SINGAPORE - With anxiety among wheelchair users over the phasing out of
London Cabs next year, the Government will be giving grants to taxi
operators to operate taxis which can accommodate larger and high-back
motorised wheelchairs.
Through this grant, the Government hopes to encourage operators to double the fleet size of wheelchair-accessible taxis from the current 15 London Cabs, said Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Chan Chun Sing, when he announced the grant yesterday.
Currently, wheelchair commuters can only make use of London Cabs to get around. However the licences of these London Cabs will expire next March.
Speaking after a visit to the Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD), Mr Chan said: "I understand the anxiety among London Cab users about the phasing out of these taxis in 2013."
Taxi operators can submit proposals applying for the grant from yesterday until June 25. They will be assessed on criteria such as the ability of the vehicles to accommodate different types of wheelchairs, and service standards on required booking time and availability to wheelchair users.
A spokesperson for the Ministry for Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) said that funding support would be provided to successful applicants to defray the Certificate of Entitlement and Additional Registration Fee of wheelchair-accessible taxis through the grant.
"The total amount of grant will depend on the eventual fleet size. For example, if the fleet is 30 vehicles, the grant could be about S$3 million," said the spokesperson. "Successful applicants for this grant would also have to adhere to the existing quality service standards for all taxis. We are also looking to reduce the wait time for advance bookings from three days to two days (48 hours)."
The ministry also encouraged taxi operators to channel a portion of their revenue or profit back to help people with disabilities.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, SPD president Chia Yong Yong said: "Aside from offering grants to taxi companies to provide this, we hope that the authorities will also ensure that the transport operators offer an affordable and safe transport system for people with disabilities, including adequate training for drivers so that they are able to effectively assist passengers with disabilities."
She added: "We also hope to see greater accessibility both in the transport system and infrastructure that would enable people with disabilities to truly step out without barriers."
Through this grant, the Government hopes to encourage operators to double the fleet size of wheelchair-accessible taxis from the current 15 London Cabs, said Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Chan Chun Sing, when he announced the grant yesterday.
Currently, wheelchair commuters can only make use of London Cabs to get around. However the licences of these London Cabs will expire next March.
Speaking after a visit to the Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD), Mr Chan said: "I understand the anxiety among London Cab users about the phasing out of these taxis in 2013."
Taxi operators can submit proposals applying for the grant from yesterday until June 25. They will be assessed on criteria such as the ability of the vehicles to accommodate different types of wheelchairs, and service standards on required booking time and availability to wheelchair users.
A spokesperson for the Ministry for Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) said that funding support would be provided to successful applicants to defray the Certificate of Entitlement and Additional Registration Fee of wheelchair-accessible taxis through the grant.
"The total amount of grant will depend on the eventual fleet size. For example, if the fleet is 30 vehicles, the grant could be about S$3 million," said the spokesperson. "Successful applicants for this grant would also have to adhere to the existing quality service standards for all taxis. We are also looking to reduce the wait time for advance bookings from three days to two days (48 hours)."
The ministry also encouraged taxi operators to channel a portion of their revenue or profit back to help people with disabilities.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, SPD president Chia Yong Yong said: "Aside from offering grants to taxi companies to provide this, we hope that the authorities will also ensure that the transport operators offer an affordable and safe transport system for people with disabilities, including adequate training for drivers so that they are able to effectively assist passengers with disabilities."
She added: "We also hope to see greater accessibility both in the transport system and infrastructure that would enable people with disabilities to truly step out without barriers."
政府计划协助德士公司增添“亲轮椅”德士，
让以轮椅代步的体障者更方便使用德士服务。
社会发展、青年及体育部代部长陈振声昨天在走访体障人士协会之后，
向记者透露这个消息。
社青体部发言人表示，
协助的方式或津贴数额将视可供轮椅使用的德士数量而定，
不仅协助业者降低启动成本，
也抵消部分运作成本。
社青体部首次资助解决残疾者交通问题。
完整报道，请翻阅23.05.2012《联合早报》。
PS:
At least this is a good news to the disables.
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