Taxi Driver Online

Darwen man with terminal cancer says taxi firms refused to pick him up from wedding

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/n ... -stranded/


Image: Lancashire Telegraph

A MAN who suffers from terminal spine cancer has claimed taxi companies discriminated against him because of his disability.

Mark Stewart, who has two metal plates in his back and is in a wheelchair, had to travel home from a wedding, laid down in the back seat of a friend's car, after the taxi firm who dropped him off couldn’t be contacted, and no other taxi company could provide him with a disabled cab.

The 50-year-old, of Shorey Bank Way, Darwen, said: “Last Friday my best mate got married and I was asked to be his best man, which I was really pleased with as it's been a tough four years for me due to my cancer diagnosis.

I booked a disabled taxi, one that could fit my wheelchair in, to take me to the registrar, and then to the function, which was at Longshaw Working Men’s Club.”

Mr Stewart said that he asked the taxi driver if he could call once the function had ended so he could arrange a lift home to Darwen.

He said: “The driver said yes, but when I rang for the journey home, I got no answer.

“From 11pm to about 1.30am I phoned several taxi firms in Blackburn, Darwen and even Preston, but with no luck. Basically I was told that after 10pm no disabled taxis would be available.”

Mr Stewart, who only has months left to live, says he was trying to make memories with his friends, and finds it shocking that no company could provide a disabled taxi for him after 10pm.

He added: “It was the first time I’d been out in around three or four months and I felt humiliated and discriminated against because of my disability.

“What riled me about it, was that what they’re basically saying is that if you have a disability and want to go out and have a quality life, then you can’t because you have to be back home before 10pm. It’s wrong.”

Mr Stewart, who was diagnosed with cancer four years ago, said as a last resort, he asked a fellow wedding guest if he could have a lift home, but had to lie down in the back of the car as he couldn’t fit his wheelchair in.

He said: “I was scared. I’ve got two metal plates in my back but what else could I do.”

Malik Hassan from Rawal private hire said: “There is only me working for the company and I only have one vehicle.

“I picked the customer up to take him to the wedding and told him I would be available until around 7pm and then I would be going home.

“I can only work a certain number of hours in one day and as it was Ramadan, I needed time to rest and eat.

“As a private hire company, the customer should’ve called to book in advance with me, which he didn’t do.”

So what's the rule with Ramadan, then? I assumed it was no work at all, but this guy seems to be saying it simply means less hours?

Anyway, harsh as it sounds, suspect main problem here was that the chap hadn't booked, and particularly problematic late evening in that regard.

Some people in the comments taking issue with the Lancashire Telegraph's headline too - it was less a refusal than simply not having WAVs available. Of course, there's often a fine line between the two

I don't know about this town but in Barnsley,Rotherham there is about 12 wheelchair taxis each for 250,000 population each. The dilemma for the local hacks is they don't want more hacks cos it will effect the ranks but,meanwhile some disabled people can't get a cab,I am constantly being phoned from those areas.

all hacks in Preston are WAV I am surprised one wouldn't take this on for the right price ?

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

I note all those caring charity wheels groups and their myriad of volunteer drivers are keeping their heads well down below the Parapet, seems they ain't so keen on stealing the trades work in the evening as they are during the day...yet no one is slagging them off for not being available on demand.

You assumed wrong. During Ramadan, Muslims can't eat or drink from sunrise until sunset. It may well be that the driver was feeling somewhat tired because of not eating and he would be unsafe to drive until he had eaten once the sun had set, which is quite late at this time of year.

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Grandad,

during Ramadan this year we started off at about 20.55 and finished up about 21.15 certainly not as late as 22.00

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

So he's working anyway having gone at least 14 hours without food?

So he could have eaten after sunset and done the job, and probably no less safe than he would have been when working a couple of hours earlier.

Not that I'm blaming the driver for not doing the job, but Ramadan seems a slight red herring?