Group says Charlottetown needs accessible taxis, calls for a bylaw mandating them

A group that advocates for Islanders with disabilities says it's time for Charlottetown to have an accessible taxi again. 

Spinal Cord Injury P.E.I. is also pushing for a city bylaw or provincial regulation mandating that all cab companies have at least one accessible vehicle in their fleets. 

Three years ago, the province and the city partnered to offer a $10,000 subsidy to companies to help buy a specialized vehicle or refurbish one to make it accessible. That support has since been upped to $30,000, but the group said there have been no takers. 

"We've been talking about this for more than 10 years and nothing has happened in Charlottetown," said Tony Dolan, co-chair of Spinal Cord Injury P.E.I.

Dolan uses a wheelchair and said not having an accessible taxi hampers his ability to socialize in the evenings. 

Whether he's out at a bar with friends having a few drinks or at a wedding reception, he said his only option to get home late at night is to "wheel all the way to Stratford." 

Pat and the Elephant offers pick up and drop off for those who need it, but those rides have to be pre-booked and the company stops its service at 11 p.m. 

Dolan points to a cab company in Summerside that has four accessible taxis and has benefitted from the subsidy. 

"There's obviously a business there because he started with one taxi and now he's up to four, at least," Dolan said. 

"People think that it's used exclusively for people with a mobility problem. It's not. It's for all persons; it just so happens to have a ramp on the back. A wheelchair can be wheeled in and locked down." 

Dolan says travellers who use a wheelchair have been surprised when they arrive at the Charlottetown Airport to learn there is no accessible taxi service. 

He said people should plan ahead and book Pat and the Elephant, or make other special arrangements — but many don't realize that until it's too  late. 

'It should be a right'

Spinal Cord Injury P.E.I. is doing what it can to get the message out about the subsidy in the hope of enticing companies to take advantage of it. 

Executive director Glen Flood said the group formed a taxi committee to look at more funding opportunities and petition Charlottetown council to create a bylaw around the right to accessible transportation.

"The reality is, it should be a right to somebody living their life with a disability to pick up their cellphone and make a call and get picked up by a cab," Flood said.