Charlottetown gets first wheelchair-accessible taxi

Its been a long wait for people in Charlottetownwho use a wheelchair, but the city finally has its first wheelchair-accessible taxi.

Yellow Cab hasrolled out a taxithat can take two wheelchairs, a move being applauded by an Islandaccessibility advocate.

"I think it's going to be a life-changer for a lot of people, it's going to be a great freedom,"says Paul Cudmore, with Spinal Cord Injury Prince Edward Island.

"Even to get where they need to go late at night if there's friends at your house and they all decide they want to go downtown, you can go with them now."

Yellow Cab owner Kirby Eldershaw says it can cost up to $25,000 to make a taxiwheelchairaccessible, a price tag that can deter operators from doing the retrofit.But hes confident the investment will work.

"We're trying to give a little freedom;if you want to go out, go out," he said.

The accessible cab is currently on the road between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., but in July it will begin to run 24 hours a day.