High proportion of taxis and private hire vehicles in Nuneaton and Bedworth are wheelchair accessible

Taxis and private hire vehicles in Nuneaton and Bedworth are more accessible for wheelchair users than almost anywhere else in the country, figures reveal.
A queue of black cabs outside Victoria Station, London. London taxi drivers are facing long waits for a single fare after the industry has seen a severe drop in demand as coronavirus restrictions continue to reduce travel and office working.A queue of black cabs outside Victoria Station, London. London taxi drivers are facing long waits for a single fare after the industry has seen a severe drop in demand as coronavirus restrictions continue to reduce travel and office working.
A queue of black cabs outside Victoria Station, London. London taxi drivers are facing long waits for a single fare after the industry has seen a severe drop in demand as coronavirus restrictions continue to reduce travel and office working.

Taxis and private hire vehicles in Nuneaton and Bedworth are more accessible for wheelchair users than almost anywhere else in the country, figures reveal.

But with just one in seven vehicles across England and Wales suitably equipped, disability charity Scope said everyday inequality is rife – even for the nation's returning Paralympic heroes.

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Department for Transport figures show 373 vehicles were licensed to operate in Nuneaton and Bedworth at the end of March – 230 (62%) of which could be used by those in wheelchairs.

Just six of the 97 private hire vehicles, which need to be pre-booked, were wheelchair accessible.

But 81% of the area's 276 traditional taxis, which can be hailed from the street, offered the same service.

This means the area has a greater proportion of wheelchair accessible vehicles than almost anywhere else in England.

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Across England, just 2% of private hire vehicles, such as those available through Uber, can fit a wheelchair in them.

Though the proportion of taxis or hackney carriages which can do the same is much higher, it fell from 57% to 54% over the last year.

All traditional taxis are wheelchair accessible in London and some other parts of the country, but other areas have none at all.

Scope said four-fifths of disabled people feel anxious on public transport – with the coronavirus pandemic only exacerbating this – leaving many reliant on taxis and PHVs.

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Tom Marsland, policy manager for consumer affairs at the charity, said: "When these aren't accessible disabled people are robbed of their independence.

"Consistent regulation and enforcement across all transport authorities in England and Wales would help hold drivers and taxi organisations accountable for their accessibility, and improve disabled people's trust in the system."

Mr Marsland said the Paralympic Games – which conclude on Sunday (September 5) – have sent a powerful message to the world, but warned that all disabled people still face daily inequality on public transport.

He added: "We must not miss the opportunity to turn Paralympic cheers into change and create an equal and fair society."

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The DfT figures also show that the majority of local authorities across England and Wales do not require disability awareness training for taxi or private hire drivers.

But in Nuneaton and Bedworth, both taxi and private hire drivers have to do this training.

The National Private Hire and Taxi Association said wheelchair accessible vehicles are expensive to buy and run, and their higher emissions are worse for the environment.

Steven Toy, NPHTA board member, said: "With the increase in the number of journeys being taken by peer-to-peer apps, there are fewer journeys by hackney carriage.

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"That itself dissuades people from investing in a vehicle when they see their trade falling on the whole."

He added that for every WAV request, there are likely to be 10 or more for a low vehicle – favoured by older people who struggle to get into higher vehicles – so all disabilities should be taken into consideration.

A DfT spokeswoman said: “Our National Disability Strategy will drive forward new laws to ensure disabled people get the right help in taxis and private hire vehicles.

“All councils should be using existing powers to provide enough wheelchair accessible vehicles and ensuring all drivers are trained to support every disabled passenger.”