Taxis vs Buses - Why cabbies are fuming at Liverpool city centre plan
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/li ... g-15482943
Drivers claim crackdown amounts to 'targeted abuse'
Liverpool taxi drivers have hit out at bus companies and drivers and claimed that a illegal parking Christmas crackdown is unfairly targeting them.
Yesterday the ECHO reported on news of a wide-ranging clamp down on illegal parking in Liverpool City Centre that will be carried out by a number of agencies in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Merseytravel, Stagecoach and Arriva buses, Liverpool City Council, Merseyside Police and Halton Transport will be working together to reduce traffic congestion and keep the city centre moving in the lead up to Christmas.
The aim is to support the city’s economy by reducing illegal parking and monitoring traffic flow to make sure that bus services remain as punctual as possible and get passengers to where they want to go.
While bus operators and highways staff will be tasked with reporting illegal parking, the action will see police officers stopping taxis and private vehicles from dropping off in bus stops and junctions - and from blocking yellow box junction markings in the city centre.
And it is this announcement that appears to have angered many city taxi drivers.
They have hit back with claims that they are actually put into difficult situations because of the actions of bus drivers around the city centre.
One driver tweeted: "Hi, may I inform you about buses speeding along Hanover st also show no courtesy to other road users or public.
"Can you also ask them to use the bus stop and not half of it causing an obstruction half way in middle of road. Also TAXI ranks are not for BUSES."
Image: Liverpool Echo
The Taxi Alliance group also expressed anger at bus drivers - as well as police officers in the city centre.
They said: "What about buses while they are asleep on the ranks and that’s not all what about police vehicles parked all night on Bold street rank ? Give us a parking services and licensing enforcement jacket and we will show you zero tolerance."
Another driver added: "Police, Council & Bus Companies monopolising the transport network to hit us at our busiest period.
"Imagine the city centre if we ALL boycotted working the early hours over the weekend.
"PH & Hackney drivers need to come together to fight this targeted abuse."
On the issue of the crack down, Cllr Liam Robinson, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Transport Portfolio Holder said: “Building on last year’s plan we want to keep the City Centre moving, helping commuters and shoppers to get around as easily as possible.
"By working together and sharing resources we have the best chance of doing this, not only to reduce congestion but also to address the resulting air pollution that congestion can cause."