REGION OF IMPLEMENTATION 

Zhlobin, Zhlobin district, Gomel region

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TOPICS

Economic development and growth
Technology and Innovation
Social development
Housing and urban environment

CONTENTS OF THE ACTIVITY

About 3,000 people with disabilities and limited mobility live in Zhlobin and the Zhlobin region. Despite the barrier-free environment at socially significant sites in the city, people with musculoskeletal disorders have difficulty living an active life and moving long distances. This is especially true for disabled people from the Zhlobin region, who need to visit the city of Zhlobin.

The social taxi “AB WAY” solves problems such as: increasing the mobility of people with musculoskeletal system disorders; promoting social integration and improving the quality of life by facilitating access to participation in public events, visits to medical institutions, educational institutions, recreation areas and other important facilities; support for social entrepreneurship as a way to solve socially significant problems.

KEY STEPS OF IMPLEMENTATION:

• Concept development and planning. Conducting an analysis of the needs of low-mobility residents of the city of Zhlobin, Zhlobin district, studying the best practices for organizing a social taxi and developing a plan for introducing the service, taking into account local characteristics.
• Selection and adaptation of transport, equipping with seats and fastening systems for wheelchairs, electric hydraulic lift and comfortable seats for accompanying persons. Safety check and examination of transport.
• Conclusion of partnership agreements. Involving transport service companies in the initiative to provide the necessary maintenance and repair of the vehicle, as well as a system for accepting orders for such. Among them are the dispatch service “RelaxGroup” (“Taxi Lucky”) and “Polesyetransservice”.
• Staff training. Drivers and dispatch service employees were trained in working with passengers with limited mobility to ensure a high level of service.
• Organizing an official launch ceremony with the participation of representatives of local authorities and the media. Using the design of a social taxi to distinguish it from the general flow of urban transport.
• Feedback, debugging and expansion. Debugging software and improving the accessibility of social services for people with limited mobility. Expansion of the vehicle fleet to increase service availability. Development of a bonus program and additional benefits for regular customers.

RESULTS AND IMPACT OF THE INITIATIVE

Thanks to the willingness of the management of the taxi “Vezunchik”to support social entrepreneurship and help people with disabilities, the initiative has found a reliable partner for further development. More than 350 test free rides were provided to people with disabilities, which confirms the importance and effectiveness of the initiative. The activities of the social taxi “AB WAY” contribute to increasing the independence and quality of life, as well as the social integration of people with disabilities. It emphasizes the importance of accessibility and inclusion, contributing to the creation of a society where every person, regardless of limitations, has the opportunity to actively participate in its economic and social life.

Information sources:

1. vezun4ik.by
2. ndsmi.by
3. raik.by