Pregnant women left at the kerb by cabbies

Photo / NZ Herald

Taxi drivers wanting to avoid low-profit, short-distance fares have refused rides for pregnant women, rejected a woman who had been assaulted and even forcibly removed passengers from cabs.

Dozens of would-be passengers contacted the Herald yesterday to voice their frustrations about being refused short rides from drivers after a story reminding taxi users the practice was illegal.

Many were women who said they regularly struggled to get home despite being alone, with some refused up to six times in one night by drivers not wanting to lose their spot on the rank.

Aucklander Claudene Henry said she was "disgusted" by taxi driver behaviour after being approached by a distressed young woman following the Big Day Out this year.

The crying woman was running from a group of young men who were trying to assault her.

"She told us she had tried several taxis in an attempt to get home safely but was refused because she only lived a five-minute drive away." Ms Henry and her friend drove the woman home.

Northlander Natasha Lee said she was hauled out of a taxi by an ERA Taxis driver this year.

She said the driver had been willing to drive her and her husband initially and started his engine but pulled over to the kerb when she told him the address was close by.

She knew it was illegal not to give them a ride so sat in the cab. "[The driver] grabbed me by the arm and started to pull me out of the cab."

Aucklander Lesley Fulton is still "appalled" she and her daughter, who is five months pregnant, were refused rides by several taxi drivers between the Viaduct and Vector Arena before and after the Bon Jovi concert on December 5.

Jess Wilson, 24, said she and her flatmates were routinely refused rides from Ponsonby Rd to St Marys Bay because of the distance.

Taxi Federation executive director Tim Reddish expressed concern over what would happen if the same thing happened to tourists for the Rugby World Cup next year and urged the Transport Agency and the police to crack down on the problem.

"It we get this sort of thing going on then, the image for New Zealand will be just terrible."

Auckland's main problem spots appear to be between Vector Arena and the Viaduct, from the city to Newmarket and from Ponsonby Rd to nearby suburbs.

But several people complained that they had faced the same problem at the airport, with taxi and shuttle drivers refusing to take them to nearby suburbs in Otara or Mangere.

"Not only is it illegal," Mr Reddish said, "but it's also in breach of their contract with the airport."

YOUR FEEDBACK

It has happened to me on several occasions and the only reason we were denied was because we were only going from Auckland's Viaduct Harbour to Newmarket. We, too, had to ask several cab drivers before eventually being accepted. Interesting to know that a taxi can be fined for refusing, however. I wouldn't want to threaten this every time I want a ride. Shannon

We returned to Auckland Airport from the Gold Coast arriving at 11pm on Labour Day (flight was delayed eight hours). We decided to catch a cab to Manukau City - usually $30. The cabby we got was obviously pissed off that he had waited four hours to get such a fare. He made it very uncomfortable for us during the trip and I felt obliged to pay him $60 for his trouble! Mike

We gave a random guy a lift home from Dunedin Airport once because the taxi drivers refused to take him. He lived in Outram, so somewhat close, but not close enough to walk. Appalling! I had no idea they weren't allowed to refuse fares until now. Angela

I used to live in Mt Eden and this used to happen to me every night I was in town. I soon found that it was illegal for them to refuse short cab fares, but even when I brought it up with them, they didn't seem to care. Thank you for raising this issue and I really hope the Transport Agency sorts this out. Lisa