The Timmins Police Services Board heard from the owners of the two taxi companies serving Timmins that there is a need for accessible taxi cabs to serve the city's disabled and also increasingly aging community, but disagreed on how many should hit the streets.
"I believe 10 accessible cabs would be enough to serve the city of Timmins with five going to my company Northern Taxi and five to Vet's Taxi," said Dauda Raji, owner of Northern Taxi.
I also suggest that to offset costs of providing the service, that the accessible cabs be allowed to pick up regular fairs when not being used to transport riders with disabilities," said Raji. " The priority of course is always for those cabs to be used for those who have access and mobility issues."
While agreeing that a few accessible cabs would help meet the demand for transportation services, Rick Lafleur the majority owner of Vet's Taxi believes it would be too costly for his company to put five accessible cabs on the road.
"I don't believe there is that much demand," Lafleur said. "I also don't think I should be receiving five licenses for accessible cabs as Mr. Raji suggests -- there are brokers who own their own cabs and are affiliated with Vet's that should be able to participate and obtain an accessible tax license."
The success of the Timmins Transit Handy Trans is one of the reason pointed to by Raji for the need for an on demand transportation service for members of the city's disabled community and also for seniors who have mobility issues.
Handy Trans is a reservation only service and is booked solid on most days leaving those who were not able to get a reservation without means of getting around.
The problem is particularly acute during holidays when no public transportation is available and the current fleet of taxi's including taxi vans are not equipped with ramps and space to fit a person in a wheel chair or other mobility device.
In addition, as the City of Timmins's population age's as the City's Age Friendly Committee report points out there will be an increase in the number of residents who will face mobility issues or confined to wheel chairs.
Police Chief John Gauthier said that a report will be prepared by Timmins Police Services and presented to the next TPS board meeting in October. After that, a report will be sent to Timmins City Council for a vote on changes to the City of Timmins Taxi By-Law to allow for an increase of licenses for accessible taxis.
"That hopefully will occur at the November meeting," Police Chief Gauthier said.
