August 9th, 2022Better fares for those with low mobility

Accessibility issues for taxi and rideshare passengers with low mobility is being looked at, encouraging drivers to prioritise bookings through a boost to the Multi-Purpose Taxi Program (MPTP).
Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll said increasing the lifting fee paid to drivers of wheelchair accessible vehicles by more than 20 per cent would improve the availability of accessible transport for the thousands of Victorians who rely on these services.
The MPTP is in place to assist Victorians with accessibility and mobility needs by offering subsidised commercial passenger vehicle fares to members. The program pays half the total fare of each trip taken by an MPTP member, up to $60.
A full lifting fee is also paid to drivers who help to move a passenger into a wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV), or a partial lifting fee for loading an MPTP member’s wheelchair into a conventional commercial passenger vehicle that is not wheelchair accessible.
This lifting fee recognises the higher business cost of supplying WAV services and the additional time required to safely load and secure a wheelchair or scooter.
Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll: “We’re ensuring greater availability of accessible transport for passengers who require mobility aids or wheelchairs by increasing the subsidy to drivers who provide commercial passenger vehicle services to MPTP members.

“This will lead to more wheelchair accessible vehicles on our roads and support the Victorians who rely on these services to get where they need to go.”