Transport for All was present at the Disability Capital event in London in 2007 when the last Mayor of London, Ken Livingston announced that London Dial-a-Ride was to be made free to members.
Whilst the announcement was welcome, it was hardly on the hotlist of demands for the service. The reality was that the few pounds collected by drivers never paid for the real price of the trip, far from it. The administration cost of the collection was greater than the fares collected.
With Dial-a-Ride free, membership increased slightly, however there was never a huge influx of new members. Membership currently stands at approximately 48,000.
All members – old and new – are still grappling with the same old issues that DAR had been afflicted with for a number years. Problems like waiting time, not getting through to the call centre and not being able to go where you want when you want.
With the new Mayor of London capping DAR’s budget, the increase of funding and resources needed to improve and expand this vital service seem a distant dream. Especially when the new bus for London, cable car and cycle hire scheme are clearly the political priority.
Rather than focus on how the service can be improved for all disabled and older Londoners, Transport for London are rushing through plans to restrict the availability of Dial-a-Ride, by introducing a more stringent assessment process.
Sound Familiar
History repeating itself just like Armistice day,Hit the people that need it most.I suppose now we will have HENDY on NICK [do as your told] FERRARI,saying nobody who uses this service wiil be stranded.meaning f*** em .let them stay indoors.Hate to say this but beginning to hope LIVINGSTONE gets in,at least when he shafts you,he admits it.
ReplyDeletethey dont give a flying fuck about the elderly or disabled-they only want young foreigners cycling and rickshawing everywhere
ReplyDeleteCom Cab have a terrible reputation with Taxicard passengers.
ReplyDeleteNot down to the drivers though.
They repeatedly send cars for wheelchair passengers, informing them their is no taxis in the area.
Their PH division is after spreading in to the suburbs.
So by insuring coverage by Taxis in the burbs is bad, their PH wing will slip in, offering a much better service.
Delgro, Con Cabs parent company make more money per head PH than they do from Licensed taxis.
Prediction: Addison Lee and ComCab join forces to service taxicard! LTDA's Yellow Badge drivers left swinging!
ReplyDeleteNo wonder people were angry that Malcolm Paice (Manager ComCab) wsa invited (after a nudge from somewhere)to discuss cab age limits on cabs but not all the driver orgs!
I did not think I would ever say this but:
COME BACK KEN!
add lee have just taken over door 2 door a large medical transport service in tottenham.
ReplyDeletethis is john griffins new venture so you know dial a ride service is on its lasts legs once johnny boy gets going.