Calls for rideshare services to be included in taxi subsidy schemes nationally
People who are blind or have low vision are calling for rideshare services such as Uber to be included in taxi subsidy schemes across the country.
State governments subsidise taxi services for people with eligible disabilities, via a special card or voucher that they show the driver, which reduces the cost of each trip.
Currently, Victoria is the only state that includes rideshare services in its scheme, allowing members to link their membership to their Uber account since 2021.
Caitlin McMorrow is blind and uses a guide dog. She has been forced to cancel medical appointments when taxis simply don't show up. Supplied
Caitlin McMorrow, who lives in Redland City north of Brisbane, is totally blind and travels with a guide dog.
She said she's been forced to cancel medical appointments and social events when her taxi simply didn't show up.
"There's nothing more stressful than booking an appointment or having a social event planned, and then kind of constantly having that thought in the back of your mind of, 'Am I actually gonna be able to get there and get home again?' which is kind of where we're at with transport in Brisbane at the moment, it just isn't reliable," she told 9news.com.au.
"(With rideshare) you can see exactly where the vehicle is, you've got that kind of real-time communication with the driver, the payment system's all sort of done through the app.
"You can book an Uber and get one within four or five minutes.
"It's common that the taxi booking system will sit there for 45 minutes and still not find you one.
"That's a big difference when you're trying to be a busy, productive member of the community, I guess, and get your stuff done."
According to Vision Australia, the NDIS guidelines around transport funding are inconsistently interpreted and many of its clients receive no funding.
It's also capped at $3500 a year, whereas taxi subsidy schemes are not.
Bruce Maguire, Vision Australia's lead policy advisor, who lives in New South Wales, said he found rideshare "more straightforward and less stressful".
"As a blind person, when I get into a taxi I don't know what is going on the meter because we don't have talking taxi meters in New South Wales, so I have to take the driver's word for it," he said.
"And if I forget to tell him that I'm going to use the taxi transport subsidy and he doesn't turn the meter on, then I can't use it.
"You don't have any of those sorts of issues with rideshare.
"You can enjoy the trip and enjoy getting to your destination without that stress of wondering what's going to happen and what the fare might be and whether you're being told the correct meter amount and even whether the driver can accept the (subsidy) card or not."
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Bruce Maguire, lead policy advisor for Vision Australia, wants to see rideshare services included in taxi subsidy schemes nationally. Supplied
National survey data from Vision Australia showed 59 per cent of respondents believed they would be more likely to use the scheme if it were expanded to rideshare.
Vision Australia general manager for corporate affairs and advocacy Chris Edwards said the survey reveals an urgent need for transport policy reform.
"For people who are blind or have low vision, accessible transport is not a luxury, it's an essential.
"We're not saying that rideshare services are perfect, for example we're continuing to work with the sector around the issue of dog guide refusals, but we believe states expanding their subsidy schemes to rideshare providers would have a significant benefit for our community."
For McMorrow, rideshare is as close as it gets to being able to jump in the car like a sighted person.
"As a blind person, I just want the same access to transport and to services that everybody else has," she said.
"I think it's a reasonably simple thing that the government could do that would really improve choice of transport and access and consequently, quality of life, for vision-impaired people such as myself."
In a statement, Uber said it supports a "provider-neutral approach to taxi subsidy schemes across Australia".
"Accessible and flexible transport is key to helping people with disabilities stay active, independent and connected.
"Since 2021, MPTP members in Victoria have experienced the benefits of subsidised Uber rides.
"We will continue to engage with advocacy groups and state governments to expand access to rideshare within government subsidy programs nationwide."
A spokesman said Uber is conducting a 12-week Transport Subsidy Trial, with assistance from Vision Australia and Disability Voices Tasmania.
"We're offering people with disabilities the equivalent subsidy they'd receive through government schemes to use on the Uber platform, unlocking greater access to transportation options.
"We welcome more organisations across Australia to join the trial to help expand transport access for people with disabilities."
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