Council Member points out severe supply-demand imbalance in elderly and disabled-friendly taxis; Taipei City cross-departmental response sought
Taipei City's elderly and disabled-friendly taxi service faces a severe supply-demand imbalance, with a significant decrease in available vehicles and an increase in card applicants. A council member urged cross-departmental review and improvement, and the Department of Transportation promised to study the issue and submit a report.
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- 📰 Published: May 9, 2026 at 15:31
- 🔍 Collected: May 9, 2026 at 16:01 (30 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 9, 2026 at 16:27 (25 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Liu Chien-pang Taipei 9th news) The Taipei City Government has established an elderly and disabled-friendly taxi service for seniors and people with disabilities. A council member pointed out that the number of vehicles has sharply decreased, while the number of card applicants has increased, leading to a severe supply-demand imbalance, making it harder to call a taxi. A cross-departmental review was requested. The Department of Transportation today promised to study the issue and submit a report.
The Taipei City Government established elderly and disabled-friendly taxis to assist seniors and people with disabilities, allowing citizens with valid elderly or disabled EasyCards to ride. Yan Ruo-fang, a Taipei City Council member from the Democratic Progressive Party, presented data stating that she recently received numerous complaints from seniors who often could not get an elderly and disabled-friendly taxi, discovering a significant reduction in taxis joining the fleet.
Yan Ruo-fang said that data shows the total number of taxis joining Taipei City's elderly and disabled-friendly taxi fleet was only about 12,000 in March this year; since Mayor Chiang Wan-an took office, the number of vehicles has decreased by approximately 2,000, which means that the mobility rights of tens of thousands of seniors and people with disabilities have been deprived.
She stated that, according to city government data, from 2023 to last year, the number of people with disabilities applying for Taipei's EasyCard increased by 5,000, and the number of seniors over 65 applying reached 65,000, but the number of elderly and disabled-friendly taxis drastically shrunk, creating a severe supply-demand imbalance.
Yan Ruo-fang said that taxis joining the elderly and disabled-friendly fleet were mostly "small yellow" (traditional taxis) in the past. Recently, most drivers have switched to diversified taxis and hardly joined fleets, which is speculated to be because they are charged handling fees and have to bear installation costs, deterring drivers.
She stated that if the rate of decrease in elderly and disabled-friendly taxis continues at the current pace, it is estimated that the number could fall below 10,000 in four years; the Department of Transportation should convene a cross-departmental meeting within one month to review handling fees and administrative cost subsidy incentives.
Yan Ruo-fang also demanded that the Department of Transportation formally include the actual number and growth rate of elderly and disabled-friendly taxi fleets as key indicators in fleet evaluations this year, and establish strict penalty and exit mechanisms for taxis that refuse to accept elderly and disabled-friendly cards, to protect the riding rights of seniors and people with disabilities.
The Department of Transportation responded that the number of traditional "small yellow" taxis has indeed decreased, while the proportion of diversified taxis has reached nearly 55%. The data indeed shows changes, and they agree with the council member's opinion; however, as related measures require coordination with other departments, they will hold a meeting soon to discuss and will submit a report afterward.
In addition, Wang Chih-ping, a Taipei City Council member from the Kuomintang, mentioned with data that Taipei City, in accordance with central government regulations, has established universal taxis for seniors and people with limited mobility. Last year, the number of vehicles was halved, and service trips decreased. She requested that Taipei City report this situation to the central government. The Department of Transportation also promised to handle it. (Edited by: Wu Su-jou) 1150509
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(Central News Agency reporter Liu Chien-pang Taipei 9th news) The Taipei City Government has established an elderly and disabled-friendly taxi service for seniors and people with disabilities. A council member pointed out that the number of vehicles has sharply decreased, while the number of card applicants has increased, leading to a severe supply-demand imbalance, making it harder to call a taxi. A cross-departmental review was requested. The Department of Transportation today promised to study the issue and submit a report.
The Taipei City Government established elderly and disabled-friendly taxis to assist seniors and people with disabilities, allowing citizens with valid elderly or disabled EasyCards to ride. Yan Ruo-fang, a Taipei City Council member from the Democratic Progressive Party, presented data stating that she recently received numerous complaints from seniors who often could not get an elderly and disabled-friendly taxi, discovering a significant reduction in taxis joining the fleet.
Yan Ruo-fang said that data shows the total number of taxis joining Taipei City's elderly and disabled-friendly taxi fleet was only about 12,000 in March this year; since Mayor Chiang Wan-an took office, the number of vehicles has decreased by approximately 2,000, which means that the mobility rights of tens of thousands of seniors and people with disabilities have been deprived.
She stated that, according to city government data, from 2023 to last year, the number of people with disabilities applying for Taipei's EasyCard increased by 5,000, and the number of seniors over 65 applying reached 65,000, but the number of elderly and disabled-friendly taxis drastically shrunk, creating a severe supply-demand imbalance.
Yan Ruo-fang said that taxis joining the elderly and disabled-friendly fleet were mostly "small yellow" (traditional taxis) in the past. Recently, most drivers have switched to diversified taxis and hardly joined fleets, which is speculated to be because they are charged handling fees and have to bear installation costs, deterring drivers.
She stated that if the rate of decrease in elderly and disabled-friendly taxis continues at the current pace, it is estimated that the number could fall below 10,000 in four years; the Department of Transportation should convene a cross-departmental meeting within one month to review handling fees and administrative cost subsidy incentives.
Yan Ruo-fang also demanded that the Department of Transportation formally include the actual number and growth rate of elderly and disabled-friendly taxi fleets as key indicators in fleet evaluations this year, and establish strict penalty and exit mechanisms for taxis that refuse to accept elderly and disabled-friendly cards, to protect the riding rights of seniors and people with disabilities.
The Department of Transportation responded that the number of traditional "small yellow" taxis has indeed decreased, while the proportion of diversified taxis has reached nearly 55%. The data indeed shows changes, and they agree with the council member's opinion; however, as related measures require coordination with other departments, they will hold a meeting soon to discuss and will submit a report afterward.
In addition, Wang Chih-ping, a Taipei City Council member from the Kuomintang, mentioned with data that Taipei City, in accordance with central government regulations, has established universal taxis for seniors and people with limited mobility. Last year, the number of vehicles was halved, and service trips decreased. She requested that Taipei City report this situation to the central government. The Department of Transportation also promised to handle it. (Edited by: Wu Su-jou) 1150509
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship you provide is a force protecting press freedom.
Download the "First-hand News" APP from Central News Agency to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.