Taxi Driver Online

Yes I know it's not PC, but I'm yet to be convinced that in rural areas such as this cabs should all be WAVs.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4999336.stm

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IDFIMH

Neither am i sussex, talking to our LO and his boss last week we spoke about how many elderly people get in our cars "bum first" and then swing their legs in, we were looking at the height of E7's and the Citroen thats similar, also the Tx's. None of them offer the same access as a saloon car.
In fact it was stated that having all hack's as just WAV, couldnt work, they're only good for Wheelchair users and able bodied and there's a hell of a lot of people in between.The Chair of our local disability Group, a wheelchair user himself doesnt want all Hac's to be WAV either, merely a proportion representing a fair percentage of chairbound people in the town.

And how would you decide who should go WAV, and who can retain their Saloon?

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Former taxi driver

If the above report is correct, to quote; "The new policy means taxis applying for a new license in the Arfon area is able to carry at least one wheelchair, which must be forward facing, and loaded using the side door."

Anyone supply a vehicle to meet the forward facing rule?

Not LTI, or most of the conversion kings. So why forward facing anyway? Just a bit of missreporting, or is it actually the condition of license?

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Former taxi driver

And that's the problem that has no answer, unless the nasty word 'subsidy' is considered.

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IDFIMH

The thing is that in some area it does work, or has to because there's no option.

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IDFIMH

I'm pretty sure the VW and the Merc load that way.

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IDFIMH

The only way i can see is to look at how many are operating as wav's and reach the acceptable maximun by insisting the next percentage of plates issued are wav,as they are here in Warrington.
If the limit is reached but still not enough, then they'll just have to increase the number but stipulate it must be with wav's.

It's impossible to insist that ALL Hac's MUST be WAV. That discriminates against the elderly/infirm/disabled but who aren't wheelchair bound, who cant clamber up a step and along some bench seat or whatever.

It limits the numbers of customers a Hac can pick up, which then discriminates hac's from PH who might have to pick up at ranks because an elderly punter needs a saloon!

All i hope for is if it happens then it happens before dereg and they have enough so i can keep my saloon!!

nah you should suffer like the rest of us if dereg comes in and hgave to spaff out 30,000 for a wav taxi

So you mean inequality to end discrimination

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

How else could it happen?

Lets say the whole trade is deregged.

100% WAV cant work because it discriminates against most elderly. And a large number of punters ASK for a NORMAL CAR.
A fair proportion need to be WAV witin the next 2-3 years.
Who's going to buy a WAV for 20-25k if they can get away without one?
The only way i can see how they'll achieve it is to either draw numbers out of a hat and say next year your going to be wav or lose your licence, or make the next 10 or whatever licences granted must be wav.
It's difficult one! And lots of drivers will be up in arms over it but it's got to happen somehow.

Mac, if only Hac and PH could reach common ground in Warrington i'm sure most of your problems could be sorted. I and lots of other PH actually agree with 90% of what your trying to acheive.
Imagine if we all stood together side by side? We could get almost whatever we wanted!
Heaven.

I suppose it will happen as it does in London, Birmingham, Sheffield etc etc.

As for disabled customers unable to get into a WAV, well they will just have to ring for a PH, as they do now.

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IDFIMH

I wish I own a private hire company in Arfon then.

How much street/rank work can there be in the area.

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A member of the Hire or Reward Industry