China is endeavoring to improve grassroots-level governance and make public services more responsive to people's needs.
In Beijing, one example starts with a resident speaking up about an everyday problem.
His feedback brought local officials and different departments together to improve accessibility for the visually impaired.
Meng Lin is a community-level official with Beijing's Chaoyang District government. Part of her job is responding to residents' concerns about local roads and traffic conditions.
Two years ago, she received a complaint from Wang Zhigang, a visually impaired resident who said the traffic signals near his home were too quiet to be heard.
"I couldn't tell when the light was green or red. It was the Spring Festival, so there were very few pedestrians. I couldn't find anyone to ask. I stood there for four or five minutes. I thought, surely, I could cross somehow. But I just felt completely helpless," Wang said.
Meng knew she needed to experience the route herself. Only then could she understand the problem firsthand.
"I got a call back the next day. About 24 hours later, someone called to ask about my needs. What impressed me most was that she said, 'I'll walk the route with you. Show me where you need to go and what problems you face.'" Wang said.
They made many visits together and fixed the problem on traffic lights. The focus soon went beyond traffic signals, including examining tactile paving and its design.
"This is an issue we discovered, and we immediately implemented a fix. His experience helped me better understand visually impaired people. It also showed me where we need to improve accessibility," Meng said.
But accessibility doesn't end when repairs are complete. Meng and colleagues from different departments created a group chat with Wang. He could report problems as they arose.
Now, Beijing is planning its transport projects for the next five years. Meng said accessibility is a key consideration. Their experience with Wang will provide data for longer term planning.
"In the past, the focus was simply on having roads and making them wide enough. Now, we are moving toward more detailed improvements. It's like embroidery. We need to make every detail more precise. As we move forward, accessibility will be an essential area of our work," Meng said.
Today, the crossings around Wang's neighborhood are much easier to navigate. For Wang, that means greater safety and more freedom to get around on his own.
China improves grassroots-level governance to better meet people's needs
