London cabs to be tested for disabled
Satisfied with the first year after London Taxis were introduced on to Perth roads, the State Government is now looking to expand the service to cater for disabled and wheelchair-bound passengers.
A small trial will begin next month to gauge the benefits and limitations of the London Cabs - also known as TX4 purpose-built taxis - in accommodating wheelchairs and their users.
As part of the trial, a qualified occupational therapist will be employed to develop safe-practice guidelines for passengers and deliver appropriate training for drivers.
Transport Minister Dean Nalder said feedback from London Cab passengers had been overwhelmingly positive since they were introduced last December as part of a four-year trial.
"More than 90 per cent of the 638 respondents to an online survey indicated that they would choose a TX4 PBT over a conventional taxi," Mr Nalder said.
"And almost 75 per cent would choose to wait longer for a TX4 PBT than for a conventional taxi.
"The Department of Transport regularly meets with the TX4 operators and other stakeholders to monitor and support the PBT trial and the London Taxi Company has been undertaking voluntary vehicle enhancements in response to initial industry feedback."
Mr Nalder said the new focus was to remove the barriers for people in wheelchairs to travel on the taxis.
He said there were features of the TX4 designed for the convenience of people with disabilities.
These included an induction loop, high visibility markers for the visually impaired and an intermediate step and swivel seat for passengers with limited mobility.
Mr Nalder said the department was holding talks with the Disability Services Commission and the Insurance Commission of WA.
In a parliamentary committee hearing last week, the department's managing director of transport services Nina Lyhne said the Insurance Commission had been contacted for advice about whether it would honour personal injury claims in the event of a crash during the trial.
"We have heard from them that they will do that so there have been a number of elements to the trial that we have had to ensure are in place before we start," she said.
