keithley where they are so far behind the times they probably still wear clogs and flat capsNEW penalties for taxi drivers who discriminate against wheelchair users have been welcomed by a Keighley disability organisation.
People First hope the long-awaited enactment of an equality law will stop drivers overcharging or avoiding wheelchair passengers.
Group members are celebrating the success of their long-running campaign for a clampdown on the practice.
People First Keighley and Craven ‘self-advocate’ and wheelchair user Tom Walsh spearheaded the fight after realising he was charged more than able-bodied friends to travel to the same places.
He carried out extensive research amongst the district’s taxi firms and was filmed by a TV crew confronting those who used dual charging.
Following a debate in Parliament in May last year, the new penalties, contained in sections 165 and 167 of the Equality Act 2010, came into force on April 6.
The sections impose duties on drivers of both private hire and hackney carriage vehicles.
Taxi drivers can no longer refuse to accept wheelchair users, and are forbidden to charge extra, even if they have to assist the passengers.
People First spokesman Omar Sardar said: “The penalties oblige taxi and private hire vehicles to take wheelchair users in their wheelchair if their vehicles are able to, as well as producing appropriate assistance and charging equal.
“Taxi drivers who refuse to pick up wheelchair users who don’t have an exemption for medical reasons to do so, or try to charge more, could be fined up to £1,000 and could lose their licence.”
Stuart Hastings, from taxi firm Metro Go, welcomed the new penalties as a way of bringing rogue taxi companies into line.
He said his company, based in Church Street and operating 22 wheelchair-accessible vehicles, had for many years charged identical fares for the same journey whether someone was disabled or not.
He said: “No proprietor who’s a decent person will let their drivers rip people off.
“If someone overcharges you don’t complain to the driver – complain to the taxi firm then to Bradford Council who will investigate.”
Mr Hastings said Metro Go provided more than 15,000 wheelchair journeys a year for public bodies such as the NHS and local authorities, but only about half a dozen each week for private passengers.
People First wants to hear from wheelchair-users who have been overcharged or refused a taxi.
Email
peoplefirst@live.co.uk or call Omar Sardar or Tom Walsh on 01535 607222.
People First, which is run by disabled people with support from professional workers, provides information, campaigning and social activities for people with disabilities.
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