Taxis & Ridesharing - articles, discussion ...

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ABC News --> Shortage of wheelchair accessible taxis reaching 'crisis point' as minister set to review taxi licensing framework

Amy Tobin tries to avoid catching taxis but said it has come at the cost of her independence.

"You can be waiting anywhere from two to four hours to be picked up," she said.

"It is pretty nerve-wracking when you are on your own," she said. ...

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ABC News --> Taxi drivers forced to turn on meter for all hail, rank services, even if fare already agreed

Queensland taxi drivers will be mandated to turn on their meters for all rank and hail journeys, even if a pre-arranged price has been agreed to, in a bid to ensure passengers are not overcharged. ...

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Media Statement

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/99381

20th December 2023

Double lift payments on Christmas Day for wheelchair accessible taxi trips

Minister for Transport and Main Roads and Minister for Digital Services
The Honourable Bart Mellish

. The Miles Government is doubling the lift payment for taxi drivers on Christmas Day – to be set at $40 per eligible trip.

. The payment acknowledges the importance of wheelchair accessible taxis being available to enable Queenslanders to spend time with loved ones at Christmas by incentivising drivers to undertake wheelchair accessible taxi trips.

Passengers with a wheelchair will be able to travel more reliably on Christmas Day with the Miles Government doubling the lift payment for taxi drivers to $40 for one day only.

The additional Wheelchair Accessible Taxi (WAT) payment recognises the importance of being able to travel freely on Christmas Day to spend time with families and friends.

Increasing the level of the driver incentive to undertake each trip will make it more attractive to drivers to provide services at Christmas and will help to ensure that passengers requiring an accessible taxi can access a WAT when they need one.

The lift payment is a driver incentive that applies for each eligible WAT trip involving transportation of a Taxi Subsidy Scheme (TSS) member who is required to travel in a wheelchair.

The payments are designed to improve service provision by helping to ensure personalised transport services remain accessible to people with disabilities.

The lift payment is not part of the taxi fare so there is no additional cost to the passenger. The whole lift payment is paid to the taxi driver who provided the service.

Taxi companies are also working to deliver Christmas Day services when they are needed, and are encouraging passengers to book in advance to help ensure they can meet demand.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Transport and Main Roads Bart Mellish:

"This initiative will support passengers reliant on a wheelchair to be able to travel reliably on Christmas Day.

"The Miles Government is determined to work with the taxi industry to ensure the delivery of high-quality services for vulnerable members of the community."

For more information on TSS or WAT lift payments, visit qld.gov.au.

ENDS

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https://x.com/heidimur/status/1769435851887681795?s=20

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Government Statement

State Budget to boost taxi accessibility

> https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/100574

. The Miles Government will provide more than $7.5 million over four years in the State Budget to improve taxi accessibility.

. The money will increase the Lift Payment from $20 to $25 to help incentivise taxi drivers to complete eligible wheelchair trips and double the Lift Payment to $50 on Christmas Day.

. It comes as the Miles Government extends the $21 million Wheelchair Accessible Taxi (WAT) Grant Scheme for an additional 12 months and increases the funding for eligible vehicles.

More > https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/100574

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Queensland Parliament

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2024/627-2024.pdf

Question on Notice
No. 627
Asked on 22 May 2024

MS F SIMPSON ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS AND MINISTER
FOR DIGITAL SERVICES (HON B MELLISH)

QUESTION:

Will the Minister advise the number of Taxi Subsidy Scheme cards issued for able-bodied persons
and the disabled (wheelchair) persons since 2019 (reported separately by year) in Queensland
and the Sunshine Coast Region?

ANSWER --> https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2024/627-2024.pdf

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TMR: Future Licensing Review
Have your say on the future taxi licensing framework in Queensland

https://www.yoursay-projects.tmr.qld.gov.au/future-licensing-review