Subsidies for disabled to use ‘London cabs’
Print Edition
DISABLED people are to get subsidies from the city to use Shanghai’s new “London taxis” after complaints that they are too expensive.
This will be 80 percent of the price difference between ordinary taxis and the gold-colored London cabs, the Shanghai Disabled People’s Federation announced yesterday.
A fleet of 50 China-made Geely TX4 cabs, the same model as used in Britain’s capital, hit Shanghai’s streets last month.
Priority is given to bookings from people with wheelchairs as these vehicles are more spacious than standard cabs and have accessibility features.
But the London cabs cost more than standard taxis — 5 yuan (82 US cents) more for the initial fare and after the first 3 kilometers the meter goes up at 2.6 yuan per kilometer, 0.2 yuan more than the standard.
Operator the Shanghai Qiangsheng Taxi Co said this is to reflect higher fuel and maintenance costs.
Under the scheme to be administered by the federation, 80 percent of this difference will be reimbursed by the city government.
Those eligible must have a Shanghai permanent residence permit and book the cab in advance. Details are still being worked out.
Swaying about
Meanwhile yesterday, disabled people gave a mixed reception to the city’s London cabs.
Around 30 people with spinal conditions took a fleet of the taxis to Lujiazui in the Pudong New Area on a trip organized by the Shanghai Association of People with Physical Disabilities.
“It would be better if both sides offered wheelchair access and if my wheelchair could be secured inside as it was swaying about,” said Zhang Quanyong, after a trip on a London cab yesterday morning.
Zhang also said he hoped that there could be more of the taxis as he’d learned that there is only one based in Putuo District.
Zhang said he usually used the Metro, though this was a complicated procedure.
“When I go out, my whole family accompanies me, and I need to go out after 10am and return before 3:30pm to avoid peak times on the Metro.”
Zhang said he seldom goes out due to the hassle involved.
But while Zhang broadly welcomed the London cabs, Fu Xiaomin, who is paraplegic, said she wouldn’t use them again.
She complained that it took two days to book one and when it arrived the foldable ramp was too steep, meaning that Fu’s husband and the driver had to work together to push her wheelchair into the taxi, she said.
Fu added that her husband had to hold the wheelchair tightly during the journey to ensure it didn’t move and that taking it back out could be dangerous as it could slip down the ramp.
And while the reimbursement scheme will help with fares, hiring a London cab will still cost passengers more, she said.
“It’s expensive, and the further you go, the more you cover yourself as we still need to pay 20 percent of the price difference under the new policy.”
Interested in service
Mao Panhong, an official with the Changning District Disabled Person’s Federation, said complaints include the higher charges and the inconvenience of booking in advance.
But a federation survey of 1,000 disabled people in the district found a quarter are interested in using the service, Mao said.
Sun Meilin, deputy director of the Shanghai Association of People with Physical Disabilities, said many people with disabilities in the city avoid going out except for important occasions such as tomb sweeping and hospital or family visits.
They usually choose the Metro when going out, she said.
Sun called on more local taxi operators to provide disabled-friendly vehicles.
Cheng Lin, an official with Qiangsheng, said the taxi operator will add more London cabs to its fleet.
“It is a welfare project, and we run a deficit for it due to the high maintenance and operation fees, but we are making efforts,” Cheng said.
The city has more than 30,000 people with serious physical disabilities.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
