Pedal-powered taxis get go-ahead for trial in Bournemouth this April A TRIAL of pedal-powered taxis will take place in Bournemouth next month.
The borough’s licensing board agreed on Thursday to allow one of the proposed "CityCruiser" tricycles, which can carry three passengers, to pick up fares in the town through April and into May to see how the scheme operates.
Applicant Gergely Kosis has proposed that the partially solar-powered vehicles will be used for sight-seeing tours near the seafront.
Board chairman Cllr Andrew Morgan said: "We are quite excited about this idea which we think will add to the tourist offer in Bournemouth.
"If the trial works out the applicant is looking to have up to 10 vehicles.
"This will be nothing like the rickshaws in London, there will be a transparent tariff so people can see what they will have to pay.
"Passengers will have to wear seatbelts and drivers will be checked in the same way as taxi drivers."
In his application, Mr Kosis said he planned for the vehicles to operate in cycle lanes where available, otherwise using the main carriageway and keeping close to the kerb.
He said the tariffs proposed for the scheme are based upon £2.20 for every 1,000 metres, meaning a half-hour trip for two adults would cost £12.40.
He added that there are other rickshaw-type services offered across the UK, including in Hereford, South Lakeland, Durham, Cornwall, Edinburgh, Shrewsbury, Scarborough, London and York.
The application was initially made last year, but licensing bosses requested more information before agreeing in principle to grant up to 10 of the required Hackney Carriage licences, subject to new policy and bye-laws being drawn up.
The meeting took place in the Town Hall on Thursday morning.
source:
http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/1 ... rnemouth_/
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