Making Your Taxi Wheelchair Accessible

Accordingly to the Equality Act 2010, taxi drivers are required to provide assistance to those in wheelchairs. Prior to this the  Disability Discrimination Act 1995 was in place to ensure taxis remained accessible. It is important that taxi drivers are able to find the right ramp length and ramp type to provide users with a suitable gradient but also have a ramp small enough to transport in their vehicle. 

The Ramp Factory offers a large range of portable and fixed disabled ramp solutions access into vehicles such as taxis, vans and cars.

Step 1: Identify The Ramp Length Required 

One of the most import steps is to work out what ramp length you need. Ramps that are too short will mean wheelchair access is dangerous or unachievable.  We work out the ramp length based on the height from the ground to where the ramp will rest on the vehicle (load height), whether this is the side door of the vehicle or the boot. We have a useful Wheelchair Ramp Length Calculator to help you work out the required ramp length. We recommend a 1:8 gradient to ensure your ramp is suitable for manual and electric wheelchairs. For example, if your height is 1m, you require an 8m long ramp. If you are only loading empty wheelchairs or scooters into the vehicle a steeper gradient can be used. Please contact our team if you need assistance with this.

Next you need to decide whether you would like a portable mobility ramp or a fixed ramp.

Making Your Taxi Wheelchair Accessible with a Temporary, Portable Ramp

The temporary ramp solutions are often folding or telescopic. These rest onto your vehicle when you wish to use it and is then stored when not in use. 

One popular solution is our multi-fold wheelchair ramp for cars. This ramp splits into two sections for easy storage, also meaning it is lighter to carry. The ramp is suitable for manual wheelchairs, electric wheelchairs and scooters.

A further lightweight solution is our telescopic channel ramps which are available in lengths up to 12ft. Please note, these are only suitable for manual wheelchairs.

Making Your Taxi Wheelchair Accessible with a Fixed Wheelchair Ramp

We offer an extensive range of fixed folding ramps for taxis, including two-part and 3 part ramp solutions. All of our fixed ramps are made in the EU and offer various safety features including the anti-slip mesh surface, grab handles, smart lock system and safety straps. The ramps are provided in various lengths and capacities, if you wish to purchase a fixed folding ramp we recommend completing our van ramp form to allow us to recommend a suitable ramp for your taxi, based on your measurements.