ADAPTED TAXIS - DERBY (and other cities...)

BeverleyB

Hi everyone - my disabled daughter is a power chair user, and cannot transfer.  Before the pandemic, it was easy to get an adapted cab to anywhere she wished to go in Derby or surrounding area, at a reasonable cost, with quotes for longer journeys, or evenings.  Post-pandemic - it is a nightmare to get an adapted cab at all ! The main company who used to operate adapted cabs in Derby, suitable for my daughter who requires a lowered floor/higher entrance height/entry from rear of vehicle), sold off all but one of their adapted cabs, as they had struggled financially. Many of the cab drivers left as their occupation disappeared overnight, and many have not come back to the industry.  There is a company locally with a fleet, used by Education for school transport, but they are big vehicles so charge  £10 for a journey of a few minutes and have no availability during school run hours 8am - 10am and 2pm - 4pm.  This has severely curtailed her social outings, as she needs a PA with her out of doors. Negotiating pavements, dropped kerbs, adverse camber and obstacles are a bit of a nightmare in her vicinity.  Is this a common problem in other UK towns and cities where you are??  Local councils don't seem to be operating any enforcement of equality for wheelchair users, or incentivising taxi companies to provide adapted vehicles, or indeed applying any sanctions/penalties if they don't.  

Albus_Scope

Hi @BeverleyB Firstly, here's an official welcome to the community!  I noticed you've not had any replies here, so I just wanted to check in and see how you've been getting on with your search? 

 I know Uber are rolling out (pardon the choice of words there) Uber Access, which is especially for wheelchair users, but I'm unsure how many cities are covered by it currently.