There are concerns vulnerable South Australians are being left stranded or forced to wait for hours for accessible taxis.
The opposition is calling for a government review to be fast-tracked, saying more cabs and drivers are desperately needed.
When Belle Owen books a cab, she says it’s pure chance whether her ride will show up.
The 38-year-old from Brompton in Adelaide’s inner city even pre-booked an access taxi for spinal surgery, but it didn’t arrive.
“When no taxi showed up we had to make an emergency decision at the last moment, so my partner had to help me in catching a tram to make it,” she said.
“I have not been picked up for jobs. I’ve had colleagues who’ve waited three hours in the city, just leaving a work function to go home.
“I’ve had multiple members of the community who know my social media handle tag me and say ‘I’m waiting again, I’m scared.'”
She said the lack of accessible cabs is a problem that’s become all too common for people with disabilities, as well as improving conditions and pay for drivers.
There are growing calls for the government to fast-track a year-long review into access taxis.
Read Related Also: Sofía Vergara embraces ‘single’ status during flirty ‘AGT’ exchange amid Joe Manganiello divorce
Opposition transport spokesman Vincent Tarzia called for action.
“It’s simply not good enough that some of the most vulnerable people in our society are being left behind,” Tarzia said.
Access taxi operator Hugo Siu said taxi drivers were leaving for other jobs.
“A lot of drivers are leaving the industry to become a bus driver or courier because they can get better pay in other industries,” Siu said.
At least 10 of the 100 access cabs are already off the road due to the lack of drivers, with fears those numbers could rise if more support isn’t offered
Premier Peter Malinauskas said despite the government introducing a subsidy that pays drivers to load passengers, it “hasn’t delivered as good a result as one might have hoped”.
Any solutions are at least a year away.
“This is a complex one, we’ve got a review under way, we’ll wait and see what that outcome is,” Malinauskas said.
