Taxi Driver Online

A few previous threads on this, but maybe this will be the last one

And, ignoring the generic use of the t-word, I think the terminology here is a bit less jumbled than in previous articles.

Picture of health these guys, though


Taxi drivers in Reading win access to busy bus lane

https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news ... -bus-lane/


Image: Reading Chronicle

Taxi drivers in Reading are celebrating after finally being given access to a busy bus lane after pleading for the rights for years.

In the town, taxis are divided into black cab Hackney Carriages, which can be hailed, and private hire cars, which must be booked in advance.

For years, private hire and cab drivers have been allowed to use the inbound King’s Road bus lane.

But for the outbound lane on the other side of the road, private hire drivers have been excluded, with access being only for buses, motorbikes, cyclists and cab drivers.

That is set to change after years of campaigning by drivers in the town.


Image: Reading Chronicle

Private hire drivers attempted to get access to the outbound King’s Road bus lane back in November 2022, but that attempt was shot down.

After that decision, drivers set up the Reading Private Hire Association (RPHA) the following month to advocate for drivers and continue to push for access to the bus lane.

At a recent council meeting, it was decided that private hire drivers should be given access.


Image: Reading Chronicle

Kamran Saddiq, chairman of the RPHA said: “Our passengers, members of the public, their safety is our utmost, we are trained professional drivers and are always a high priority into consideration when we are travelling on the King’s Road.”

Mr Saddiq complained that out-of-town drivers, those who have licences from other authorities from as far away as Fareham, the New Forest and Portsmouth are incorrectly using the bus lane while Reading drivers follow the rules and stick in normal traffic lanes.

He added: “We work for Reading, we represent Reading, I represent Reading, I am proud to be a Reading private hire driver.

“When we started our association, we could have called it something else, but we called it the RPHA because we are proud Reading drivers.”


Image: Reading Chronicle

Addressing concerns about taxis slowing down buses, Mr Saddiq suggested that ‘authorised vehicles only’ signage should be put up to deter rule breakers.

The same sign was installed at the inbound bus lane in July 2019, which Mr Saddiq argued had curbed unauthorised access.


Image: Reading Chronicle

A formal consultation was held with 849 responses received.

Of those 818 (96 per cent) supported the change, 33 objected with three responses neither supporting nor rejecting it.

John Ennis lead councillor for transport, called Mr Saddiq’s leadership ‘outstanding’ and said his campaign has been ‘hugely persuasive and responsible’.

Cllr Ennis (Labour, Southcote) then said that private hire drivers should be given access to the outbound lane permanently.

Agreeing, cllr James Moore (Liberal Democrats, Tilehurst) said: “I’ve always found it ludicrous that one side of the road does one thing and the other side does the other.”

He added that allowing private hire drivers access would reduce fares for customers as well.

The decision to allow those drivers access was agreed unanimously at the traffic management sub-committee on Wednesday, March 6.

New signage to enforce the change will require costs up to £15,000.

Well if the terminology is a bit more accurate and consistent than usual, on the other hand we have the likes of this jumble of words and illogicality - not sure if bus lane access for PHVs is really about safety. But 'word salad' would be putting it nicely


I wonder where he works?





I wonder if the figures about allowing PHDs into bus lanes might have been skewed by any particular interest group

Well done.

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IDFIMH

Can never understand why the local press chunters on endlessly about what appears to be fairly low level stuff, even by trade standards.

This is a case in point - no doubt it's important to local PHDs, but it's all just about one small stretch of bus lane.

Next they'll be reporting on me being late for my council test the other day...

But this is worth reading not particularly for the content (most of which is rehash anyway, such as the stuff about 'cab hackney carriage drivers' ) but just because...well, if anyone reads it, they'll very probably get what I mean

And let's play 'spot the LOs' in the second photo

(Hint - the two LOs are the ones wearing the council-issued gear

And I've also added the photo caption now anyway, which actually states which two are the LOs...)

(Edit: on second thoughts, it's maybe a bit more interesting than I originally thought...)


Reading taxi driver's humongous thanks for bus lane change

https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news ... ne-change/

A Reading taxi driver has expressed his humongous gratitude as he and his fellow drivers have been granted access to a bus lane on a busy road in the town.


Kamran Saddiq, chair of the Reading Private Hire Association, Mian Saleem, chairman of the Reading Pakistan Community Centre, and councillors Rachel Eden and Wendy Griffith at the Reading Pakistani Community Centre Christmas Party. (Image: James Aldr/Reading Chronicle)

Taxi drivers in Reading are divided between cab hackney carriage drivers, which passengers can use on the spot, and private hire drivers, who have to be booked in advance.

Cab drivers have been allowed to use both the inbound and outbound bus lanes in Kings Road for years, but private hire drivers have only been allowed to use the inbound lane.

But now private hire drivers will get access to the outbound bus lane following a decision by Reading Borough Council’s traffic management sub-committee on Wednesday, March 6.

Celebrating the decision, Kamran Saddiq, the chairman of the Reading Private Hire Association said: “It’s fantastic, I’m really happy with the outcome considering the long struggle it’s been.

“Bus lane access will be useful for our customers, special needs children who need to get to school, people trying to get to the airport for their holidays and more.

“We also serve people with health issues getting to the Royal Berkshire Hospital, and those with mental health issues as well.

“It’s a massive relief for everyone, including myself, as the campaign has been going on for 16 months.

“One of the councillors said that it’s been going on for a significant amount of time, and they don’t want to come back with the situation not being resolved later on.”

The decision means the outbound bus lane will be accessible for Reading cab and private hire drivers only.

A new sign will be installed to legally enforce the rule change, with estimated costs of up to £15,000.

Mr Saddiq explained: “It needs to have funds released from somewhere. The council staff will go back and talk amongst themselves about the funding.

“Luckily it’s not how it’s when.

“The councillors want it done as soon as possible.”

Mr Saddiq has raised the issue of drivers choosing to be licenced with other councils such as South Oxfordshire and the New Forest, which he argues is ‘taking away trade’ from drivers licenced with Reading council.

He hopes more drivers will register with Reading council to get access to the bus lane.

Mr Saddiq said: “Drivers who have gone out of borough to get registered may now realise what they are missing!

“Drivers licenced with other boroughs are taking our trade away, these people come in and don’t pay a single penny to Reading Borough.

“Some of those drivers will come back to Reading to get their licenses, which will generate licensing income for the council, so the sign will pay for itself.

“This is a massive victory.

“We want to work with the council and Thames Valley Police on road safety, moving forward we’ll be working closely with the council and make sure our customers are happy as well.

“Humongous thanks to the councillors who voted unanimously.

“We appreciate the support from the bottom of our hearts!”


Members of the Reading Private Hire Association and council officers. L to R: Pervaz Akhtar, Manzoor Hussain, licensing officer Clyde Mason, chairman Kamran Saddiq, Sikandar Hayat, Aqeel Kayani, licensing officer Anthony Chawama and Salman Kayani. (Image: Reading Chronicle)

Not just one new sign costing £15k, surely? Hopefully


That's maybe a good example of the, er, cross-border paradox - he's talking about drivers badging elsewhere 'taking our trade away', as if they're actually from elsewhere, rather than just local drivers going to another council for badging purposes. Yet he's hoping the bus lane change will mean they'll get badged locally, so what's the difference in terms of local trade?

And I somehow suspect the bus lane access issue won't be the game-changer he thinks it will be anyway, but who knows how important access is, and how much more onerous it would be getting badged and plated by Reading Council simply to gain access to the lane.

Still, I suppose stuff like that was good for actually gaining acess in terms of politicking and rhetoric, if not real world consequences in terms of actually encouraging drivers to get badged and plated locally...

I wonder if in 6 months time we'll get bus drivers threatening strike action unless this is rescinded ?

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Victory as Reading taxi drivers can now access bus lane

https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news ... -bus-lane/

Reading taxi drivers are celebrating the news that they have been given access to one of the town's main bus lanes after years of pleas.

The outbound King's Road bus lane in Reading can only be used by buses, motorbikes, bicycles and hackney carriage cabs, with private hire taxis being excluded from it.

Private hire taxi drivers have argued for years that they should be given access to the bus lane, as it would speed up journeys to and from the Royal Berkshire Hospital, and getting out of Reading to get to the M4 and Heathrow Airport.

Now private hire drivers have been given access to the lane.

Kamran Saddiq, chairman of the Reading Private Hire Association (RPHA) said: "It's going to be a massive help for all passengers, particularly for people going to the hospital for surgeries, now we can avoid all this traffic, it's a big big help.

"Also it's helpful for children with special needs who use us as school transport, so they can get to and from their education centres on time."

Private hire taxis differ from cabs as they must be pre-booked, with prices typically pre-agreed as well.

Access to the bus lane for private hire drivers went live after signage was installed on Tuesday, October 1.

Mr Saddiq said: "The signs have gone up, a driver told me and I personally took a drive there."

Rule changes mean only cab and private hire drivers who are licenced with Reading Borough Council can use the lane.

Therefore, it is expected that those drivers who don't have a Reading licence will receive a penalty charge notice if they use the lane.

The installation of the signs has taken a while, as the decision to grant drivers access was made at a Reading Borough Council traffic management sub-committee meeting in March.

However, drivers had been pre-warned that the project could take time.

Mr Saddiq said: "We weren't too fussed. They said it would take a bit of time as they had other more urgent projects.

"They said they would give us a date, then in June they updated us to say it would take until the end of September to have everything completed.

"They kept us in the loop, they were not fobbing us off, none of that.

"Other works had to be facilitated, they gave us a time plan and they kept to the time plan.

"Now I'm proud to say the signs are up."

Mr Saddiq added: "Thanks to all councillors involved, cllr John Ennis (Labour, Southcote) former cllr Tony Page, James Penman, the council's network services manager, and every single cllr who voted for us.

"I want to say a big thank you for finally taking this seriously, and for recognising private hire taxis as an important form of transport, thanks from me and the association."

Mr Saddiq also thanked Mian Saleem, chairman of the Pakistan Community Centre for his support and help.

Additionally, he announced that Paul Seaward has been appointed as the vice-chairman of the RPHA.

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IDFIMH

a very long time coming but I still believe it can backfire as the numbers of PH will inevitably slow the buses down and probably encourage large numbers of ordinary motorists to also use them

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

The problem is “Authorised Vehicles” covers a multitude of meanings. Here in Chester any Taxi/PH vehicles licensed anywhere are allowed to use the bus lanes/gates. It’s supposed to allow only Chester West and Chester plated vehicles ( when your vehicle is licensed or renewed the information is sent to Siemens who operate the ANPR cameras ) but if any out of area vehicles are ticketed and they appeal they win and are then put on the ‘Register’. Apparently “Authorised Vehicles” is ambiguous and any appeals that are won in a court could open the floodgates and may mean every other fine issued may have to be cancelled and fines reimbursed. The legal department are not willing to take the chance.

F*** the buses.

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IDFIMH

All your council needs to do if they so wish, is to just change the traffic order.

They can define 'Authorised Vehicles' as buses and vehicles licensed by your council that operate under the 1847 and 1976 acts.

Quite sure a council near to me will be considering this next year.

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IDFIMH