Most taxi drivers are now boycotting the disabled after spending years ripping them off, claims wheelchair-bound ClairAnn Moore.

She said around 50 cabbies had taken advantage of larger, duty-free taxis allowed by Government three years ago but it had not improved services as only a dedicated few bothered to help.

She and a friend called Radio Cabs last Saturday but were told none of the cabs would pick her up.

The pair had to call Project Action, who don't normally work on weekends, to get to the hospital.

"I can name the three drivers who will willingly pick up the disabled."

She said other drivers had charged her excess luggage rates for her wheelchair.

"It is not luggage, it is considered my legs until better things happen.

"I think it's an insult to people who are wheelchair-bound. Something should be done about it."

Weekends were the worst time to travel said Ms Moore who added that some drivers didn't run the meter and then asked an inflated fare she could ill-afford.

Ms Moore said $12 trips to the gym ended up costing her $15.

"I don't work. Most of the disabled persons are on disabled pensions and some of us are on social assistance. To charge us more is crazy."

Instead she said such trips should be subsidised just as bus journeys are.

Some drivers left the metre running while they unloaded the chair to help rack up the fare said Ms Moore.

Both Radio Cabs and the Bermuda Taxi Association said they wanted to hear the details of the complaints and they urged her to report the problem to TCD.

But Ms Moore, 46, said the complaints had gone on for years but nothing had been done.

She said her mother used to have to hail a cab for her while she hid in the background otherwise the taxi would drive by.

Mrs Moore said drivers of the wheelchair-accessible cabs should be required to take a quota of trips from disabled people each year. Those who had failed to make even the minimum number of trips would then face some sort of sanction from TCD.

And she said those who did over and above their duty should be commended.

Bermuda Taxi Association president Michael Ray said there was no policy to boycott disabled customers and he urged Ms Moore to contact him.

He said his organisation wanted to serve the whole Island and leave out no-one.

Asked about charging wheelchairs as luggage Mr. Ray said the rate card said anything put in the boot could attract a dollar surcharge although he said some drivers didn't ask for the money.

Radio Cabs boss Eddie Darrell said cabs were not avoiding the disabled and there must have been a misunderstanding.

He urged customers to report problems to TCD and he also promised to investigate the incident himself.

But he said drivers took out the ramp for cabs and needed a day's notice to pick up the disabled.

Transport Minister Ewart Brown said he had not heard anything about the problem and advised The Royal Gazette to contact Mr. Ray.