Published Thursday, 20 December, 2007 at 12:00 PM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
New wheelchair friendly taxi at work in Ingham
A new wheelchair friendly taxi, funded by the State Government, is now on the streets of Ingham. The new taxi will make life a little easier for people with restricted mobility and shorten waiting times for all Ingham taxi patrons.
Transport Minister, John Mickel, said the new taxi would be used for general and community transport when not required by wheelchair passengers. The vehicle was provided under the government's Accessible Taxis for Queensland (ATQ) program.
"The government established ATQ to fund wheelchair-accessible taxis to rural and remote communities that have a taxi licence but no accessible cab.
"We expect to fund more than 70 vehicles for communities throughout Queensland by the end of 2008," Mr Mickel said.
"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," he said.
The Minister said Ingham Taxi Service's new Toyota HiAce Commuter vehicle was operated by existing taxi licensee Ashley White. It was equipped with the latest security cameras and could carry two wheelchair passengers at once. When not needed by a wheelchair passenger, 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 Mickel said.
“The new taxis funded under the ATQ program 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 program will ensure that Queensland continues to have the highest proportion of wheelchair accessible taxis of any state in Australia.
““Currently 15 percent of the taxi fleet in Queensland is accessible - this will grow to 16 percent when the ATQ program is completed. That compares to the national average of only nine percent," he said.
“This is the first program to be funded under the State Government’s qconnect initiative, which will improve regional public transport services and connections.
“qconnect will fund initiatives for taxi, bus and air services to connect regional, rural and remote communities," Mr Mickel said.
The Minister said the ATQ program was 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: Shannon Mackay 3237 1125 or Nathan Moir 3235 4060
December 20, 2007
Transport Minister, John Mickel, said the new taxi would be used for general and community transport when not required by wheelchair passengers. The vehicle was provided under the government's Accessible Taxis for Queensland (ATQ) program.
"The government established ATQ to fund wheelchair-accessible taxis to rural and remote communities that have a taxi licence but no accessible cab.
"We expect to fund more than 70 vehicles for communities throughout Queensland by the end of 2008," Mr Mickel said.
"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," he said.
The Minister said Ingham Taxi Service's new Toyota HiAce Commuter vehicle was operated by existing taxi licensee Ashley White. It was equipped with the latest security cameras and could carry two wheelchair passengers at once. When not needed by a wheelchair passenger, 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 Mickel said.
“The new taxis funded under the ATQ program 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 program will ensure that Queensland continues to have the highest proportion of wheelchair accessible taxis of any state in Australia.
““Currently 15 percent of the taxi fleet in Queensland is accessible - this will grow to 16 percent when the ATQ program is completed. That compares to the national average of only nine percent," he said.
“This is the first program to be funded under the State Government’s qconnect initiative, which will improve regional public transport services and connections.
“qconnect will fund initiatives for taxi, bus and air services to connect regional, rural and remote communities," Mr Mickel said.
The Minister said the ATQ program was 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: Shannon Mackay 3237 1125 or Nathan Moir 3235 4060
December 20, 2007