New taxi smartcard clocks half-million trips
Published Thursday, 20 March, 2008 at 02:11 PM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Queensland's new Taxi Subsidy Smart Card (TSS) has already been used in more than half a million trips by eligible mobility impaired people.
Transport Minister John Mickel said the card had proven even more popular than expected since its launch on October 31 last year and the system was working efficiently.
"The smart card, with photo identification, was introduced to simplify and improve the security of the State Government's taxi fare subsidy scheme. The government pays half the taxi fare for eligible scheme members up to a limit of $25 per trip," he said.
"The card replaces a paper voucher system that was more difficult for members to use.
"It was introduced after extensive consultation with organisations representing mobility-impaired people and with the taxi industry, so we expected that it would prove popular.
"The take-up rate of the new cards by members is more than we expected with the peak of TSS usage reaching 7,300 trips on one day throughout the State," Mr Mickel said.
Spinal Injuries Association spokesman, John Mayo, said he had received very few complaints from association members about the new system.
"Initially TSS members did have some issues about providing a photo for their smartcard, but this was a small inconvenience for the benefits and ease of use," he said.
"Since introduction, no systemic issues have emerged and the Association has received only one complaint; that of a 'bad read' card for one member. This indicates the technology behind the scheme has a high level of performance
"The scheme is easier to use with members just producing their cards to the drivers at the start of each trip. The old method required books of paper vouchers that had to be carried around and completed for each taxi trip," Mr Mayo said.
"The scheme delivers an effective service and protects consumer privacy.
"One of the scheme's features is that each user is awarded a number. When the taxi driver swipes a member's card, it is their number that data is recorded against, not their name and address - so their contact details are not publicly displayed.
"Clearly, the new system is an easier, more convenient, practical, time efficient and secure service for both taxi users and drivers.
"It is critical that all eligible people register to come onto the new automated scheme to speed the process of ensuring better outcomes for users, the taxi industry and the government," Mr Mayo said.
Minister Mickel said the hi-tech smart card system automatically logged the details of each trip and charged half the total fare to Queensland Transport through the taxi's communication system.
"It does all the paperwork – members only have to hand their card over at the start of a trip and take it back when they reach their destination," he said.
"Drivers like it because it cuts down on their paperwork and therefore the amount of down time they have to spend off the road.
"Another big bonus is that it is resistant to abuse by any party, so money that might otherwise have been misappropriated is available to provide more trips for the people who really need and deserve that funding," Mr Mickel said.
Spinal Injuries Association contact: John Mayo 3391 2044
Ministerial contacts: Chris Brown 3237 1944
March 20, 2008
Transport Minister John Mickel said the card had proven even more popular than expected since its launch on October 31 last year and the system was working efficiently.
"The smart card, with photo identification, was introduced to simplify and improve the security of the State Government's taxi fare subsidy scheme. The government pays half the taxi fare for eligible scheme members up to a limit of $25 per trip," he said.
"The card replaces a paper voucher system that was more difficult for members to use.
"It was introduced after extensive consultation with organisations representing mobility-impaired people and with the taxi industry, so we expected that it would prove popular.
"The take-up rate of the new cards by members is more than we expected with the peak of TSS usage reaching 7,300 trips on one day throughout the State," Mr Mickel said.
Spinal Injuries Association spokesman, John Mayo, said he had received very few complaints from association members about the new system.
"Initially TSS members did have some issues about providing a photo for their smartcard, but this was a small inconvenience for the benefits and ease of use," he said.
"Since introduction, no systemic issues have emerged and the Association has received only one complaint; that of a 'bad read' card for one member. This indicates the technology behind the scheme has a high level of performance
"The scheme is easier to use with members just producing their cards to the drivers at the start of each trip. The old method required books of paper vouchers that had to be carried around and completed for each taxi trip," Mr Mayo said.
"The scheme delivers an effective service and protects consumer privacy.
"One of the scheme's features is that each user is awarded a number. When the taxi driver swipes a member's card, it is their number that data is recorded against, not their name and address - so their contact details are not publicly displayed.
"Clearly, the new system is an easier, more convenient, practical, time efficient and secure service for both taxi users and drivers.
"It is critical that all eligible people register to come onto the new automated scheme to speed the process of ensuring better outcomes for users, the taxi industry and the government," Mr Mayo said.
Minister Mickel said the hi-tech smart card system automatically logged the details of each trip and charged half the total fare to Queensland Transport through the taxi's communication system.
"It does all the paperwork – members only have to hand their card over at the start of a trip and take it back when they reach their destination," he said.
"Drivers like it because it cuts down on their paperwork and therefore the amount of down time they have to spend off the road.
"Another big bonus is that it is resistant to abuse by any party, so money that might otherwise have been misappropriated is available to provide more trips for the people who really need and deserve that funding," Mr Mickel said.
Spinal Injuries Association contact: John Mayo 3391 2044
Ministerial contacts: Chris Brown 3237 1944
March 20, 2008