Shocking moment Uber driver ‘refused to let disabled customer in a wheelchair into his car’
Joshua Gardner, 20, claims he was left at the roadside despite using a lightweight wheelchair which can easily be folded and stored in the boot or back seat
A WHEELCHAIR user claims he was left at the side of the road by an Uber driver who refused to take him in his taxi.
Joshua Gardner, 20, was on his way to meet friends at the pub to watch the football on Monday when the driver told him “disabled people need disable car” and drove off, despite his protests that his wheelchair is foldable and can easily be stored in the boot or backseat.
Joshua, a freelance journalist, managed to capture the incident on camera and has slammed the taxi company for the way he was treated.
He said: ““Ordering a taxi when you have a lightweight foldable wheelchair is plain and simple.
“It will always fit in a car somewhere either in the boot or on the seat of a car. Also ordering a taxi in the UK when you’re human is plan and simple; it’s against UK law to refuse a customer because of their disability, race, sex, age or sexuality.
“Uber broke this law when one of their drivers drove off and left me at the side of the road on Monday night in Leeds. This should never happen.”
Joshua was left wheelchair-bound in 2005 after falling ill from Tranverse Myelitis, a type of muscle weakness in the legs.
He regularly uses Uber, sometimes taking three rides a day, but blasted the company after posting the clip of the incident on social media.
It has since been viewed thousands of times and gained hundreds of comments of support.
Joshua added: “This Uber driver is one of many taxis drivers who have refused me over the years and not only me but many of my friends who have disabilities.
“Its not just a problem with Uber, it’s a problem UK wide.
"Don’t get me wrong 95% of taxi drivers in the UK would be more than happy to help when it comes to offering assistance to passengers with disabilities, a parent with a pushchair or a customer with a trolley full of shopping.
“But it’s that 5% of drivers who wouldn’t help or would just refuse to take the job altogether.
“In my opinion there needs to be tougher regulations for taxi companies when it comes to giving someone the green light to be a driver; and more required training for all driver on equality.
“For me that is the only way things will change.”
An Uber spokesperson said: “Uber does not tolerate any form of discrimination from riders or licensed drivers who use the app. We take any allegations of discriminatory behaviour very seriously.
“We’re currently investigating this incident and it is our policy to prevent the partner-driver from using our app until the investigation is concluded.”
They also said that UberAssist, a taxi service specifically aimed at disabled people and those with access needs, is operational in Leeds.
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