oh no, taxicard!

tehone

sunnyone wrote: »

Use a wheelchair do you?

They claim the ramps dont work or that they arnt trained to use them etc.

No I don't, but I know plenty of people who do, and several mini cabs firms where I live that provide this service (though admitedly not London).

In contrast taxis were I live don't have to be the London Hackney type, so most of them aren't wheelchair friendly anyway.

tehone

sh1305 wrote: »

I've found minicabs to be more expensive. It cost me £5.80 to get home on evening. The same journey cost me £4.50 by taxi.

In London? seems very unlikely to me, I've used both in London a lot and minicabs have always been cheaper

where I live a taxi is about 50% more than a minicab - I always thpugh that taxis were more expnesive beacuse they are metered (and can be hailed anywhere, where minicabs are unmetered and must be booked)

PasturesNew

No idea about the geography of London, but a quick google brought me to here: http://www.hctgroup.org/index.php?sectionid=127

YourCar is a specially designed membership scheme that provides individuals who have mobility problems with a low-cost, accessible alternative to using mincabs and taxis. The scheme is operational in Leeds, North East London, and South London.

All drivers and other YourCar staff are individually trained in assisting people with mobility issues, and all YourCar drivers are fully CRB checked. The vehicles are all fitted with the latest accessibility features so that everyone's needs, including those of wheelchair users, can be catered for.

Becoming a member

Membership is open to anyone who has difficulties in using public transport or other methods of getting around.

Annual membership costs just £1, which is added to your first fare when you start using the service. Becoming a member couldn't be easier - simply complete the form on the flyer, downloadable below, and return it to us.

Booking your journey

In order to book your journey, simply call the booking hotline during office hours, let us know when you need to travel, where you are going, and if anyone else will be travelling with you. Our friendly and helpful staff will quote you an exact price for your journey based on the information you have provided.

London Boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark
PDF: http://www.hctgroup.org/_uploaded/File/Lascot%20YourCar%20leaflet%20-%20narrative.pdf
Booking line: 020 7501 8990

savemoney

It might be just your area my area do hospital appointments I use to help out thats why I know they do

qwertyuiop12345 wrote: »

There is something called Dial a Ride in London but the website says it can't be used for hospital appointments.

I'm going to try to look into it and other possible different transport options, so thanks for the suggestion.

Indie_Kid

tehone wrote: »

In London? seems very unlikely to me, I've used both in London a lot and minicabs have always been cheaper

where I live a taxi is about 50% more than a minicab - I always thpugh that taxis were more expnesive beacuse they are metered (and can be hailed anywhere, where minicabs are unmetered and must be booked)

No. Sorry, forgot to mention it was Plymouth.

snoop2008

just a quickie regarding patients transport service. I have no problems with this service at my local hospital where I go for my dental treatment. But the other day I couldn't get to same hospital for physio for my ligaments in hands and feet and needed someone to escort me in the car. As my carer was on holiday I phoned the hospital to arrange transport but was informed my doctor now had the duty to book the transport when making appointments. Well I phoned the surgery and their criteria for transport had changed. The receptionist was very nice and didn't agree with the new criteria, one which is , if your blind, partially sighted, have a wheelchair then you can use the patients transport. I do not fit these new catagories from the surgery, but have no problems getting this service from my dentist hospital outpaitence for the same hospital. I believe this is something new as I was not informed.

snoop2008

PasturesNew wrote: »

No idea about the geography of London, but a quick google brought me to here: http://www.hctgroup.org/index.php?sectionid=127

Thanks for this, they also do a service capital call which must be used by Taxicard users.

bribri_2

OP
have a look at Capital Call.
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/1195.aspx#capital_call

jazabelle

qwertyuiop12345 wrote: »

I think the problem I may have is that there is an enormous gulf between being poor enough to receive income support and all the additional means tested benefits and being sufficiently wealthy to cover costs like a £50 round trip to hospital. It always seems like as soon as you have one penny too much for income support you get hit with additional bills which are literally in the thousands when all put together.

Yes, very much so. I can only work part time due to my condition and my wage is about £5,000 a year. I get no benefits at all and have just been turned down for free prescriptions (which would have come with help with travel costs, free dentists/opticians etc) - which would have been a godsend. I get the pre-payment prescription which I struggle to afford, and obviously have to pay for everything else on top.

I'm not sure what their criteria of 'low income' is if £5,000 is too much.

I've got an appointment in London next week, at 8 in the morning, so we're having to stay overnight because I was worried we might get stuck in traffic even if we leave mega early - so it's costing a fortune.

Judith_W

This sounds mental as I hadn't heard of the scheme before now, but could you get off the taxi and order another from where you were to your final destination to get over preventing the double swiping...?