Taxis in Norwich:
There has been some controversy lately about wheelchair users not being allowed to travel by black cabs in Norwich unless they are strapped in facing the rear of the vehicle. This has come about because taxi operators have been concerned that their insurance will not cover them if wheelchairs are carried sideways on and there is an accident. The black cabs are not designed to strap wheelchair or their occupants in when in a sideways position. Whilst this is not a problem for most manual wheelchairs, which can usually turn in the space easily to face the back, the larger electric wheelchairs and buggies have been used to travelling sideways unsecured.
The Norwich Access Group has done some trials with an electric wheelchair in a black metro cab with successful results. The Metro Cab was a Class 2 or 3 which have a rear seat that hinges up out of the way. The electric wheelchair was a rear wheel drive Powertec F50 which measured 44 inches (112cm) long from the stabilisers at the back to the front of the foot rests and 26 inches (66cm) at its widest point across the rear wheels. The only difficulty was getting toes out the way so as to make the turn once inside but this was resolved by moving them onto the footrest.
The Metro Cab is designed to strap the wheelchair to the partition which itself is strengthened by a roll bar. Once strapped the passenger can also be belted in and there's a hand rail for them to hold adjacent to the back door if so required. If you have trouble moving your feet to get your toes onto the footrest then the cab driver should be able to help. These taxis generally carry a flat bed ramp which makes access a lot easier than the old extendable aluminium ones, particularly if you have a three wheeled vehicle. If your wheelchair has larger dimensions than the one tested then you might not make the turn but we recommend you to try it once and see. Alternative to a Metro Cab, if your wheelchair can't get in easily, you might have to use a rear loading van but then you get to travel facing forwards.
January 2004
Companies that will take wheelchairs in Norwich include -
- A2B Taxis 01603-613613 16 Hackney, side ramps
- A Six Taxis 01603-880666 2 w/chair taxis, evening only, side ramp
- Canary Taxis 0800-163013 3 w/chair buses, rear ramp, best pre book
- Daltons Taxis 07850-483705 10 metro type, side ramp
- Enterprise Taxis 01603-424282 6 taxis, 4 buses can take 2 or 3
- Equality Cars 01953-605057 2 taxis, side ramp
- Norman's Taxis 07957-235537 1 taxi, side ramp
- Phoenix 01603-611222 1 taxi, side ramp
- Tolvers Taxis 01603-712574 6 taxis, 3 buses, rear ramp, can take 2 or 3
March 2009