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.
