Disabled test drive wheelchair-friendly taxis (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Disabled test drive wheelchair-friendly taxis

5:00am Wednesday 29th October 2008 in

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People with disabilities road-tested new taxis yesterday as part of a consultation to determine which vehicles are the easiest to use.

The six taxis with different layouts and ramps were all purpose-built and included two London-style cabs as well as Mercedes-Benz and Peugeot people carriers.

It follows a push by Bradford Council to increase the number of wheelchair-accessible taxis available in the district from the current levels of 11.6 per cent.

Jill Grant, of both Bradford Access Action and Bradford and District Disabled People’s Forum, was among those who tried out the vehicles for size.

She said: “It’s shown me that wheelchair-accessible vehicles have got to be purpose-built rather than converted. I also thought the London-style cabs would be the best for me, but I couldn’t turn my wheelchair round once inside. I like the Mercedes as its comfortable and there is room for other passengers too.

Janet Cuff, of Able All, a group for the physically disabled, also tried out the taxis. She agreed that the Mercedes vehicle was the best as she could climb in using the two steps.

A meeting took place afterwards to discuss in more detail people’s preferred choice of taxi specifications.

The consultation follows a review by the Council’s hackney carriage unit which found there was a significant lack of vehicles that are suitable to carry wheelchair-bound passengers. As a result taxi drivers and councillors have agreed to a new deal which would see 36 wheelchair-accessible taxis being commissioned next year.

However, on Monday the Telegraph & Argus reported that taxi drivers are being accused of exploiting a loophole.

The agreement was that hackney carriage owners would start swapping saloon cars for wheelchair accessible vehicles from next year as licences were renewed. This would mean 36 new vehicles for use by the disabled next year alone and a further 150 in the following three years. But since the agreement was reached 20 drivers have approached the Council’s hackney carriage unit about renewing their licences early.

The Council is looking to close the loophole at a meeting of the regulatory and appeals committee later today.

At the same meeting councillors are being asked to increase the taxi licence fees by at least 35 per cent.

e-mail: jo.winrow @telegraphandargus.co.uk