It is a very good deal. The downside is you have a limited choice of cars. There might be many more imaginative ways out there of offering bigger choice, maybe subsidised servicing and repairs, a very good car warranty scheme for those who cannot find a suitable car on the scheme. Their own insurance scheme etc etc. Its a great choice if you can use the cars. If you needs are particular or detailed or very different them its not the best.
I can still drive anything, gears or not, big or small. But I wouldn’t be able to drive it two days running. I would be too sore and stiff. I don’t use a wheel chair, but its always struck me that wheelchair users get a particularly raw deal with not enough choice. Given the economic disadvantage being disabled generally confers. It is not asking too much in the 6th richest country in the world, with some of the greatest inequalities of wealth to ask for a good choice of vehicles and schemes to promote mobility.