Taxi Service for People with Disabilities
The Taxi-Voucher Transportation Program has provided taxi rides to medical appointments and/or health-related activities since 1973. This program is being administered by the San Francisco LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, but persons need not have visual impairments to be eligible. New funding is being provided by the San Francisco Department of Aging and Adult Services.
The vouchers will be available beginning February 1 through June 30, 2007.
These vouchers may be used for medical appointments, therapy appointments, rehabilitation, legal appointments, benefit counseling, food pantries, congregate meals, and programs at community centers.
Eligibility criteria: An applicant must be a San Francisco resident, and have a certification from a physician that applicant is permanently disabled and unable to use public transit.
Travel method: The LightHouse contracts with Luxor and Yellow Cab companies. The phone number for the Luxor Cab is 415.282.4141. Yellow Cab provides wheelchair access. Yellow Cab’s phone number is 415.626.2345.
How to apply: Phone 415.431.1481 or write the LightHouse for an application. Be sure the application is completely filled out, that you sign it, and that it is signed by your physician. The LightHouse will inform you in writing of the receipt and acceptance/non-acceptance of your application.
Taxi vouchers: Vouchers can be used for appointments with bona fide health care providers, not just physicians. The maximum number of taxi vouchers per eligible client is three round trips per month. Travel must be within the City of San Francisco.
One week or more before your appointment, phone the Voucher Coordinator at 415.431.1481 x. 321, Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 3:30 p.m. to request vouchers. Give your name, the date, and address of your appointment. The Voucher Coordinator will send you the voucher(s) and carbon(s). Please give a voucher and the carbon to the driver when you enter the cab. If necessary, you may change the date on the voucher. The destination on the voucher must never be changed. No stop-over is allowed. When you call a cab, you must be ready for the driver when she or he comes, otherwise he or she will either leave or start the meter, and it will cost more.
You should call the cab at least two hours before you wish it to arrive. Wheelchair users should ask for a wheelchair ramp cab. If it does not arrive in 15 minutes, call again. The driver will take you to only one eligible destination, and on the return trip, only to your home. LightHouse will not honor any stops in between.
Cab drivers are not allowed to do any lifting.
Tipping: You may include on each voucher a tip for the driver for no more than 10% of your fare. To do this, inform the driver to base the 10% tip on the total amount of the fare. The driver should write this amount on the voucher. We also encourage Taxi Voucher clients to tip the driver themselves, in addition to the 10%.
If for some reason you have not used your voucher(s), please mail them back to 214 Van Ness Ave., SF, CA 94102. Any expired vouchers should be mailed as well.
If you have any questions or would like an application to participated in this program, please contact The LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired Taxi Voucher Coordinator at 415.431.1481 extension 321, Davina Mendez, or voice mail 415.694.7321.
James