Mobility gap: Experts point to government responsibility in taxi access for blind Moroccans

Researchers specializing in disability and human rights say blind people in Morocco face persistent difficulties accessing taxi services, raising concerns about government responsibility to ensure equal mobility and social inclusion.

The researchers argue that the situation reflects a failure by the Ministry of Solidarity, Social Integration and Family, which is legally tasked with protecting the rights of people with disabilities and promoting their full participation in society. They also place responsibility on the Interior Ministry, which oversees the regulation of taxi services.

According to the researchers, the inability of blind people to hail taxis independently limits their freedom of movement and undermines principles of equality and social justice. They say improving access requires clear public policies and practical measures, such as training taxi drivers, adapting vehicles, or introducing alternative transport solutions for people with visual impairments.

Monir Khairallah, a disability researcher and former doctoral researcher in disability and inclusive development at the University of Leeds, said taxi licenses in Morocco are based on a system of trust, but that trust implicitly excludes blind passengers.

“Does this trust include respecting all potential customers, or only those who can signal visually to a driver?” Khairallah asked. “Blind people are excluded because visual interaction is treated as the primary condition for access.”

He questioned the effectiveness of proposals requiring blind people to carry visual signs, arguing that such measures reproduce the same limitations. “If a driver does not see you, you cannot prove that he ignored you,” Khairallah said, adding that the responsibility ultimately lies with public authorities.

Khairallah pointed to international examples, including Italy, where blind people can request taxis through regional services without additional cost, and Chicago, which operates dedicated transport services for people with disabilities. He suggested Morocco could develop digital applications tailored to the mobility needs of people with visual impairments.

He also called for mandatory training programs for taxi drivers, saying many lack basic awareness of disability-related issues. Complaints filed by people with disabilities, including blind individuals and wheelchair users, are often not handled seriously, he said.

Abdelilah Khodari, head of the Moroccan Center for Human Rights, said facilitating access to taxis falls under Morocco’s obligations as a signatory to the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Morocco signed the convention in 2007, and it entered into force in 2008.

Khodari said Article 9 of the convention calls for accessible transportation and training for relevant actors, while Article 20 emphasizes personal mobility and assistive measures. He said these obligations require coordination between the Interior Ministry and the Ministry of Solidarity.

As short-term measures, Khodari suggested voluntary identification signs for blind passengers, public awareness campaigns targeting taxi drivers through social media, and the use of GPS-based applications developed in cooperation with civil society organizations.

He also called for the creation of a joint committee bringing together government ministries, related public institutions and taxi driver unions, combining training initiatives with mild penalties for unjustified refusals.

“These steps would not require heavy resources,” Khodari said, “but they would significantly improve access, dignity and solidarity.”