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| Taxi drivers in bus lanes row http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=22570 |
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| Author: | captain cab [ Thu Jun 27, 2013 9:10 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Taxi drivers in bus lanes row |
Taxi drivers in bus lanes row CAMPAIGNING cabbies are demanding South Tyneside Council gets up to speed with a long-running bus lane row. Local taxi drivers have pressed for more than a decade to be allowed to use bus lanes in the borough, as they can in neighbouring council authorities. One taxi boss claims South Tyneside Council is “still in the dark ages” and needs to scrap the bus lane prohibition. Cabbies who flout the traffic regulation can face fines of about £60. Backing the cabbie campaign is taxi driver and council member Coun John McCabe, who said: “It seems ridiculous that taxi drivers in North Tyneside, Sunderland, Newcastle and Gateshead are allowed to use bus lanes, but not in South Tyneside. This has dragged on for between 10 and 15 years, but despite several representations to the council, this has still not been changed. “If South Tyneside taxi drivers were allowed to use the lanes, it would reduce pollution, cut journey times for passengers and mean less traffic congestion. “There are only a handful of bus lanes in operation in South Tyneside, so I cannot see that it would take a huge amount of work to change the traffic regulation.” Coun McCabe, vice-chairman of Hebburn community area forum, added: “There are about 1,000 taxi drivers in South Tyneside, paying something like £1m a year in fees to the council, and yet we still face this restriction with the bus lanes. “It’s an anomaly, which doesn’t apply to drivers in neighbouring authorities, and it needs correcting.” Coun McCabe said the bus lane along Fowler Street and Keppel Street causes problems for cabbies travelling through the town. Bob Weetman, managing director of Jarrow-based North East Accessible Transport, which operates vehicles throughout South Tyneside, said: “This has gone on for 10 to 15 years, but nothing ever gets done. “One bus lane in Sunderland Road, outside the County Hotel, runs in both directions, and there is another in South Shields town centre. “If we could get rid of these bus lanes, it would free up traffic and reduce journey times. “Basically, I think the council is still in the dark ages with this one and it’s high time the traffic regulation was changed.” No one was available for comment at South Tyneside Council. source: http://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/loca ... -1-5799420 |
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