Taxi Driver Online

North Ayrshire taxi drivers not allowed in Stevenston bus lane

http://www.ardrossanherald.com/news/169 ... -bus-lane/

Taxi customers face excessive fares while waiting in traffic because cab drivers are not allowed to use a bus lane in Stevenston.


Image: Ardrossan Herald

Jim McKerrell, director of TOA Taxis in Stevenston, said that he has complained to North Ayrshire Council numerous times about getting access to the bus lane but to no avail.

He told the Herald: “To our knowledge Stevenston’s the only place that doesn’t allow taxis on the bus lane. Some of the drivers are refusing to go and pick people up at peak times because it’s up to 25 minutes to do a five-minute job because they’re stuck in traffic. It’s causing excessive fares, it’s wasting petrol and releasing fumes because they’re sitting with their engines running.

“We’re leading up to the festive season again which is going to be more congested – when this lane [the bus lane] is totally empty. It’s going to impact the general public.”

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “We have looked into the option of opening up the lane for taxi drivers and discussed this possibility with partners Police Scotland, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and the local bus operator.

“It was agreed that it would not be appropriate to amend the existing Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to allow taxis to use this relatively short bus lane.

“It was felt that we had to be absolutely consistent with all motorists and that it would be unfair on motorists and the bus operators – who carry a significant number of passengers – to allow taxi drivers to use the bus lane.

“As well as causing delays in public transport, it was also felt that general road users could become aggrieved by taxis driving in the bus lanes especially when off hire or not carrying passengers. This in turn could encourage abuse of bus lanes by other motorists.”


Image: Ardrossan Herald

Don't know where to start with that?

Exactly who the f*** do you think the trade carry on their cabs?

I would happily guess that the taxi/PH trade carry more customers than buses, especially in the more rural areas.

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IDFIMH

It's not entirely clear, but assume the council comparing the capacity of buses as opposed to individual cabs - ie the old congestion argument about one bus v a dozen cars, or whatever.

However, if it's anything like up here then *a lot* of the buses won't be carrying much more passengers than the taxis, if any.

And bet these people get fed up with a third question from punters rather than the usual two biggies:

1 - "Busy tonight?"

2 - "What time are you on till?"

3 - "What does TOA stand for?"

Think we have a new 3 and 4 down here.

3. Do you take cards?

4. What do you think about Uber?

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IDFIMH

Here too, but maybe not so much the Uber question, if only because they don't operate here.

But the bigger worry is those who don't ask 3, and just assume you'll take cards until they actually get to the journey's end. (A wee bit like Edders' invoice woman.)

As regards 4, bigger worry here is those who get a quote from Uber online (for a job they won't actually do) and then expect you to charge the same price. To be fair it's only happened a couple of times, but because it was on two consecutive nights I thought it was maybe part of a trend, although it hasn't happened since that weekend about a month ago.

Not much to see here, and it's all a bit ultra-local to work out precisely what the arguments are about, but since the original story is here it's probably just as well to include the follow up.

Bus lane trial rejected but taxi drivers will continue fight

https://www.ardrossanherald.com/news/17 ... nue-fight/

Taxi drivers have lost a bid to use a Stevenston bus lane for a trial period but vow to continue their fight.

As the Herald reported previously, Jim McKerrell, of TOA Taxis, wants cabs to be given access to the bus lane on Kilwinning Road to ease congestion and reduce fares.

The drivers are requesting the use of the lane between Hawkhill Roundabout and the cemetery, but Stagecoach opposes the idea.

Jim submitted a petition to North Ayrshire Council’s Audit and Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday, January 29. Despite a motion from Councillor Tom Marshall for a bus lane test run, the bid was rejected.

After the meeting, Jim said: “I am not letting it rest. If it is refused I will come from a different angle.”

Donald Reid, councillor for Kilwinning, explained why the motion was rejected: “It’s been agreed that there’s some support for it, but the original petition was the whole route. What they brought before the audit was for the lane from the cemetery to the roundabout. That’s a safety issue, having taxis cutting out in front. We have to consider what the petition said and what the public signed. The taxi trade hasn’t made it clear what it wants.”

Councillor Jim Montgomerie added: “During certain times on that part of the road heading to Kilwinning it’s absolutely horrendous. Imagine being in a taxi waiting to go to Morrison’s waiting behind all that traffic while the bus lane to your left is totally free of vehicles, that’s the scenario locals have on a daily basis on that road.

“TOA have told me they would be willing to put it out to the community to decide.”

A spokesperson for Stagecoach said: “We are working with North Ayrshire Council to identify a number of areas where improvements can be made to road infrastructure to benefit our local customers and communities.

“The area of Kilwinning Road, Stevenston is a major pinch point on our network and key section for a number of services.

“We are happy to work with NAC to explore all options available, however we would not be in favour of any measures that could further delay our services.”

So the bus company has declined to give their support.

Shock f***ing horror.

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IDFIMH

I thought 3 and 4 in Brighton would be

Which way do you swing and What do reckon to the chances of getting to Wembley this year

but i should think the Uber one would be your favourite

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

bus companies the country over have councils under their thumbs whether it's keeping taxis out of bus lanes getting ranks moved to less convenient positions to protect their customer base or banning taxis from picking up and dropping off at bus stations

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

Aye...and with their nice chunky BSOG hand outs to ensure they never lose out on a grant assisted profit...how about a Taxi/PH operators grant? we all do the same thing..we shift people that need shifted, yet we need to make our profit without the benefit of a grant and if we don't we fail, if we can't make money from a council contract then we have no such BSOG to fall back on, why should these guys have a life support system in place..it's rotten.

Seems like the only taxi stuff that comes up in the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald is that bus lane

Might be juicier than it looks, though - the link doesn't work, and looks like the article's been pulled

Looks like allowing trade access to the bus lane has been unproblematic, though - unlike the council's bureaucracy


North Ayrshire taxi bus lane use back after ‘memory lapse’

https://www.ardrossanherald.com/news/19 ... ory-lapse/

Taxi drivers have been given the greenlight to use bus lanes once again – after a temporary order allowing its use lapsed last month when council chiefs forgot to renew it.

North Ayrshire Council confirmed they were now looking to get a permanent order after the drivers previously won a long fight to use a Stevenston bus lane for a 12-month trial period after a petition from TOA taxis.

However the order eventually lapsed in April 20 last month – with no one seeking to either renew it or implement a permanent order.

Following concerns from residents and enquiries from the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, North Ayrshire Council confirmed this week that a new order had now come into effect from May 5.

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “The Temporary Order lapsed on April 20 and following further consideration we have, from Wednesday, May 5, extended this for a further six months.

“We are currently in the process of promoting a permanent Traffic Regulation Order.”

When it was approved at North Ayrshire Council’s Cabinet in 2019, recommendation to councillors said: “It is proposed that the full length of the bus lane be the subject of an experimental TRO permitting taxis to utilise the bus lane for a period of 12 months. This will allow Hackney licensed and private hire vehicles to utilise the bus lane.

“This would allow a sufficient period to assess its impact on bus services and incidences of misuse by non-taxi vehicles.

The experimental nature of the TRO would also provide the council with the flexibility to rescind the order should the monitoring identify a sufficiently negative impact on bus services.”

Jim McKerrell of TOA Taxis said at the time: “It’s been a long haul, a good 10 years on and off. This is going to benefit the general public who are using the taxis.

“I’m totally delighted.”

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IDFIMH