Taxi Driver Online

Minicab drivers left disappointed by 'unfair' move


Minicab drivers have criticised the changes to the city centre.

Drivers will no longer be able to collect or drop off customers on any of the newly pedestrianised areas, including Stafford Street and Old Hall Street, and will be hit with the £60 fixed penalty fine for using bus lanes.

But Hackney Carriages will continue to use bus lanes, as they are classified as public transport vehicles.

David Shaw, transport manager for Z Cars in Longton, said: "I just can't believe it. It's total discrimination in favour of Hackney Carriages.

"The council has just made a decision and that's it now, we'll never be allowed to drive in the city centre again. We get a lot of older people who go shopping in Hanley and call us to pick them up with all their heavy bags. We go and pick them up straight from outside Argos, or the shops, and take them home.

"Now people will have to walk to a taxi rank and pay a lot more money to get home. I think it will make people, especially girls on nights out, more vulnerable having to walk through the city centre to find a cab."

According to statistics gathered by the Law Commission, in 2012 there were 1,084 private hire cars registered in Stoke-on-Trent, and 157 registered hackney carriages.

Parv Khan, owner of City Cabs, added: "We take 10,000 calls a week and around 20 per cent of those are for Hanley city centre.

"I have been campaigning for a long time for private hire vehicles to be allowed to use bus lanes but the council refuse to grant us the permission.

"They're going to have a nightmare on Friday and Saturday nights when everyone pours out of the clubs and needs a cab. There will be more fights, and it's just plain dangerous."

But Hackney Carriage drivers have welcomed the changes. Driver Anjad Qurban, from Hanley, said: "It should make things safer. Private hire vehicles are supposed to collect people who have booked them, but some drivers just park up and pick up anyone, which is illegal and unsafe. They also undercut Hackney cabs charges because they don't have meters."

Rished Mehmood, from Shelton, added: "I get a lot of people in the back of my cab complaining about the times they were overcharged by a driver, and it's always because they got into an illegal private hire car."


Read more: http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Pr ... z2OFeuHWNz

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

Yawn..............................................it's the same in most areas just get on with it !

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

Me thinks that would be the real reason they like this idea

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

I doubt that they undercut because they don't have meters.

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Grandad,

Sometimes known to overcut them too...

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Especially darn sarf out of Heathrow and Gatwick !!!

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

Some of the Hackneys do it here. They never use the meter.

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Grandad,

DUE to the recent snowfall, I got a private hire taxi to Hanley from Bucknall. It cost me £5.

On the way back, I walked to the rank.

This time, it cost me £8.

Private hire taxis are now not allowed to enter the town after Tuesday, when the new bus station is opened, so there will be no choice of taxis.

We will be forced into using a single taxi company, taking away our freedom of choice once again.

I am urging people not to be ruled by councils or governments and to stick by your own principles, pride and integrity.

If you have to walk a few yards down the road, carrying your bags, then do so.

It will save you a fortune, and you can hold your head high, knowing that you are not going to be ruled by anyone but yourself.

Power to the people. Stand up for your rights.

PATRICIA TWEEDIE

Bucknall


Read more: http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Di ... z2Olq8uP4a

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

Whats the betting her old man drives ph

Stange surname for a PH driver ? now if it had been a Mrs Hussein or Mrs Farooq I might buy into that theory

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

maybe a Sue De Nimes

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Is she Dutch?

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Grandad,