Taxi Driver Online

And that is what exactly?

Mr Bloodnock ... I don't really know.... But what we all know is that there has been no changes from its original contexts.... my guess would be that somewhere along the line it will be changed to say that a certain percent of taxis will have to be wheelchair accessible,

how they arrive at a figure( percentage wise) is debatable... I would think that seeing it is a Equality Bill than the percentages would be equal 50 per cent of each .

If in a restricted area that has 100 wheelchair accessible vehicles you could well see the council being forced to issue 100 more licences to saloon vehicles. or vice-versa. in a area with no numbers restrictions than the balance would probably be resolved the same way.

From where I sit, it certainly seems as an oversupply of taxis is on the horizon, it is the easiest route, and extremely bad law-making... what can you expect from people who have no understanding( and do not wish to have) of the taxi trade.

my own personal feelings on what they should do are.... that all councils restricted or not should be made to survey the needs of the disabled.... a standardised survey with key points that cannot be changed.... and that councils must abide by that survey.. at least then people purchasing vehicles would have a chance of servicing their loans before the next survey was in place... I personally have no problems with licences being issued, I always will have a problem with over supply created by people that have secured income even when they get it wrong.

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

I would have thought a 100% WAV Hackney fleet is logical, as they are for immediate hire, ad hoc.

However, as all Private Hire work has to be booked by the customer, then surely, to comply with legislation, each PH operator would only require a WAV or two to be available when requested?

Unworkable for one man bands though

Mainly agree with that.

My view is that every council that restricts should have a 100% WAV policy.

If they choose not to restrict then only newly licensed taxis should be WAVs.

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IDFIMH

TBH I'm not sure that's isn't the law now.

If anyone offers a service, that service should be the same for disabled folks as able bodied.

If an operator can't provide a WAV on demand now, in the same way he would supply a saloon on demand, then IMO he breaches the latest part of the DDA.

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IDFIMH

I am no doubt over simplifying here but – a hackney has to accept any situation that arises, in effect, and individually would have to deal with a wheelchair, or other request from any person with mobility problems, or be in breach of regulations.

Hackneys need to be WAVs therefore?

IMHO then, PH have an immediate cop out, as the OPERATOR is proving the service, and could therefore despatch an appropriate vehicle.

So PH would NOT all need to be WAV??

Don't forget the ambulant disabled who can't get into WAVs but are far more common on our ranks than wheelchair disabled. This is where a 100% WAV policy falls down.

We appear to have an acceptable balance in our district with about 15-ish WAVs. Very, very rarely have I seen them pick up a wheelchair from the ranks; Plenty of pushchairs, though!

I sort of agree with that as well.

But, and it's a massive but, how do the good folks of London, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Coventry, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Plymouth, Lincoln, Chichester, Peterborough, and the other mandatory areas cope with that problem?

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IDFIMH

I don't know; I can only relate my experiences to local conditions in a market town which is not part of a larger metropolitan borough.

The perfect example of Equality with the disabled .... Is simply to look at a car park... 100 places for vehicles to park..... 10 disabled bays...... that equates to the ordinary person being allowed to only park in 90 parking places... but the disabled can park in 100 legally..

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

I think the policy falls down when a wheelchair bound passenger gets to a cab rank and finds a rank full of saloon cars......because the WAV proprietors to justify the purchase take on regular PH work.

CC

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

They use PH and Buses..

Not too keen on anyone using buses, but I'm quite pleased they do use PH.

But my point is that the world doesn't end if a taxi fleet is made 100% WAV.

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IDFIMH

Of course the other equality issue, that the bill doesn't aim at but maybe will help address, is the thorny question of why one driver should be compelled to pay £30,000 for a new motor, yet another only £10,000?

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IDFIMH

Id never make a rural living if I had to pay £30,000 for a Vehicle, it may pay in the city but Id doubt if it paid out here..just aint the work to justify the expense,...they may just kill the golden goose..then Taxis will be even less wheelchair accessible as there just wont be many about...