Taxi Driver Online

High Noon For 300 Cabbies

July 24, 2009

A massive convoy of irate cabbies will take to the streets to fight for their right to pick up and drop off passengers in bus lanes.

More than 300 will drive from the City of Manchester Stadium to the town hall to protest over what they say is 'blatant discrimination'.

It follows a similar protest last month, when 40 private-hire cabbies drove in from Newton Heath.

They handed council chiefs a petition with more than 2,000 signatures.

Drivers say nothing has been done - so they are planning an even bigger protest every Tuesday until they get a response.

Massive traffic congestion is expected on August 4, when the hundreds of drivers take to the streets for the Sportcity to Albert Square protest.

They intend to hit all nine other councils in Greater Manchester on following Tuesdays.

Driver Derek Brocklehurst, who has organised the convoy, said: "Manchester does not allow private-hire to pick up or drop off disabled and elderly customers in bus lanes.

"This is blatant discrimination from Greater Manchester councils and we can no longer stand by and let it happen.

"Unfortunately, after handing in 2,000 signatures from private-hire, Hackney drivers and disabled customers to Manchester town hall, we have had no response from officials."

Current regulations permit black taxis, but prohibit private-hire firms, from pulling in and out of bus lanes. The private-hire drivers say this discriminates against their older and disabled passengers.

Derek, who works for Cresta Cars, added: "We have organised 300 private-hire drivers to protest, starting on August 4.

"We will then hit the other nine councils every following Tuesday for nine weeks, driving around their town halls - because any changes to the bus lanes need agreement from all 10 councils."

Manchester city council insists it has no plans to change the rules.

Coun Richard Cowell said: "There are more than 15,000 private-hire vehicles in Greater Manchester, so allowing them to go into bus lanes would mean delays for the public transport the lanes are intended to avoid."

Source; Manchester Evening News - manchestereveningnews.co.uk

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

I agree the council is breaking disability laws but I don't think all PH are out at once

Idiot.

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IDFIMH

Taxi Protest Over Bus Lanes

August 04, 2009

Hundreds of private-hire cabs formed a giant convoy in a bid to persuade the council to let them use bus lanes.

Drivers from across Greater Manchester took time out from ferrying fares around to join the protest outside the City of Manchester Stadium.

The cabbies snaked their cabs through the city streets, finishing up at outside the town hall in Albert Square - and causing traffic chaos in the process.

Current regulations permit black taxis, but not private-hire firms, from pulling in and out of bus lanes.

Minicab drivers claim this is discrimination, and prevents them from picking up and dropping off disabled and elderly passengers at their exact destination.

Sham Raja, chairman of the Manchester Private Hire Operators Association, said: "We have done this as a last resort to get the council and the Highways Agency to listen to us.

"We just want to be treated the same as the black cabs. It is not fair that they are allowed in the bus lane and we are not.

Disadvantage

"It really makes a difference and we are at a distinct disadvantage to them, especially for our disabled passengers, blind passengers and those passengers with a baby buggy or luggage."

Paul Livesey, who owns Millennium cars in Wythenshawe, said: "The main problem for us is when we have tourists come from the airport and they get angry when we sit in traffic and don't understand why black cabs pass us in the bus lane.

"Some passengers think we are doing it on purpose to bump up their fare, but we are not.

"Instead of preventing the congestion, we are causing it and it is stupid because the bus lanes are often empty."

The council seem to be standing firm and feel that if they allow minicabs to use the bus lane, it will cause problems for public transport.

Richard Cowell, the council's executive member for the environment, said: "There are more than 15,000 private-hire vehicles in Greater Manchester, so allowing them to go into bus lanes would mean delays for the public transport that the lanes are intended to avoid."

The protesters have pledged there will be a series of smaller convoys in the other boroughs of Greater Manchester in coming weeks.

Source; ManchesterEveningNews.co.uk

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.