Taxi Driver Online

Disabled travellers lose out
Sep 23 2009 by Kieran West Brook, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

A DISABLED taxi driver has claimed he is being stopped from getting more special needs vehicle on the region’s roads because of council rules.

A mere four per cent of hackney licence taxis in Dumfries and Galloway are accessible to disabled people.

Graeme Lundy, owner of mobility taxi service Wheels Within Wheels, is blaming a licence waiting list that spans over a year from stopping him help to resolve the problem.

He has a private hire licence which only permits him to pick up people who book over the phone.

A hackney carriage licence would allow him to offer a lift to anyone who needs it.

He told the Standard, he said: “I’ve applied for the hackney plate licence so that I can pick people up at the taxi rank.

“But I’ve been told anecdotally that that waiting list is over a year long.

“My current licence only lets me pick up people who book ahead, so if disabled people hail me down, I can’t stop to help them.

“It’s bad for them and it’s bad for tourism in the area.

“People won’t come back if they know there’s no taxis they can use.

“I think the council should look to relax their rules because we can help resolve this problem for people.”

The Standard reported on Friday that only four per cent of taxis in Dumfries and Galloway have access for disabled passengers.

That prompted concern from John Dowson of the Coalition for Disabled People who is calling for the council to act on the problem, and has accused them of neglecting their duties.

He added: “The council is not giving any priority to taxi providers applying for licences who are offering disability accessible vehicles.

“I think that policy should be changed, and these applications that will help disabled people should be put right to the top of the queue.

“This is a big problem, and disabled people are being left as prisoners in their own homes.

“In the 21st century in Dumfries and Galloway, this is shocking.”

No one from the council was available to comment or confirm the length of the licence waiting list.

Me thinks this is more about jumping the Taxi licence waiting list queue as much as anything else, Cos if he got a licence for a disabled access vehicle he would have to sit in a rank like every other hack...and the chances of that first person that approaches his vehicle being a wheelchair user is highly remote. he would not be able to cherry pick either so that he will have to pick up the abled bodied as they come along. so the chances of him actually being on the rank at the right time for a disabled user is even more remote.

Obviously he cannot sit indefinitely waiting for that once a month wheel chair user to come along or it wouldnt be possible to earn a crust. In reality if he's in a rank then 99% of the customers he's likely to pick up will be the abled body..so why should he be allowed to jump the Taxi Licence waiting list as its unjust to other hack wannabees in his parish.

He'd be far better sticking to his PH method of operating and advertising his business more.

A disabled taxi driver?????

CC

Another victory for limited numbers then CC?

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On that point...how would he load and strap down a wheelchair? I wonder what form of disability he has..maybe he's physically perfect but is blind or something?

Are Dumfries limited numbers? There on the wrong side of the border for me, why dont you get skippy involved?

CC

the taxi's disabled???!!! wtf use is that?

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My heart is heavy, but my consience clear,
I voted Yes, without any fear.

CC, Considering they are next door to you, why not ask to borrow a cup of sugar, and while your doing that have a nice chat with them

That's a damn good idea, but i'm quitting sugar.

CC

Its a shame your quitting...but please dont call skippy "Sugar"..it has connotations and makes skippy unsure of himself..

I can think of better names than sugar to call skippy, most of which are edited by admin

CC

Can't think why else they would have a waiting list.

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I thought it would be something to do with sheep

CC