Naju-si to Operate 'Voucher Taxis Exclusive for Transportation-Disadvantaged' Starting Next Month

Published 29 Oct.2021 17:30(KST)

[Naju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yuk-bong] Naju City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Kang In-gyu) announced on the 29th that starting next month, it will operate the ‘Voucher Taxi for the Transportation Disadvantaged’ service introduced to facilitate the mobility of transportation-disadvantaged individuals.

The voucher taxi is a special transportation service designated and operated with a total of six vehicles for non-wheelchair disabled persons, pregnant women who have difficulty using public transportation, and elderly passengers aged 65 or older.

Under normal circumstances, these taxis operate as regular taxis, but when a transportation-disadvantaged user requests a ride, priority dispatch service is provided to those passengers.

The taxi fare is much cheaper than regular taxis, with a basic fare of 500 won for the first 2 km (an additional 100 won per km), which is the same as the existing disabled-only call taxis, and can be used up to 30 times per person per month.

The newly introduced voucher taxis are expected to resolve the dispatch delay issues of the existing disabled call taxis currently in operation.

The disabled call taxis, which are van-type taxis designed to allow boarding while seated in a wheelchair, can be used by any passenger registered as transportation-disadvantaged regardless of wheelchair use. However, during peak commuting hours, the surge in passengers has caused dispatch delays, causing inconvenience especially to the main users, wheelchair-disabled individuals.

By operating six additional voucher taxis alongside the 15 disabled call taxis currently in service, the waiting time for transportation-disadvantaged individuals is expected to be significantly reduced.

In addition, the city plans to expand the reservation and operation hours of disabled call taxis to 24 hours a day, year-round, starting next month.

Currently, disabled call taxis can be used immediately upon request without prior reservation from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays, but during late-night hours, dispatch is made the day after the request through a reservation system.

As a result, passengers have experienced inconvenience as they could not use taxis during late-night hours on the same day without prior reservation.

With the expanded operating hours, starting next month, taxis can be used immediately upon request during late-night hours without prior reservation. However, double the daytime fare will be applied and charged during late-night operation hours.

Transportation-disadvantaged citizens who wish to use disabled call taxis and voucher taxis can inquire and register at the ‘Naju City Transportation Disadvantaged Mobility Support Center.’

Dispatch requests are accepted through the Jeonnam Provincial Wide-area Mobility Support Center.

Mayor Kang In-gyu said, “We expect that the operation of voucher taxis alongside disabled call taxis and the introduction of a 24/7 reservation system will greatly improve the mobility convenience for transportation-disadvantaged individuals. We will continue to do our best to enhance welfare services and develop policies for transportation-disadvantaged people using public transportation.”