Taxi Driver Online

Private-hire drivers want a ‘fare’ deal over access to city centre roads



Minicab drivers are calling for greater access to the city centre – to give passengers a better service.

The private hire cabbies want to create three circular routes in Hanley.

They say the routes – from the directions of Longton, Bucknall and Cobridge – will save money on mileage for customers.

It follows complaints that their passengers cannot be picked up or dropped off in Stafford Street, Trinity Street, New Hall Street, and Marsh Street North because of traffic regulations.

Now members of the local branch of the National Private Hire Association are in talks with Stoke-on-Trent City Council over the proposed changes.

Association official Dave Currie, right, said: "We want three loops around Hanley. The plan is for private hire firms to nip through and, if anything, it will speed up the traffic flow.

"Opening up these streets in Hanley to create circulatory routes will present a considerable saving to the customer in terms of mileage, and also allow the less able to be able to go door-to-door – at the moment they can't be dropped off outside Hanley Health Centre for instance.

"People forget how hilly Hanley is and the people pushing the wheelchairs are often as old as the people in them.

"It will mean removing obstructions like the gate on Trinity Street and using bus lanes. We are focusing on Hanley first, then the rest of the city."

Drivers have complained about being fined for stopping on double-yellow lines as they try to drop off passengers outside their destinations.

Lucky Seven driver Shorsh Ahmed, aged 28, from Hanley, said: "People want to be dropped off as close as possible to where they are going and sometimes I have no option but to park on double-yellow lines.

"Often you have to stop and help the passengers with their bags, and before you know it you can have three to four fines in a day.

"It's not just a problem in Hanley – by the train station is really difficult too.

"Sometimes, it's hardly worth having had the business when the potential fine far exceeds any takings."

The new routes are part of a campaign by private hire cabbies to be able to use the city's bus lanes.

Magnum driver Najib Khan, aged 50, from Tunstall, said: "I once had two parking tickets in the space of a minute from the city council camera vans. It is anti-competitive to not let us have the access in these key areas. I thoroughly support the plan."

Council officials are working with the cabbies to try to resolve the situation.

City Councillor Jack Brereton, cabinet member for transport, said: "We have made a significant amount of progress in really understanding what the taxi drivers want, which is access to these extremely specific locations. We will be working on this."

Mumtaz Ali from Burslem, who works for Magnum Taxis, said: "We have a big problem with the bus lanes in the city.

"We should be allowed to use those lanes – it is common sense really."


Read more: http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Cabbies- ... z3vWALja00

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

" will save money on mileage for customers"

why do taxi drivers want to work for nothing ? if you cant use bus lanes or taxi lanes what's the problem? ok it takes longer but you still get paid, taxi drivers baffle me tbh, fook the punters its on the meter

Do you have punters in your car 100% of the time?

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IDFIMH

The private hire cabbies want to create three circular routes in Hanley.

Am I the only one that has an issue with this statement ?

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

obviously not

Well then that's when they lose money by going the long way empty.

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IDFIMH

If they're getting fines for loading then they can always be appealed and will usually WIN. even the mighty Westminster city Council lost at High court over this matter.

Do you have punters in your car 100% of the time?[/quote]

obviously not[/quote]
Well then that's when they lose money by going the long way empty.[/quote]

but they aint moaning about that , they are saying it would save the punter money?

Well I think that is obvious.

However it will also save them money as well.

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IDFIMH

so why would you want to save the punters money then ? essentially lowering you income?

Are Ph in Stoke on Trent metered if not they will only get the same whether the job takes ten minutes or twenty.

Because your not.

The time you will have punters in the car to the money they pay ratio, will be the same, as if you can drop off earlier you can get on to your next job much quicker.

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IDFIMH