Taxi Driver Online

Guide dog owner 'infuriated' by taxi ride refusals

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy4k7090eq4o



A woman who has regularly been refused taxi rides when travelling with a guide dog says the experience is "infuriating and embarrassing".

Hannah Burgess, 27, from Milton Keynes, recently posted a video online in which one driver can be heard refusing to take her dog Morris, although he later changed his mind.

The Equality Act 2010, external states taxis must carry assistance dogs at no extra charge.

Ms Burgess said the car was booked with Skyline Taxis Milton Keynes, which has not responded to the BBC's requests for comment.

Ms Burgess, who was born with albinism, describes her vision as "blurry and distorted" and believes that, aged 13, she was the youngest person in the UK to get a guide dog.

She has been travelling with Morris, a golden retriever, for just over a year.

In a video posted online, the private hire driver can be heard saying: "I'm sorry, I can't pick the pet."

A passer-by intervenes to tell the driver to take the dog, and later he does accept the fare and apologises.

Ms Burgess said she put a note in online bookings that she had a guide dog but was frequently refused, with some drivers seeing Morris and driving straight past.

"It's exhausting, it's infuriating, it's embarrassing. It feels rubbish every time; it never gets easier," she said.

"It's just so upsetting, first of all that they think it's OK to do that, but also that I'm having to deal with it so frequently.

"I shouldn't have to argue or convince someone that I'm worth being treated the same as another customer just because I've got a guide dog."

A head and shoulders shot of Hannah Burgess looking at the camera in front of green trees in the background. Shge is wearing a black cap and glasses.

The only exception to the law requiring drivers to take assistance dogs is if they have a council exemption certificate due to a medical condition.

Drivers found to have broken the law can face a fine or losing their taxi licence.

Buckinghamshire Council licensed the taxi in the online video.

Ms Burgess said she had not made a complaint to it but intended to.

Mark Winn, the authority's Conservative cabinet member for housing and regulatory services, said the council was "deeply concerned" to hear about any such incident and it took "such matters very seriously".

He said all drivers attended mandatory training about their legal obligations, which must be refreshed at least every three years.

He urged anyone experiencing any issues to report them to the council's taxi licensing service.

The charity Guide Dogs said a survey found 60% of owners had been refused a ride when trying to travel with their dog.

Clive Wood, its lead policy and campaigns manager, said a refusal could be "humiliating" and "really have an impact" on day-to-day life.

David Lawrie, director of the National Private Hire and Taxi Association, said the issue was "unfortunately common" and that "a lot of it is [drivers] just don't like dogs and that is not acceptable, it's illegal".

He called on the government and councils to do more to educate drivers on the rules.

A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said: "Discrimination like this is completely unacceptable - councils should use their existing powers to ensure drivers and operators understand their legal duties."

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IDFIMH

Just had to visit the source site to find out what that was all about

(Seems to be one of those webpage photo captions that doesn't actually appear on the page, but if you copy the text it often appears in the pasted version...complete with spelling mistake in this case...)

Anyway, on the audio of the radio interview she seems to be saying at the start that she just specifies that she has a guide dog as a courtesy. While later making it obvious that she's aware of the allergy exemptions etc.

So it's not really a courtesy unless you want a driver with a genuine exemption rolling up

This reads like the woman was responsible for both the MK assistance dog prosecutions publicised this week


Mum 'glad' taxi drivers fined for guide dog refusal

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgky8e34e3o

A woman said she was "glad" that two taxi drivers have been fined after refusing to transport her with her guide dog.

Milton Keynes Council said the private hire drivers were fined a combined total of £1,878 under the Equality Act, "after refusing to collect passengers travelling with assistance dogs".

Hannah Burgess, 28, said she had experienced the problem "more times than I could count" in the 15 years that she has had a guide dog.

"The actual discrimination is one thing, but feeling that you're having to justify yourself and prove you're in the right – it ends up getting to you," she said.

Ms Burgess, who was born with albinism, describes her vision as "blurry and distorted" and believes that, aged 13, she was the youngest person in the UK to get a guide dog.

She submitted evidence to Milton Keynes Magistrates' Court, which heard the cases in December.

"In this particular scenario, the taxi driver didn't pick me up, which meant I couldn't collect my children from school on time," she told the BBC.

Ms Burgess has encountered various responses and excuses from taxi drivers who did not want to take her guide dog.

"Sometimes I get a driver who says they won't take the dog, then I explain it's against the law and they let me in – for a very awkward drive.

"Other times they argue with me or say nothing at all and just drive off," she said.

"A lot of drivers tell me they're allergic, which they probably aren't - because if they were, they could get a certificate to exempt them by law and I've never had anyone who's had one of those.

"Some drivers think dogs will make a mess in their car, or it's down to a fear of dogs," she added.

The only exception to the law requiring drivers to take assistance dogs is if they have a council exemption certificate due to a medical condition.

Drivers found to have broken the law can face a fine or lose their taxi licence.

Ms Burgess said the response on social media had been divided, with some people thanking her for campaigning and others "siding with the taxi driver".

"I am glad - not smug, but I am over the moon to know discrimination is being taken seriously.

"The repercussions of it are a lot greater than I think people realise.

"Any case of discrimination that gets taken further and people see the repercussions of that is always a positive thing," Ms Burgess added.

Clive Wood, policy and campaigns manager at Guide Dogs, said the problem was widespread.

"Unfortunately, it's too common - and it's not getting any better," he said.

"A lot of people with sight loss rely on taxis to get around. The more it happens, the more your confidence is chipped away.

"It's always at the back of your mind when you go out, wondering 'Am I going to be refused access, to be treated poorly?'"

"There are thousands of taxi drivers out there who do a great job and are very supportive, but unfortunately it's the minority," he added.

I have a feeling we have encountered this lady before on this forum she is a regular campaigner on this issue along with the gentleman from Welwyn GC or somewhere in that area.

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

I suspect she was part of a mystery shopping exercise with the council.

You would have thought local drivers would be aware of such activities and be on their best behaviour all the time.

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IDFIMH