Teenager Helps to Bring a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Sharing Scheme to Sydney

An Australian teenager has helped to launch a wheelchair accessible vehicle sharing scheme in Sydney.

Philip Hojgaard-Olsen has muscular dystrophy, a disease which affects the muscles, and was struggling to find suitable transport to get out and about. After spending more than $20,000 converting their family car, Philip and his dad, Peter, started campaigning for car-share service GoGet to offer accessible vehicles for those who could not afford their own.

Now, a year on, the service has launched its first accessible vehicle to operate out of Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital.

Accessible Transport

Philip said: “Sometimes buses don’t have access, or the access doesn’t work. It can be quite frustrating, especially if you’ve gone all the way to the bus stop only to find out the buses can’t cater for you.

“Wheelchair accessible taxis can also be very expensive and aren’t suitable for longer trips. But now for less than $10 an hour it is possible to get transportation to where you need to go. It opens up a whole new avenue.”

Sharing Scheme

The GoGet accessible service is now up and running with the support of Spinal Cord Injuries Australia (SCIA). The pilot vehicle will initially be based at the hospital, enabling family members and carers to utilise the vehicle to and from doctor’s appointments, with plans to roll out the model nationally should it prove successful, starting with 20 cars in Sydney.

GoGet CEO Tristan Sender said: “The service will enable people with disabilities to get out for longer, for families to take out relatives and friends with disabilities, and for Philip to get a break from his dad and hit the road with his friends.”

Philip is now urging the Australian government to fund more schemes to increase the transport solutions around the country.