# Dont help the blind!

Category: Let's talk

## Post 1 by Goblin (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Friday, 08-Apr-2005 8:23:50

A Glasgow taxi driver was fined £30 for stopping too long while helping his blind passenger find his way into hospital.. An over zealous traffic warden slapped the fine on the driver even as he returned to his car after assisting the blind passenger..If this trend continues its possible that taxi drivers will refuse to take disabled passengers leaving many unable toleave their homes, or at risk when travelling on public transport, I.E the all too rare accessible buses which are often occupied by drunken, abusive, violent, neds!. The driver appealed against the decision but Glasgow city council told him "the fine still stands and there is nothing more we can do". It begs the question will the drivers be as keen to help if they are threatened with constant fines..

## Post 2 by Big Pawed Bear (letting his paws be his guide.) on Friday, 08-Apr-2005 8:46:39

that's disgusting. haven't the taxis got a case they can fight using DDA? or doesn't that apply in scotland.

## Post 3 by laddymoonurah (Account disabled) on Friday, 08-Apr-2005 8:47:55

Where I live they are not suppose to help you anywhere. I mean, their job is to drop you off at the front door, you pay them, and you are suppose to be on your way. The American Disability Act prvents a lot of discrimination from happening. Especially since people have really been pushing the act for the past couple of years.

## Post 4 by Goblin (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Friday, 08-Apr-2005 8:54:27

Dobbin it does apply all across britain however.. I'd be surprised if even a 1/4 of the drivers, are aware of the DDA, and there is also the problem of the "we don't want to make a fuss" attitude of the blind in Glasgow,they have a bad track record when it comes to standing up for their rights under the DDA.

## Post 5 by Goblin (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Friday, 08-Apr-2005 8:56:38

Lady why on earth are the drivers prevented from helping I can't understand the thinking behind that..what would happen with a passenger who was severly disabled would they be denied transport

## Post 6 by Nem (I just keep on posting!) on Friday, 08-Apr-2005 9:32:29

A couple of questions first where was the cab parked? I mean was the cab in a place where it wasn't suppose to be parked? Was the cabbie with the blind person when he returned to his cab? Is the officer suppose to take the man at his word? If he was carrying a pregnant woman and he helped her into the hospital do you think he still would have been fined does it make his story any more beleaveible? Too many unknowns to jump the gun.
D-

## Post 7 by Goblin (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Friday, 08-Apr-2005 9:57:30

The car was parked directly outside the hospital entrance where it should have been ..no the driver only escorted the person to the hospital entrance and was alone when he returned to the cab,however the traffic warden had seen the driver helping the blind customer so there was no need for for him to ask the driver to substantiate his story...

## Post 8 by lights_rage (I just keep on posting!) on Friday, 08-Apr-2005 10:17:17

Well, if the blind do not stand iup for themselves who is going to care its on them ya know where i am if you need help you just simply ask and we dont have that kind of traffic law you cannot be fined for idling for something under fifteen minutes especially if you are not double parked also the ADA has stuff to do in this situation and we have fits over stuff like that and our busses arent so bad in missouri well not in my town. Also it is required that we have mobility training so if the pperson wasn't familiar with the area then yes i can understand needing asistance but if they did know the area then the driver did what was right however if the person was just neglecting to tell people hey i know what i am doing then its on them also the driver could told the person for example get out of the car walk to the front listen for the doors of the building and go toward them or the door is straigh ahead of your door i parked so all you have to do is walk straight oh and there are seven steps or to the left of that is a ramp. now that is how they can handle that nest time your in a czab just say give me consise directions to tell me exactly where i need to go. Jen

## Post 9 by Goblin (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Friday, 08-Apr-2005 10:49:35

Metaalica the problem is there are far too many people here, who use their blindness, as an excuse for helplessness...the driver did go the extra mile as the customer was unfamiliar with the area,also the driver could have ended up the victim of a complaint if he failed to provide proper assistance.... as far as I see it, the poor driver, was damned if he did and damned if he didn't..

## Post 10 by renegade rocker (I just keep on posting!) on Friday, 08-Apr-2005 11:20:47

A friend of mine once said you're only as blind as you wanna be, and that's just pathetic to use blindness as an excuse for anything, but I'm drifting off point here, that's totally disgusting for something like that to happen with the driver most deffinatly. Now if it was a pregnant woman being helped like someone put it on the thread here, they couldn't have given two shits about it, and parden the choice of language here, but that's how disgusted I am with this whole thing.

## Post 11 by Goblin (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Saturday, 09-Apr-2005 9:33:16

Rocker I agree its unjustifable but I'm afraid the trend is now well established

## Post 12 by Goblin (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Saturday, 09-Apr-2005 10:22:16

Also Glasgow is playing host to the Special Olympics this year,so it will be interesting to see how the traffic wardens react to that..

## Post 13 by Big Pawed Bear (letting his paws be his guide.) on Saturday, 09-Apr-2005 10:40:02

I'll bet the traffic wardens just act like they always have. they will say, the law is the law, and screw the special olympics.

## Post 14 by Goblin (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Saturday, 09-Apr-2005 10:48:31

thats it though I have been generalising here as they are not all bad..none the less my mate Stevie,had this happen when his car was in for its MOT..he called a taxi to take him to Uni, where the driver was given a ticket, for parking too long in a space,due to Stevie having problems getting into his chair due to considerable back pain.
...................
Sadly there are a few bampots, who deliberately target drivers who take disabled passengers, and very little is done to resolve this problem even with the threat of action via the DDA...

## Post 15 by chelslicious (like it or not, I'm gonna say what I mean. all the time.) on Saturday, 09-Apr-2005 13:36:55

thats a shame.

## Post 16 by rdfreak (THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE-BLUE KANGA-KICKIN AUSIE) on Saturday, 09-Apr-2005 18:09:05

wow, I hate hate hate cabs but one thing is that they are willing to help you between the car and your destination. Parking inspectors are evil!

## Post 17 by sparkie (the hilljack) on Sunday, 10-Apr-2005 0:27:49

Yes, the rule even here is they're suppose to drop you off and that's it, however most help you anyways. I like it though because if you arn't familiar and oriented with the area such as a friend's house in fron of the house or an apartment complex then you could very well end up getting lost.
Troy

## Post 18 by Goblin (I have proven to myself and the world that I need mental help) on Sunday, 10-Apr-2005 9:23:04

The problem stems from traffic wardens not being completely aware of the needs of disabled passengers...many people in Glasgow ect rely on taxi's,to travel due to the buses being either inaccessible, or too damned dangerous,
........
Our traffic wardens are not informed about the difficulties we face in travelling,as far as the council are concerned the emphasis is on turning Glasgow into a shopping and holiday destination, but they are quick to forget that some of these visitors may be disabled and require easy transport around the city, the tours buses have remained inaccessible after 20 odd feckin years!....

## Post 19 by DougS (Veteran Zoner) on Wednesday, 13-Apr-2005 14:18:18

My experience with cabbies has been quite good. They will either help me or, if it's a parking or they're real busy issue, they will stop wherever it is and describe what I need to do. One even went as far as to call my cell and talk to me as he watched me going to the door of the bar he brought me to.

## Post 20 by Senior (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Wednesday, 13-Apr-2005 15:54:27

It's not just blind people who sometimes need help, but pentioners, people who can't walk, people with a lot of luggage, etc. I think that taxies shouldn't be restricted in where they're parked unless of course they're holding up traffic.