The first review of the AODA’s Transportation Standards became public in 2018. In this review, the AODA Transportation Standards Development Committee recommends changes to the existing Transportation Standards. In addition, the Committee also recommends action from other sectors of the province, to remove accessibility barriers that impact transportation. This article will discuss the Committee’s recommendations for on-demand accessible taxicabs.
On-demand Accessible Taxicabs
The current Transportation Standards require cities to consult with their municipal accessibility advisory committees (MAACs) about on-demand accessible taxicabs. During this consultation, cities should learn how many accessible taxicabs their community needs, in order to procure and deploy them. However, the Standards do not specify how many times a city must consult with its MAAC about on-demand accessible taxicabs. As a result, a city can comply with this requirement by consulting only once with its MAAC. If the city needs more accessible taxicabs years after this consultation, the Standards do not require a new consultation.
Similarly, the Standards require cities to report on their progress procuring and deploying accessible taxicabs. Cities must make these reports, including detailing any steps they have taken, in their multi-year accessibility plans. However, while the Standards require reporting on any progress made, they do not require that cities take any steps toward acquiring accessible taxicabs.
The Committee notes that taxicab companies, rather than cities, are ultimately in charge of granting licences for accessible taxicabs. In addition, the Committee recognizes that accessible taxicabs are more expensive to operate than taxicabs without accessibility features. Nonetheless, the Committee recommends changes to the Transportation Standards to ensure that cities have more of the accessible taxicabs they need.
For instance, the Committee recommends that, as part of reviewing their multi-year accessibility plans, cities should consult about accessible taxicabs with:
- The public
- People with disabilities
- Their MAACs
Furthermore, the Standards should require cities to make and report on progress toward acquiring accessible taxicabs every year.