Taxi Driver Online

VISITORS and residents will soon be able to enjoy a wheelie good tour of York - in this spectacular motor-trike.

Councillors have given limo boss David Black the green light to operate the private-hire vehicle, in a venture inspired by Scottish comedian Billy Connolly.

Mr Black hopes it will be up and running by the middle of next month, in time for the summer tourist season.

The trike holds two people at a time, and will cost £25 per person for 30 minutes.

Mr Black, 29, said: "It will add to tourism in York. My daughter, Imogen, who is seven, has been on and loved it.

"We took her for a spin in it and she hasn't stopped smiling since."


Mr Black, who runs A1 Limousines, in Clifton Moor Gate, York, said he had seen a similar trike in the Lake District, and said it seemed like "a lovely way of earning a living and catching a tan".

He said the vehicle, which will operate under the slogan Don't Take A Hike - Take A Trike, had generated a lot of interest, and he already has a booking to take a groom and best man to a wedding in Haxby in July.

In his application for a licence, Mr Black wrote: "Seeing Billy Connolly's world tour on television, where he travelled across the UK, Europe and United States on a Boom Trike, I thought what a fantastic idea it would make for a city proud of its tourism to introduce a trike taxi to York.

"After witnessing the demise of so many of our industries over the last four years and reading of more to follow, I feel one way we are moving forward is in tourism.

"I feel offering this service could only add a new dimension to our tourism economy and would be welcomed by visitors and locals alike."

Coun Brian Watson, who was on the committee which considered the application, said: "The licence was approved with the condition that he cannot enter the foot-street area at any time.

"We felt this was one of those interesting and unusual ventures that deserved support."

Mr Black had applied for a taxi licence, but changed to a private-hire vehicle one, on the advice of John Lacy, the council's temporary licensing manager.

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ALS

I suppose it's the lesser of two evils.

If the council didn't license them, then they would just operate un-licensed.

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IDFIMH

oops

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ALS

But what next? Licensed skate board? Licensed piggy backs? any suggestions?!?

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ALS

oops - will not press enter 3 times again!

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ALS

TBH I would much prefer anything licensed than un-licensed.

But the council can only act within the act, and the act says motorised vehicle.

If they had not granted the license, then the bloke could well have won on appeal.

That said, not going to be a bundle of laughs when it's p***ing down.

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IDFIMH

Too right, or when you 'unprotected' head hits the tarmac at 40 mph! Wonder how he manages to get insurance?

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ALS

is it licensed as a private hire vehicle? has it been through the council test? does the driver have to be badged up? it beats hen racing

I don't know why this sort of thing and the Pedi cabs in London gets peoples knickers in a twist on here, they are not competition to the Taxi/PH trade as I don't believe anyone uses them as a realistic way of getting from A to B more a tourist novelty.

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There's no excuse for animal abuse. If you ain't vegan you are an animal abuser.

I don't think the competition thing comes into it, it's the safety issues and the fact that we have to jump through many hoops to do our job, whilst they don't.

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IDFIMH

[quote]Mr Black had applied for a taxi licence, but changed to a private-hire vehicle one, on the advice of John Lacy, the council's temporary licensing manager.

shame the temp licensing officer put him off gettin a taxi licence

I think that has more to do with York restricting taxi numbers.

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IDFIMH

I think that has more to do with York restricting taxi numbers.

he could have challenged that