Centre for Development of Culture and Adapted Sports) facilities in Peraia, Thessaloniki, as part of a social event highlighted by the theatre performance, Heaven on Earth.
• November 2012, mass transfer of persons with disabilities with 4 buses to and from the KAPPA 2000 (Centre for Development of Culture and Adapted Sports) facilities in Peraia, Thessaloniki, as part of a social event highlighted by the theatre performance, A Starry Sky.
In addition to the above services, the Organisation further strives to meet the needs of persons with disabilities by offering the following services:
I. About 80% of the buses are accessible to persons with disabilities and have a kneeling system to facilitate boarding, while also helping other individuals requiring special assistance (the elderly, pregnant women, etc.);
II. There are 4 seats inside buses specially designated for persons requiring assistance (the elderly, pregnant women, parents with young children, etc.);
III. The Passenger Charter includes special regulations outlining services provided to persons with disabilities, while also providing for entry into buses of visually impaired or blind persons accompanied by a guide dog.
IV. Since September 2007, a visual and audio telematic system to announce bus stops has been in operation on all buses, making travel easier for persons with hearing and vision problems.
V. OASTH has already installed an audio system to announce bus arrivals at telematic smart stops, activated by devices used by visually impaired individuals at traffic lights. The system is operating on a pilot basis at the School for the Blind bus stop and will be expanded to 19 new stops in cooperation with and on the recommendation of the Panhellenic Association of the Blind and the Institute for the Protection of the Blind in Northern Greece (“Ilios” School for the Blind).
