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High tech rickshaws arrive in Liverpool
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Author:  captain cab [ Thu Dec 11, 2008 4:49 pm ]
Post subject:  High tech rickshaws arrive in Liverpool
High tech rickshaws arrive in Liverpool

Scouse News!



PEDAL power is hitting the streets of Liverpool with the introduction of three high-tech rickshaws.

Christmas shoppers and pedestrians will be able to hitch a free ride in the pedal-powered rickshaws across the city centre.

Each Eco-cab – about the size of a small car – can carry two passengers with power generated through pedalling. They are also fitted with a silent emission-free electric motor and two batteries to help the driver carry a heavy load or start on a hill.

Owner Philip Collier, 39, from Kirkby, said: “Back in June I visited Manchester, and wasn’t sure of the way to my hotel so hailed a taxi.

“We travelled across the city but when we arrived I realised we hadn’t travelled that far and had paid a fare for a short distance.

“I thought there must be an environmentally-friendly way of transporting people around the city and decided on the Eco-Cab.”

Mr Collier started his business in Manchester and has introduced three to Liverpool with all costs covered by sponsorship.

Mr Collier said: “The free service is covered by leasing sponsorship on the cabs to companies who want to interact with their customers in a new and interesting way.

“There seems to be a buzz about them in the city and they’re quite safe having three wheels.

“Some people ask how much it is for a ride and stand back in disbelief when you say it’s free, but the response has been great so far.”

If the three are successful, Mr Collier hopes to expand to five and is currently exploring introducing the Eco-Cabs in Sheffield.

Donna Cooney, director of Bluerow residential property agency, who are among the first to sponsor an Eco-Cab said: “They were first designed in Berlin, where we saw them and quickly took them to our hearts.

“We acknowledged that, as a relatively new agency, the pedal-operated vehicles could help us with our branding activity.

“They are also kind on the environment and while they do have electric power, the only time it kicks in is up a hill.”

Due to Hackney laws, passengers can not pay the rider but can offer tips. Merseyside taxi drivers have welcomed the introduction of the Eco-Cabs, but have expressed concern over safety.

Paul McGlaughlin, company secretary of Delta Taxis, said: “Anything that makes an extra happy memory for someone visiting the city should be welcomed.

“There have been concerns in the past over the safety of rickshaw-type vehicles.

“But as long as the local authority’s licensing is happy with the safety of the cabs, then I can’t see any commercial concerns.”

Kevin Maguire, a member of the National Taxi Drivers Association, said: “If the local authority is happy and they meet safety criteria and are licensed in the strict manner we are, that is fine.”
Author:  captain cab [ Thu Dec 11, 2008 4:51 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
Due to Hackney laws, passengers can not pay the rider but can offer tips. Merseyside taxi drivers have welcomed the introduction of the Eco-Cabs, but have expressed concern over safety.


:lol:

CC
Author:  bloodnock [ Thu Dec 11, 2008 5:25 pm ]
Post subject: 
I hope they encounter some black ice on a very steep downhill incline which leads directly to the great Mersey itself..that'll create a bit of a Splash..
Author:  Sussex [ Thu Dec 11, 2008 6:08 pm ]
Post subject: 
captain cab wrote:
Quote:
Due to Hackney laws, passengers can not pay the rider but can offer tips. Merseyside taxi drivers have welcomed the introduction of the Eco-Cabs, but have expressed concern over safety.


:lol:

Just for the record how many Merseyside taxis are on Delta? :?

And when did not charging a fare mean that you could get around hackney laws? :?
Author:  toots [ Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:13 pm ]
Post subject: 
I think the only reason that Merseyside taxi drivers are not concerned at the moment is because there are only 3 of them and also how many of the Merseyside taxi drivers know they exist Merseyside is a big place. IMO I have to say that Paul McGlaughlin is talking from his point of view and not his drivers point of view because it is commonly felt that Delta don't care what their drivers think and I didn't even know we had a National Taxi Drivers Association on Merseyside :wink:
Author:  thomasthetaxi [ Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:43 pm ]
Post subject: 
We started with three in London now we have three thousand and they cause worse congestion than the buses in Soho.
So they only work for tips at the moment, in London its ten pounds a mile.
Author:  MR T [ Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:13 pm ]
Post subject: 
Kevin Maguire..is T&G :oops:
Author:  Sussex [ Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:17 pm ]
Post subject: 
MR T wrote:
Kevin Maguire..is T&G :oops:

And that's a surprise? :?
Author:  GBC [ Fri Dec 12, 2008 2:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: High tech rickshaws arrive in Liverpool
captain cab wrote:
Owner Philip Collier, 39, from Kirkby, said: “Back in June I visited Manchester, and wasn’t sure of the way to my hotel so hailed a taxi.

“We travelled across the city but when we arrived I realised we hadn’t travelled that far and had paid a fare for a short distance.

“I thought there must be an environmentally-friendly way of transporting people around the city and decided on the Eco-Cab.”




So I thought . . . how can I get around the licensing requirements and get away with breaking the law . . .


Image
Author:  Sussex [ Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: High tech rickshaws arrive in Liverpool
GBC wrote:
So I thought . . . how can I get around the licensing requirements and get away with breaking the law . . .

You can't, and neither can they. :wink:
Author:  captain cab [ Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:39 am ]
Post subject: 
the response of the 'trade' is interesting.

wonder if they feel the same about the E7 yet?

CC
Author:  Fae Fife [ Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:59 am ]
Post subject: 
Sussex wrote:


And when did not charging a fare mean that you could get around hackney laws? :?


So if they just covered running costs then they'd not need licensed?

Anyway, I suspect the reason the 'drivers' aren't that bothered is because they know it'll only last five minutes.
Author:  thomasthetaxi [ Fri Dec 12, 2008 1:02 pm ]
Post subject: 
Fae Fife wrote:
Anyway, I suspect the reason the 'drivers' aren't that bothered is because they know it'll only last five minutes.

Don't be naive, this is a foot in the door operation. Within weeks they will be dozens, months hundreds and with n a couple of years they will be thousands.

The trick is to outlaw their electric assistance. Since the police have stated to arrest drivers of electrically assisted death traps in London (the judgement that allows them states they must be peddle power only), their numbers have started to drop dramatically.
Author:  bloodnock [ Fri Dec 12, 2008 1:51 pm ]
Post subject: 
It conjours up an Image of Travellers suffering death by frostbite in Winter...or a still more horrible Summer image of the drivers semi strangulated Plums dangling out of the stretched legs of his sweaty Y fronts with each pedalling motion...yeeeeechhhhhhhh!!!! :shock:..still..it'll keep the flys away from the Occupants :roll:
Author:  toots [ Fri Dec 12, 2008 4:48 pm ]
Post subject: 
bloodnock wrote:
It conjours up an Image of Travellers suffering death by frostbite in Winter...or a still more horrible Summer image of the drivers semi strangulated Plums dangling out of the stretched legs of his sweaty Y fronts with each pedalling motion...yeeeeechhhhhhhh!!!! :shock:..still..it'll keep the flys away from the Occupants :roll:


Somebody pass me a bucket I'm gonna chuck........
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