Unfortunately, there was a time when socially unprotected sections of the population were forced, as they say, “on their own” to get to clinics, train stations, courts and other state structures in order to solve pressing issues. You must admit that it is quite difficult for older people and people with disabilities to get to the bus stop, and even more so it is uncomfortable to travel by public transport.
The essence of the project
It was for such categories of citizens that the authorities of Russian cities introduced the Social Taxi service. What is she like? This is a special assistance program for beneficiaries, which is funded by the regional treasury. For the first time, the above service appeared in the metropolitan metropolis in the late 90s of the last century.
Social taxi in St. Petersburg began to work since 2006. Disabled people and participants of the Second World War got the opportunity to move around the city for a minimal fee.
Cheap mode of transport
Officials in the Northern capital have stipulated that most of the fare will be paid at the expense of the city budget (90%), and the passenger will compensate the smaller part (10%). On average, a client pays 200-250 rubles for 6-8 kilometers of journey.
The project “Social taxi in St. Petersburg” involves the establishment of taxi companies, in the arsenal of which there are both passenger cars and specialized vehicles. A list of objects to which the carrier of “social” transport can deliver is also determined. Naturally, these include government agencies, educational and cultural institutions, train stations and bus stations.
Given the above, do not forget that a social taxi (in St. Petersburg) will not take you to visit friends.
List of persons covered by the service
Who is entitled to use this kind of service? As already emphasized, these are socially vulnerable groups of the population. These include, in particular, people with disabilities, as well as people with disabilities who use rehabilitation tools (wheelchairs, canes, supports, crutches). Also, disabled children under the age of seven, people with disabilities over 80 can ride a social taxi. And, of course, participants and invalids of the Second World War can use the above vehicle.
Of course, social taxi in St. Petersburg is a significant program for beneficiaries, which provides an opportunity to get to their destination for little money.
Passengers note that in most cases, drivers show courtesy and understanding to customers.
How to call
To use the above service in the Northern capital, you just need to call a social taxi. The phone is easy to remember: 576-03-00. The dispatch service will accept the call. You can also apply online in the carrier’s website.
The client can ask the driver of the social taxi to wait until he understands the cases (provided that their decision takes no more than 2 hours, and at the social security institution - four hours).
Principle of operation
It should be noted that the social taxi for the disabled works according to a certain pattern: if we are talking about a route towards a bus station or a spa institution, then the order is valid one way.
If a client likes to visit cultural and entertainment venues: theaters, circuses, philharmonic societies, then he can get to them by social taxi no more than four times a month. At the same time, children with disabilities aged 3 to 14 years can take this opportunity, provided that the departure to the final destination is carried out no later than 16.00, and vice versa - no later than 18.00.
Ordering a social taxi for a trip to government agencies of all branches of government can be done no more than 8 times a day.
When processing applications, the time periods should be taken into account: no later than one day, but no earlier than five days before the planned trip. Taxopark employees in most cases check the client’s authority and send data about him to a special registry.
Project disadvantages
The disadvantage of the program is that a social taxi for disabled people can be called no earlier than 12 hours before the trip.
Moreover, the queue for the above service may stretch for several days - this is due to the fact that there are simply not enough specialized vehicles. Agree, if you need to get somewhere urgently, then in such conditions the effectiveness of social taxi is zero.
Another disadvantage of the above program in St. Petersburg is the fact that social transport operates in a limited time mode. For example, if you want to go to a concert in the evening, then you cannot use the services of such a taxi.
There is also another major minus. Which one? The fact is that in some cases a social taxi for pensioners in St. Petersburg runs strictly on certain routes, not taking into account the wishes of customers.
Disappointing statistics
It should be emphasized that currently in the Northern capital there are more than 730 thousand people with disabilities, and about 12 thousand of them are confined to a wheelchair. For the above category of citizens, social taxi is almost the only way to get to the right institutions.
People with disabilities need vehicles equipped with special chair lifts, but for 12,000 people there are only 2 models of such “miracle technology”.
How regional officials evaluate the project
City authorities on the Neva have increasingly begun to claim that the above social program in its original form is becoming too burdensome for the regional treasury. They propose limiting the list of persons who are entitled to use the service. In this regard, local deputies prepared amendments to the relevant regulatory framework.
“Currently, not all potential customers use the opportunity provided to them. At the same time, the number of people who very often began to call a social taxi increased. It is necessary to take into account the fact that the above type of transport is primarily intended for those who, due to health reasons, cannot ride buses, trolleybuses and trams, that is, for wheelchair users and disabled people of the first group, ”experts say.
Officials want to abolish the principle of “egalitarianism”, which is taken as a basis when it comes to paying for social taxi services. The amount of remuneration will be differentiated, it will depend on the category of disability. In addition, people with disabilities who are able to move on their own can purchase a “pass” on a social taxi at a reduced price.