Shah Hzart says that driving an accessible taxi in Toronto is very rewarding: he likes to help people. But it is not so gratifying financially, even when it works seven days a week.
The costs associated with the vehicle are equivalent to a mortgage, he says.
“If I don’t work one day, I’m late,” said Hzart.
“I have to work every day to reach the balance point, I’m not keeping anything.”
There may be almost 100 accessible taxis less on Toronto’s roads as soon as next year, since the largest taxi company in Canada warns that most of its accessible fleet will age beyond the boundaries of the city, and there are not enough incentives for the new drivers to assume the paper.
Ninety -eight of Beck’s 100 accessible vehicles must be replaced as of March 2026, according to Operations Manager Kristine Hubbard.
While the city has made efforts to buy the fleet time, which includes allowing vehicles accessible for wheelchairs to be on the road for up to 10 years instead of seven, Hubbard says that Beck’s interested drivers will not want to register at work unless more financial support for the industry is provided. The city says it offers incentive and subsidies programs for drivers.
While transport services took part of your business, Hzart says there is a great need for accessible trips that often has reserved consecutive trips.
“At this time, when I talk to customers, they expect one or two hours to get there,” he said.
He says he tried to take a recent day and received an emergency call to take a client to a rehabilitation appointment, which agreed.
“Once I start my car, I don’t stop because there is so much demand that I go from one place to another,” said Hzart.
Disability defender Franklyn McFadden experiences this first hand. He says this problem must be taken seriously.
“Being someone active in the community, often calling an accessible taxi is a challenge because you should sit on the phone for a long time,” he said.
“I don’t even think about getting anywhere quickly because, whether TTC or a taxi, one of these is going to disappoint me.”
Plan needed for the future, says Beck Taxi
There is a lack of motivation and interest of drivers when it comes to assuming the role of operating an accessible taxi, says Hubbard.
Drivers must be willing to buy and customize a new minivan. Those costs, along with fuel and insurance, have shot in recent years, she says.
“The drivers do not make a living and we will be in real problems,” he said, adding that he has been marking this problem to the city for years.
Hubbard says that the city should implement a centralized system, combining all accessible taxis in a place to help relieve confusion and waiting times for those who call an accessible taxi.
“Maybe that is directed by the city, maybe a third, but if everything is on a platform, people will not have to wait for them to call the right place to get the service,” he said.
“The business plan has to exist. It is not so.”
City says that it offers financial incentives
The accessibility fund program of the city of Toronto has provided incentives for the owners and drivers of taxis accessible for wheelchairs to help compensate for the costs of providing this service since 2020, said the spokesman for the city, Shane Gerard, in a statement.
“The program offers a subsidy to cover vehicle conversion costs and an incentive based on meetings service standards could also receive an incentive to provide an accessible service for wheelchairs,” Gerard said.
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The subsidy is divided into annual disbursements on the life of the vehicle.
The program is financed by a position of the drivers of the city by taxi, transport drivers and limo of non -accessible vehicles. Between 2020 and 2024, the owners of 2,303 vehicles that operate as accessible taxis, limousines and transport services have accessed subsidies and incentives through the program, Gerard told CBC Toronto.
While this money helps, drivers say it is not enough. Hzart, for example, with a rear entrance vehicle, would be eligible to receive around $ 3,800 per year for seven years, according to the numbers provided by the city. He says that his current monthly expenses are around $ 3,000.
Next year, your vehicle will be one of the two that can still remain on the road. Wait for a plan to put before that, because it does not want to see the vulnerable residents that are left behind.
“I can’t do this alone,” he said.
“There must be a solution or a way to convince drivers to return.”
