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Taxi drivers plead with council for right to skip Bangor's one-way systemANGRY taxi drivers in Bangor have demanded permission to skip the city’s one-way system which they say is hurting their businesses and their customers.
Paulo Oliveira, a 31-year-old driver with City Cabs, complained that taxis travelling down Station Road cannot turn right straight into the train station using the bus lane, and must instead turn left, away from the station, and travel around the one way system.
Mr Oliveira said it is a big concern among all the taxi drivers who park at the train station due to the extra time it takes, the added cost to customers and the effect it has on congestion.
Gwynedd Council said it is not possible for taxi drivers to use the bus lane as it would add to congestion problems.
Mr Oliveira said: "Bus drivers are allowed to turn right using the bus lane and avoid the one way.
“Why can’t we? We are providing a service just the same.
"We are being pushed into Farrar Road and depending on the traffic we could be stuck there for 20 minutes, queuing to go around the one-way.
"We do this for a living and we have got a fair argument.”
Mr Oliveira, who has been in the job for 11 years, said some passengers miss their trains and end up with bigger fares because of the extra time taken to navigate the one-way system.
"All my colleagues and drivers in other firms are saying this," he added.
Gwynedd Cllr June Marshall, for Bangor’s Menai Ward, wants to see a trial period where taxi drivers can use the bus lane.
“I think it can be done with some common sense,” she said.
“You shouldn’t have too many vehicles waiting in that bus lane because the road isn’t broad enough.
“But the number of busses actually turning into the station is so small I think it can be accommodated, and if you get some vehicles turning straight into the station, it would be helpful for the traffic situation.”
A Gwynedd Council spokesperson said: “An officer from the Council’s Transportation Service met with representatives from the local taxi companies and local members to discuss this matter.
“They explained that due to the design layout, it is not possible for the turning lane to accommodate additional vehicles other than single bus at any one time as it would cause significant congestion in what is already a busy area in the city.”
source: http://www.northwaleschronicle.co.uk/ne ... ystem.aspx
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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
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