The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) yesterday said that it plans to increase the number of wheelchair-accessible taxis nationwide to 400 by the end of this year, adding that it would focus on promoting the availability of such services on the nation’s east coast.
Wheelchair-accessible taxis are able to carry physically challenged people, senior citizens and pregnant women.
Ministry of Health and Welfare statistics showed that there were about 740,000 physically challenged people nationwide as of last year, and the ministry estimated numbers would rise to 1.2 million by 2020.
Foreseeing the increase in demand for such transport facilities, the ministry began introducing barrier-free taxi services in 2013 and subsidized qualified taxi firms or independent drivers in purchasing properly equipped vehicles.
Department of Railways and Highways senior executive officer Lee Chao-shien (李昭賢) said that the number of wheelchair-accessible taxis rose from 131 in June last year to 252 as of last month.
Lee said that reasons for the increase include that drivers of such taxis are exempted from paying customs and cargo taxes when purchasing their vehicles, with some also receiving a cash bonus of NT$10,000 per year, depending on the number of physically challenged passengers they carry and whether they have customer complaints filed against them.
Lee said drivers wishing to operate wheelchair-accessible taxis have three car models to choose from, which have passed a national vehicle safety inspection, including the Volkswagen Caddy, Volkswagen T5 and Ford Tourneo Custom.
Despite the increase, the number of wheelchair-accessible taxis is still insufficient to meet the rising demand, Lee said.
About 73 percent of such taxis operate in Taipei and New Taipei City. The total number of wheelchair-accessible taxis in the other four special municipalities is 65.
No such vehicles are available on the east coast or in Hualien, Taitung or Chiayi, which are all counties with large aging populations.
Lee said that the ministry has worked with other government agencies to help raise the number of barrier-free taxis, adding that the Civil Aeronautics Administration has revised rules regulating such taxis operating at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, with 5 percent now dedicated to offering services for physically challenged passengers.
Such taxis would account for 4 percent of taxis waiting at high speed rail stations, Lee added.
As these drivers receive government subsidies for purchasing vehicles, at least 30 percent of their customers must be physically challenged passengers, Lee said, adding that local governments would conduct random inspections of drivers.
Physically challenged passengers are to pay standard taxi fares and should not be asked to pay extra for using these vehicles, he added.
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