SINGAPORE - Those with permanent disabilities can soon enjoy free
car rides, after a car-booking app tied up with a government agency
to help defray transport costs for those with limited mobility.
Uber
Technologies' mid-class hire service arm, UberX, will offer 1,000
free rides to SG Enable, set up by the Ministry of Social and
Family Development (MSF) to help disabled people.
The
deal, being announced today, is worth $20,000 and was welcomed by
the disabled community, even as the Government puts in more funds
to make the commute easier and cheaper for the disabled.
SG
Enable's CEO, Ms Ku Geok Boon, said it is "happy with Uber's
support in improving the travel options for persons with
disabilities".
Ms Ku
said SG Enable constantly seeks "innovative solutions" to help
persons with disabilities and their caregivers.
Mr
Nicholas Aw, president of the Disabled People's Association, said
the deal is a "good start", and will help reduce transport costs
for the disabled.
In
time, he hopes Uber can also consider equipping its fleet with
larger vehicles with hydraulic ramps, which can accommodate
motorised wheelchairs.
Last
month, the Government announced it was devoting $24 million a year
to help defray transportation costs for disabled people, who either
take public transport, taxis, or special transport services.
Parliamentary Secretary for MSF Low Yen Ling said in Parliament
that for people with disabilities, "access to affordable transport
increases their chances of being plugged into society".
Mr
Patrick Ang, 40, who has cerebral palsy, hopes the application
process to obtain these free rides from SG Enable will not be too
"tedious". He also asked if drivers will be given training to
assist people with disabilities.
Uber,
which is an app that matches private car drivers and passengers,
launched its limousine service here in February last year, with the
cheaper UberX service launched last month.
UberX
driver Siti Nurani, 31, who uses a rental Toyota Altis, has plans
to upgrade to a larger-capacity model to offer her paying
passengers better service.
But
should she encounter disabled customers one day, Ms Siti knows she
will be ready, as she will have more space for them and their
caregivers, along with their wheelchairs and bags.
"With
the extra space... I can go the extra mile," she added.
