Taxi Driver Online

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

That's a nice twin entranced RF.

I saw you in a Mercedes one.

3. Deputation by the Private Hire Board


Patrick Raeburn said that it was frustrating for the travelling public that private hire vehicles (PHVs) were unable to use bus lanes. He said that councils often used PHVs for school runs and other social services. Patrick Raeburn said that the Private Hire Board had written to councils requesting that PHVs be allowed to use bus lanes. Responses received so far had been mixed. He said that the Mayor’s draft Transport Strategy provided an opportunity to review the situation regarding the use of bus lanes by PHVs.

Patrick Raeburn said that there were also environmental issues to consider, like road traffic pollution. He said that, to reduce pollution, people needed to be encouraged to leave their cars at home and use official public transport instead. Patrick Raeburn asked the Committee if it could set up a sub group to review PHVs and bus lanes.

Q & As
Councillor Neville said that PHVs had a mixture of cars and asked how this would be enforced. Steve Wright (Licensed Private Hire Car Association - LPHCA) informed the Committee that there were 4 forms of signage to identify PHVs. Councillor Haley said that there were good and bad PHV drivers. He said that the PHB needed to regulate its own services first. Councillor Haley said that 4 different badges would make it more confusing for local authorities. Steve Wright said that there were already systems in place. He said that it was important not to confuse a legitimate industry with free lance criminals.

Councillor Smith said that he supported the application from the PHB and confirmed that LB Bromley would be happy to trial this. Alex Williams said that this was a pan-London issue and TfL would be commissioning a piece of research into this (eg what the likely impacts would be). Steve Wright said that TfL had already carried out research on the impact on buses – this was found to be negligible. He said that PHVs were spread right across the network in boroughs. He said that the TfL evidence could also be provided to members.

Councillor Haselden said that bus lanes provided a haven to cyclists. He asked whether this had been accommodated. Patrick Raeburn said that the Board had evidence of a recent study carried out by Hull City Council on this issue. The study found that there was no evidence that PHV access to bus lanes represented a danger to cyclists.

Councillor Nickolay said that he had sympathy with the trade, although there were problems of people impersonating taxi drivers. He asked whether there were any suggestions to deal with this. Patrick Raeburn said that all drivers had to carry ID. Councillor Nickolay asked how CCTV cameras would be able to determine who was legitimate and who was not. Patrick Raeburn said that there was a database of PHV drivers.

The Private Hire Board issued printed copies of the transcript of the presentation for TEC members’ information

Councillor Fisher said that, in the first instance, a paper should be taken to the TEC Transport Strategy sub group to discuss these issues. Councillor Fisher thanked the PHB for their deputation to TEC.

Item 6 for those trade leaders who are reading.

http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/commit ... 41&comid=6

TFL transport committee.

Can't find any mention of this on the LB of Bromleys website, it would appear Mr Smith was a lone voice, an ex Minicab driver perhaps?