Wheelchair users challenge British city's denial of accessible taxis

From the Fleetwood Weekly News in the UK:

A wheelchair user is to challenge Liverpool City Council in the High Court after a committee refused to license a wheelchair-friendly taxi.

The council's decision not to license the Peugeot E7 taxi provoked a protest from some local disability campaigners and wheelchair user Alma Lunt has won the right to challenge the ruling through a judicial review.

The protesters said wheelchair users experience difficulty and feel unsafe in regular style cabs and claim the purpose-built E7 is easier to use.

Mrs Lunt said: "In the smaller passenger area of the London style cab there isn't space for larger wheelchairs to be secured and as a result many of us are bumped about, bruised and injured".

She added: "Liverpool's licensing policy is extraordinary. Detailed and accurate information, including the terrible experiences of many wheelchair users was kept from the committee, we hardly had a chance for our voices to be heard in the meetings."

A meeting of the committee heard that "the public could reasonably be expected to be unfamiliar with the operation of sliding doors" and the elderly and infirm might find them "cumbersome and awkward".

John Bruce, from Wheelchair Users Group, said: "We are delighted that the High Court has ruled on the importance of this legal challenge for accessible transport and licensing the E7 will help remove a major barrier to safer travel and will not cost Liverpool rate payers anything."

A council spokeswoman declined to comment because the case is subject to legal proceedings.