Dial-a-Ride scheme is under fire

A free transport system for disabled Londoners unable to use buses or trains is failing to give a proper service, some passengers are claiming.

Dial-a-Ride provides a door-to-door service but many users say they have difficulties contacting the provider.

One London Assembly member has received more than 60 complaints.

Transport for London admits there have been teething problems with a new booking system but says they are now seeing significant improvements.

Pensioner Doris Horne and some of her friends no longer use the service, preferring instead to pay for a minicab.

"You can't get them at the times you need them - for a doctor's visit or a dentist appointment.

"And it's difficult to get them on the phone," she said.

Lib Dem London Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon, who has a dossier of complaints, says: "The reality is it's not working. And if it's not working for London we need to do something about it."

Mike Weston, from Transport for London, said, after initial software problems they were now starting to see significant improvements.

He said 40,000 more passengers had been carried by the service this year compared with last year.

The system became free of charge at the beginning of the year. Users make 1.2m trips each year, on 350 minibuses.

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