Disabled protest transport blues

Cape Town 160428 About 60 people in wheelchairs and otheres with disabilities protested outside Western Cape Goverment building in Whale street they the went back to the Grand Parade pic brenton geach

Cape Town 160428 About 60 people in wheelchairs and otheres with disabilities protested outside Western Cape Goverment building in Whale street they the went back to the Grand Parade pic brenton geach

Published Apr 28, 2016

Share

Sandiso Phaliso

PEOPLE living with disabilities have accused the City-contracted Dial-A-Ride bus of poor service and being too expensive.

About 100 blind and wheelchair-bound people, braved the cold, wet streets of the CBD yesterday' demanding a better service.

The service can cost up to R18 for a trip and has to be booked as far as a week in advance.

Mayoral Committee Member for Transport for Cape Town, Brett Herron, said there was a limited budget and capacity.

The service is subsidised by the provincial government for people who have been assessed by an occupational therapist and found to be physically unable to use conventional public transport.

Dial-A-Ride (DAR) Forum Chairperson Ayanda Joe said the demand for the service far exceeded supply, but the number of buses had not increased. He said the service makes no provision for short-term or emergency transportation needs.

“Sometimes the bus service does not arrive when called, is often late and caregivers are not allowed to ride on the bus,” said Joe.

“We need more buses. We are sick and tired of being on the waiting list for years,” said Joe.

Wheelchair bound Fatima Martin, 52, who relies on the service to go to work, said she pays about R700 a month.

“Living with a disability is more expensive than for an able-bodied person. Most of the time I stay on the line for more than 30 minutes to book a ride, and often the phone goes unanswered,” said Martin.

Herron said the service “has a limited budget and therefore a limited capacity”.

He said about 170 people who often make use of the DAR service refused to be assessed by an occupational therapist.

“We must ensure that only those who actually qualify are using the DAR service,” added Herron.

Related Topics: