Taxi Driver Online

Bracknell punters turned off by disabled access taxis



Fewer people are using taxis because they do not like the new style of wheelchair-friendly cars, says a drivers’ spokesman.

Shoppers and workers wanting to hail a cab are crossing the street to avoid getting into one of the new larger taxi cabs, says Andy Watson, of the Bracknell Licensed Taxi Forum (BLTF).

He claims hey then either get in an older-style saloon cab or phone for a minicab.

Mr Watson said: “There has been a steady decline in work and it’s all to do with the wheelchair-accessible vehicles, because they are not as comfortable as a saloon car and can feel like sitting in the back of a van. They are just not as popular with the public, or sometimes people think they will cost more.”

He said elderly people also struggled with the cars – which can set drivers back as much as £35,000 – as they had to step up further to get into them.

“At The Legion taxi rank in the town centre, there is a higher step on the kerb that they can use to get into the cars, but we can’t take that with us,” said Andy.

He said corporate work, such as journeys to the airport for businesspeople, had also dried up, with many firms preferring to pre-book more stylish minicabs.

Bracknell Forest Council introduced a policy at the end of 2001 stating all new licensed taxis must be wheelchair-accessible by 2009.

That means many will be coming to the end of their life at the end of 2009 and all taxis will then have to be wheelchair-accessible.

The policy was introduced to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act, which asked for all taxis to be wheelchair-accessible by the year 2012.

However, the Department for Transport is reviewing that requirement.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

And there was me thinking it might be down to the recession.

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IDFIMH

You would be surprised, I hear tales from passengers saying how they refuse to get into WAV's because they're more expensive than saloons.

Obviously these stories emanate from saloon drivers.

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

or maybe joe public has realised that a WAV=HC=meter whilst quite often a saloon is a PHV and cheaper...

Working on a radio circuit with quite a few WAVs I'm amazed how many people ask not to have a WAV. Which is a bit of a [edited by admin] to those that have spent up to £35,000 on a cab.

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IDFIMH

I hope not we have saloon HC's here

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Same here, the old ladies dont like the high steps, especially on the van conversions......they dont seem to know the WAV's have steps and the driver is too lazy to get out of the cab and assist.

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

This saloon managed to convey it's passenger with ease.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7837920.stm

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IDFIMH

That looks like a Ford Orion.....PH?

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Maybe its the step they dont like..they have to climb into a WAV (step or no step) rather than the ladies preferred "Bum first then Legs" method of getting into a saloon...

True.

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Looks like a York PH thats what Stinky described them as like.
I wonder what the cleaning bill came to

Have you posted this in the right place?

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

What type of WAV do they have there

The picture looked like a doblo.

I'll get the link

Link!

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin