Taxi Driver Online

A member of the GMB hierarchy has asked for information re: ranks/pick up points where drivers have to pay to go through a barrier to be able to pick up their customers.

It appears the GMB have had legal advice that this might be in breach of the 1995 DDA, and they wish to collate as much information as possible.

Alex

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ʎɐqǝ uo pɹɐoqʎǝʞ ɐ ʎnq ı ǝɯıʇ ʇsɐן ǝɥʇ sı sıɥʇ

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If I had to pay to pick Terry up, I'd want a refund.

I think both Birmingham and Manchester train stations have some sort of barrier that needs to be fed before you can pick up.

Most other major railway stations have permits.

It would appear that every airport has some sort of permit that allows either individual taxi/PH vehicles access, or an agreement with an individual taxi/PH circuit.

As far as I know only Heathrow and Manchester airports have the barrier systems.

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IDFIMH

Liverpool has one.

Is he / they on about facilities for WAV's or drop off / pick up factilities for taxis on 'private' contracts?

CC

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

From what I can gather the advice is that an extra cost shouldn't be added to the fare if a taxi is used.

So if a driver has to put on, say, a pound, due to the barrier costing a pound, then that's an extra charge for being disabled.

Now it could be argued that that extra charge would also apply to able bodied folks, but those able bodied folks can use the train, bus, walk etc. That isn't always available to WAV folks.

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IDFIMH

I suppose a case could be made where WAV vehicles (if a mixed taxi fleet is on hand) pays 10%-20% less for permits than saloon vehicles.

Then they could excuse any WAV punter from having to pay extra.

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IDFIMH

I would suggest the extra charge is applicable to all......I know what you mean about the extra time to load a wheelchair, but how many drivers have applied the meter by the time they get out of the cab to load it in the first place?

I think many farecards cover tolls and charges.

Good points though, almost impressed.

CC

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

Didn't Ryanair get into trouble when charging for wheelchairs?

I think, from memory, they could charge if it was an oldie wanting a lift to the plane from the terminal, but not a wheelchair bound person.

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IDFIMH

Heathrow has a choice of easy access transport options from the Heathrow Express, The tube from T4, to a million low floor buses and of course Taxis.

Scrap the charge for us to use the Airports, Stations and Ports . . . now there's one for the GMB to concentrate on.

That's ok if WAV punters wish to go to the gloom of the city, if they want to go elsewhere their options are limited.

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IDFIMH

Every little helps, but I think even Che would struggle with that.

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IDFIMH

I don't quite get this - without wanting to state the obvious, surely the charge doesn't discriminate between the disabled and the able-bodied?

If you then say that the disabled have no alternative then wouldn't that make any charge for the hire of a taxi discriminatory.

Thus free taxis for the disabled?

The way I think the DDA is interpreted is that disabled shouldn't be treated equally, but better, due to their circumstances. In the same way the mush didn't have to pay for his spare legs on a plane recently.

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IDFIMH

What are the procedures for picking up un-booked work at Edinburgh and Glasgow airports?

Are they via a barrier or via permits?

Alex

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ʎɐqǝ uo pɹɐoqʎǝʞ ɐ ʎnq ı ǝɯıʇ ʇsɐן ǝɥʇ sı sıɥʇ

Simply the best taxi forum in the whole wide world. www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Well the barrier has nothing to do with disablement, so to that extent there's equality if all passengers are charged any premium.

As for giving the disabled more favourable treatment, as I said earlier does that mean we should be giving the disabled a discount on normal fares?

How far do you take this? Free taxis?