Taxi drivers in Aberdeen 'refusing to take guide dogs in cabs'Taxi drivers have been refusing to allow visually impaired customers take guide dogs into their vehicles, it has been claimed.
Aberdeen City Council's Taxi Consultation Group will meet on Tuesday June 4. The council's Licensing Committee convener, Fraser Forsyth, told STV he was concerned by reports that a number of cabbies have broken the rules by preventing disabled people with guide dogs from getting into their cars.
Cllr Forsyth said: "I am very disappointed to hear about these complaints from the Disability Advisory Group. There may be cases where drivers have exemptions, on medical grounds, but they should be the absolute exception.
"However, in any other cases, it is discrimination of the worst kind and I am sure the majority of taxi drivers in Aberdeen will be as annoyed by these stories as everybody else."
His words were echoed by North-East MSP Richard Baker, who told STV there should be no question of drivers banning guide dogs from cabs.
He added: "It is important that people with disabilities can have equal access to taxi services, particularly as they often rely on them a great deal and clearly taxi drivers should fulfil the terms of their license. I hope this issue will be discussed between those who have been affected, the appropriate authorities and taxi companies themselves."
The Taxi Consultation Group were alerted to the problem after receiving a letter from the Disabled Advisory Group last month.
This stated that members of DAG had "experienced several instances of taxi drivers refusing to take them to their destination, due to the fact they were accompanied by their guide dogs".
It went on: "Although both members pointed out that legislation requires taxis to transport passengers and their working dogs, unless the driver has a medical exemption, the drivers have refused, simply because they did not wish to have a dog in their cars.
"Our members have also had drivers tell them that they do not wish to have a dog sit on the leather seats of the car.
"The members have, of course, pointed out that any trained working dog would sit on the floor of the cars and not on the seats. However, the drivers concerned have still refused to transport them as a result."
Gordon Anderson, a spokesman for Aberdeen's independent taxi drivers, said he would be happy to discuss the matter at the Taxi Consultation Group.
Mr Anderson said: "It is not a widespread problem but one which needs to be addressed and anyone guilty needs to be challenged. It is some years since I have had to accommodate a guide dog, but it has never caused a problem. Indeed, dogs in general are rarely a problem.
"I usually insist that the dog sits in the front foot well which is large enough to accommodate most dogs and this prevents the risk of a dog fouling or ripping the seats with its claws.
"Guide dogs are placid, well-trained animals and never a problem. I understand that some drivers may have allergy problems, but this can be explained to the customer.
"The driver would, of course, have a certificate of exemption which, if not already, should be available in Braille for the customer to verify that the driver is not pulling a fast one. This is an issue I am happy to raise at the TCG meeting next Tuesday."
source:
http://news.stv.tv/north/227275-aberdee ... iminatory/
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