Published Tuesday, 07 August, 2007 at 03:00 PM
Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Paul Lucas
NEW WHEELCHAIR-FRIENDLY TAXI AT WORK IN OAKEY
A new wheelchair-friendly taxi funded by the state government will soon hit the streets of Oakey. The new taxi will make life a little easier for people with restricted mobility and shorten waiting times for all Oakey taxi patrons.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport Phil Reeves said the new taxi would be used for general and community transport when not required by passengers confined to wheelchairs.
"This vehicle was provided under the government's Accessible Taxis for Queensland program which we established to fund wheelchair-accessible taxis for rural and remote communities that have a taxi licence but no accessible cab," Mr Reeves said.
"We expect to fund more than 70 vehicles for communities throughout Queensland by the end of 2008 – and for many communities, it will be their first wheelchair cab.
"Many people with mobility problems don't drive, so they need to get a lift from a friend or family member or catch a taxi. It's a major issue for them.
"The new wheelchair–friendly vehicles give these people a level of mobility they have not had, without having to rely on others to help them."
Oakey's new Toyota HiAce Commuter taxi would be operated by existing taxi licensee Ray McLellan. It would be equipped with the latest security cameras and was capable of carrying two wheelchair passengers at once. When not needed for wheelchairs, it could carry up to 10 people at a time.
“In the past, some taxi operators have found it difficult to run a service in rural and remote areas, let alone purchase a wheelchair-accessible vehicle that can cost up to $80,000," Mr Reeves said.
“The new taxis funded under this program are larger vehicles that can carry more passengers than a regular taxi, boosting capacity for many regional operators.
“For the community, it means better services, for the operators it means a more viable business."
Mr Reeves said the program would ensure Queensland continued to have the highest proportion of wheelchair-accessible taxis of any state in Australia.
“Currently 14 percent of the taxi fleet in Queensland is accessible and this will grow to 16 percent when the program is completed, compared with nine percent in New South Wales," he said.
Accessible Taxis for Queensland is also part of a bigger picture for improving taxi services in Queensland, which included the rollout of taxi security cameras and more taxi licences.
Media Contact: Brett Murphy 07 3237 1145
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport Phil Reeves said the new taxi would be used for general and community transport when not required by passengers confined to wheelchairs.
"This vehicle was provided under the government's Accessible Taxis for Queensland program which we established to fund wheelchair-accessible taxis for rural and remote communities that have a taxi licence but no accessible cab," Mr Reeves said.
"We expect to fund more than 70 vehicles for communities throughout Queensland by the end of 2008 – and for many communities, it will be their first wheelchair cab.
"Many people with mobility problems don't drive, so they need to get a lift from a friend or family member or catch a taxi. It's a major issue for them.
"The new wheelchair–friendly vehicles give these people a level of mobility they have not had, without having to rely on others to help them."
Oakey's new Toyota HiAce Commuter taxi would be operated by existing taxi licensee Ray McLellan. It would be equipped with the latest security cameras and was capable of carrying two wheelchair passengers at once. When not needed for wheelchairs, it could carry up to 10 people at a time.
“In the past, some taxi operators have found it difficult to run a service in rural and remote areas, let alone purchase a wheelchair-accessible vehicle that can cost up to $80,000," Mr Reeves said.
“The new taxis funded under this program are larger vehicles that can carry more passengers than a regular taxi, boosting capacity for many regional operators.
“For the community, it means better services, for the operators it means a more viable business."
Mr Reeves said the program would ensure Queensland continued to have the highest proportion of wheelchair-accessible taxis of any state in Australia.
“Currently 14 percent of the taxi fleet in Queensland is accessible and this will grow to 16 percent when the program is completed, compared with nine percent in New South Wales," he said.
Accessible Taxis for Queensland is also part of a bigger picture for improving taxi services in Queensland, which included the rollout of taxi security cameras and more taxi licences.
Media Contact: Brett Murphy 07 3237 1145