Fears Over Reduction To Disability Travel Service

Friday, 2 May 2025, 7:46 pm
Article: Matthew Rosenberg - Local Democracy Reporter

Disability groups are pushing for retention of Total Mobility funding amid a potential trimming of the service in Invercargill.

CCS Disability Action access coordinator Mary O’Brien presented to the city council this week as part of its annual plan consultation, urging it to continue funding the programme at current levels.

“Total Mobility is an essential service for many people. It’s there to provide a service for people who cannot use other forms of transport," she said.

The nationwide transport initiative assists people who struggle to get around, with fares subsidised 75 percent by central and local government, to a limit.

Invercargill’s programme has seen an 88 percent increase in popularity for the three years to 2023/24, prompting the city council to explore options for disincentivising.

Although some used it for recreation, it was mostly used for essentials services such as shopping or going to the doctor, O'Brien said.

The potential funding reduction has already received push-back from the organisation, which said last month it would negatively impact disabled people.

It also comes at a time when the council is considering an increase to public transport fares.

Cash fares range from $1.10 to $3, but could jump to $5 for some as the government pushes for increased self-funding.

O’Brien’s written submission said public transport was important for helping disabled people meet their daily needs because they were less likely to access cars.

“We receive continual feedback from disabled people that they are continually having to make difficult choices such as purchasing, food, heating their homes or paying for transport,” she wrote, with an increase in fares making that choice even harder.

Association of Blind Citizens Southland branch chair Carolyn Weston said Total Mobility was an essential service and also advocated for better public transport.

“Because buses are not necessarily accessible to disabled people, people are using Total Mobility probably more than they need to,” she told councillors.

Her written submission called for an overhaul of the bus service so that it could be more “receptive, accessible, reliable and affordable”.

Weston requested audio announcements be reintroduced, because it was “embarrassing” they were no longer offered by one of the first cities to use them.

Directions given to council staff from elected members on 1 April included developing a process to limit Total Mobility trip numbers and considering a reduction in subsidy to 50 percent.

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