That depends what you mean by "better". It might be cheaper, but having inaccessible trams certainly doesn't count as providing fair and equal access for the disabled and providing taxis for short trips instead is extremely inefficient: Trams can be caught much more quickly and predictably in some areas than taxis. Taxis have to be booked, then they take quite some time to load and tie down the wheelchair and again to unload. The time-wasting overhead is enormous for short trips.
Consequently, according to the Department of Infrastructure, "The Victorian Action Plan aims to achieve full compliance under the Federal Disability Standards" and then goes on to say that includes 90 per cent compliance 2017 and 100% by 2032.
If they'd fitted the latest trams with lifts or ramps, they could have achieved those figures within a few years. Instead, they are planning on spending astronomical amounts to remove both parking and traffic lanes from major arterial roads to do it in 30 years.
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Date: 2006-03-11 01:50 pm (UTC)Consequently, according to the Department of Infrastructure, "The Victorian Action Plan aims to achieve full compliance under the Federal Disability Standards" and then goes on to say that includes 90 per cent compliance 2017 and 100% by 2032.
If they'd fitted the latest trams with lifts or ramps, they could have achieved those figures within a few years. Instead, they are planning on spending astronomical amounts to remove both parking and traffic lanes from major arterial roads to do it in 30 years.