Most South Tyneside taxis no use to wheelchair users

With just one in seven vehicles nationally suitably equipped, disability charity Scope said everyday inequality is rife.

Department for Transport figures show 480 vehicles were licensed to operate in South Tyneside at the end of March – with just 63 (13%) able to be used by people in wheelchairs.

Of the 236 traditional taxis which can be hailed from the street, only 30 (13%) were wheelchair accessible and just 33 (14%) of the area's 244 private hire vehicles, which need to be pre-booked, offered the same service.

Nationally, just two per cent of private hire vehicles can accommodate a wheelchair.

Scope said four-fifths of disabled people feel anxious on public transport – with the coronavirus pandemic exacerbating this – leaving many reliant on taxis and PHVs.

Tom Marsland, policy manager for consumer affairs at the charity, said: "When these aren't accessible to disabled people, they are robbed of their independence.

"Consistent regulation and enforcement across all transport authorities would help hold drivers and taxi organisations accountable for their accessibility, and improve disabled people's trust in the system."

A DfT spokeswoman said: “Our National Disability Strategy will drive forward new laws to ensure disabled people get the right help in taxis and private hire vehicles.

“All councils should be using existing powers to provide enough wheelchair accessible vehicles and ensuring all drivers are trained to support every disabled passenger.”