Taxi drivers are urging the council to conduct further research before altering taxi regulations, fearing negative impacts.
Other rural areas seem to have more. They have one taxi for every 2,000 to 3,000 people. The council would need 200 more wheelchair taxis to match.
A taxi group leader, Richard Fieldman, disagrees with the plan. He thinks it could hurt the taxi business a lot. It might even mean fewer taxis for everyone. He says the plan won’t make more wheelchair taxis. It will just force some drivers to quit. Older drivers can’t afford new wheelchair vehicles.
Fieldman wants a survey on taxi demand. He says the council did not research enough. People struggle to get taxis when they want them.
Taxi drivers want to use Euro 6 cars. These cars meet strict pollution rules.
A charity, Disability Action Yorkshire, wants your feedback. They ask people to share views on wheelchair taxis. Their leader, Jackie Snape, spoke about taxis. Taxis are easy for many people to use. But she says it is harder for disabled people. Wheelchair taxis are scarce and costly.
Councilor Greg White understands the issues. Accessible vehicles matter to passengers. They can affect mental health if they are unavailable. Taxi services must work for everyone.
The council wants a good balance for users and drivers. Rural areas often have fewer accessible taxis. He believes they can make improvements to the overall situation.
The consultation ends April 30th.