Finding an accessible taxi shouldn’t feel like winning the lottery. Yet disabled people across Wales are increasingly being left stranded because of a serious shortage of accessible vehicles.
We are particularly concerned about the scale of the decline in Cardiff. Figures provided to us by Cardiff Council in August 2026 show that the number of accessible taxis in the city has fallen from 475 vehicles in 2010 to just 168 in 2026.
These figures highlight the urgent need for action to ensure disabled people can access the same freedom to travel as everyone else.
Over the past few weeks, our team has been working to make Welsh Government, local authorities, politicians and private hire operators aware of the situation. We want to see action taken to reverse the decline in accessible vehicles and ensure that disabled people are not left behind by changes to the transport system.
What we’ve been doing
Meeting with Cardiff Council
We met with Daniel Cook from Cardiff Council, who provided us with the latest figures on accessible taxi provision in Cardiff. The figures show a dramatic decline in the number of accessible vehicles over the past 16 years.
We are concerned that changes in the private hire market, including the growth of app-based services and licensing arrangements that allow vehicles to be licensed across local authority boundaries, are contributing to the decline in accessible provision.
Raising the issue in the Senedd
We met with Paul Davies MS, who subsequently raised our concerns directly with the Welsh Government through a written question in the Senedd.
Briefing the Welsh Government
We also met with Mark Hooper MS, Deputy Minister for Transport, and Leigh Beach, Head of Taxi Policy at Welsh Government, alongside other officials.
The meeting covered wider transport issues, including the shortage of accessible vehicles available through private hire companies. We used the opportunity to highlight the impact this is having on disabled people and the need for accessible transport to be properly considered as transport policy changes.
Working across political parties
We briefed Jason O’Connell MS, Shadow Minister for Transport, on our concerns about the impact of the transition to greener vehicles and the move towards digital and cashless private hire services.
We also met with Vikki Howells MS to discuss the issues facing accessible taxi provision and ensure that those with responsibility for transport and related policy areas understand the scale of the problem and its impact on disabled people.
Engaging with private hire companies
We have contacted major private hire companies, including Uber and Veezu, to request meetings.
We want to better understand the challenges facing operators and explore what more can be done collaboratively to increase the availability of accessible vehicles.
What needs to change?
We are calling for action in three key areas:
1. Accessible vehicles must be part of the transition to greener transport
The move towards greener vehicles is important, but accessibility cannot become a blind spot in this transition. New vehicles being introduced into taxi and private hire fleets must be suitable for disabled passengers, including wheelchair users.
2. Equality law must be properly implemented and licensing arrangements strengthened
Disabled people must be able to rely on their legal rights when using taxis and private hire vehicles. We also need stronger rules around cross-border licensing to prevent arrangements that undermine the availability of accessible vehicles in local communities.
3. Financial support must be available for accessible vehicles
Accessible vehicles can be more expensive to purchase, while drivers and operators are already facing significant financial pressures. Appropriate financial support and subsidies are needed to make accessible vehicles a realistic option for taxi and private hire drivers.
We will keep pushing for change
Accessible transport is not a luxury. It is essential to disabled people’s ability to work, access healthcare and education, see friends and family, and participate fully in their communities.
The decline in accessible taxi provision in Cardiff is a serious warning about what can happen when accessibility is not properly considered as transport systems change.
We will continue to raise these concerns with Welsh Government, local authorities, politicians and transport operators, and will keep pushing for practical solutions that ensure disabled people can travel with the same freedom and independence as everyone else.
We will share further updates as these conversations progress.
