Latest news with #Dial-a-Ride
IOL News
8 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
'Alternative options are not viable': How Dial-a-Ride cuts affect families with disabled children
This is how the Dial-a-ride cuts are expected to impact persons with disabilities. Image: Pexels A decision by the City of Cape Town to scale back its Dial-a-Ride service from September 8 2025, has left many of the city's most vulnerable in the lurch. One such person is Dr Warren Charles, whose son is wheelchair-bound, and spoke to IOL about the plight. The Charles family will be greatly hit by the scaling back, as his son has used the Dial-a-Ride service for the last three years. At this point, Dial-a-Ride is the only reliable scholar transport system that can accommodate someone in a wheelchair. He uses the services Monday to Friday as he is collected from home, dropped off at school, and collected in the afternoon again, making the service a part of their everyday life. When asked how the scaling back would affect his education, Charles said: "It will severely impact his reasonable access, which the system has been providing to get to school, ultimately impeding his access to schooling and education." Charles said that he has been in contact with families in a similar situation. "I have been in contact with the learners being collected with my son in the mornings. These parents are in limbo, as they don't have other forms of transport for their kids. We as parents (twelve of us) also share a WhatsApp group where we keep each other in touch with collections etc, and the mood in the group is one of shock and disappointment at being removed from the platform." He reiterated that getting their children to school or university will be one of the biggest challenges. "Some families have cars, yet these vehicles are not accommodating for a wheelchair, whilst other households don't even have a car or access to alternative transport arrangements. "There are alternative options, yet expensive, but they do not accommodate your child's impairment. So no, these options are not viable." He stated that he would like Councillor Quintas and the City of Cape Town to reconsider their decision "to the point that they will rescind it". Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading In terms of further steps, Charles and the other parents are taking action: "Currently, we are drafting a petition, and other further actions are planned. Remember, we are not used to protesting and these kinds of shenanigans, but if it is needed, the disabled community is prepared to do such. According to the Dial-a-Ride site, the service transports 350 regular users and 2,270 ad-hoc passengers, providing a dedicated kerb-to-kerb transport option for people with disabilities who are unable to use mainstream public transport. Under the impending changes, the service will be severely limited and exclusively for transport to and from work. The reduction is expected to affect more than 1,000 vulnerable individuals. The City attributes its decision to an "unsustainable" R12 million annual shortfall. Charles said he hoped for better communication "Proper common decency and open advanced communications with all stakeholders was at least expected if the City was to implement their current decision, which now impacts families and individuals who need this much-needed service." IOL
IOL News
2 days ago
- General
- IOL News
Blind commuters left in the lurch as Cape Town's Dial-a-Ride service restricts access
Dial-a-Ride has announced changes to their services as of September 8. Image: Supplied The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is investigating two complaints against the City of Cape Town's Dial-a-Ride service, following its announcement to exclusively transport eligible wheelchair users, excluding the blind community. Blind commuters, many of whom work in and around the City, have been given until September 8 to find alternative transport to their workplaces, as the Dial-a-Ride service said it was oversubscribed and suffering severe capacity challenges with its R28.2 million annual budget being insufficient for the current R40 million operating costs. They announced that effective September 8, the service will exclusively transport eligible wheelchair users and those with severe walking impairments between Monday to Friday during peak periods, with minimal weekend and public holiday services for work-related travel. The trips will be strictly between work and home and not recreational activities. The Western Cape Network on Disability has since called on the City to halt their restrictions, engage with role players, and commit to implementing a fully accessible, integrated public transport system in line with the Constitution. The SAHRC on Tuesday confirmed they received complaints against the City's Dial-a-Ride service. 'To confirm that the WCPO (Western Cape Provincial Office) has received two complaints in this regard. 'To confirm that there are matters currently under investigation as lodged against Dial-a-Ride.' Board chairperson of the Western Cape Network on Disability, Michelle Botha, said the suspension of services to the blind was an infringement of human rights, and placed them in a position of vulnerability. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'Under the new criteria, the service will only transport certain wheelchair users and people with severe walking impairments, and only between home and work during peak hours,' she said. 'All trips to education, healthcare, recreation, community activities, sport, and other essential services will be cut. Blind and visually impaired users will be excluded entirely. 'This decision is not simply a budgetary adjustment. It is a denial of the constitutional right to equality, dignity, and full participation in society. For many disabled people, DaR (Dial-a-Ride) is the only form of accessible transport available. The claim that there are viable alternatives such as MyCiTi buses, specialist e-hailing, or NGO transport is misleading. 'MyCiTi does not serve all areas, its infrastructure is not fully accessible, and hardware often fails. Golden Arrow buses remain inaccessible despite legislation. Specialist e-hailing is prohibitively expensive for most, and may still refuse users with assistance dogs despite their official policy. 'NGO transport is already overstretched, despite the fact that providing public transport is not the mandate of disability organisations.' Amanda Matthee has been using Dial-a-Ride for over 20 years and is disappointed by the City's decision to exclude the blind from transportation services. Image: Supplied
IOL News
3 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Cape Town's vulnerable residents face transport crisis as Dial-a-Ride service is scaled back
Users have expressed concern over changes to Cape Town's Dial-a-Ride service amid budget constraints. Image: Supplied A controversial decision by the City of Cape Town to scale back its Dial-a-Ride service from September 8 2025, has sparked outrage and a public petition. Critics say that the move will strip thousands of the city's most vulnerable residents of their only safe and reliable access to essential services. For many people with disabilities, it's deemed a necessity, not just a convenience, and would directly hit living standards and quality of life for its users. According to the Dial-a-Ride site, the service transports 350 regular users and 2,270 ad-hoc passengers, providing a dedicated kerb-to-kerb transport option for people with disabilities who are unable to use mainstream public transport. The service has been in operation since the late 1990s, serving individuals, including the mentally disabled, visually impaired, and infirm, enabling their access to healthcare, places of worship, work, education, and community activities. Under the impending changes, the service will be severely limited to only wheelchair-bound individuals and those with severe walking impairments, and exclusively for transport to and from work. The reduction is expected to affect more than 1,000 vulnerable individuals. The City attributes its decision to an "unsustainable" R12 million annual shortfall. However, this response was met with strong condemnation. Roscoe Palm, a GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor, dismissed the R12 million figure as a "rounding error" within a municipal budget exceeding R70 billion. Palm has called on Councillor Rob Quintas, Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, to "immediately find the R12 million needed to keep Dial-a-Ride accessible for all its current users, and also to expand the service" as the city's transport infrastructure grows. The controversy is further exacerbated by the fact that just last year, Quintas had publicly celebrated the programme's expansion under a new six-year, R28.1 million-per-year contract with HG Travelling Services. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading At the time, Quintas stated that this new contract was intended to allow for the expansion of the service to accommodate more eligible users as additional budget became available. The GOOD Party views the current decision as a "reversal" and "starkly at odds with the City's oft-stated values of Opportunity, Care, Accessibility, and Safety". In response to the impending cuts, a petition titled "Stop the Cancellation of Dial-a-Ride in Cape Town" has been launched on by The Western Cape Network on Disability. The petition highlights that the service is crucial for users to access work for their livelihoods, enables children to attend school, ensures vital hospital visits for medication and check-ups, and allows participation in recreational and community life. It asserts that losing Dial-a-Ride would be "catastrophic," potentially leading to job losses, educational setbacks for children, and compromised health for many in the Western Cape. "The impact of losing Dial-a-Ride is catastrophic. Without this service, many in the Western Cape will lose their jobs due to a lack of transportation, exacerbating financial hardship and increasing unemployment rates. It jeopardises the education of children who will struggle to attend school, impacting future generations. Additionally, it risks our health by making it difficult to access medical care," the petition reads. At the time of publishing, 1,697 people have signed the petition. The petition directly appeals to Quintas, urging the City to reconsider its decision. It proposes exploring alternatives such as increased funding, better route planning, and community involvement in decision-making processes to enhance and expand the service. IOL
Eyewitness News
3 days ago
- Business
- Eyewitness News
City of Cape Town cutting routes on its Dial-a-Ride service
CAPE TOWN - The City of Cape Town has announced that it is cutting routes on its Dial-a-Ride service. City bosses said the service catered to 2,000 ad hoc users and at least 200 eligible commuters with disabilities. From September, the metro-subsidised transport service will only commute users between home and work. Social visits, hospital visits, and trips to school will no longer be permitted. The municipality said it's running at a loss operating the service at a cost of R40 million a year. MMC for Urban Mobility Rob Quintas added that from September, only eligible wheelchair users and those with severe walking impairments would be able to use the service. "Where the MyCiti operates, that is a universally accessible system, so between the available public transport options as well as the e-hailing platforms, there are supplementary ways of moving persons with disabilities around that were not an option before."
IOL News
4 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Cape Town's Dial-a-Ride service faces budget cuts, limiting transport for disabled users
Users have expressed concern over changes to Cape Town's Dial-a-Ride service amid budget constraints. Image: Supplied The City of Cape Town said its Dial-a-Ride service is oversubscribed as they experience capacity challenges, with the R28.2 million annual budget being insufficient for the current R40 million operating costs. This has been met with concern by users. The City announced that effective September 8, the service will exclusively transport eligible wheelchair users and those with severe walking impairments, strictly between work and home. "Over the past two decades, the service has expanded to include commuter trips to educational, medical, recreational facilities, shopping centres, and private home visits and the user base grew to include users with other special needs. "Unfortunately, due to budget constraints, the DaR (Dial-a-Ride) service needs to be realigned with its core mandate: namely to transport eligible wheelchair users and those with severe walking impairments, and to limit these trips between the users' homes and places of work,' the City said. It added that due to a current budget deficit amounting to nearly R1 million a month and the operational costs, which is set to continue to increase, they are unable to sustain the service over the longer term without implementing changes. 'The DaR service is over-subscribed due to the expansion of the service beyond its core mandate and the service is experiencing severe capacity challenges where the demand exceeds the available resources,' they City said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Abram Lintnaar from Atlantis is among the commuters affected by changes to the Dial-a-Ride service. Image: Supplied 'The annual budget for the service is R28.2 million, while the annual operating costs amount to R40 million currently.' They also said as of September 8, the service will transport eligible wheelchair users and those with severe walking impairments during peak periods, from Monday to Friday, with minimal services on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays for those who need to go to work 'The City is busy engaging users, user groups, and stakeholders to inform them of the amended eligibility criteria, requirements to qualify, and amended service offering." A year ago, the City announced its decision to discontinue the services to Altantis and the issue was raised with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) by a commuter. Abram Lintnaar, 51, from Atlantis, used the service daily to get to his workplace at the Cape Town Society for the Blind and told the Cape Argus that its changes has added financial strain.
