Taxi Driver Online

Another one of those articles based on the template using the DfT figures, but not sure why this has appeared online now several weeks after the numerous other articles.

But it's characteristically all over the place. First, the headline refers only to 'more taxis' in Carlisle.

Then the opening paragraph refers only to 'more private hire vehicles transporting passengers through Carlisle's streets'

There's also a photo of black HCs

And the photo caption refers to 'more private hire vehicles in Carlisle'

And the articles itself doesn't mention taxi numbers at all, thus totally at odds with the headline and photo.

Funnily enough, despite all that, the text of the article does actually manage to accurately explain the difference between a taxi and PHV

And although it's a different photo to the previous one that was used, what's the betting it isn't Carlisle anyway. Certainly doesn't fit my perception of downtown Carlisle, but I've never actually been there


More taxis operating in Carlisle than before the pandemic

https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/2132 ... e-pademic/


There are more private hire vehicles in Carlisle than before the pandemic

More private hire vehicles are transporting passengers through Carlisle's streets than before the coronavirus pandemic, new figures show.

But the GMB Union said running taxis and pre-booked cars has become more expensive due to a "perfect storm" of problems, including the cost-of-living crisis, the coronavirus pandemic and licensing issues.

A private hire vehicle, such as those available through Uber, must be pre-booked and cannot ply for hire, whereas a taxi, such as a traditional black cab, can be hailed down and is usually charged on a timed meter.

Department for Transport figures show there were 76 private hire vehicles in Carlisle as of March – up from 67 the year before and above pre-pandemic levels.

Across England and Wales, the total number of private vehicles increased in the last year following a significant drop in 2021 – though it is still well below the number of vehicles on the roads before the pandemic.

There were 236,000 private hire vehicles in 2020, dropping to 197,000 last year before rebounding to 208,000 this year.

Yaseen Aslam, president of the App Drivers and Couriers Union, which represents private hire drivers, said: "A lot of people stopped driving during the pandemic as they became couriers and decided it was more cost-effective.

As regards where the photo is from, the high-res version of the image confirms that the front plate is almost blank apart from the number, but doesn't the crest above it look vaguely like the Liverpool liver bird thingy?

https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/resources/images/15022369

So had a look for a Liverpool front plate, and found these, although they're different in design, but neither looks precisely like the one in, er, Carlisle.

https://c.files.bbci.co.uk/6508/product ... ges-nc.jpg

https://c8.alamy.com/comp/P409CY/liverp ... P409CY.jpg

Funnily enough, though, Google also found this article about random drug testing for Liverpool drivers, which uses the same photo as the one in 'Carlisle':

https://www.alphabiolabs.co.uk/blog/liv ... rug-tests/

So although there seems to be some inconsistency with the plate designs, I'd guess the photo from 'Carlisle' is actually Liverpool. Maybe the plates have been redesigned over the years, and perhaps that's quite an old photo. Certainly can't be many X-reg (2000) TXs around in past few years, even in Liverpool

they always use "stock" photos for these things perhaps you should PM CC he'll be able to confirm it's not Carlisle or PM Mr T and if it is scouseland he'll tell you whereabouts

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

Well I'm not *that* desperate to know where the photo was taken

Just really bored last night, and thinking out loud, and disappeared down one of the usual rabbit holes

No one was actually supposed to post a reply

But, yes, lots of stock photos used, but not always, and can't recall seeing that one before.

My favourites are the ones of the black and white Cardiff HCs, which are used to illustrate articles about both sides of the trade here, there and everywhere - but particularly about private hire issues in Liverpool



High-res version here

https://i2-prod.liverpoolecho.co.uk/inc ... /9_cab.jpg