Taxi Driver Online

ALL hail the tuk tuk, a motorised tricycle soon to be scooting through Hereford as a taxi – though it took a roundabout route to get there.

Council regulators had to re-think the county’s current hackney carriage licensing, concerned that a tuk tuk might not meet conditions.

But this week businessman Tony Floyd, who runs Cathedral Cars in Widemarsh Street, heard his tuk tuk had got the go-ahead to effectively operate as a taxi, as long as the council gets a say in where it can go.

Mr Floyd wanted the tuk tuk to be hailed in the street as part of its appeal. Now he says he has the chance to test that appeal and even evening runs are planned.

Tuk tuks are a widely used form of transport in many major Asian cities. Tuk tuk use in the UK is growing with Herefordshire Council among 10 local authorities having to consider conditions that regulate the operation of the tricycles as taxis.

Hereford already has rickshaws – unpowered tricycles – licensed as hackney carriages.

The tuk tuk is powered by a 129cc engine, considered capable of keeping up with “normal” traffic flow, but has handlebar controls instead of a steering wheel.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Last thing anyone wants to do in one of those death-traps i.e. going around a roundabout.

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IDFIMH