Taxi Driver Online

Taxi driver defends colleagues


A taxi driver has apologised for fellow drivers failing to pick up a disabled teenager, but argued that the council need to provide more help.

Last week the Evening Post revealed how 19-year-old Muscular Dystrophy sufferer Jack Milner has frequently had to wait over an hour for a taxi driver prepared to take him home to Longton from Preston city centre, despite all Hackney cabs being fitted with ramps and harnesses.

Driver Sayeed Bukhari said: “I personally apologise for the drivers who are not picking Jack up, but I would like to point out that an overwhelming number of taxi drivers are helpful, and often help people out with bags and those who are struggling.

“I think the reason that many might have refused Jack is because the taxi rank outside Lava Ignite and Yates’ does not have a disabled picking up point.

“Black cabs are equipped with ramps, but we need a raised area to help us get the passenger in.

“We have asked the council for a dedicated area many time, but nothing has been done.”

A spokesman for Preston Council disputed that there was a need for a specialised disabled area, and said that no request for the facility had been formally made by the Hackney Carriage Association.

The chair of the local Hackney Carriage Association, Charles Oakes, has stated that drivers need to make a “judgement call” on whether to pick up wheelchair bound passengers, taking into account health and safety and insurance concerns.

In an exchange with town centre Councillor Michael Lavalette, who said the discrimination classed as a hate crime, Mr Oakes advocated that disabled passengers use a dedicated phoneline for their needs.

Coun Lavalette said: “I think this is an outrageous response. He is condoning discrimination.”

source: http://www.lep.co.uk/news/taxi-driver-d ... -1-5694334

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

Hardly a hate crime, what planet are these fetching councilors from? It was more case of ignorance on behalf of certain drivers, why do certain people read to much into something.

proven offence cc that would be good

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C. Oakes


The Hackney Association Ltd
bbha@btinternet.com

A normal taxi cruising the clubs at kick out time will have many demanding his services-those that do not make it in tend to kick and punch the taxi-with the volume density of revelers it would be impossible, nay dangerous to apprehend these vandals-many Taxis will not touch the clubs for precisely this reason-I should hate to think the fate of a Taxi stood there trying to put ramps out and load up with many strangers demanding to pile in and share. Shame this demand is not mirrored through the day though.

still need to service the disabled some how though

maybe he should start to consider getting home as a challenge not a god given right, you dont see many wheelchairs down Broad street at 2am on a saturday night

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

Glory hunting councillor trying for the disabled vote?

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

i think it poor nobody give him mobile phone so he can call phc wav at a safe spot out way of drunk fools

None of the taxis pictured behind this lad, are fit for purpose. They are not fitted with hydraulic ramps and therefore, any decision to pick this guy up is at the discretion of the driver. And that means, whether or not the driver is prepared to accept the personal risk of wrestling this guy into the back of his taxi.

It's called a Health & Safety risk assessment which must be carried out by any self-employed person before they do a job. In short, the choice is yours. If you decide the risk is too great, it's game over, submit your risk assessment to your local authority and walk away.

Oh and tell that Councillor to go fu*k himself.

A pattern seems to be emerging - despite what you folks on TDO may say.

Charity wades into taxi access controversy


UPSET: Becky Oughton, who has been forced to cancel appointments because of a lack of taxi provision

A charity has waded into the controversy over taxis refusing to pick up a teenage wheelchair user.

Jack Milner, 19, of Longton, said he frequently has to wait more than an hour until a taxi driver is prepared to pick him up in Preston city centre, despite all black cabs being fitted with ramps and restraints.

Now The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign has revealed it has been made aware of other similar problems in the area.

Becky Oughton, 37, from Caton, near Lancaster, who also has a form of muscular dystrophy, has been forced to cancel appointments because of a lack of taxi provision.

A charity spokesman said: “Last week she contacted three of the main taxi firms in Lancaster to try and get a taxi to work. She was told that the accessible taxis were all on school runs so she asked if one could come half an hour later.

“She was told that this would constitute pre-booking and ‘you can’t do that on a wheelchair job’. Becky has had to cancel meeting up with friends as there is limited accessibility of taxis in the area post 4pm.

“Accessible cabs only tend to be available between 10am and 4pm which isn’t ideal when trying to get into work and socialise afterwards.

Becky has to rely on her partner for lifts, but last week he was ill and unable to drive.

She said: “If I was relying on taxis and public transport for my job I’d have lost it because I was late three or four times last week. I would have no social life whatsoever.

“I was so upset. It was really stressful. It makes you feel really frustrated.”

Becky is part of the Trailblazers group, which campaigns on social issues affecting young disabled people.

Bobby Ancil, project manager of Trailblazers, said: “A lot of money has been spent on making taxis accessible, and despite the infrastructure being in place, the real the problem is all too often the attitude of drivers.

“The Trailblazers are outraged that taxi drivers with accessible vehicles are not picking them up - discriminating against them as paying customers. In many cases we hear about it is the driver’s attitude that can lead to a person being left stranded.

“The freedom to be spontaneous and hail a taxi on the street should be the same for anyone, regardless of whether they are disabled.”

source: http://www.lep.co.uk/news/health/local/ ... -1-5715058

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

Seems to be a pattern in some areas to use the assistance of the press to put the Boot into the Taxi trade after the first and section options of the regular Mobility car driver is unavailable and after the Voluntary groups drivers can't be arsed to get out of their beds before 10am...

though that remark about "She was told that this would constitute pre-booking and ‘you can’t do that on a wheelchair job’" seems a bit odd if it were right!!