Charlottetown gets first wheelchair-accessible taxi
CBC News | Posted: June 21, 2014 1:17 PM | Last Updated: June 21, 2014
Yellow Cab's retrofitted taxi being welcomed by accessibility advocate
It’s been a long wait for people in Charlottetown who use a wheelchair, but the city finally has its first wheelchair-accessible taxi.
Yellow Cab has rolled out a taxi that can take two wheelchairs, a move being applauded by an Island accessibility advocate.
"I think it's going to be a life-changer for a lot of people, it's going to be a great freedom," says Paul Cudmore, with Spinal Cord Injury Prince Edward Island.
"Even to get where they need to go late at night if there's friends at your house and they all decide they want to go downtown, you can go with them now."
Yellow Cab owner Kirby Eldershaw says it can cost up to $25,000 to make a taxi wheelchair accessible, a price tag that can deter operators from doing the retrofit. But he’s confident the investment will work.
"We're trying to give a little freedom; if you want to go out, go out," he said.
The accessible cab is currently on the road between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., but in July it will begin to run 24 hours a day.