Taxi Driver Online

you are wrong, very wrong
stop [edited by admin] about with being a solicitor and understand

as I told our council, do all your drivers who carry the disabled work for less pay?

I think Yorkie is correct.

However, perhaps you should consider do you put the meter on, get out of the cab and assist able bodied passengers with luggage or shopping?

If you do the same for able bodied as the disabled, it cannot be discrimination.

Captain cab

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

Charles,

In answer to your question, I've been doing a little research, however I understand someone else phoned and was told similar

Nothing is as of yet cast in stone , but there is a consultation regarding the issue. It looks like the DRC are wanting something similar to what you have already stated.

We obviously await the results of the consultation.

regards

Captain cab

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

Hmmmmm.

It is difficult to argue against the DDA on moral grounds.

Some argue that there are so few disabled using taxis that the cost is not justified in obtaining a special vehicle. If that is the case, then we should not also be arguing that we should charge more for disabled passengers due to the time they take. If they are so rare, then can we not just suffer a few more minutes looking after them? How long do we sit on ranks?

Some of the disabled we carry (we have a large military base not far away), were disabled fighting for our Country while we sat on our ranks. Some were disabled from birth. Some from road accidents. I really cant bring myself to say to them that I want to charge them more.

If I were to single out an element of our customers whom I think should be charged extra, it would be drunks. Yep. The people who make our cabs interiors look like Sh**, keep us waiting outside pubs and clubs while they have a fight, then take us out of service altogether by chucking up on the back seat.

I've always found the genuinely disabled among the most appreciative and friendly customers I carry.

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There is Significant Unmet Demand for my Opinion.

I hear what you say Andy and would never ever contemplate charging extra for disabled.

My scenario is difficult. Being the only provider of WAV taxis (3 of a fleet of 45) in my District we find the demand is not substantial.

What we do find is that the majority of the work is social services based, we have less than a handful of regular wheelchair users in our town who pay cash.

My drivers are reluctant to drive these vehicles because

a) they have to get off their arses
b) the clients don't tip
c) They are invariably held back from other work to ensure availability for bookings.

Now if I ask a driver to drive one (Sharans) when we have no bookings for wheelchair customers they are delighted.

It is a difficult and complex issue. My LO is very anti WAV because of his elderly mother's own experience. She was registered disabled, very infirm and depended on Taxis to get around. Her district introduced WAV's as hacks and she found it nearly impossible to climb into the vehicle and manouvere into the seat.

Balance is the issue. In Newcastle recently I asked a hack driver with a 3 year old Sharan how many times he had loaded a wheelchair. Never was the answer.

The trade is again being beaten with the 'Political correctness' stick because it doesn't unite and have a voice of any meaning.

As long as we try to use it WAV's to justify the two tier structure we will be submitted to silly demands.

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A member of the Hire or Reward Industry

What do you mean by unite.......MR T

A sensible voice fronting our trade, not what we have at the moment.

Still when we are rid of the issue that keeps us divided, then you just never know.

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IDFIMH

Cant see the issue here, WAV's are the solution, not the problem

Captain cab

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

Made up of who... MR T.

Made up of the licensed trade.

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IDFIMH

laal welsh [edited by admin]

hehe

Captain cab

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