Province revises special transport mobility guidelines, pledges continued user-centered improvements
Gyeonggi Province will raise the daily usage limit for its special transport service from four trips to six. Wheelchair users in emergency situations will also be allowed to ride first and register afterward, without prior enrollment.
The changes are contained in a revised version of the "Gyeonggi Province Special Transport Wide-Area Mobility Service Standard Guidelines," which takes effect Sept. 1, the province announced Monday.
The special transport service — commonly known as a "disability call taxi" — is a vehicle equipped with wheelchair boarding facilities to support the mobility of people with limited transportation access.
Under the key revisions, the daily usage limit will expand from four trips to six. The change is intended to give users more flexibility beyond medical appointments, covering everyday activities and social participation.
A new procedure has also been established for wheelchair users who need the service in an emergency. Those who can provide documentation of their disability will be allowed to use the service once without prior registration and complete enrollment afterward. The change reflects a recommendation from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and is designed to prevent people from being stranded in urgent situations because of pre-registration requirements.
The revised guidelines also establish a new operational basis for prioritizing wheelchair users. The service currently covers people with severe mobility impairments and temporary wheelchair users, and dispatches vehicles to non-wheelchair users as well. The revision creates a formal basis for giving wheelchair users priority, with specific arrangements to be determined based on vehicle availability in each city and county.
Dispatch notifications will also be strengthened. Once a vehicle is assigned, drivers will be required to call users to confirm the dispatch and provide an estimated arrival time, reducing the inconvenience of waiting without knowing whether a vehicle is on its way.
Safety-related standards have been updated as well. Users who have difficulty wearing a seatbelt may be exempted upon submitting a medical certificate. Users who fail to comply with a driver's safety instructions may have their booking for that trip canceled.
The revised guidelines were developed through a working committee that met from Aug. 3 to Aug. 7, with 36 participants including Gyeonggi Province officials, representatives from all 31 cities and counties, the Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation, and disability organizations and individuals with disabilities. The province finalized the revised guidelines on Aug. 19 and published them on its official website, with implementation set for Sept. 1.
"The special transport service is more than just a means of getting around for people with limited mobility — it is a vital transportation welfare service that enables daily life and social participation," said Lee Gwan-haeng, head of the province's wide-area transportation policy division. "We will continue to improve the system from the user's perspective so that wheelchair users and others with limited mobility can use the service more conveniently and safely."
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