No place for the handicapped in most European taxis 18-04-2007 In most European countries less than 10 per cent of the taxi fleet is
accessible for wheelchair users. There are more than 45 million disabled people
across Europe. Therefore, it is clearly important that accessibility to taxi
services should be improved. The European Conference of Ministers of Transport
(ECMT) and the International Road Transport Union (IRU) joined forces to examine
how taxis should be designed to be more accessible. The ‘Improving access to
taxis’ report provides recommendations for local and national governments, as
well as manufacturers and taxi operators.
The report shows that the ideal disability-friendly taxi fleet would be
composed of two types of taxi. The first type is the wheelchair accessible taxi,
which is capable of carrying the majority of passengers who travel in a
wheelchair, as well as people with other disabilities. The second type is the
standard accessible taxi. This taxi has features that make the use by disabled
people easier, though it is only be able to carry a wheelchair user who can
transfer to a taxi seat. The report provides specific design guidance for the
features of these taxis.
To encourage the taxi industry to buy and use these vehicles, local and/or
national governments should provide financial incentives. They could, for
example, reduce the cost of a taxi license for accessible vehicles. Local or
national governments (as appropriate) should also develop action plans
indicating the timescales for taxis to meet, initially, at least the minimum
design requirements. Moreover, local authorities should ensure that they provide
a good infrastructure for accessible taxi services, such as adequate lighting.
LinksVisit the website of the European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT)Visit the website of the International Road Transport Union (IRU) Files back |
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