ACCESSIBLE TAXICAB REFORMS IN OTTAWA ONTARIO, CANADA

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ACCESSIBLE TAXICAB REFORMS IN OTTAWAONTARIO,
CANADA

• Presentation to IATR
• September 20, 2007
• SUSAN JONES
• Director, By-law Regulatory Services
• City of Ottawa, Ontario

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HISTORY

• Before amalgamating eleven former
  municipalities in 2001 to form the new City of
  Ottawa, accessible taxi service was non-existent

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HISTORY

• 2004 Consultants Report recommended 185
  accessible taxis to provide accessible service
  comparable to that of a standard cab
• 1001 standard cabs in Ottawa

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HISTORY

• 2002 - 1 Accessible Taxicab Operating
• 2003 25 Accessible Taxicabs Operating
• In 2007 Council approved the releasing of an
  additional 40 new accessible plates bringing the
  total number to 65

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HISTORY

• Of the 65 accessible taxicabs
• Rear loaders 35
• Side loaders 27
• London Cabs 3

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HISTORY

• The taxicab industry is resistant to the issuing
  of additional plates
• Taxicab union reps claim the accessible plates
  are being misused

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HISTORY

• After receiving negative feedback regarding the
  accessible taxicab service in Ottawa, an
  extensive review of the taxi by-law was
  undertaken.

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ACCESSIBLE TAXICAB SERVICE ISSUES

• Few Accessible taxis at night and on weekends at
  times, no service
• Some drivers refuse or forget to secure
  wheelchairs
• Inability to pre-book return trips
• Vulnerable are left stranded with few options
• Quality of life and human rights issues

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CURRENT BY-LAW

• The current taxi by-law
• requires that by March 1, 2008 every accessible
  cab will be equipped with GPS
• Requires that by March 1, 2008 all taxicabs be
  equipped with a camera system approved by the
  Chief License Inspector

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INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBLE TAXICAB SERVICE

• Reviewed best practices throughout North America
• Established a dedicated team to enforce
  accessible service standards
• Consulted with interest groups, e.g. users,
  brokers, plate holders, taxi unions, drivers
• Developed recommendations for Council
  consideration (July, 2007)

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AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBLE TAXICAB SERVICE

• Authorize the Chief License Inspector to issue
  remaining 120 accessible taxicab plates.
• Plates to be phased in 40 at a time beginning
  this October.
• Drivers eligible for the next 40 accessible
  plates will have until December 31, 2008 to
  qualify.

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ACCESSIBLE PRIORITY LIST CLARIFICATION

• A qualified person on the accessible priority
  list
• has 90 days to successfully complete the
  Accessible Taxicab Training Course.
• may appeal to the License Committee to extend the
  90 days in the case of illness, injury or
  pregnancy.
• who fails to commence operating his/her
  accessible taxicab within 90 days will have
  his/her plate revoked.

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AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBLE TAXICAB SERVICE

• Accessible taxicab plate holders must affiliate
  with a broker that has a minimum fleet size of 25
  taxicabs.
• Every broker with a fleet of more than 25 cabs
  must maintain a minimum percentage of the fleet
  as accessible.

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AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBLE TAXICAB SERVICE

• Every Broker with a fleet of 25 or more shall
  ensure that a minimum number of accessible
  taxicabs be in service and able to offer
  on-demand taxi service at all times
• Accessible taxicabs providing service under a
  service agreement shall not be considered in this
  number.

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AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBLE TAXICAB SERVICE

• The Chief License Inspector may waive the minimum
  percentage of accessible taxicabs provided that
• The waiver is valid for only 30 days
• Accessible vehicles are unavailable for valid
  mechanical reasons
• The accessible vehicle is on order and not yet
  received

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AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBLE TAXICAB SERVICE

• Provide for the conversion from standard cab to
  accessible cabs.
• Provide that Brokers unable to provide service
  must refer the accessible taxicab request to
  another Broker able to provide service.

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AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBLE TAXICAB SERVICE

• Every accessible plate holder must ensure that
  the accessible taxi is in operation a minimum of
  ten hours a day, five days a week, except when
  the vehicle is being serviced for valid
  mechanical reasons.
• The accessible plate holder must be the primary
  driver.
• Accessible plates are non-transferable.

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AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBLE TAXICAB SERVICE

• Require accessible taxicab drivers provide
  assistance to customers with disabilities by
• Bringing the accessible taxicab as close to a
  buildings accessible entrance as lawfully
  possible.
• Taking appropriate measures to notify the
  customer of the arrival of the taxicab
• Accompanying the customer to and from the
  immediate interior of the building
• Providing support and carrying items for the
  customer.

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AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBLE TAXICAB SERVICE

• Carefully fastening the passenger seat belts
• Securing the customers mobility aids in
  accordance with the vehicle specifications.
• Addressing customer concerns before commencing
  the fare.
• Requesting and waiting for paramedic services if
  the customer requires medical attention (unless a
  friend or family member is present).

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AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBLE TAXICAB SERVICE

• Prohibit the use of artificial scents in the
  accessible taxicab whether or not the taxicab is
  in service.
• All accessible taxicab drivers to wear clothing
  that clearly identifies them as an accessible
  taxicab driver.

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AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBLE TAXICAB SERVICE

• Allow accessible taxicab drivers to pre-book
  return trips for accessible taxicab fares
  provided they have informed the broker
  (dispatcher) of the details.
• Failure to do so would be considered a failure
  to provide accessible taxicab service.
• The driver and the broker shall ensure the
  pre-arranged service has been provided.

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AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBLE TAXICAB SERVICE

• Require that every accessible taxicab driver
  book-in with the broker or dispatcher at all
  times when the accessible taxicab is in service.
• Prohibit all accessible taxicab drivers from
  offering regular or accessible service when not
  booked-in with the broker or dispatch.

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AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBLE TAXICAB SERVICE

• Brokers to maintain and produce detailed records
  of all taxicab service requests to be kept for
  thirty days and produced upon request.
• Brokers must notify the Chief License Inspector
  within 24 hours of any incident where there is
  reasonable cause to believe that an accessible
  driver has refused to provide service or has
  failed to book-in.

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AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBLE TAXICAB SERVICE

• Define request for accessible service to mean
  any request made by a person with a disability
  as defined by the by-law to include a person
  with an injury or a condition where they have
  some type of mobility impairment

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AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBLE TAXICAB SERVICE

• Every accessible taxicab broker, driver and plate
  holder must provide accessible taxicab service on
  a priority basis to any person with a disability
  who requests such service.
• A conviction under this provision may lead to a
  fine, suspension or permanent revocation of the
  license.

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AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBLE TAXICAB SERVICE

• Every accessible taxicab plate holder is deemed
  to have failed to provide service if one or more
  of the drivers affiliated with the plate fails to
  provide service within a six month period.

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AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBLE TAXICAB SERVICE

• Every accessible taxicab plate holder must ensure
  the taxicab associated with the plate has not
  been modified from the condition it was in at the
  last scheduled inspection.
• Every accessible taxicab plate holder, broker and
  driver must ensure the accessible vehicle used is
  ready to transport a minimum of one standard
  motorized wheelchair without having to
  reconfigure vehicle equipment or remove passenger
  seats to accommodate the wheelchair or scooter.

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AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBLE TAXICAB SERVICE

• All replacement accessible and standard taxicab
  vehicles must have the taxi I.D. number appear
  near all rear passenger door handles in
  characters of a minimum height of 15 centimetres.

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AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBLE TAXICAB SERVICE

• Require that all taxicab plate holders install a
  debit/credit card payment reader and signage to
  notify passengers of its availability.
• Every driver shall accept the debit/credit card
  as a method of payment.
• Amend the tariff to impose a debit/credit card
  transaction fee of 1.50.

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AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBLE TAXICAB SERVICE

• All standard and accessible taxi plate holders
  may designate an unlimited number of drivers to
  provide taxicab service.

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AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBLE TAXICAB SERVICE

• Require all accessible and standard taxi plate
  holders who use a van or a van like vehicle to
  install a rear sensor capable of detecting a
  person or object behind the vehicle to alert the
  driver when backing up.
• Require all van like vehicles to install a rear
  sensor as of October 1, 2007.

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QUESTIONS