Orihuela Sin Barreras calls for accessible taxis across the town, outlying villages and coast

Orihuela Sin Barreras has written to the council asking it to guarantee accessible taxi availability throughout the municipality, after receiving complaints from people who have been unable to use this transport in recent weeks.

The association is seeking more Eurotaxi licences and rules ensuring coverage of the town centre, outlying villages and coastal area, rather than allowing additional vehicles to be concentrated in just one part of the municipality.

Complaints linked to simultaneous breakdowns

According to information the association says it received from Radio Taxi Orihuela, the three wheelchair-accessible taxis serving the town centre and most of its outlying villages are understood to have suffered breakdowns at the same time.

The same account indicates that one of those vehicles was returning to service, so the association’s request addresses both the difficulties passengers have experienced and the need to prevent further interruptions to accessible transport.

Its president, Belén Cascales, says the group and taxi professionals share the call for a municipal by-law governing the service.

More vehicles and coverage across the municipality

The request is not simply about the number of licences: Orihuela Sin Barreras wants availability to be guaranteed across the entire municipal area.

To explain its concern, the association argues that granting additional accessible taxi licences would not resolve shortages in the town centre and villages if all the vehicles ended up operating on the coast.

That example forms part of its demand for geographical planning of the service, alongside its request to expand the supply of accessible transport.

Help with purchasing and adapting taxis

The association’s board is also seeking financial support for purchasing and converting vehicles, as well as measures favouring the award of licences for this type of taxi.

It acknowledges that a Eurotaxi involves higher purchase, maintenance and fuel costs, but argues that public authorities should support a service it considers important for residents.

Its request therefore combines three measures: increasing the number of available vehicles, establishing rules covering Orihuela’s different areas and helping taxi professionals meet the cost of providing accessible transport.