Taxi Driver Online

If I'm reading this correctly they want to be able to delay even the Euro 6 requirment to 2027?

Can't see that happening even given the current circumstances

In fact many councillors and politicians using Covid-19 as excuse to *accelerate* the move towards green policies


Union in call for Glasgow taxis to be given low emission zone exemption

https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/184 ... exemption/

A CAMPAIGN to give licensed taxis in Glasgow exemption from the 2022 low emission zone (LEZ) targets has been launched by a trade union.

The City Council previously agreed to implement the LEZ in the city centre to all vehicles which means petrol vehicles must have an emissions standard of Euro 4 for petrol and Euro 6 for diesel by December 2022.

Unite the Union, Glasgow Cab Section, is arguing that taxi drivers should be given until at least 2027 to meet the LEZ goal as it is likely to cost them between £40,000 to £60,000 to upgrade to a new model.

Glasgow recently announced its intention to be carbon free by 2030 which would mean some members of the trade, who haven’t already, upgrading again to an electric vehicle nearer the £60,000 mark.

Calum Anderson, chairman of Glasgow Cab Section, says that the coronavirus outbreak has affected their business making it even harder to afford a new black hackney.

Mr Anderson said: “The current crisis is an existential threat to the taxi trade, and it could take at least two to three years to recover normal earnings.

“The absence of the night-time economy for the foreseeable future will see many operators having to rent out taxis on single shift basis. This will reduce income that goes towards new vehicles by around 50 per cent.

“Glasgow City Council climate emergency proposals now accelerating moves towards carbon neutral city/zero emission vehicles to 2030 from original 2037 goal.

“It is perverse to have operators spending huge sums on transition Euro 6 diesel vehicles that won’t have an economically viable lifespan.

“Glasgow City Council is well behind the curve in terms of charging infrastructure. Thousands of charge points will be needed to achieve the 2030 goal and there are only 165 at present.

“We expect there will be far greater choice of electric taxis, with vastly improved range, by 2027.

“Taxi trade emissions have been steadily falling due to natural wastage. The local authority has also implemented a policy allowing newer used vehicles to replace older ones, which is proving successful in further reducing emissions.”

Concerns have also been raised that if drivers aren’t financially able to purchase the right car, they may have to operate the service in a saloon, making it harder for families, those with disabilities and other vulnerable members of the community to be transported around the city.

Mr Anderson added: “We know we have to follow the LEZ rules but we are just asking for some help from the council to make this possible.

“We serve people with prams, wheelchairs, the blind and other people in need across the city.

“They rely on us to get about.”

A council spokeswoman said: “Given the harm to people’s health caused by air pollution, particularly to those most vulnerable, poor air quality will continue to be a significant issue in the long term that requires to be addressed as our city starts moving again.

“Reducing vehicle emissions, along with other measures that encourage a shift toward active and sustainable travel, remain effective ways to make a sustainable improvement to Glasgow’s air quality.”

Presumably that means they'd have to switch from HC to PH

Quite funny how half of the UK taxi trade says we don't need WAVs as we only get one or two jobs a month from customers wanting that type of vehicle, yet the other half say all type of customers would be massively disadvantaged if we didn't have WAV type vehicles.

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IDFIMH

I think that all councils that were intending to bring in new emission requirements for Hackney’s or PHV’s should delay there introduction by at least twelve months. The same with vehicles that will reach there age limit in the next couple of years. I know several drivers of both types of vehicle that have been saving up to replace their vehicles, only to have seen their savings wiped out just to put food on the table. We all know it’s going to take a few years for things to return to normal in our trade, if it ever does.

the people who use WAVS do so because they have no choice,the city council here will not allow any other type of vehicle to be plated as a HC,so WAV or no licence

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i started out with nothing and ive still got most of it left

as in most cities it's just a shame they are so expensive

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