Kéroul Invited to Annual Conference of the International Association of Transportation Regulators (IATR)

Kéroul will be taking part in the Annual Conference of the International Association of Transportation Regulators (IATR) to be held in San Francisco September 22 to 25, 2016. Isabelle Ducharme, Chairperson of the Kéroul Board of Directors, was invited to present the steps taken in Québec to ensure disabled people are able to benefit from a true taxi service, like all other citizens. Isabelle will also host a workshop on transporting disabled passengers by taxi.

Essentially, Kéroul and the disability community want to see taxi service intermediaries obliged by law to provide disabled people with services equivalent to those offered to all citizens.

Talks have been underway in Montréal since 2014. Under the initiative of André Leclerc, President and CEO of Kéroul and President of the Comité sur l'accessibilité universelle de l'industrie du taxi de Montréal (universal access committee of the Montréal taxi industry), the Board of Directors of the Bureau du taxi de Montréal passed the following resolution regarding taxi transportation for disabled people:

“Acquire tangible means to adopt an on-demand service equivalency standard, this service standard corresponding to a maximum wait time of 30 minutes from the time of call, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 12 months a year. This service shall be implemented progressively within 24 months.” [TRANSLATION]

For its part, Québec’s transport department, the Ministère des Transports du Québec, has made changes to the Act respecting transportation by taxi stipulating that such a standard can be prescribed by law.

The participation of Kéroul in this prestigious conference was made possible through the financial support of Taxi Hochelaga.

“The taxi industry must follow the evolution of its market. It’s an undeniable fact: the population is aging, and mobility issues increase with age. We must all offer impeccable service to every one of our customers, regardless of their physical condition. That’s the commitment I am making regarding the taxi services my companies will offer, and we fully support the recommendations made by Kéroul in this regard.” -  Alexandre Taillefer, senior partner of Taxelco, and owner of Taxi Hochelaga, Taxi Diamond and Téo Taxi.

Kéroul wishes to thank Mr. Taillefer for his invaluable contribution.

Founded in 1979, Kéroul is a non-profit organization devoted to developing accessible tourism and cultural facilities and activities, as well as transportation services for disabled people.

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Source:     

Michel Trudel, Government and International Relations Consultant

Kéroul 514 252-3104

mtrudel@keroul.qc.ca