Taxi Fares and Surcharges for Disabled

Mr Zaqy Mohamad asked the Minister for Transport (a) whether the Ministry reviews the impact of taxi fares and late night surcharges on persons with chronic illnesses and the immobile and disabled who need such transport for regular visits to clinics or rehabilitation centres; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider measures to assist this group of transport users where regular public transport is not accessible and cars may not be affordable with the high COEs.

Mr Lui Tuck Yew: We recognise that taxis are an important means of transport for the less mobile in our society, given that they provide direct point-to-point transfers for their users. Within the group of the physically disadvantaged, variations in their transport needs also exist. The majority could be accommodated by most taxi models, while some require larger or special taxi models. For example, those who use high-back wheelchairs need to be ferried using larger vehicles which can accommodate the height and weight of the wheelchairs. It is with the objective of ensuring that such wheelchair users have access to transport services which meet their needs that LTA has worked with SMRT to extend the statutory lifespan of all 15 units of its London Taxis for an additional year up to March 2013, while we work with the various stakeholders to determine possible longer-term solutions.

On Mr Zaqy's question on the affordability of fares, the setting of taxi fares has been deregulated and the fares are generally set based on competitive considerations as well as to ensure matching of supply and demand.

As announced by the Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports in November last year, LTA will support MCYS to comprehensively study the transport needs of the disabled and review the relevant policies through working with the Enabling Masterplan Steering Committee and related stakeholders. This is an umbrella review of inter-related policies and will take some time. Details will be announced when ready.

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While the review is ongoing, I would like to share with Members that there are various sources of financial assistance available for those who are needy. For those who are schooling or working, they may apply to the "LTA Cares" Fund, a charity fund adopted by LTA and managed by the Centre for Enabled Living (CEL), for taxi fare subsidy. The amount of help which a beneficiary can receive is dependent on his/her household income level and circumstances. Some taxi companies have also, as part of their corporate social responsibility initiatives, introduced programmes to provide free or subsidised taxi trips for the needy.