145 Vehicles Operating in Changwon City, 1 Ride Fare 1,500 KRW
Monthly Support of 200,000 KRW, Targeting Non-Wheelchair Mobility-Impaired Users
Changwon City, Gyeongnam gathered drivers before operating voucher taxis for transportation-vulnerable individuals and conducted related training.
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] Changwon City, Gyeongnam Province, will implement voucher taxis starting July 1 to guarantee mobility rights and alleviate inconveniences for transportation-disadvantaged individuals.
Changwon City operates 107 special transportation vehicles for the transportation-disadvantaged and plans to increase the number to 110 by the end of this year.
A city official stated, "Despite continuous increases in special transportation vehicles, the issue of delayed dispatch waiting times has not been resolved, so we decided to introduce and operate 145 voucher taxis."
The voucher taxi service, launched with the 8th term of the local government, converts regular taxis, which usually serve the general public, into voucher taxis when there is a dispatch request from transportation-disadvantaged individuals who do not use wheelchairs.
Only those registered as special transportation members residing in Changwon City who are severely disabled with walking impairments, national merit recipients with disability grades 1 or 2 who have difficulty using public transportation, seniors aged 65 or older, pregnant women, and others who do not use wheelchairs can use the service.
No additional application is required for use; requests for voucher taxi dispatch can be made through the Gyeongnam special transportation call center or mobile app.
The voucher taxi fare is 1,500 KRW per ride, with a monthly support limit of 200,000 KRW per person.
Each person can use the service up to six times a day, and voucher taxis operate only within Changwon City.
A city official said, "Voucher taxis can be used by non-wheelchair transportation-disadvantaged individuals, who account for 58% of special transportation users," adding, "This will significantly reduce dispatch waiting times and alleviate the inconveniences faced by transportation-disadvantaged individuals who have great difficulty using public transportation."
Jo Ilam, Director of the Safety, Construction, and Transportation Bureau, said, "The operation of voucher taxis will improve the mobility rights of transportation-disadvantaged individuals," and added, "We will operate the service meticulously so that transportation-disadvantaged individuals can use voucher taxis without inconvenience."
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