Blind woman's fury after she's 'refused taxi' - because of her guide dog
17.07.2023 - 15:57
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A blind woman says she was forced to walk a mile in the rain after being told she would have to wait for a ‘dog-friendly taxi’.
Steven Yates and Adele Kinch had travelled from their home in Southport to visit Steven’s mother in Stalybridge on Tuesday, July 11. The couple called for a private hire vehicle from Radio Cabs Ashton and Swift Radio Cars to get from Stalybridge train station to their destination, but say they were ‘refused a taxi’ twice by staff.
They say they were told they couldn't have a cab because they had a guide dog, Zebedee, with them. They say they were told they would have to ‘wait for a dog-friendly’ car by private hire company staff.
It comes despite the law stating that those assisted by guide dogs must have access to taxis with their animals, with no stipulation that they should have to wait for ‘dog-friendly’ vehicles as determined by the private hire company.
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“We wanted to visit my mum in Stalybridge, I rang what I thought was two different taxi companies - though I’ve now found out they were amalgamated recently into one company,” said Steven. “I phoned to ask for a taxi for my partner who is blind and has a guide dog. She was told she would have to wait because she had a dog.
“We were told we had to wait for a ‘dog-friendly’ taxi – but a guide dog is allowed in any vehicle. We had to walk from the station to my mum’s, it’s about a mile.
“It was really infuriating.”
The law states that under the Equality Act 2010 taxi and private hire drivers are still obliged to carry guide dogs and assistance dogs at no extra cost to the passenger. In the case of taxis and private hire vehicles, refusing a person