Post by acnedriver on Nov 30, 2022 6:36:06 GMT
Blue taxi drivers in Bristol are warning there may be fewer accessible cabs for people with disabilities in the future as the city's clean air zone comes into effect.
The zone is designed to improve air quality in Bristol by charging those driving the most polluting vehicles, with fines of up to £120.
It officially came into effect yesterday (29 November) though some temporary exemptions are in place until the end of March to allow people to get prepared.
But those driving the city's blue hackney carriages have warned the zone may lead to fewer accessible taxis as drivers swap their non-compliant wheelchair-friendly cars for smaller, private cars.
Mohammad Islam, from the Bristol Blue Licensed Taxi Association, said: "Lots of drivers do the school run for the disabled or the wheelchair users' children and people will be, especially with the elderly people, people with special needs, people with the wheelchair, they will be in difficulties to find a blue car.
Another cabbie, Jante Mohemed, agreed, saying he has seen many of his colleagues swap their blue cars for private hire vehicles.
"It's affected a lot of drivers," Jante said.
www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2022-11-29/cab-drivers-warn-new-clean-air-zone-will-see-the-number-of-accessible-taxis-fall
"A lot of drivers - they bought a small car. Usually, we've got the wheelchair, but no one can afford to buy the wheelchair car, because it must be an electric one.
"So, everyone goes to private cars and buys small cars and less Hackneys," he added.
Charges range depending on the type of vehicle being driven, with older, non-compliant cars being charged £9 a day, the same price a taxi will face.
The zone is designed to improve air quality in Bristol by charging those driving the most polluting vehicles, with fines of up to £120.
It officially came into effect yesterday (29 November) though some temporary exemptions are in place until the end of March to allow people to get prepared.
But those driving the city's blue hackney carriages have warned the zone may lead to fewer accessible taxis as drivers swap their non-compliant wheelchair-friendly cars for smaller, private cars.
Mohammad Islam, from the Bristol Blue Licensed Taxi Association, said: "Lots of drivers do the school run for the disabled or the wheelchair users' children and people will be, especially with the elderly people, people with special needs, people with the wheelchair, they will be in difficulties to find a blue car.
Another cabbie, Jante Mohemed, agreed, saying he has seen many of his colleagues swap their blue cars for private hire vehicles.
"It's affected a lot of drivers," Jante said.
www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2022-11-29/cab-drivers-warn-new-clean-air-zone-will-see-the-number-of-accessible-taxis-fall
"A lot of drivers - they bought a small car. Usually, we've got the wheelchair, but no one can afford to buy the wheelchair car, because it must be an electric one.
"So, everyone goes to private cars and buys small cars and less Hackneys," he added.
Charges range depending on the type of vehicle being driven, with older, non-compliant cars being charged £9 a day, the same price a taxi will face.