Taxi Driver Online

I don't know much about Buses, apart from the fact that in London it would appear being a half-wit is useful when it comes to driving them.

As TFL owns and runs the Buses, surely under the powers of the GLA, they must surely decide what can run as a Bus, and where they can run?

When this subject reared its ugly head last year, I seem to remember TFL in no uncertain terms saying the Tuk-Tuks would not be operating in London as either Private Hire or as 'Buses'?

same as today.
just picking up people from the street.
think just because they are doing it free, there ok.
isnt their something about free being a percuniary advantage.
and that make them ascting illegally.
isnt it?

tuking hell the worlds gone mad

hanging on for dear life.
give it 6 months max.

one further point.
this road isnt on there route.
but who gives a monkey about the law?

we are going third world thats all, just wait till we go back to horse and carts (oops sorry blackpool)

the bloke running it has got more money than sense.
they have eevne got a website.
http://www.tuctuc.co.uk/flashsite.html
f***** things.

bbc local telly touted a tuk tuk today.
the owner says they dont but the reported flagged one down.
you can see it by by clicking on the 22.30 news at the right hand bottom box.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/southtoday/

after 22.30 on wednesday that link will be different.

one of the ph lads has just sent out this factsheet.


Tuk tuks


1. These vehicles are operated under the control of the Traffic Commissioners as small PSVs (buses). They are not licensed as taxis or private hire vehicles by Brighton & Hove City Council. It is an offence under section 45 of the 1847 Town Police Clause Act for anything other than a licensed hackney carriage to be called, or act in a similar manner as, a taxi.

2. The drivers of these vehicles have only the basic driver’s license issued by the DVLA. They are not CRB checked nor do they have any medical assessment. It is quite possible for a driver to be allowed to drive one of these vehicles, who has been refused a license to drive a taxi or private hire vehicle. Or even had a license revoked.

3. These vehicles do not have whole European registration, as all current taxis and private hire vehicles do. In essence this means that every single tuk tuk is treated, and has to be checked, as if it was a new make/model of vehicle.

4. The operator has registered the routes and their timetable with the Traffic Commissioner. No tuk tuk is allowed to operate outside those routes and that timetable. The registered routes are i) from the Marina to Marine Parade, Kings Road, West Street, Queen’s Road, Station and back, and ii) from the King Alfred to Kingsway, Kings Road, West Street, Queen’s Road, Station and back. Any tuk tuk with fare paying passengers outside of those areas is acting in breach of their operating license.

5. Despite what came across from the tuk tuk’s owner/proprietor in the press, these vehicles cannot be flagged down anywhere on its route, nor can they drop off anywhere they choose to. Any tuk tuk dropping off, or picking up away from one of its designated bus stops is in breach of its operating license.

6. Following on from the points 4 and 5, if any taxi or private hire driver thinks that any tuk tuk is breaching their operating license then please make a note of the time, the registration number of the vehicle and nature of the alleged breach. Please then pass that evidence to either a director/manager of one of the cab firms, or one of the many union/driver reps.

7. Taxi or private hire drivers may wish to pass on some of the comments received, so far, by people who have tried out the tuk tuks. Uncomfortable, smelly, not as cheap as they expect (i.e. £7.50 to the station for three people), noisy, wet and cold in the rain and kamikaze drivers are a few of the printable comments.

Possibly the "chauffeur bike" case is one of the best examples of licensing or not licensing borderline vehicles which fail to conform to the normal definition of Private hire vehicle. If drivers in Brighton or anywhere else for that matter have an interest in either TUK TUKS or rickshaws then this case is most informative, especially on the aspect of passenger safety.

http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/vie ... php?t=3614

Regards

JD

We should not forget that these vehicles in the main are runnining on restricted PSV licenses and such licenses as far as I'm aware only allow for two vehicles per operator.

Regards

JD

As the vehicles are operating as PSV's, shouldn't the drivers have PSV licences ?

I would have thought the person in charge of these vehicles would have all the necessary licences in place. It would be rather silly of him not too?

Regards

JD

Thanks for you input J.D.

I was of the understanding drivers of PSV's require PSV driving licenses not just standard DVLA ones....maybe the rules a different for restricted services ?