Wheelchair user shares difficulty of finding suitable transport

AN electric wheelchair user says he is finding it almost impossible to get a taxi to work in Hull.

Joe, 34, of west Hull, who has cerebral palsy works at a coronavirus testing site in the city.

Although he is not usually “one for complaining”, he says the taxi companies he has contacted in Hull do not seem to have wheelchair accessible taxis available for people who cannot get out of them.

“I work on a testing site and I can’t seem to get a taxi anywhere when I need them, especially on a Sunday,” he said. “It’s ridiculous.

“I’ve been working on a testing site since December 16 and I’ve not been able to get taxis here, especially on a Sunday.

“I’ve rang every major taxi company in Hull and asked them if they’ve got a wheelchair accessible taxi and all I kept on getting was ‘no, we don’t do them’.

“The only one that told me they could do them is City Cabs.”

The 34-year-old says he has rang every taxi firm he could think of.

“I’ve been getting there by bus, but sometimes I work on a Sunday and we have to be in for 7.30am and buses don’t start until 8am. My boss said I need to make alternative arrangements for those days.”

The 34-year-old says he “just wants them to be more inclusive”.

“I was supposed to be working Christmas Day,” he said. “I’ve been ringing taxi companies everyday I am supposed to be working and all I keep getting is ‘no, we don’t do that kind of transport’, especially if I say I am stuck in my electric wheelchair.

“Every time I ring them up, it’s ‘no we don’t have them’. I just want them to be more inclusive.”