Review para-transit system for pioneers, those with disabilities

In our quest to become a more equitable society, we can do more to improve door-to-door accessibility for more of our population.

Today, our pioneers and members of the public with disabilities have greater access to conventional modes of public transport than in the past, with transport concessions and barrier-free retrofitting.

There are also private forms of para-transit such as private ambulances, accessible taxis, private fleets of minibuses and accessible vehicles owned by welfare organisations available for limited loans.

However, a significant gap in our transport network remains to be plugged: The provision of public para-transit services or, at least, central legislation to consolidate our fragmented private services into a coherent framework.

Para-transit users must be provided adequate protection, above and beyond that accorded now by the Road Traffic Act, which does not specifically account for these services as a distinct public service vehicle category.

Public para-transit services, otherwise known as community transport or demand-responsive transport services, are prevalent in other cities and, in some cases, mandated by local legislation. These services are designed to complement existing modes of public transport and ensure a minimum safety standard for all passengers.

Public para-transit services can be run by public transport operators, or contracted out to private operators with minimum quality of service assurances, or run as a mixture of both.

These services are often complemented by state-of-the-art despatch services to ensure high frequency and short response time.

With a potential increase in the number of para-transit users in the near future, several concerns with our para-transit system must be addressed. First, are current users protected from price fluctuations due to the relative lack of regulation?

Without explicit central legislation or coordinated permanent subsidy schemes, it may be difficult for current users to sustainably use private para-transit services without worrying about fare predictability.

Second, are current users protected from fluctuations in the operators’ service quality?

Without explicit central regulation of the minimum frequency or maximum response time, of steps taken to prevent driver and vehicle fatigue or of other safety considerations, current users will not have the same peace of mind they could otherwise get.

Guaranteed standards are inherent in public para-transit services, especially since their users could be more vulnerable than other commuters to negative externalities.

To protect the rights of our pioneers and people with disabilities, the authorities should consider a review of the para-transit system and ensure that sufficient protection is accorded.

This could be via legislation, service consolidation or increased infrastructural and administrative support from the regulatory agencies.