Department of Transportation

The Taipei City Government and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications today (5 February) held the ceremony of special taxi transportation service for people with disabilities at the Taipei City Hall. At the ceremony, the first taxi that can attach to and carry wheelchairs in Taiwan was officially introduced to the public. Ms. Yu-Hsin Yang, the legislator with a rare disease, representatives of various groups of people with disabilities, and many central and local citizen representatives were invited to attend the ceremony, and together to witness the new era of barrier-free transportation service.
As addressed by the Mayor of the Taipei City, Mr. Lung-Bin Hau, at the ceremony, he was pleased that Taipei City was the first city to have barrier-free taxes in Taiwan. Taipei City Government has been striving to meet the needs of people with disabilities for transportation, in particular, those relying on wheelchairs. Since the promotion of the barrier-free special transportation service, there have been more than 1,500 low-floor buses and 230 special transportation minibuses to meet the demands of people with disabilities for transportation. The special transportation service will be more complete with the addition of barrier-free taxies. The special taxi service operates for 24 hours and has flexibility and mobility. Eligibility to the service is not restricted so everyone including people with disabilities, the elderly or people with walking difficulty all can have access to the service. Convenience by taking the taxi is surely uplifted.
Mr. Hau specifically thanked the Ministry of Transportation and Communications at the ceremony for loosening the regulations regarding the special taxies, and providing subsidies to taxi business owners for purchasing the special taxies and provide the service. At the first stage, a total of 30 taxies were purchased, and the Taipei Star Taxi Company, which has been rated excellence for consecutively five times, was elected by public appraisal to operate the special taxies. The company is in charge of accepting booking and management of the service and drivers. It has completed the licensing process of ten vehicles, and training for drivers. These vehicles will be open for booking from 6 February. Booking will be accepted for the remaining vehicles once they arrive.
The taxi fare of the special transportation service will be the same as other common taxies. The special taxies will be installed with the MRT Card scanning device so by paying the taxi fare with the MRT Cards, the elderly and people with disabilities can still get the government transportation subsidy as like they travel by the special taxi service for the elderly (NT$16 subsidy for fare under NT$100 and NT$32 subsidy for fare more than NT$100). To make the booking, please make a phone call to the Taipei Star Taxi Group on 412833, or to the Taipei City Public Transportation Office on toll free 0800-055850.
Mr. Hau finally stressed that since the barrier-free special transportation taxies are new to the Taiwan, it takes time for passengers and the service provider to get used to each other and the vehicles. He hopes the service provider and drivers would be caring and considerate to provide the service to passengers with difficulty in walking. The Taipei City Government will oversee the taxi company to ensure the barrier-free transportation resources are well utilized so as to provide safer, more comfortable and more convenient transportation service, and benefit more people in need.

2013-03-05