Taxi Drivers Treat Disabled People Like Second-Class Citizens, Claims Cerebral Palsy Sufferer
Disabled people are being treated like “second-class citizens” by taxi firms, according to a cerebral palsy suffered who was recently quoted over £100 for a five-mile journey.
Nathan Popple hit out at taxi and private hire firms after he claims he was quoted £108 for a one-way journey of just 5.6 miles in a wheelchair accessible car.
The 18-year-old said his home town of Leeds feels like a “no-go area” for disabled people and has set up a website to rate services in the city and how they cater for disabled people.
Mr Popple claims he has been rejected travel by private hire drivers and that drivers of Hackney carriages or black cabs often fail to stop for him or help him in or out of vehicles.
The quote of over £100 from Adel in Leeds to Armley forms part of a complaint sent to operators, MPs and Leeds City Council leaders, that has sparked a council investigation.
Prices - Mr Popple says prices are awful for disabled people (Picture: Getty)
In the complaint, Mr Popple said despite advertisements from private hire firms claiming their vehicles are wheelchair accessible, prices are “awful” for disabled people.
He said: “Complaints about these companies need to be taken seriously and real action needs to be taken against them. At the minute Leeds feels like a no-go area for disabled people.”
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Mr Popple claimed other firms offered the trip he was quoted £108 for as a return trip for £60 or £30 but offered either limited times or refused advanced bookings.
He added: “There are endless stories of taxis not showing up, driving away or refusing to stop for disabled people, refusing to state a collection time or simply overcharging.”
Fair - Mr Popple says he doesn’t want special treatment, just fairness (Picture: SWNS)
“Disabled people have a massive amount to give to our city. I am not asking for special treatment, I am asking for fairness.”
A spokeswoman for Leeds City Council said they were “very concerned” to hear about Mr Popple’s complaints.
She said: “We are always very concerned to hear about taxi and private hire drivers in Leeds who do not treat all passengers equally and will be investigating Mr Popple’s complaints.”
(Top picture: SWNS)
