VIDEO: Robyne Burridge wheeled from Nightcliff to Coconut Grove, it was faster than waiting for a taxi

The NT News took the long 2.3km journey home that the 2022 NT Senior Australian of the Year completed in her wheelchair, rather than waiting for a cab.

A 25-MINUTE bumpy journey home in a wheelchair was quicker than waiting up to an hour for a cab for 2022 NT Senior Australian of the Year Robyne Burridge.

After one of her regular meetings at the Nightcliff Community Centre, Ms Burridge was told she would have to wait up to an hour for a taxi home to Coconut Grove.

That’s when she thought “stuff this” and decided to wheel the 2.3km journey home.

2022 NT Senior Australian of the Year Robyne Burridge motored almost 2km from the Nightcliff Community Centre to her home, in Coconut Grove. Picture: Floss Adams.

Ms Burridge arrived home after 25 minutes of navigating the rough pavements.

“One, it’s hot, two, the footpaths are so bumpy and overgrown with trees and roots, it’s not something I would do normally. I don’t normally travel great distances in my wheelchair,” Ms Burridge said.

Ms Burridge prepares to carefully cross the road and avoid the traffic on the busy Dick Ward Dr in Coconut Gove. Picture: Floss Adams.

The NT News recently reported taxi labour shortages are the primary cause of the lengthy wait times.

But for cab users like Ms Burridge, long delays for wheelchair-friendly taxis is sometimes for other reasons too.

Through the Transport Subsidy Scheme (TSS), the NT government offers eligible wheelchair passengers a $2056 lift card each financial year.

This acts as an incentive for cab drivers because each wheelchair passenger they collect is an additional $20 in their pocket.

Although when that card runs out, so does the incentive for cabbies.

Taxis are the only mode of transport Ms Burridge can travel in safely to get around the Top End. Picture: Floss Adams.

Because Ms Burridge is such a frequent user of taxis, she said most drivers knew her and could remember whether or not her $2056 card had been exhausted.

“When the taxi money card runs out, it becomes less of an incentive, they get to know you and know when your card has run out,” Mr Burridge said.

A spokeswoman for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Minister Eva Lawler said the government had considered a different approach to the TSS.

She said if a passenger had run out of the TSS travel money, taxi drivers had the option of charging a wheelchair passenger for the additional loading time via the taximeter.

“This payment is intended to offset the additional time taken to secure the passenger into the vehicle, however taxi drivers can also elect to charge the additional loading time through the taximeter in lieu of accepting the incentive payment,” she said.

Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Minister Eva Lawler says reliable and safe transport options for Territorians is paramount. Picture: Floss Adams.

However, Darwin Radio Taxi managing director Imran Nadeem said utilising the taximeter in lieu of the lift incentive was not a like for like option.

“Utilising the meter during the (wheelchair) loading process probably adds $3 – $4 to the meter max,” Mr Nadeem said.

“Essentially, this covers 90 return trips to use throughout the year but with the increase in petrol prices and parts, drivers are finding it hard to make ends meet travelling long distances to cover a $10 fare without a lift incentive.

“I sympathise with the customers that are waiting excessive amounts of time to get picked up, but I can’t expect the drivers to drive for free.”

Mr Nadeem said Darwin Radio Taxi had 28 wheelchair accessible taxis in its fleet but with a lack of staff, the company only had a maximum of 18 wheelchair friendly vehicles on the road at a time.

“What we need is more drivers, not more vehicles,” he said.