Taxi Driver Online

Taxi drivers face new code of conduct after behaviour concerns at ranks

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/1641 ... f-conduct/

CONCERNS about congestion, illegal parking and noise nuisance are leading to plans for a code of conduct for taxi drivers.

Councillors in Glasgow are being asked to approve plans for a new code covering drivers using taxi stances throughout the city.

There are concerns over too many taxis queueing up at busy ranks causing congestion and blocking roads for other motorists.

Illegal parking while waiting in a long queue of cabs, a small minority of drivers carrying out illegal manoeuvres, taxis sitting with their engines running at ranks causing pollution and noise from waiting passengers disturbing residents late at night at busy ranks have all been cited as reasons for a new code to be established.

Council officials say they want to work with representatives from the city’s taxi drivers to adopt a code.

It would involve the first two drivers at a rank staying inside their vehicles at all times and available for immediate hire.

Drivers will not be allowed to congregate or obstruct the pavements or road and not cause any annoyance to residents.

Only the permitted number of taxis should be at a stance at any one time and engines must be turned off and not breach idling laws.

In a report to councillors, Carole Forrest, the solicitor to the council, said: “ Given these issues, there is an identifiable need to look at some degree of regulation around the use of taxi stances in order to ensure the actions of a small minority of taxi drivers do not unduly compromise the ongoing operation of particular taxi stances to the detriment of both members of the public and the vast majority of responsible taxi drivers and operators.”

Stephen Flynn, Chairman of Glasgow Taxis Ltd said: “We will take time to review the final recommendations of the report and will attend a meeting with the council on Wednesday.”

The taxi trade has raised concerns there is not enough stances in the city centre and some stances are no longer in the right place to meet the needs of the public.

The council said new stances have been designated including on St Vincent Place for four taxis 24 hours a day seven days a week.

Other stances and Osborne Street and Holland Street have been put in place. while several others across the city centre have had the number of spaces increased to allow more drivers to be available for hire.

usual problem,not enough rank spaces for the amount of cabs in the city, just done a quick tally and we have roughly 120 taxi rank spaces in the city centre for 1432 taxis ,this total includes a couple of ranks just outside the city centre,and the rank spaces at the city centre hotels,some ranks are in ridiculous places and never get used,private cars and even coaches sitting parked in ranks is a major problem
as for the new ranks,ive passed the one at st vincent place for a whopping 4 taxis many times,still buggered if i can see where it is,true that some ranks have been expanded,but not many,might help if they stopped having bike races,fun runs,marathons etc right through the city centre every week,it really grates for instance when youve sat at the marriott hotel for an hour and the first hire you get wants to go to queen st station,and you have to say SORRY,i cant get you there because of all the street closures,you will have to walk
and as usual the people doing the reports have absolutely no knowledge of any taxi matters

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