Investigating human rights 2.2.7 Transportation, innovation and technology Transportation of assistance dogs in taxis Media reports and complaints by affected persons made the AOB aware that there are continuing problems with respect to transporting assistance dogs in taxis. Persons with disabilities, who rely on assistance dogs, are not allowed to take them with them in taxis. This is often justified by fear of soiling the vehicle, fear of dogs and “dog allergies”. Transportation in taxis often refused According to the Austrian Federal Disability Act (Bundesbehindertengesetz), assistance dogs, which include guide, service and signal dogs, are utilised for the purpose of enhancing the self-determination of persons with disabilities and their participation in all areas of life. Therefore, persons who are accompanied by their assistance dogs need free access to services. The AOB found that the “Operating regulations for non-scheduled carriage of passengers”, which apply nationwide, have no special rules for assistance dogs. However, under this regulation issued by the Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology, animals that are “vicious” or “dirty” can be barred from transport in taxis, as can dogs that are not wearing a muzzle. In some Laender, these provisions have been included in taxi business regulations. The operating regulations of other Laender have no rules in this regard. Only Vienna and Salzburg impose an express obligation to transport guide dogs. Provisions not uniform The AOB suggested a uniform nationwide provision to ensure that taxis are required to transport assistance dogs. In the interim, an amendment to Section 13 (3) (a) of the Occasional Transportation Act (Gelegenheitsverkehrsgesetz) was passed and took effect in January 2017. Under this amendment, there is a nationwide requirement to transport assistance dogs in occasional transportation (particularly taxis), if the person being transported relies on the accompaniment of an assistance dog. There is no requirement that such animals be on a leash or wear a muzzle. Nationwide transportation requirement implemented Discounts for persons with disabilities on special toll sections A special route toll is collected on private cars on certain sections of the toll road system. These are sections of the Pyhrn motorway (A 9), the Tauern motorway (A 10), the Karawanken motorway (A 11), the Arlberg expressway (S 16) and the Brenner motorway (A 13). Persons with disabilities contacted the AOB with complaints that various prerequisites for purchasing a discounted annual card for these routes were subjective and incomprehensible. 79