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Main points regarding WATs
and people with physical disabilities in NSW (at
June 2001)
- Wheelchair users wait
significantly longer for wheelchair accessible
taxis than people who do not require wheelchair
accessible taxis. This is widespread, systemic
and discriminatory.
- No more than 300 of the
5,900 taxis in NSW are wheelchair accessible.
This is barely 5% of the total.
- There should be a
requirement over a reasonable timeframe that
operators replace current vehicles with a
universal taxi that complies with 100%
accessibility by which equality of outcome can
be achieved.
- According to the NSW
Department of Transport survey of wheelchair
accessible taxis users, the dedicated booking
service does not operate effectively nor does it
provide the same level of service for wheelchair
users as is available to the general public that
use taxis.
- 80% of all journeys made
by wheelchair accessible taxi in NSW result from
a private arrangement between the user and
individual taxi driver.
- Wheelchair accessible
vehicles are not necessarily more expensive to
run than vehicles that cannot meet the needs of
all passengers.
See - Commercial
Viability of Wheelchair Accessible Taxis,
2004
- Taxis should be safe for
all users. Drivers must be trained and tested in
the safe use of equipment and customer care.
This should be regularly tested by RTA
Inspectors on a frequent and ad hoc
basis.
- The draft standard for a
universal taxi design should be adopted,
implemented and enforced by all
regulators.
- To enable an equitable
distribution of WAT services across NSW it is
essential that the specified minimum percentage
shall consider the general population of a
region and the total number of taxis in its
fleet.
- It is not only wheelchair
users who experience discrimination in relation
to taxi services. People with physical
disability who do not use wheelchairs and other
people with disability have many issues relating
to disability discrimination inside the taxi
industry.
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Further
Information
WATs
Position Statement
Draft
Wheelchair Accessible Taxi Taskforce Report,
2004
The
Commercial Viability of Wheelchair Accessible
Taxis, 2004
Interim
Report of the WAT taskforce, 2004
HREOC Inquiry
into Equal Access to wheelchair accessible taxi
services (2002)
Taxis
And People With A Disability: Issues For Government
And Industry (1998)
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The
Physical Disability Council of NSW Inc (PDCN) is
the peak body representing people with physical
disabilities across New South Wales.
PDCN is involved in information, education and
systemic advocacy for, and on behalf of, people
with a physical disability.
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