What's happening to Total Mobility?
Recently there’s been a few stories relating to Total Mobility and funding being restricted, this one from Invercargill is particularly concerning
“Invercargill's patronage has soared in recent years, jumping from 49,766 fares to 93,550 between 2020/21 and 2023/24. That led to a council report being tabled on Tuesday in an effort to "balance need against financial sustainability".
Reading between the lines, Total Mobility is getting too expensive, and Invercargill City Council is looking to scale back the service
That is really concerning as Invercargill has many rural outlying areas and a large population where Total Mobility is the only way for disabled people, and elderly members of the community to get out of their houses, and back to Invercargill to visit relatives or attend a doctor’s appointment and any scale back of the service could have serious consequenses.
All of this gives me pause to revisit the history of Total Mobility, just briefly;
The history of Total Mobility
Total Mobility reaches back to 1977 with the start of something called Operation Mobility, launched by CCS ( image below credited to CCS Disability Action).
The scheme would go on to receive funding from the International Year for Disabled Person in 1981 and the associated Telethlon.
Total Mobility has a very long history with the disability community as well as being a crucial way to support our elderly population get around.
For a more in-depth look, go and have a look at CCS Disability Action History Hub
The Review of Total Mobility
A Review of Total Mobility, which started in July 2023 and was updated in 2024, had these following four key areas within its Scope:
1. The purpose of Total Mobility
2. How Total Mobility could reach more disabled people
3. How aspects of Total Mobility’s operations could be improved
4. Sustainable funding mechanisms for Total Mobility
Some key changes have occurred between the last 2023 Review and the updated 2024 Review, particularly in relation to the Funding of Total Mobility, the July 2023 Review had this to say on funding,
“A 75 percent discount applies to Total Mobility fares until a maximum subsidy is reached. The maximum subsidy varies between regions and is set by the relevant public transport authority (PTA). The funding of Total Mobility trips is made up of:
50 percent subsidy funded through a combination of the National Land Transport Fund (NLTF) and local government’s regional rates (60 percent NLTF funded and 40 percent local council funded)
25 percent subsidy funded by the Crown (this additional subsidy was announced as permanent by Cabinet in December 2022)
The remaining 25 percent is funded by the Total Mobility user (and any additional costs above the maximum regionally adjusted cap)”.
While the updated document from 2024 had shifted the focus to have this to say;
Area 4: Funding mechanisms for Total Mobility:
The review is focusing on:
Current and projected funding needs for Total Mobility, and how these funding needs could be met to enable the longevity of this scheme.
How other government initiatives to support transport accessibility for disabled people are funded, and the interactions between these funding sources.
The potential for new or innovative funding mechanisms1
The 2023 Review made a clear statement that the 75 % subsidy was being committed to and would be implemented.
It is far from clear from the Scope of the updated Review that the 75% is being recommitted to.
The updated Scope refers to other funding options being explored, such as through other government initiatives or ‘innovative funding mechanisms’ whatever they are?
Perhaps this is code for PPP’s or public private partnerships or even further privatisation of part or all of the Total Mobility service?
One thing that is very clear, is that the service at the moment is under stress!
The example from Invercargill that I referenced up top of this piece is a perfect example of this.
Another example of stress on the system that I was recently made aware of relates to the plight of the operators, who are normally small business operators, driving the vehicles who deliver the Total Mobility service.
They deserve certainty just as much as disabled people and the service organisations which make up the who service.
In an example that’s been shared, that the costs to purchase and convert a vehicle to make it ready for Total Mobility business regularly exceed 100k,
It is positive to see in the review 2 that the needs of the Total Mobility operators will be part of the Scope, particularly:
The supply of Total Mobility services, including the availability of specialist wheelchair accessible vehicles and drivers, and options to increase service supply if needed.
Who should be eligible to operate as a Total Mobility provider.
Opportunities to deliver more innovative services to Total Mobility users.
How Total Mobility providers are financially compensated in the scheme and whether the
scheme needs to be more attractive for providers to encourage them to provide services.
Whether operators are fairly compensated for installing and maintaining equipment such as wheelchair hoists.
Finding answers to all these questions will only make the Total Mobility service better for disabled people, operators and everyone who uses the service.
Hurry up and get announcing!!
I suppose that this will be part of the Government’s set of budget announcements but I implore the government to hurry up and announce this piece of work, we’ve been waiting over 2 years already!
Total Mobility is part of the DNA of the disability community here in Aotearoa, its been around almost as long as I’ve been alive, longer than many people in the disability community, and its part of the social fabric of our society.
It’s right that it has a review and modernisation, I fully support that, there are parts of the system that do not work for disabled people, for the operators, and for CCS Disability Action.
But Total Mobility must be retained, modernised, and updated to meet the needs of the current environment and future proofed for the world we move into.
https://www.transport.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Total-Mobility-Scheme-review_Terms-of-Reference_updated_Final-August-2024.pdf
https://www.transport.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Total-Mobility-Scheme-review_Terms-of-Reference_updated_Final-August-2024.pdf