Drivers say higher costs are forcing accessible taxis off the road

London taxi driver Gamal Tabidi has operated an accessible taxi for 18 years and loves every minute of his job. 

"I feel that I'm making a difference, I know the customers by name," he said. "I pick up a passenger from the hospital, and I can take them home without asking their address. There's a lot of satisfaction in that."

And while he loves what he does — it isn't always an easy road, particularly when it comes to squeezing a living out of his specially equipped Dodge Caravan. 

Like most London cabbies, Tabidi is an owner-operator. He operates under the Green Taxi name which has seven accessible taxis, the most of any company in the city, he said. It's an alliance that helps him share insurance and dispatch costs, but he owns the cab and is responsible for all expenses that go with it, from gas to maintenance to insurance.

Tabidi and a handful of other London drivers who operate accessible taxis approached city council last week asking for help. They say recent increases in the cost to buy, convert, insure and maintain their vehicles has many drivers steering clear of driving accessible cabs. 

It's become so bad, Tabidi and others say there are not enough accessible cabs on the road to meet the needs of a growing city. 

According to city staff there are 15 accessible vehicles currently in operation in London, which is less than half of the 31 licences available. 

Tabidi said the situation has become so dire, Londoners who use wheelchairs are missing medical appointments and flights because there often aren't enough cabs to handle the calls.

"It's ridiculous, the difference between the population and the number of accessible taxis in the city," said Tabidi. "We need to catch up."

Drivers say rising costs unique to accessible cabs are keeping down the number of drivers.

A huge barrier for drivers is the cost of buying a suitable used van and equipping it with a deployable ramp. Used vehicle prices are way up in recent years, creating a huge entry barrier for new drivers and a big cut in the margins of existing drivers.

Buying a new vehicle and converting it can now be a six-figure proposition.

Green Taxi president Khalil Al Tarhuni ordered a new Toyota Sienna from a local dealership back in May 2022. His plan is to covert the van into a wheelchair-accessible taxi. It's a process that would typically cost about $15,000 a few years ago, but with inflation can now run up to $25,000 for some vehicles.

Now 18 months after ordering his new van, Al Tarhuni still has no update on when it might arrive. He's been told the delay is part of supply chain issues affecting the entire auto industry.