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Mr Ponniah said the bus licence under which he had run the service was inappropriate for tuk-tuks as it was too rigid and the potential for further fines too great. He added that it was impossible to secure enough taxi permits to run a profitable business.

He should try taking them back to asia he might do better over there ...why is it that these people want to make our country like the one they left ...tuk tuks ..richshaws ...mosques ,,a great big budda statue?? and ill tell ya somthing ya dont know............................so on a rant again quite nite :sad:

CABMAN wrote:

Im all for peoples enterprise and initiative but i must say i agree with this post !!!!!!!

Mr Ponniah said: "Unfortunately, it is felt by the company's management that the archaic legislation under which we are governed is no longer appropriate to operate under.

kermit2482 wrote:

CABMAN wrote:

Im all for peoples enterprise and initiative but i must say i agree with this post !!!!!!!

Does that include American stretch limos? :lol:

"We will be attending the public inquiry next week and will resign our operator's licence with immediate effect."

"the business has been hit by "outdated" laws forcing the vehicles to operate under a bus licence", executive director Dominic Ponniah said last night.

The company will give up its right to run the rickshaws at a public inquiry on Tuesday when the Traffic Commissioner will consider whether the firm breached its licence last year.

Mr Ponniah said: "Unfortunately, it is felt by the company's management that the archaic legislation under which we are governed is no longer appropriate to operate under. "We will be attending the public inquiry next week and will resign our operator's licence with immediate effect."

Mr Ponniah said the bus licence under which he had run the service was inappropriate for tuk-tuks as it was too rigid and the potential for further fines too great. He added that it was impossible to secure enough taxi permits to run a profitable business.

He is now calling for a change to the law which would allow motorised rickshaws to operate as a cab but in a limited area. He said: "We have been pioneering and we haven't had the experience of other people running a similar service. "We were trying to stretch the legislation to fit us. We tried and to that extent we failed."

The firm will look at whether a new policy being drawn up for pedicabs in London can be extended to tuk-tuks. Plans for a service for the Edinburgh Festival and operations abroad, including in Estonia, are also being looked at.

Mr Ponniah said: "It is with great sadness that we will not be re-opening our Brighton and Hove service, at least for the foreseeable future. "As a company, we now wish to focus our attention on setting up services in other cities and countries, with more flexible and sensible licensing regimes."

The tuk-tuks have faced stiff opposition from taxis in Brighton and Hove who have complained the vehicles were not sticking to the bus licence and put passengers at risk.

Sussex wrote:

Mr Ponniah has learn't a valuable lesson in that you can't always bend the law to suit your own business model and that it is you who has to abide by the law and not the other way around.

We were all aware how Mr Ponniah wanted to operate these vehicles and from the outset we pointed out what must be done in order to make sure that he didn't operate these vehicles in any way that was incompatible with his contract. That meant running a bus service and keeping to timetables.

It appears to me that the Brighton Taxi trade were the only ones that monitored this company and reported any infringements of license. It just goes to show that if you want anything done regarding enforcement of vehicles operating under PSV legislation then for the most part you have to do it yourself, otherwise it doesn't get done.

I congratulate the Brighton hackney and private hire trade on keeping the Traffic Commissioner informed of the breaches of licenses committed by this company.

I think other areas could learn a valuable lesson from the Brighton Taxi Trade in respect of vehicles operating under a PSV license but who break the law by using their vehicles as private hire vehicles. However Brighton had the will and know how to see this through, I suspect many others lack that determination

Regards

JD

I congratulate the Brighton hackney and private hire trade on keeping the Traffic Commissioner informed of the breaches of licenses committed by this company.

Author:	Sussex [ Sat Jan 19, 2008 7:22 pm ]
Post subject:	Bye bye Mr Tuk Tuk
It's ta ta to the tuk-tuks Europe's first fleet of tuk-tuks has reached the end of the road in Sussex. TucTuc Limited, the firm behind the three-wheel motorised rickshaws, has told The Argus it will not be returning to Brighton and Hove and could suspend plans to launch a service in London. The pioneering bid to bring a mode of transport more associated with South East Asia to the south coast of England has been hit by "outdated" laws forcing the vehicles to operate under a bus licence, executive director Dominic Ponniah said last night. The company will give up its right to run the rickshaws at a public inquiry on Tuesday when the Traffic Commissioner will consider whether the firm breached its licence last year. Mr Ponniah said: "Unfortunately, it is felt by the company's management that the archaic legislation under which we are governed is no longer appropriate to operate under. "We will be attending the public inquiry next week and will resign our operator's licence with immediate effect." This is the second time Mr Ponniah has faced a public inquiry for breach of his licence. The first resulted in a £16,000, halved on appeal, after the service failed to meet its bus timetable. In 2007 the colourful rickshaws were relaunched as a dial-a-ride service and included new six-seater vehicles. But the operation was stopped suddenly in September in a surprise move, although Mr Ponniah said he always planned to call a halt for the winter. As a result Tuc Tuc Ltd now faces another sizeable fine from the Traffic Commissioner after it was alleged it did not give 56 days notice before shutting. Mr Ponniah said the bus licence under which he had run the service was inappropriate for tuk-tuks as it was too rigid and the potential for further fines too great. He added that it was impossible to secure enough taxi permits to run a profitable business. He is now calling for a change to the law which would allow motorised rickshaws to operate as a cab but in a limited area. He said: "We have been pioneering and we haven't had the experience of other people running a similar service. "We were trying to stretch the legislation to fit us. We tried and to that extent we failed." The firm will look at whether a new policy being drawn up for pedicabs in London can be extended to tuk-tuks. Plans for a service for the Edinburgh Festival and operations abroad, including in Estonia, are also being looked at. Mr Ponniah said: "It is with great sadness that we will not be re-opening our Brighton and Hove service, at least for the foreseeable future. "As a company, we now wish to focus our attention on setting up services in other cities and countries, with more flexible and sensible licensing regimes." The tuk-tuks have faced stiff opposition from taxis in Brighton and Hove who have complained the vehicles were not sticking to the bus licence and put passengers at risk. City councillor Ted Kemble, speaking in a personal capacity as a taxi driver, said: "I have never felt that they were in competition with us. "But given their safety record it is probably good they are not coming back." Mr Ponniah has consistently dismissed safety concerns. Since the Brighton and Hove launch in 2006, other, mostly smaller, operations have been started by competitors around the country. In Blackpool, Robin Ross has secured the right to operate tuk-tuks as private hire vehicles with some extra restrictions. Mr Ross said he sympathised with Mr Ponniah's difficulties and is also calling for a change in the law to make it easier for tuk-tuks to operate. He added: "People have said that this guy is doing something good for Brighton and good luck to him. "I could not have wished for more support from the licensing department at Blackpool council." David Lepper, MP for Brighton Pavilion, said: "As a tourist attraction for the seafront it added a bit to Brighton but it was never to be taken seriously as a transport network."

Author:	Sussex [ Sat Jan 19, 2008 7:23 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Bye bye Mr Tuk Tuk
Sussex wrote: Mr Ponniah said the bus licence under which he had run the service was inappropriate for tuk-tuks as it was too rigid and the potential for further fines too great. He added that it was impossible to secure enough taxi permits to run a profitable business. Thank f*** for quotas.

Author:	CABMAN [ Sun Jan 20, 2008 10:30 am ]
Post subject:
He should try taking them back to asia he might do better over there ...why is it that these people want to make our country like the one they left ...tuk tuks ..richshaws ...mosques ,,a great big budda statue?? and ill tell ya somthing ya dont know............................so on a rant again quite nite

Author:	kermit2482 [ Sun Jan 20, 2008 10:59 am ]
Post subject:
CABMAN wrote: He should try taking them back to asia he might do better over there ...why is it that these people want to make our country like the one they left ...tuk tuks ..richshaws ...mosques ,,a great big budda statue?? and ill tell ya somthing ya dont know............................so on a rant again quite nite Im all for peoples enterprise and initiative but i must say i agree with this post !!!!!!!

Author:	TDO [ Sun Jan 20, 2008 4:01 pm ]
Post subject:
kermit2482 wrote: CABMAN wrote: He should try taking them back to asia he might do better over there ...why is it that these people want to make our country like the one they left ...tuk tuks ..richshaws ...mosques ,,a great big budda statue?? and ill tell ya somthing ya dont know............................so on a rant again quite nite Im all for peoples enterprise and initiative but i must say i agree with this post !!!!!!! Does that include American stretch limos?

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Bye bye Mr Tuk Tuk http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7738	Page 1 of 3

Author:	TDO [ Sun Jan 20, 2008 4:03 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Bye bye Mr Tuk Tuk
Sussex wrote: Mr Ponniah said: "Unfortunately, it is felt by the company's management that the archaic legislation under which we are governed is no longer appropriate to operate under. That would be the same legislation as when he started then?

Author:	kermit2482 [ Sun Jan 20, 2008 4:10 pm ]
Post subject:
TDO wrote: kermit2482 wrote: CABMAN wrote: He should try taking them back to asia he might do better over there ...why is it that these people want to make our country like the one they left ...tuk tuks ..richshaws ...mosques ,,a great big budda statue?? and ill tell ya somthing ya dont know............................so on a rant again quite nite Im all for peoples enterprise and initiative but i must say i agree with this post !!!!!!! Does that include American stretch limos? Second words off, in the nicest possible way

Author:	Sussex [ Sun Jan 20, 2008 6:13 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Bye bye Mr Tuk Tuk
Sussex wrote: "We will be attending the public inquiry next week and will resign our operator's licence with immediate effect." This will be no-doubt just before the Traffic Commissioner revokes it.

Author:	JD [ Sun Jan 20, 2008 7:04 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Bye bye Mr Tuk Tuk
Sussex wrote: "the business has been hit by "outdated" laws forcing the vehicles to operate under a bus licence", executive director Dominic Ponniah said last night. The company will give up its right to run the rickshaws at a public inquiry on Tuesday when the Traffic Commissioner will consider whether the firm breached its licence last year. Mr Ponniah said: "Unfortunately, it is felt by the company's management that the archaic legislation under which we are governed is no longer appropriate to operate under. "We will be attending the public inquiry next week and will resign our operator's licence with immediate effect." Mr Ponniah said the bus licence under which he had run the service was inappropriate for tuk-tuks as it was too rigid and the potential for further fines too great. He added that it was impossible to secure enough taxi permits to run a profitable business. He is now calling for a change to the law which would allow motorised rickshaws to operate as a cab but in a limited area. He said: "We have been pioneering and we haven't had the experience of other people running a similar service. "We were trying to stretch the legislation to fit us. We tried and to that extent we failed." The firm will look at whether a new policy being drawn up for pedicabs in London can be extended to tuk-tuks. Plans for a service for the Edinburgh Festival and operations abroad, including in Estonia, are also being looked at. Mr Ponniah said: "It is with great sadness that we will not be re-opening our Brighton and Hove service, at least for the foreseeable future. "As a company, we now wish to focus our attention on setting up services in other cities and countries, with more flexible and sensible licensing regimes." The tuk-tuks have faced stiff opposition from taxis in Brighton and Hove who have complained the vehicles were not sticking to the bus licence and put passengers at risk. Mr Ponniah has learn't a valuable lesson in that you can't always bend the law to suit your own business model and that it is you who has to abide by the law and not the other way around. We were all aware how Mr Ponniah wanted to operate these vehicles and from the outset we pointed out what must be done in order to make sure that he didn't operate these vehicles in any way that was incompatible with his contract. That meant running a bus service and keeping to timetables. It appears to me that the Brighton Taxi trade were the only ones that monitored this company and reported any infringements of license. It just goes to show that if you want anything done regarding enforcement of vehicles operating under PSV legislation then for the most part you have to do it yourself, otherwise it doesn't get done. I congratulate the Brighton hackney and private hire trade on keeping the Traffic Commissioner informed of the breaches of licenses committed by this company. I think other areas could learn a valuable lesson from the Brighton Taxi Trade in respect of vehicles operating under a PSV license but who break the law by using their vehicles as private hire vehicles. However Brighton had the will and know how to see this through, I suspect many others lack that determination Regards JD

Author:	brightonbreezy [ Sun Jan 20, 2008 7:51 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Bye bye Mr Tuk Tuk
JD wrote: Sussex wrote: "the business has been hit by "outdated" laws forcing the vehicles to operate under a bus licence", executive director Dominic Ponniah said last night. The company will give up its right to run the rickshaws at a public inquiry on Tuesday when the Traffic Commissioner will consider whether the firm breached its licence last year. Mr Ponniah said: "Unfortunately, it is felt by the company's management that the archaic legislation under which we are governed is no longer appropriate to operate under. "We will be attending the public inquiry next week and will resign our operator's licence with immediate effect." Mr Ponniah said the bus licence under which he had run the service was inappropriate for tuk-tuks as it was too rigid and the potential for further fines too great. He added that it was impossible to secure enough taxi permits to run a profitable business. He is now calling for a change to the law which would allow motorised rickshaws to operate as a cab but in a limited area. He said: "We have been pioneering and we haven't had the experience of other people running a similar service. "We were trying to stretch the legislation to fit us. We tried and to that extent we failed." The firm will look at whether a new policy being drawn up for pedicabs in London can be extended to tuk-tuks. Plans for a service for the Edinburgh Festival and operations abroad, including in Estonia, are also being looked at. Mr Ponniah said: "It is with great sadness that we will not be re-opening our Brighton and Hove service, at least for the foreseeable future. "As a company, we now wish to focus our attention on setting up services in other cities and countries, with more flexible and sensible licensing regimes." The tuk-tuks have faced stiff opposition from taxis in Brighton and Hove who have complained the vehicles were not sticking to the bus licence and put passengers at risk. Mr Ponniah has learn't a valuable lesson in that you can't always bend the law to suit your own business model and that it is you who has to abide by the law and not the other way around. We were all aware how Mr Ponniah wanted to operate these vehicles and from the outset we pointed out what must be done in order to make sure that he didn't operate these vehicles in any way that was incompatible with his contract. That meant running a bus service and keeping to timetables. It appears to me that the Brighton Taxi trade were the only ones that monitored this company and reported any infringements of license. It just goes to show that if you want anything done regarding enforcement of vehicles operating under PSV legislation then for the most part you have to do it yourself, otherwise it doesn't get done. I congratulate the Brighton hackney and private hire trade on keeping the Traffic Commissioner informed of the breaches of licenses committed by this company. I think other areas could learn a valuable lesson from the Brighton Taxi Trade in respect of vehicles operating under a PSV license but who break the law by using their vehicles as private hire vehicles. However Brighton had the will and know how to see this through, I suspect many others lack that determination Regards JD I did not have much to do with this issue, but I know the lads who were involved, a big thank-you for all your efforts. Regards BB

Author:	Downtown Cab [ Sun Jan 20, 2008 7:59 pm ]
Post subject:
Good riddance to them. The cab trade spent a lot of money. But it was money well spent.

Author:	Sussex [ Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:03 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Bye bye Mr Tuk Tuk
JD wrote: I congratulate the Brighton hackney and private hire trade on keeping the Traffic Commissioner informed of the breaches of licenses committed by this company. I'm pretty certain that a couple of lads from the opposite ends of the trade made a joint effort, helped with work from others, to sort this mess out. See it can work.

Author:	skippy41 [ Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:26 pm ]
Post subject:
What would happen if he decided to take it through the courts, to try and amend the out dated licence requirements, and lets just say he was successful what would happen then What if he is successful in gaining a licence in London where I belive he has put in an application for a special licence just like the rickshaws apart from upsetting GBC and the rest of London's finest

Author:	Sussex [ Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:38 am ]
Post subject:
I suppose he could challenge B&H's restricted numbers policy, but they are wise enough to have surveys every three years. He could run as PH, but then he would need licensed PH drivers. Chances of any PH driver I know driving a tuk tuk = 0%. Then he has to get those things licensed as PH. Well with type approval just around the corner, again chances = 0%. The problem is Mr Tuk Tuk and his death-traps, and IMO there is no way out for either of them.

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Author:	grandad [ Mon Jan 21, 2008 8:26 am ]
Post subject:
I doubt that they would even pass for private hir now. Our policy states 4 wheels. The drivers may not be the problem you think though. Who was driving them last year? They could apply for badges the same as anyone else.