BUSTO ARSIZIO – Blind and partially sighted people will be able to getting into a taxi is almost free thanks to the 6 euro vouchers (cumulative up to three for each ride) resulting from the agreement signed between the Municipality of Busto Arsizio and the Radio Taxi consortium that operates in the city. An experiment promoted by the Varese section ofItalian Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired in the wake of the one in Gallarate, which obtained “very positive feedback”, as the vice-president of the association explains Antonio Ramponi. «An initiative that is close to my heart, because my father was also visually impaired» he reveals Francesco Marchisella, spokesperson for the Radio Taxi consortium Busto Arsizio.
The “good taxis”
I am 9 active taxi licenses in Busto Arsizio, for a total of 12 taxi drivers. They guarantee a daily service from 7am to 11pm, but active 24 hours a day upon reservation. Thanks to the convention, promoted by thecouncilor for social inclusion Paola Reguzzoni«from the month of July every blind or partially sighted citizen of Busto will be able to request a booklet of 50 “taxi vouchers” to be used, even in an aggregate manner three at a time, to cover the cost of taxi rides in Busto”. There are around 70 potential users in the city, certified by INPS. «On average one route from the most peripheral neighborhoods to the station it is around 15-18 euros depending on traffic – Marchisella says – including the three vouchers the ride will become freebut those who want to take longer journeys will only be able to pay the excess over 18 euros equal to three vouchers”.
The convention
Councilor Reguzzoni and the representative of the Radio Taxi consortium signed the agreement between the Municipality and some of the city’s taxi drivers at Palazzo Gilardoni for the creation of a service to support the mobility of totally blind, partially blind and visually impaired residents in the city. The agreement provides that the Municipality will make available to those entitled to “taxi vouchers” worth 6 euros (5 euros paid by the Municipality and one euro paid by the taxi driver) to partially cover the cost of purchasing the ride. Each beneficiary, after having submitted the application to the Municipality with the documentation certifying the disability attached, will be entitled to a maximum of 50 vouchers per year which will be spendable in a maximum of three for each trip (if the cost exceeds that of the vouchers, the sum will be integrated by the beneficiary). The Municipality has allocated 7500 euros to provide 1500 nominative vouchers.
First step
«The euro put in by taxi drivers is an important gesture, not due – underlines councilor Paola Reguzzoni – and the funds allocated by the Municipality they are not exhaustion, but coverage of vouchers. If the request is greater than expected, we will integrate the budgeted amount. For the future we do not rule out aggregating the Municipalities of the Valley as well who do not have taxi licenses to broaden the scope of the agreement”. The initiative received the favorable opinion of the Disability Manager. The administration will also make arrangements a handbook for users and will promote the initiative on the Whatsapp BA Informa con platform a message that can be heard by the blind with the appropriate Apps.
Good taxis for the blind also in Busto: the call goes out, the Municipality allocates 7500 euros
