Wheelchair Taxis

Summary

The requester asked for the number of wheelchair taxi licences issued on the Isle of Man to assist with medical transport, but the authority clarified that no such specific licences exist under current legislation. Instead, the response disclosed that 16 licensed taxis are currently recorded as wheelchair accessible, though operators are not mandated to use them exclusively for such purposes.

Key Facts

• The Road Transport Act 2001 does not permit the issuance of specific 'wheelchair taxi licences'.
• There are currently 16 licensed taxis recorded as wheelchair accessible with valid annual operating discs.
• The Road Transport Licensing Committee has no power to ensure operators use wheelchair-accessible vehicles at all times.
• A list of wheelchair accessible taxis is being updated and will be sent to the requester upon completion.
• The requester cited personal health issues and communication difficulties as the reason for the request.

Data Disclosed

• 16
• 2001
• 2022-08-04
• 2022-08-19
• 2563197

Original Request

Could you please inform me how many wheelchair taxi licences have been issued on the island as I [redacted, personal information] and can't transfer to a car seat to visit my GP. I live on a bus route in Glen Vine and can get a bus to the GP's but on the return journey the bus stop without any pavement has a notice on saying NOT suitable for wheelchairs. Please reply by email as with my illness [redacted, personal information] no one can understand me using the phone.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Isle of Man Government R61ty$ EJk.m VOflnjn Road Transport Licensing Committee Bing Kied Carbid

Chairperson : Mr Brendan O'Friel FJMU

Thie Slieau Whallian, Foxdale Road,
St John's, Isle of Man,
IM4 3AS
Tel: (01624) 651564 Email: rtlc@gov.im Website: www.gov.im/rtlc

19th August 2022

Dear # # #

We write further to your request which was received on 4th August 2022 and which states:

“Could you please inform me how many wheelchair taxi licences have been issued on the island as I [redacted, personal information] and can’t transfer to a car seat to visit my GP. I live on a bus route in Glen Vine and can get a bus to the GP’s but on the return journey the bus stop without any pavement has a notice on saying NOT suitable for wheelchairs. Please reply by email as with my illness [redacted, personal information] no one can understand me using the phone.”

Our response to your request is as follows:

The Road Transport Act 2001, which is the primary legislation which governs taxi trade, does not permit the Road Transport Licencing Committee (“RTLC”) to issue ‘wheelchair taxi licences’. As a result the answer to your request would be zero.

Further information The RTLC does currently record 16 vehicles which are licenced taxis, have valid annual operating discs and are also wheelchair accessible. The RTLC has no powers however, to ensure these operators use these vehicles at all times.

The RTLC office is currently updating a list of wheelchair accessible taxis and if you contact the RTLC office at rtlc@gov.im we will add you to the people to whom this list will be sent once completed.

Please quote the reference number 2563197 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied

with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested. In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

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