Caroline Pidgeon, visited a Guide Dogs event in Parliament on 16th November to show her support for taxi and minicab drivers receiving disability equality training when getting their licence. In September, the London Assembly passed a motion supporting Guide Dogs’ call for an increase in the penalty for refusing access to an assistance dog owner.
At the event, guide dog owners told the Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group how taxi and minicab drivers refused to carry them because they had their guide dog with them. They explained that they had missed important appointments due to the refusals and how it had left them anxious and reluctant to use taxis and minicabs again.
Although the Equality Act 2010 makes it illegal for a taxi or minicab driver to refuse to carry an assistance dog, Guide Dogs research found that 42% of people living with sight loss were turned away by a taxi or minicab in the last year because of their guide dog. The research also uncovered that 38% of assistance dog owners have illegally been asked to pay an extra fare for carrying their dog.
Guide Dogs is calling for disability equality training to be made a requirement for all taxi and minicab drivers to help them understand the rights and needs of disabled people and how to welcome assistance dog owners. In London, Transport for London (TfL) is running an education campaign for minicab drivers on the rights of assistance dog owners and is developing a disability equality training course.
Caroline Pidgeon commented:
“I am disappointed to hear from so many people who are illegally turned away from taxis and minicabs because they travel with an assistance dog. I’m asking the Government to act to ensure all taxi and minicab drivers receive disability equality training so they are aware of the law and how to assist their disabled customers in the right way.”
James White, Senior Campaigns Manager at Guide Dogs, commented:
“Imagine you were turned away by a taxi driver or asked to pay an extra fare, for no good reason. Despite legal protection, this regularly happens to people living with sight loss because they are travelling with a guide dog.
“We welcome the London Assembly’s motion supporting our campaign to increase the penalty for refusing to carry an assistance dog, and are looking forward to seeing TfL’s disability equality training introduced.”