Page 110 - O Οργανισμός Αστικών Συγκοινωνιών Θεσσαλονίκης από το 1957 μέχρι σήμερα | The Organisation of Urban Transportation of Thessaloniki from 1957 to the present day

Chapter 4
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In recent years, information can also be obtained through the Google Maps application. In fact, OASTH was awarded a prize for its information services at an in- ternational conference held in London in 2016.
In 2005, OASTH acquired two small buses for the free transportation of people with special needs, upon tele- phone request, every day of the week, from 6:30 am to 10:00 pm. Besides the driver, there’s also an attendant to help passengers. These buses –three of them now, plus a spare– are used by a lot of people in the city for differ- ent purposes.
Recently, an audio announcement system for bus ar- rivals for visually impaired people, as well as Braille signs, have been installed at several stops. In addition, a feature has been added to the OASTH website that makes it easy to use for people who have difficulty using the Internet.
line 50: a cultural route
In 2009, a special themed bus line was introduced to the OASTH routes. This is “line 50: Cultural Route”, with the White Tower, the city’s most famous monument, being both the first and last stop, passing in 50 minutes (hence the line number) from the most important monuments of Thessaloniki: the White Tower, the Archaeological and Byzantine Museums, the Galerian Complex, Agia Sophia, Aristotelous Square, Dioikitirio, Agios Dimitrios, Ano Poli. There is also a guide on the bus who describes and ex- plains the points of interest in Greek and English. Recent- ly, a tactile tour guide in Braille has been created, explain-
ing the monuments to people with visual impairments. It is a popular OASTH bus line that serves both Greek and foreign visitors, promoting the history and culture of the city at an affordable price.
social activities
OASTH has a continuous presence in society. It is con- stantly involved in charitable activities, providing free transportation for children living in non-profit facilities, as well as various forms of assistance to fellow citizens who have suf fered natural disasters, such as those strick- en by fires. European Mobility Week is a constant oppor- tunity to organise various activities that highlight the im- portance of using public transport. In addition, OASTH constantly protects public health, both during the quar- antine period and afterwards (acquisition of defibrilla- tors), while humanitarian action is also part of the or- ganisation’s agenda, helping with human suffering (ref- ugees from Russia in the 1990s, refugees from Ukraine in 2022, solidarity with Yugoslavian fellow drivers during the Civil War of the 1990s, provision of medical care).Spe- cial measures are also taken every summer to improve access for the people of Thessaloniki to the eastern coast, so that they can enjoy swimming.
present at important anniversaries
OASTH is always present at important city anniversa- ries. Every year, during national holidays (March 25, Oc- tober 28), as well as on city holidays (the feast of the pa-