Published Friday, 23 November, 2007 at 04:09 PM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Govt meets commitment on wheelchair friendly taxi in Collinsville
Collinsville now has a new wheelchair friendly taxi to make life easier for people with restricted mobility.
The new taxi meets a $4.8 million Queensland Government election commitment to fund wheelchair-friendly cabs in 70 regional communities.
Transport Minister John Mickel said the new taxi would be available for general community use when it was not required by passengers with wheelchairs.
"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,” he said.
"The new wheelchair–friendly vehicles give these people more mobility and independence.
“This is a win-win, because it will also shorten waiting times for all Collinsville taxi patrons.”
Collinsville Taxi Service's new Toyota HiAce vehicle will be operated by existing taxi licensee Sonya Koppensteiner. It is equipped with the latest security cameras and can carry up to six people at a time when not needed by a passenger with a wheelchair.
“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 Mickel said.
“The new taxis the Queensland Government is funding are larger vehicles, able to carry more passengers than a regular taxi, which boosts capacity for many regional operators.
“For the community, it means better services, and for the operators it means a more viable business," he said.
Mr Mickel said the taxi commitment was one of the government’s regional passenger transport commitments, which include a $12.1 million plan to standardise bus fares in regional Queensland towns.
“The Government is close to finalising the new arrangements and we’re budgeting for extra buses because we believe this will further boost passenger numbers,” he said.
Media contact: Chris Brown (07) 3237 1944 or Jan Martin 3237 1125
November 23, 2007
The new taxi meets a $4.8 million Queensland Government election commitment to fund wheelchair-friendly cabs in 70 regional communities.
Transport Minister John Mickel said the new taxi would be available for general community use when it was not required by passengers with wheelchairs.
"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,” he said.
"The new wheelchair–friendly vehicles give these people more mobility and independence.
“This is a win-win, because it will also shorten waiting times for all Collinsville taxi patrons.”
Collinsville Taxi Service's new Toyota HiAce vehicle will be operated by existing taxi licensee Sonya Koppensteiner. It is equipped with the latest security cameras and can carry up to six people at a time when not needed by a passenger with a wheelchair.
“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 Mickel said.
“The new taxis the Queensland Government is funding are larger vehicles, able to carry more passengers than a regular taxi, which boosts capacity for many regional operators.
“For the community, it means better services, and for the operators it means a more viable business," he said.
Mr Mickel said the taxi commitment was one of the government’s regional passenger transport commitments, which include a $12.1 million plan to standardise bus fares in regional Queensland towns.
“The Government is close to finalising the new arrangements and we’re budgeting for extra buses because we believe this will further boost passenger numbers,” he said.
Media contact: Chris Brown (07) 3237 1944 or Jan Martin 3237 1125
November 23, 2007