![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/blind-woman-forced-to-walk-a-mile-in-the-rain-as-shes-refused-taxi-over-guide-dog/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/0_SDC_MDG_CHP_55267JPG.jpg&description=Adele Kinch and Steven Yates claim they were refused travel in two cabs because they had their guide dog, Zebedee, accompanying them on a day out to visit Steven's mother last Tuesday A blind woman claims she was left to walk home in the rain after her taxi driver wouldn't let her in with her guide dog. Adele Kinch had travelled from her home in Southport with partner Steven Yates to visit his mother last Tuesday. They had hired a private vehicle from Radio Cabs Ashton and Swift Radio Cars to get from Stalybridge train station to their destination, but say they were 'refused a taxi' twice by staff. They claim they were refused a cab because of guide dog Zebedee and would have to "wait for a dog-friendly" car - leaving them little choice but to walk a mile home in the rain. 'We wanted to visit my mum in Stalybridge, I rang what I thought was two different taxi companies - though I've now found out they were amalgamated recently into one company,' Steven told the Manchester Evening News. 'I phoned to ask for a taxi for my partner who is blind and has a guide dog. She was told she would have to wait because she had a dog. 'We were told we had to wait for a 'dog-friendly' taxi – but a guide dog is allowed in any vehicle. We had to walk from the station to my mum's, it's about a mile. It was really infuriating.' The law states that under the Equality Act 2010 taxi and private hire drivers are still obliged to carry guide dogs and assistance dogs at no extra cost to the passenger. In the case of taxis and private hire vehicles, refusing a person accompanied by a working assistance dog without a valid medical exemption certificate is a criminal offence, says the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. The organisation said: "It is unlawful in all but the most exceptional circumstances to refuse access to a disabled person accompanied by a guide dog. It is also unlawful to provide an inferior level of service because of a guide dog, for example, only allowing guide dog owners){kind=link}
Adele Kinch and Steven Yates claim they were refused travel in two cabs because they had their guide dog, Zebedee, accompanying them on a day out to visit Steven’s mother last Tuesday
A blind woman claims she was left to walk home in the rain after her taxi driver wouldn’t let her in with her guide dog.
Adele Kinch had travelled from her home in Southport with partner Steven Yates to visit his mother last Tuesday. They had hired a private vehicle from Radio Cabs Ashton and Swift Radio Cars to get from Stalybridge train station to their destination, but say they were ârefused a taxi’ twice by staff.
They claim they were refused a cab because of guide dog Zebedee and would have to “wait for a dog-friendly” car – leaving them little choice but to walk a mile home in the rain.
“We wanted to visit my mum in Stalybridge, I rang what I thought was two different taxi companies – though I’ve now found out they were amalgamated recently into one company,” Steven told the Manchester Evening News.