FARE GO FOR WHEELIE KIDS

UNLESS they pick up their act and look after the most vulnerable members of the community, taxi companies risk losing whatever public support they have clung to since ride-share operators rode roughshod over their industry.

A little boy in a wheelchair should not have been left waiting for hours in a shopping centre because drivers kept taking other, easier jobs or would only collect the child and his carer if they knew he had a taxi subsidy scheme card, which would have entitled them to a $20 lifting fee for assisting the child into their vehicle. Unfortunately he did not have one. Has our society plunged to the point where people will only assist a child in a wheelchair if there is a financial inducement to do so?

The company, 13CABS, has blamed the pandemic for difficulties in staffing its wheelchair accessible taxis but to its credit, also says it is investigating, provides training and will reprimand drivers who have ignored their responsibilities.

This has to happen. It is hard enough for any Gold Coaster to get from A to B in this linear city with its clogged roads. How hard must it be for our residents in wheelchairs to get around?

Ten-year-old Samuel Amiet deserved better. His mother and carer both said that explanations given to them at the time included a revelation that drivers were contractors and could not be made to accept a job. If that is the case and they ignored this little boy, readers will be wondering how those particular drivers can look at themselves in the mirror. There are laws that should guarantee a ride for all, but get-out clauses include having “a reasonable excuse”. On that, the legislation is vague.

It was not the first time Samuel had been stranded. It must have been an upsetting reminder for his family why they had given up on using taxis previously and had bought a van to transport their son. They only tried to use a cab in this instance because Samuel’s mum, Simone, had to take the van to the other end of town.

Ride-share companies should not try to pretend this is not their problem either. They were eager to barge their way into Australia to cherrypick profits, ignoring the fact taxi owners had been paying huge licence fees to governments so they could operate. How many ride-share operators are geared to transport disabled passengers, as part of their social responsibility?

In May last year the State Government provided $21 million to help boost the number of wheelchair accessible taxis. At the time, Mrs Amiet – who just the month before had told how Samuel was repeatedly left on his doorstep or at school despite being part of a government school taxi support program – welcomed the planned boost to the fleet but warned the funding alone would not fix the matter of drivers selectively avoiding disability jobs. Sadly, it seems her warning was spot on. It is particularly concerning when it is realised Samuel is just one of thousands of Gold Coasters who need transport assistance.

Light rail is revolutionising the way residents can move about, but little kids like Samuel still need door-to-door assistance. There are many good cabbies in this city. We appeal to them to tell colleagues to ignore the easy ride and do their bit.