Taxi Driver Online

This idea to me is a recipe for conflict and disaster.A town centre is a large area so if you pick up one passenger who wants to go to far side of town its bad news.

What Mr Button says isn't always correct and we should understand that his book is fundamentally his interpretation of the law.

Like I have said earlier I have passed the written proposal to David Farmer at the DfT for his advice as the answers we are getting from our councils are however valid not in the public's interest and not insurmountable.

I say this because we are getting loads of people asking when the service is going to start (including councillors) as they are fed up with the bus companies combining some routes and taking services off at their will.

As far as taxi customers go, this service will not substitute the upon demand service provided by the PH market in particular. I say this because PH customers want to know exactly what time they will be picked up and need to dictate their precise destination at a precise time ............. this service will not provide that.

I welcome feedback on this matter as I believe the scheme will be of benefit to many drivers across the country, but like anything else one council have got to take the lead in endorsing such a scheme to allow others to follow.

B. Lucky

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"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

This system has been used before in Chester a few years ago the fare then was 50p into town but it did not last very long.

There are only two ways of working under such a sceme that is by section 12 of the 1985 act where you become a bus and work under psv legislation and that means you can't work as a Taxi while you are working as a bus and under the designated Taxi sharing scheme of section 10 of the same act whereby the council install a designated Taxi standing point for passengers who wish to share a journey.

The law is clear and unambiguous. Any Taxi stopping at bus stops touting for customers is breaking the law. any taxi carrying people at seperate fares is working as a bus and that is illegal without the required license.

It might seem sensible and advantageous to Taxi drivers in various parts of the country but I'm sure the bus companies will take a different view, no matter what the DfT say.

Sussex has it spot, on Jim Button is right.

Regards

JD

So the name of this site will be changing to www.bus-operator.co.uk then JD .................. not all of us have O licenses.

I wonder what would have been his response if this scheme had been instigated from somewhere other than Gateshead (or Carlisle).

GA ............. the one from Gateshead.

B. Lucky

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"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

The law is the law if you want to circumvent the law then be my guest. I'm sure your council won't be the first to have tried it. In respect of buses I'm stating the obvious because I doubt any cab driver would sit idly by while buses plied for hire as taxis with the consent of the Traffic Commissioner.

Thats all I have to say on the subject and you lucky I even said that.

JD

What, you mean like the tuc tucs in Brighton?

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Former taxi driver

Well JD what instigated the scheme was a service offered By Nexus called Link Up which carries the slogan " the bus you book like a taxi" which has regularly been seen plying for hire around the North East.

We have also seen the introduction of 24hr bus services along main routes where a lot of our fares would normally travel.

Like you say ................. we re not going to sit idly by and watch our trade be further effected ............... we are willing to compete with these services .............. pity they are not willing to let us.

Please explain your statement about me being lucky that you have replied to a post within a thread that I didn't start .................... I mean there may be some people, including you, that actually think you own this site and therefore somehow control what gets posted.

GA .............. the one from Gateshead.

B. Lucky

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"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

Well I think we can all thank our lucky stars you don't.

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IDFIMH

I said it because you should know better. This site has been through this a hundred times and all you have to do if you don't already know is look at the legislation. Your a local official and supposed to know these things, it's slightly different for those who only take a passing interest in taxi law but your supposed to be a different kettle of fish. If Gateshead wants to break the law then thats their problem but I suppose the Transport and General workers union and the Bus operators will eventually pizz on their parade.

JD

So are you saying it might not be within the current statutes?

Maybe you should have told him it was well within said laws, and then at least he would have been happier. If only untill him and his colleagues got done.

Courtesy of 'A few good men'.

You don't want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty...we use these words as the backbone to a life spent defending something. You use 'em as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it! I'd rather you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you're entitled to!

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IDFIMH

What a load of tosh.

Legislation exists that insists that taxis and private hire vehicles should be considered part of the public transport network, indeed offering greater use to the public by way of more choice is positively encouraged by this government.

We have different schemes that allow a HC to undertake individual fare journeys and schemes that allow a taxi to be used as a bus ............. we simply want this scheme to be included in this legislation.

Do you expect either me or the members of the association to pi$$ our pants just because you mention either the bus companies or the T&G ............ neither scare me JD as I have first hand experience of their ability to achieve.

Of course you are against this scheme because its happening in Gateshead and there is no way for the PH leeches to profit from it.

What a complete ar$e you are JD ................. you find it perfectly acceptable for a HC from Manchester to work in Gateshead even though his activity cannot be checked or properly enforced be either the authority that licenses it or the authority of the area it is working and then you claim to support quality standards, how on earth can you justify that contradiction.

This scheme needs to be included in the legislation that allows taxibus and taxishare schemes and if further applications need to be made to different authority groups then further applications will be made before this service is offered.

We will do what we need to do to get this scheme acknowledged and included in legislation ............................. we will not lie down and see our trade devastated by anyone.

The taxi trade should now be fighting for its survival and not listening to some self professed legal expert who hides himself away like a coward, telling lies about people and claiming that he is doing things that are right and for the benefit of taxi drivers. That is the biggest lie of all JD ......... I believe that you have had a HC plate in the area that you work and have sold it and become a jockey on another cab and you don't see why you shouldn't be able to do it again ..................... just like your slug like mates in Edinburgh.

GA .............. the one from Gateshead.

B. Lucky

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"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

Now Girls keep your toys in the pram, JD, Edinburgh already has taxi share, where by one person orders the cab and if there is someone else going in that direction as well they pay towards it, or something along those lines.
GA is correct we need to do something to stop the decline by deregulation and councils issuing plates as if they are going out of fashion like here in the borders 14 more cabs since November and only 8 spaces on the main rank for 72 cabs, the rest have to find places to park up
I think that if we and I mean the whole of the taxi trade can get the rules changed it could be for the better.
It could reduce congestion and put more money our way, as takings are going down especially in rural area's for example I have just done 12 hours for a £50 take that used to be about £120, yes as I said above to many cabs and not enough punters, but if this is a way forward lets fight for it.
With the general elections on the way I know it would be of little use at the moment but after lets lobby our new or old MP's or MSP's and get the taxi laws rewritten as you have said many times JD whats the point of having rules that where designed for bloody horses, and are no longer relevant in this day and age, even the rules in the 1972 act and the 1982 acts are out of date. and while I'm going off on one lets get a standard taxi licence fee as well and a drivers badge fee, all these bloody different rates all over the UK for the same licences
And finally get taxis properly recognised as public transport, we may even get some tax relief on fuel but pigs may fly

No it doesn't.



Obviously the Government doesn't encourage breaking the law. Does it?



It would appear the solution is to get the legislation changed?



I don't expect anything I just told you its illegal, whatever you and your council do is entirely up to you but I know what the DfT will say in their reply.



Thats a weird charge to make, I couldn't care less where the activity was proposed my response woudl be the same, its illegal. So whats your problem with me saying its illegal?



Perhaps you're right, Manchesters standards shouldn't be put above those of Gateshead. Thats why I'm wrong and your right.

JD

Thats legal and its set out in the 1985 act.



I'm all for getting more work for the Taxi trade but the point of the whole argument is, is it illegal to tout for trade at a bus stop and the answer is yes.

Thats all I said. If anyone doesn't know that then they do now.

Regards

JD