Wheelchair users have raised concerns about accessibility after Uber was granted a new licence to operate in York. Campaigners say that while it could make more taxis available, they are concerned there is no option to book an accessible taxi.
Speaking to the BBC, campaigner Flick Williams said that Uber had been “quite clear that if they were granted a licence there would be no option to book a wheelchair accessible taxi”. She described the licence being granted as “a deeply bad decision for all disabled and older people in the city”.
The company has clarified the situation to explain that although there will not initially be the option to book a wheelchair PHV, this could change as more accessible vehicles are added to the app.
Licence
Uber was initially refused a license to operate in York in 2017 and was given two main reasons: a data breach in 2016 which the company failed to report, and a rise in complaints about Uber drivers in York. Despite losing its York licence, Uber drivers licensed by other councils can legally operate in York – or in any other town or city.
Flick Williams told the BBC that granting Uber a license to operate “leads directly to a reduction in the number of wheelchair accessible taxis available”.
“The council should have refused it. Uber had their licence removed in 2017 and have continued to operate, so granting them a licence now is, in effect, rewarding bad behaviour.”
Accessible vehicles
Arshad Mahmood, head of the York Taxi Association, told the BBC he was disappointed at the decision to give Uber a license to operate in York. He said: “This decision has definitely overlooked the 44 wheelchair Hackney taxis and wheelchair taxi users. We are already low in numbers of the wheelchair taxis.”
Uber responded to the concerns by saying: “We have a specific in-app option called Uber Access which is available in a number of cities across the country. Drivers providing these services are specially trained.
“Our ability to make the Uber Access option available in the app is dependent on the volume of private hire wheelchair accessible vehicles in a given town or city and the number who choose to drive with Uber.
“Should we see sufficient volume of private hire wheelchair accessible vehicles sign up to Uber in the city, we would look to make this additional option available for riders in York.”
Shortage
The concerns raised are understandable as the lack of accessible taxis has impacted many people across the country. We previously reported that a man who got a train from Bristol to Gloucester had to call an accessible taxi from Bristol because there were none in the area.
Councillor Alastair Chambers told a meeting held by the council following the incident: “It’s absolutely ridiculous. He got the train from Bristol to Gloucester and then has had to wait for a taxi from Bristol to pick him up because there aren’t any.”
Councillor Hannah Norman explained that there are five Hackney carriages and four private-hire vehicles that are wheelchair accessible in the city, but there is no legislation that requires them to be operated 24/7.
Ensuring accessibility of taxis is vital as disabled people are particularly reliant on taxi and private hire vehicle services because “they may not have access to a private car, are unable to use public transport, or because the built environment is insufficiently accessible to meet their needs”, according to the Taxi and private hire vehicle licensing best practice guidance for licensing authorities in England.
Granting Uber’s licence in York will mean more PHVs available and it is hoped many of these will be wheelchair accessible and the app will be updated so they can be booked whenever people need them.
