Taxi Driver Online

I came across this story while researching something else, however its rather alarming to read that in a city such as Sheffield which has a full compliment of WAV's that not one of them would stop for this man in a wheelchair. It makes it all the more puzzling when these guys in Sheffield constantly complain that there isn't enough work go around.
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The Star (Sheffield)

October 17, 2002

HEADLINE: Disabled Ian waits five hours for a taxi

SOURCE: The Star (Sheffield)

A DISABLED man today criticised Sheffield taxi drivers after claims it took him five hours to get a black cab to take him home from the city centre.

Cerebral Palsy sufferer Ian Sarson was missing from home for so long his frantic partner Tina Thomas called the police and hospitals to try to find out if something had happened to him.

But the 35-year-old was sitting in his wheelchair near Fargate trying to get a taxi to stop to take him home to Hallyburton Close, Arbourthorne.

He called three firms he normally uses but was told they were too busy so he would face a lengthy wait. Instead he used the rest of his credit on his mobile phone trying to find another firm to pick him up and when that failed he tried to hail one from the street.

He said one passer-by who saw him struggling to attract the attention of passing cabs even stood in the middle of the road trying to hail one for him. I started trying to get a taxi at 3pm, but didn't arrive home until 8.20pm. it is terrible what I went through and I want to make sure nobody else has to, he said.

In this day and age most black cabs are fitted with ramps, so there should be no reason for them not to stop, but I seriously think it is because they think disabled people take up too much time and they have to get out to help us.

This shouldn't be a problem for them because no matter how long it takes they get paid for their time, so it just feels as though we are being discriminated against.

Stephen Robertson, chief licensing officer for Sheffield Council, said he planned to discuss the issue with Sheffield's Taxi Trade Association.
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If this is genuine, it is outrageous.

Faregate is a pedestrian area, maybe just maybe we don't know are cabs allowed in that area, was he flagging in the wrong spot
http://www.spinsheffield.com/tours/Fargate/

I know the cab trade is getting increasingly busy, but 4 years for a cab is simply outrageous

CC

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

If its true then I feel sorry for the guy BUT (yes I know theres always a but) I have recently given up my WAV due to 3 main points

1. In the past two years I have only have 1 wheel chair job from wither rank or office
2. The amount of general work that I lost due to people; especially elerly and disabled not being able to get in or out of the cab
3. My own disabled son was not able to get in or out of my own car!

If this story is true and the Police had been called thenthey would have been aware of which local Cab Offices offered WAV's and would have made one call and got the guy a cab within minutes.

Sorry if I sound harsh but I take my lad all over the world and have never encountered a problem - I simply go to the front car on any rank explain my needs and they radio a car for me. I expect to wait about half an hour and have to say that around Alder Hey, Addenbrooks and Gt Ormond Street I have never waited more than five minutes.

Every cab in Sheffield is wheelchair accessible.

Regards

JD