Taxi Driver Online

copy of item from local paper, reader letter.

Reform taxi rules
by Reader's letter

IF the demarcation between hackney carriages and private hire vehicles was abolished and all taxis became able to ply for hire or stand on a rank, and the number of taxis increased, it could be that there would be an even greater increase in taxi use.

Many of York's transportation and some disorder problems would be solved.

I often visit Funchal, Madeira. There most of the taxis are yellow Mercedes vehicles of various ages. They all stand on ranks within about a five-kilometre radius of the city centre.

You can still telephone a taxi. In this event you pay a bit more as the metre starts running when the taxi leaves the rank.

You might occasionally have to wait a few minutes if it's a weekend, raining, or an international football match on.

As everything in Madeira has to be shipped in, petrol and diesel prices seem to be pretty much the same as the UK. The same applies to spares and repairs.

Fares are a little cheaper because of the exchange rate difference between the euro and the pound, but taxi driving is a prime job.

Perhaps John Lacy and City of York Council ("Taxi ranks under review in bid to curb late night chaos", March 2) should have a look at the Funchal model, although I am not advocating a fact-finding visit at the York taxpayers' expense.

Love it.

Might also the writer have included that the taxis are allowed a 33% Capital Fund to acquire the vehicles in the first place...

That they are exempt from VAT....

And that they receive their equivelent of Fuel Duty Rebate too....

Just a couple of points that could be added to his letter if he really is seeking a role-model for the UK.

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There is Significant Unmet Demand for my Opinion.

I do also imagine, that Mercs and Fuel have to be shipped in here on the UK mainland too.

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There is Significant Unmet Demand for my Opinion.