Taxi Driver Online

Oh Shock horror

https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/23676634.taxis-wheelchair-users-brighton-falls-since-pandemic/

The number of city taxis suitable for wheelchair users is on the decline, with drivers leaving to deliver food instead.

Just 366 of the 966 taxis and private hire vehicles in Brighton and Hove are wheelchair accessible, down from 398 in March 2020.

Of the 595 taxis operated by Brighton and Hove City Council, 287 are wheelchair accessible, while just 79 of the city’s 371 private hire vehicles are suitable for wheelchair users.

Responding to the figures, chairman of the city council’s transport and sustainability committee Trevor Muten said he would “look into” increasing the numbers if there is a need to do so.

“It’s extremely important to us to have a mixed fleet of taxis to meet the needs of everyone in the city,” he said.

“I have a meeting today (July 25) with the Transport Partnership and I will raise the fact that the number of wheelchair accessible taxis has gone down and see what impact this is having and if there is anything that can be done.

“We have policies that encourage and, in some circumstances, mandate that wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) must be provided.”

Cllr Muten said the levels of wheelchair accessible taxis and private hire vehicles is above the national average.

“But if there are not enough to meet people’s needs we will look at ways, with our partners, to rectify this.”

Meanwhile, David Lawrie, director of the National Private Hire and Taxi Association, said wheelchair-accessible vehicles are often too expensive for drivers to buy with accessible electric vehicles costing around £70,000.

“There is a massive drop in drivers and the reason for that is because of lack of government support through Covid,” said Mr Lawrie.

“Many drivers have gone into the courier business of food deliveries and they are not going to come back because of the pressure and the regulations on the industry.”

Brighton and Hove City Council requires taxi and private hire vehicle drivers to undergo disability awareness training before getting behind the wheel.

But a union says it is up to “big private hire companies” to support their drivers and wheelchair users alike.

James Farrar, general secretary of the App Drivers and Couriers Union, said: “Big operator firms have not set minimum availability requirements for their fleets, have not committed to minimum service standards and have not provided adequate pay or financial support for drivers to afford the premium cost of these vehicles.”

But a Department for Transport spokesman said: “While it's down to local authorities to manage wheelchair accessible vehicles in their fleet, the government is backing passengers with disability awareness training for drivers and bolstered laws, including fines, for those who fail to provide reasonable assistance.”

DfT figures show there were five taxis and private hire vehicles for every 1,000 people in England and Wales at the beginning of April.

Brighton and Hove has a lower rate with 3.5 per 1,000 people.

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

Oh look here's a suspiciously similar article about Nidge's old stomping ground surely toots 's mob haven't been putting out blanket press releases to get publicity again.

https://www.chad.co.uk/news/transport/decrease-in-wheelchair-accessible-taxis-and-private-hire-vehicles-in-ashfield-in-2023-4228016

Decrease in wheelchair-accessible taxis and private hire vehicles in Ashfield in 2023
There are fewer wheelchair-accessible taxis and private hire vehicles available in Ashfield than before the pandemic, new figures show.

experts suggest the limited number of licensed vehicles accessible for those with mobility difficulties in some local authorities across England and Wales is due to a lack of training and certification for the safe handling and transport of wheelchairs.

Department for Transport figures show Ashfield had 643 licensed vehicles as of April, but only 88 could be used by people with mobility difficulties, down from 92 in March 2020.

Traditional taxis can be hailed from the street and do not need to be pre-booked like private hire vehicles, such as those used by companies like Uber.


Most local authorities require all or part of their taxi fleet to be wheelchair-accessible, but only 5 per cent of them have made it compulsory for private hire vehicles. Ashfield has a policy only for taxis.

There are 463 minicabs in Ashfield, four of which can offer a ride to a wheelchair user.

David Lawrie, of the National Private Hire and Taxi Association, said wheelchair-accessible vehicles are often too expensive for drivers to buy, with accessible electric vehicles costing about £70,000.

Across England and Wales, 237,622, 79 per cent, of the total 299,146 licensed vehicles are private hire, with just one in eight wheelchair-accessible. There are also more than 11,000 fewer taxis than in March 2020.

Mr Lawrie said: “There is a massive drop in drivers, because of lack of government support through Covid.

“Many drivers have gone into the courier business of food deliveries and are not going to come back because of the pressure and regulations on the industry.”

More local authorities started requiring disability awareness training for cabbies in 2023. However, Ashfield does not require any drivers to have it.

A DfT spokesperson said: “While it’s down to local authorities to manage wheelchair-accessible vehicles in their fleet, the Government is backing passengers with disability awareness training for drivers and bolstered laws for those who fail to provide reasonable assistance.”

The DfT figures show there were five taxis and private hire vehicles for every 1,000 people in England and Wales at the beginning of April. Ashfield has a similar rate with 5.1 per 1,000 people.

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

In fact the same story with the same photo seems to have appeared in over 20 local rags lets hope they haven't been using inaccurate statistics again.

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

Loads of similar articles doing the rounds.

Wouldn't surprise me if they originate from LEVC.

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IDFIMH

especially as that photograph shows one at the front of the queue and not a charging point in sight

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

Just been ignoring this one, because this is the third year of such articles, and I spent a lot of time looking at them in the previous two years...

But in 2021 they were all about the drop in numbers in the trade generally because of lockdown, while last year it was more specifically about a drop in PHV numbers.

And it looks like it's an article template produced by a particular local press publishing group, and the local numbers are plugged in, but the quotes are probably part of the template.

And another reason I don't think the articles originate from the likes of the NPHA is that in 2021 David Lawrie was quoted in the pieces, but last year he wasn't, but he's back in this year's pieces (last year the GMB's Mr Garelick was quoted, along with the ADCU)

And the NPHA's Mr Lawrie is still banging on about the lack of support for the trade during lockdown



And the photo is the same one they used last year - it's a rank near Nottingham station, I think...

But at least the photo is a bit more relevant this time, because last year it was used to illustrate articles that were mainly about the drop in PHV numbers

This is the thread from 2021:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=37248

This is the thread from 2022 - see the same photo from various local publications:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=38546

(Actually, looking back at the threads from previous years, it looks like the whole thing might originate from the Press Association news agency rather than a particular newspaper publishing group.)

the viaduct behind is the former great central railway which crossed the midland station on a big girder bridge. behind it is the original terminus for the trams which has since been extended.

We have had several discussions on here because that's not the original rank which was round the corner alongside midland station. It's also the near where that experimental charging loop was tested which was also discussed on here.

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