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Could new wheelchair rules drive cabbies out of the trade?

A man in a wheelchair is positioned onto an electric ramp attached to the back of a black taxi, waiting to be lifted into the cab.

As councils struggle to increase the number of accessible taxis in their areas, the measures some of them are using could actually be forcing taxi drivers off the road.

One licensing authority is making all public-hire vehicles become wheelchair accessible by the summer, while another insists that they must have wheelchair access at the side.

While cabbies are not disputing the need for wheelchair-accessible vehicles, in both cases they say that the strict licensing rules make it difficult and expensive for drivers to comply – and will force many out of the trade.

Long-running saga

The Bristol Post reports that making all taxis WAVs is a measure the council has been wanting to implement for many years, but had been delayed by a shortage of suitable vehicles. Nevertheless, the council’s regulatory committee approved the changes in November.

Now, with some drivers having already made the switch to private-hire work, there are concerns there will be even fewer Hackney cabs serving the region come the July 1 deadline.

Bristol Parkway Taxis director Shashikumar Bhurton told councillors: “The overall concern is there’s a lack of hackneys. Has there been any data to support that we have to all have WAVs?”

The meeting heard the most recent data available was from March, 2023.

U-turn

Cllr Keith Cranney said: “We will probably end up with a lot less hackneys, which does seem quite unfair because they’re out there trying to earn a living. They aren’t doing anything wrong and they’re working well to provide public transport for our residents in South Glos.

“We owe it to the trade to be clear and transparent, and not just make that decision gung-ho until that survey is done. Then we can say that all the relevant data has been gathered. Until that’s done, I think we have no option but to defer, until that survey is carried out and we’re burnished with all the proper facts about how much disability use is needed.

“We’re dealing with people’s livelihoods here. Let’s be fair to all sides. I’m not saying we don’t need wheelchair-accessible vehicles, we clearly do. But let’s find out the actual need here in South Glos.”

After a short recess, the Post reports that Cllr Cranney withdrew his objection and backed the proposal to ensure all hackney carriages in the area are wheelchair accessible by July 1.

Regulations

Taxi drivers in Conwy are also struggling with accessibility regulations that stipulate wheelchair access must be from the side – which they say requires seven-seater vehicles.

North Wales Live reports that a petition started by Patryk Majeran says Conwy Borough Council’s strict rules mean “seven-seaters are not affordable for companies and reduce the number of disability vehicles available.

“These rules mandate extremely expensive seven-seater wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs) with side wheelchair access. This solution, while intended to help wheelchair users, is counterproductive as it limits the number of WAV taxis available on the roads.

“The high cost and restrictive requirements discourage drivers from entering or staying in the trade, ultimately reducing accessibility for wheelchair users and creating significant challenges.

“The environment is suffering. Larger vehicles consume more fuel, release more emissions, and current regulations make it impossible to license eco-friendly electric taxis due to the side-access requirement.”

Instead, drivers are calling for the rules to be changed to allow rear-access WAVs, which they say are more practical and more affordable.

Conwy County Council said the petition will be given serious consideration.

In both cases, licensing authorities have made changes in a bid to increase the number of WAVs in their areas, but which could have the opposite effect.

If taxi drivers cannot afford the expensive upgrades required to meet new regulations, they could well leave the trade, as has already happened in South Gloucestershire, further reducing the number of accessible vehicles available.

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