By Ian Beeck | posted on January 23, 2020
ALBANY has a wheelchair-accessible taxi service again after driver Stuart Hickson rescinded his decision last month to close and will continue operating, saying his rapport with his clients made that move untenable despite the financial pressures.
Mr Hickson closed for the past week and the only other wheelchair taxi in Albany stopped operating on Christmas Day.
He said he felt guilty that his long-term loyal clients he had built up friendships with over his 14 years of driving would lose their independence.
“I felt terrible so I made the decision to keep providing a service. I’m not sure I can even make it financially viable but I will battle on despite the Government,” Mr Hickson said.
“It’s harder to make money. Drivers get a lifting fee of $10 for every job, it’s $15 in the metropolitan region, so why is it not a level playing field?
“Also, we then have to fill in spreadsheets to record every lifting job at the end of each day to recoup money. It’s a time-consuming process.”
Despite the obstacles, paperwork and lack of Government assistance, Mr Hickson recently purchased another vehicle to broaden the service to cope with demand.
“There’s too much work for one vehicle so having two cars brings the service back to how it was,” he said.
“But potential drivers are put off by the amount of red tape involved with wheelchair taxis.”
Spencer Park resident Amanda Booth frequently utilises the wheelchair-friendly taxi service.
The 26-year-old has spina bifida, a birth defect in which the spinal cord fails to develop properly, leaving her wheelchair-bound.
Ms Booth cannot drive and requires assistance to get to work, meet her friends and go to appointments.
Jo Booth said her daughter used the service at least two or three times per week.
“We were very scared at the thought of Amanda not being able to get around to live her life,” she said.
“We had thoughts on other transport options at Christmas time when we learned it may be stopping, but the options to Amanda weren’t good – the buses weren’t any good due to limited service and there are no stops near her house or where she needs to go.”
She was thrilled to learn Mr Hickson was continuing his taxi service.
Relief Manager of Yakamia’s Ingenia Gardens Heather Edmondson said residents in the village depended on the specialised taxi service.
“It’s absolutely fantastic news,” she said about Mr Hickson’s decision.
“It gives our residents who need a bit of help and support the freedom to get out and about, and not be stuck at home.”
