Taxi Driver Online

Disabled woman stuck in Wycombe due to lack of transport


http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/4210374.Disabled_woman_angry_after_being_left__stranded_/

A DISABLED woman says she was stranded in High Wycombe for several hours today because she could not find any transport to take her and her helper dog home.

Alison Lewis said she was unable to get back to her Marlow home because a bus did not have a ramp, and there are no taxis capable of taking disabled passengers registered in the area.

She said: “It's unacceptable. I have never been put in a position before when I cannot get home.

“The whole system has fallen apart. It's just not good enough. It's not safe for people to be stranded like this.”

Problems started when Ms Lewis, who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, came out of Wycombe Hospital after a blood test, and tried to get on the 158 bus back to Marlow.

“The ramp which has been put in to help disabled people had been removed, and although all the drivers were extremely helpful, they could not find a way to get me onto the bus,” she said.

“I'm too heavy to lift in my electric wheelchair. I went to the taxi rank but none of the taxis there were able to take me, my chair and my dog.

“I need to go in a car in my chair. I had to call a private hire car, and it costs about twice as much as normal taxis for disabled people because they are allowed to charge what they like.”

Steve Burns, who runs Carousel buses, which operates the 158, said all the firm had spent a “great deal of money” investing in new single decker buses which are wheelchair accessible.

He added: “We called a disabled access private hire vehicle for Ms Lewis, and we were unaware the vehicle had not made contact with her.

“We are the only bus company in High Wycombe to have totally wheelchair accessible buses.”

Catherine Spalton, a spokesman for Wycombe District Council, said officers were aware of the limited number of disabled access taxis in the town.

She said: “The number of hackney carriages is currently restricted, although it is intended that the restriction will be lifted later this year and any new additional hackney carriages will be wheelchair accessible.

“It is therefore expected that there will be a natural increase in this type of vehicle in the near future.”

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

Im sure thats not the normal...usually PH are cheaper than Hacks, maybe she Picked a Bad un...where were the droves of Volunteer/charity Disabilty shifters that seem to pervade britain these days..the ones that make it nigh worthless to us PH drivers to invest in a disabled friendly vehicle because they are supposed to do it on the cheap, and we cant match their prices.

I would've taken her in my car and the dog np at all as long as she didn't mind being out of the chair for a while, I have np at all with disabled ppl, I look at it as a thank god it's not me scenario how can I help situation.

so why didnt she request ambulance transport via her clinic?

im sure there are more variations of wheelchair than there are options of WAVs to carry them all, depends what you call a wheelchair i suppose but ive a fair idea of what id call a wheelchair..



the trade cannot be expected to accomodate every single type of "wheelchair" on the market

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Seems some areas dont require WAVs for plating then?..

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Not much chance of a re-think there then.

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IDFIMH

is it credible that there have been no new plates issued and no replacement vehicles plated since the inception of "dis/dis" in 1995?



32 Taxi accessibility regulations

(1) The Secretary of State may make regulations (“taxi accessibility regulations”) for the purpose of securing that it is possible—

(a) for disabled persons—

(i) to get into and out of taxis in safety;

(ii) to be carried in taxis in safety and in reasonable comfort; and

(b) for disabled persons in wheelchairs—

(i) to be conveyed in safety into and out of taxis while remaining in their wheelchairs; and

(ii) to be carried in taxis in safety and in reasonable comfort while remaining in their wheelchairs.

(2) Taxi accessibility regulations may, in particular—

(a) require any regulated taxi to conform with provisions of the regulations as to—

(i) the size of any door opening which is for the use of passengers;

(ii) the floor area of the passenger compartment;

(iii) the amount of headroom in the passenger compartment;

(iv) the fitting of restraining devices designed to ensure the stability of a wheelchair while the taxi is moving;

(b) require the driver of any regulated taxi which is plying for hire, or which has been hired, to comply with provisions of the regulations as to the carrying of ramps or other devices designed to facilitate the loading and unloading of wheelchairs;

(c) require the driver of any regulated taxi in which a disabled person who is in a wheelchair is being carried (while remaining in his wheelchair) to comply with provisions of the regulations as to the position in which the wheelchair is to be secured.

(3) The driver of a regulated taxi which is plying for hire, or which has been hired, is guilty of an offence if—

(a) he fails to comply with any requirement imposed on him by the regulations; or

(b) the taxi fails to conform with any provision of the regulations with which it is required to conform.

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Thieves stole wheelchair bus ramp


DISABLED campaigner Alison Lewis found herself stranded in High Wycombe - because thieves stole a wheelchair ramp from a bus, it was revealed today.

Ms Lewis, from Marlow, was then unable to get a licensed taxi - because there are none fitted out for wheelchair users.

The leader of disability campaign group Wycombe Area Access for All (WAFA) was left to frantically seek help to get home yesterday.

She told the Bucks Free Press: “It's unacceptable. I have never been put in a position before when I cannot get home.

“The whole system has fallen apart. It's just not good enough. It's not safe for people to be stranded like this.”

Problems started when Ms Lewis, who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, came out of Wycombe Hospital after a blood test, and tried to get on the 158 bus back to Marlow.

“The ramp which has been put in to help disabled people had been removed, and although all the drivers were extremely helpful, they could not find a way to get me onto the bus,” she said.

“I'm too heavy to lift in my electric wheelchair. I went to the taxi rank but none of the taxis there were able to take me, my chair and my dog.

“I need to go in a car in my chair. I had to call a private hire car, and it costs about twice as much as normal taxis for disabled people because they are allowed to charge what they like.”

Steve Burns, who runs Carousel buses, which operates the 158, said he discovered later that day that the ramp had been stolen, probably when the vehicle stopped at Court Garden, Pound Lane, Marlow.

It is one of two demountable ramps used on the company's single decker buses, all of which are wheelchair accessible.

He said the firm had spent a “great deal of money” to allow disabled passengers access to its vehicles.

"We have chosen to make all our vehicles wheelchair accessible, it's an expensive decision on our part as part of our pro-disability policy. We are trying to help them lead normal lives, “ Mr Burns said.

“We are the only bus company in High Wycombe to have totally wheelchair accessible buses.”

The company called a disabled access private hire vehicle for Ms Lewis but she did not hear from the taxi firm.

Mr Burns said there had been a communication problem but the taxi had gone to pick her up and Carousel had been billed.

Ms Lewis got back to her house after calling a private hire car herself.

Catherine Spalton, a spokesman for Wycombe District Council, said officers were aware of the limited number of disabled access taxis in the town.

She said: “The number of hackney carriages is currently restricted, although it is intended that the restriction will be lifted later this year and any new additional hackney carriages will be wheelchair accessible.

“It is therefore expected that there will be a natural increase in this type of vehicle in the near future.”

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

I'm sure this is all very distressing but I feel the hospital should have provided the transport for her unless she has declined the hospital transport offer in an attempt to remain as independant as she can.

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

all's well that ends well

CC

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

A lot of people decline hospital transport round here simply because they sometimes have to wait 2-3 hours for it to turn up.

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Grandad,

Catherine Spalton, a spokesman for Wycombe District Council, said officers were aware of the limited number of disabled access taxis in the town.

She said: “The number of hackney carriages is currently restricted, although it is intended that the restriction will be lifted later this year and any new additional hackney carriages will be wheelchair accessible.

“It is therefore expected that there will be a natural increase in this type of vehicle in the near future.”

Skippy how do you get your post into the quote box when the quote is in plain?

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Life? Don't talk to me about life!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjm2eslm6hI

I cant believe your asking that of the wise one

CC

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

Cos he's special that's how

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!