Boost efforts to ensure wheelchair users are never…

Boost efforts to ensure wheelchair users are never denied taxi access

So-called universal design taxis, which allow passengers to board while sitting in wheelchairs, have become a more common sight on the nation's streets. In addition to making these taxis even more widespread, measures should be taken to ensure wheelchair users can ride in such vehicles without any hesitation.

Universal design taxis have a spacious interior, and are equipped with ramps and handrails so wheelchair users can get in and out. The taxis have a low floor that makes them easy to board for elderly people, pregnant women and foreigners with large physiques. Unlike taxis dedicated to nursing care services, anyone can use a universal design taxi and the fare is the same as that for a regular taxi.

The government is quickly trying to boost the number of these taxis ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. As well as a subsidy of up to 600,000 yen for purchasing such a vehicle, many local governments also offer a further subsidy on top of this. About 600 such taxis were operating five years ago, but this figure had skyrocketed to about 11,800 as of the end of March.

Compared with major cities, where these taxis are becoming more common, in some regions there are prefectures that have only a few. Universal design taxis will be a valuable way of getting around in areas where public transport is scarce. Local governments should support the introduction of such taxis in these areas.

Worryingly, cases have occurred here and there in which people needing universal design taxis were unable to use them.

According to a survey conducted in October by an organization supporting disabled people, almost 30 percent of a total of 120 wheelchair users had been denied access to a universal design taxi. In some cases, even though a wheelchair user raised their hand to hail an available taxi, it did not stop. In other cases, they were turned down after requesting a taxi be dispatched, because "boarding and exiting takes too long."

More training needed

Industry organizations also are apparently aware of these problems. It appears the refusals to accept wheelchair users as passengers stem from drivers tending to avoid them because procedures such as setting up the ramp used when wheelchairs board and exit the taxis are quite complicated.

It is vital that taxi companies give drivers repeated training involving the actual use of universal design vehicles. It also would be effective if automakers work with local taxi associations and assemble the drivers to conduct training to teach them how to use the vehicles.

Ideally, automakers also will develop vehicle models that can be more simply operated.

It is important that taxi companies and drivers more deeply understand the role and significance of universal design cabs. They also should not forget that public money is being poured into the purchase of such taxis from the perspective of making society more easily accessible.

In November, the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry notified industry organizations that cases in which wheelchair users are prevented from boarding without a proper reason "will be dealt with severely." The entire taxi industry must quickly make improvements.

Creating an environment in which people can easily use universal design taxis also will become an issue that needs to be addressed.

Required steps will include established dedicated taxi stands at stations and hospitals, where many people use these taxis, and creating a system to jointly dispatch universal design cabs.