9 hours Ago By Katie Harris
A blind MP has backed Zach Eagling's bid to make public transport more accessible for people with wheelchairs. Steve Darling also opened up on his own struggles of being turned away by taxis when travelling with his guide dog Jennie. Zach, 13, from West Yorkshire, who suffers from cerebral palsy and epilepsy, has set up a petition calling on the Government to do more to make train, bus and other services more inclusive.
The Liberal Democrat MP said: "People with disabilities or other challenges in their world need to have agency over their own lives and part of that is being able to travel with confidence." In a direct message to the youngster, Mr Darling added: "I'd like to congratulate Zach with his campaign. "This is what life is all about for many of us is actually trying to leave it a better place for other people.
"Power to his elbow for championing this area because it is going to lead to much greater inclusion for people across the UK." Mr Darling, who represents Torbay, revealed he was rejected by three taxis in a row with his guide dog at the Lib Dem conference in Brighton last September. He said: "We sadly find that sometimes taxis will refuse us because of having a guide dog.
"When we went to the Liberal Democrat conference in Brighton three taxis in a row refused us. So there are different challenges around discrimination around transport." Mr Darling warned that cutting staff on public transport is a "big worry" for people with disabilities.
He said: "I think it's making sure that when public transport are considering staffing levels that they need to take account of will they be there to be able to give that support that somebody with a disability might occasionally need. "I think making sure that it is part of the DNA of public transport providers. "But also making sure that they are aware of hidden disabilities.
"So making sure our organisations whether it's taxi drivers, buses or trains, have that disability awareness training is so important of how to engage and support people to take advantage of our public transport systems." Mr Darling also praised members of the public as he recalled travelling from Devon to London to take part in a hospital trial before he had Jennie. He said: "I always found that actually travelling on the London Underground was a life-affirming experience because I wouldn't ask staff for help, I would ask members of the public, and 99.
9% of the time people were so helpful. "They would go out of their way, they would see you to the barrier and things like that. So members of the public can be extremely helpful.
"As someone who is starting to use public transport in London with a guide dog now I must say that Transport for London staff are incredible, they are really helpful, they're well-trained." And the MP said he was "delighted" to support the Daily Express's Zach's Right to Ride crusade. Zach wants more accessible seats on buses and trains, a more reliable service from assistance staff at train stations and airports, and for greater care to be taken when wheelchairs are taken in and out of the hold on aeroplanes.
His previous campaign, backed by the Express, after he was targeted by online trolls when doing a charity fundraising walk led to Zach's Law becoming official in 2023. The law makes it a criminal offence to try and trigger a seizure in an epilepsy sufferer by targeting them with flashing images on the internet. Disabled people make 25% fewer trips per year than non-disabled people due to barriers to transport, according to figures from the Department for Transport.
A 2023 survey of disabled people by the Transport for All campaign group found 56% of respondents were unhappy making journeys on public transport. A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "Guide and assistance dogs play a vital role in enabling their owners to live confidently, independently, and safely. "It's illegal for any taxi and private hire vehicle drivers to refuse to carry a guide or assistance dog unless they hold a valid exemption certificate.
"We are committed to creating a truly accessible transport system." You can sign Zach's petition here.
