Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance will increase the number of taxicab licenses from 500 to 530. It also designates the 30 additional licenses as Wheelchair/Specialty licenses to be issued to Wheelchair/Specialty taxicabs only. Each year, the Vehicle for Hire Board is required to recommend to City Council the total number of taxicabs which may be licensed. The VFH Board has not recommended a change in the current moratorium on new licenses since it was set in 1997.
Last year, the VFH Board created a Wheelchair/Specialty Subcommittee to examine the need for wheelchair accessible taxicabs in Columbus. The Subcommittee found that there was a demand and that the demand was not being met. Currently, individuals with limited mobility have to plan days in advance to reserve a wheelchair accessible vehicle and it is generally more expensive. The VFH Board reviewed and accepted the Subcommittee’s findings. The VFH Board has recommended that the number of taxicab licenses be increased by 30 for Wheelchair/Specialty taxicabs only.
These vehicles are intended to be used for non-emergency medical transportation. Their owners will have to provide 24 hours a day, 7 days a week dispatch service, which means that these vehicles will be on-call and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They must also provide priority service to passengers requesting Wheelchair/Specialty taxicab service. The wheelchair accessible taxicabs will be a less expensive way to travel for many individuals with limited mobility.
Emergency Designation: Emergency designation is requested to enable the licenses to be issued so that Wheelchair/Specialty taxicabs can begin operating with minimum delay.
FISCAL IMPACT: No funding is required for this legislation.
Title
To repeal Ordinance No. 1132-97, which limits the number of taxicabs permitted to operate in the City; to establish a new ordinance to provide for an increase in the limit of the number of taxicabs permitted to operate in th...
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