Taxi Driver Online
http://taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/

Smart Car to be licensed in Kent?
http://taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=20019		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  captain cab [ Thu Aug 16, 2012 8:23 am ]
Post subject:  Smart Car to be licensed in Kent?
I'm guessing the local rag has this one wrong and the vehicle will be licensed as private hire?

More seriously........I would reckon this will be the base standard for any new taxi and private hire laws.

Taxi for one – a new service to get about town



TINY taxis which carry just one passenger may soon be a feature of Dover's roads as an application to set up a Smart Car cab firm was approved by the district council last week.

Dean Saunders of Westbury Crescent can now get to work on his Cabfor1 venture, offering lifts in 1.0 litre two-seater Smart 'Fortwo' Coupes.

Mr Saunders said: "I've worked on the taxis for years and nobody seems to be making any money."

The 28-year-old said the Smart Car's lack of room and slower acceleration should not be an issue.

"Eight out of 10 taxi calls are for one passenger anyway. And all taxis have to stick to the law and drive around town at 30mph."

Mr Saunders featured in the Express four years ago after he saved a mum from being run over on the A256.

The Smart Car is very environmentally friendly and costs less to run than a regular taxi but Mr Saunders he is currently in consultation about what fares he can charge.

The plans the qualified taxi driver's put to the council did not fulfil certain legal criteria for cabs which states a vehicle must have at least four doors and be able to accommodate a minimum of four passengers.

DDC said such proposals could only gain approval under exceptional circumstances.

Similar plans for single passenger Smart Car have been approved by local authorities in Oxford, Uttlesford and Tavistock.


source: http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/Taxi-ndash- ... story.html
Author:  toots [ Thu Aug 16, 2012 11:12 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Smart Car to be licensed in Kent?
Captain Cab wrote:
I'm guessing the local rag has this one wrong and the vehicle will be licensed as private hire?


If that was the case then why this?

Quote:
Mr Saunders he is currently in consultation about what fares he can charge.
Author:  captain cab [ Thu Aug 16, 2012 11:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Smart Car to be licensed in Kent?
toots wrote:
Captain Cab wrote:
I'm guessing the local rag has this one wrong and the vehicle will be licensed as private hire?


If that was the case then why this?

Quote:
Mr Saunders he is currently in consultation about what fares he can charge.



Because I've read the report where it says

Mr Saunders has written to the Council asking for permission to licence a Smart ‘Fortwo’ coupe, twin seated car with a 1.0 litre petrol engine as a Private Hire Vehicle.

:wink:

http://www.dover.gov.uk/councillors/cou ... 090812.pdf
Author:  toots [ Thu Aug 16, 2012 11:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Smart Car to be licensed in Kent?
That's as maybe but why should he be discussing his fares with the council?
Author:  bloodnock [ Thu Aug 16, 2012 12:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Smart Car to be licensed in Kent?
toots wrote:
That's as maybe but why should he be discussing his fares with the council?


Cos its worth bugger all as a PH and he's clueless to see what the council might thinks he'll can get away with charging. Still if its PH he can charge as much or as little as he wants.

And if it was a hack then he'd have to adhere to his LA tariffs..no matter if its a Mouse Carrier or a proper Car. :lol:
Author:  Sussex [ Thu Aug 16, 2012 8:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Smart Car to be licensed in Kent?
toots wrote:
That's as maybe but why should he be discussing his fares with the council?

Cos he is thick.

Licensing that motor gives us a good enough clue.
Author:  roythebus [ Fri Aug 17, 2012 12:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Smart Car to be licensed in Kent?
Some people might like to ride in such a car. At least from the driver's point of view he only has one drunken idiot to deal with on a Friday instead of 3 or 4!

The licencing laws have already been described as "unfit for purpose" by Bristol Crown Court following a row there over licencing an 8 seater with 12mm not enough leg room in the front middle seat.
Author:  PaulDavis [ Fri Aug 17, 2012 6:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Smart Car to be licensed in Kent?
Well how many hires have you had and it is only 1 person? For a private hire company vehicles that take 1 or 3 passengers maybe an option. Reduced running costs would certainly offset the amount of jobs you might loose out on.

It would be an interesting thing to test out and see if it would be worth it.

These days (as we all know), companies offer 4,5,6,7,8 seater vehicles and some run mini-buses as a private hire/taxi service so why not a 1 or 3 person vehicle?

Interesting debate....but I do agree the guy is a bit "Thick" about what to charge. If he is private hire he charges the same as the other drivers. Simple enough to understand.
Author:  bloodnock [ Fri Aug 17, 2012 6:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Smart Car to be licensed in Kent?
Quote:
Well how many hires have you had and it is only 1 person? For a private hire company vehicles that take 1 or 3 passengers maybe an option. Reduced running costs would certainly offset the amount of jobs you might loose out on.


I reckon my 1 Client jobs are outnumbered by a ratio of 4 to 1 by the two or more customer jobs, and of those 1 seat runs most are wee hops to the local Doctor or such like. Take an awful lot of savings to offset the bigger vehicles lost profits. but if you have sizeable fleet then a few single seaters might just be useful tools.
Author:  wannabeeahack [ Sat Aug 18, 2012 4:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Smart Car to be licensed in Kent?
saw one hack-plated in Bude last year...
Author:  cabby3044 [ Thu Aug 30, 2012 6:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Smart Car to be licensed in Kent?
Firstly I would like to add that them smart cars have been non stop around the town since they were licensed....
secondly the newspaper was told I was disgussing fares before I would publish them. I didnt actually say who!!...I mean why would the council need to know what I charge???

This new business using smart cars is doing very well.

So really all in all im not thick afterall.
Author:  wannabeeahack [ Thu Aug 30, 2012 7:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Smart Car to be licensed in Kent?
cabby3044 wrote:
Firstly I would like to add that them smart cars have been non stop around the town since they were licensed....
secondly the newspaper was told I was disgussing fares before I would publish them. I didnt actually say who!!...I mean why would the council need to know what I charge???

This new business using smart cars is doing very well.

So really all in all im not thick afterall.


lets disguss them smart cars more......
Author:  Sussex [ Thu Aug 30, 2012 7:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Smart Car to be licensed in Kent?
cabby3044 wrote:
So really all in all im not thick afterall.

Come back in a years time, and tell us how many cars you have got, and how the money is simply flooding in.
Author:  wannabeeahack [ Thu Aug 30, 2012 10:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Smart Car to be licensed in Kent?
Sussex wrote:
cabby3044 wrote:
So really all in all im not thick afterall.

Come back in a years time, and tell us how many cars you have got, and how the money is simply flooding in.


dont tell waqas
Author:  Nidge2 [ Fri Aug 31, 2012 7:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Smart Car to be licensed in Kent?
wannabeeahack wrote:
Sussex wrote:
cabby3044 wrote:
So really all in all im not thick afterall.

Come back in a years time, and tell us how many cars you have got, and how the money is simply flooding in.


dont tell waqas



He'll have a baby.
Page 1 of 2 All times are UTC [ DST ]
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/