3(1)This paragraph applies where A is concerned with the provision of a service which involves transporting people by land, air or water.E+W+S
(2)It is never reasonable for A to have to take a step which would—
(a)involve the alteration or removal of a physical feature of a vehicle used in providing the service;
(b)affect whether vehicles are provided;
(c)affect what vehicles are provided;
(d)affect what happens in the vehicle while someone is travelling in it.
(3)But, for the purpose of complying with the first or third requirement, A may not rely on sub-paragraph (2)(b), (c) or (d) if the vehicle concerned is—
(a)a hire-vehicle designed and constructed for the carriage of passengers, comprising more than 8 seats in addition to the driver's seat and having a maximum mass not exceeding 5 tonnes,
(b)a hire-vehicle designed and constructed for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass not exceeding 3.5 tonnes,
(c)a vehicle licensed under section 48 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 or section 7 of the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998 (or under a provision of a local Act corresponding to either of those provisions),
(d)a private hire car (within the meaning of section 23 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982),
(e)a public service vehicle (within the meaning given by section 1 of the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981),
(f)a vehicle built or adapted to carry passengers on a railway or tramway (within the meaning, in each case, of the Transport and Works Act 1992),
(g)a taxi,
(h)a vehicle deployed to transport the driver and passengers of a vehicle that has broken down or is involved in an accident, or
(i)a vehicle deployed on a system using a mode of guided transport (within the meaning of the Transport and Works Act 1992).
(4)In so far as the second requirement requires A to adopt a reasonable alternative method of providing the service to disabled persons, A may not, for the purpose of complying with the requirement, rely on sub-paragraph (2)(b), (c) or (d) if the vehicle is within sub-paragraph (3)(h).
(5)A may not, for the purpose of complying with the first, second or third requirement rely on sub-paragraph (2) of this paragraph if A provides the service by way of a hire-vehicle built to carry no more than 8 passengers.
(6)For the purposes of sub-paragraph (5) in its application to the second requirement, a part of a vehicle is to be regarded as a physical feature if it requires alteration in order to facilitate the provision of—
(a)hand controls to enable a disabled person to operate braking and accelerator systems in the vehicle, or
(b)facilities for the stowage of a wheelchair.
(7)For the purposes of sub-paragraph (6)(a), fixed seating and in-built electrical systems are not physical features; and for the purposes of sub-paragraph (6)(b), fixed seating is not a physical feature.
(8)In the case of a vehicle within sub-paragraph (3), a relevant device is not an auxiliary aid for the purposes of the third requirement.
(9)A relevant device is a device or structure, or equipment, the installation, operation or maintenance of which would necessitate making a permanent alteration to, or which would have a permanent effect on, the internal or external fabric of the vehicle.
(10)Regulations may amend this paragraph so as to provide for sub-paragraph (2) not to apply, or to apply only so far as is prescribed, in relation to vehicles of a prescribed description.
Commencement Information
I1Sch. 2 para. 3 wholly in force at 1.9.2012; para. 3 not in force at Royal assent see s. 216; para. 3 in force at 1.10.2010 for certain purposes by S.I. 2010/2317, art. 2(3); para. 3 in force so far as not already in force at 1.9.2012 by S.I. 2012/2184, art. 2(a)