Taxi Driver Online

No I don think so JD

Funny how a majority of license holders who supposedly support this agreement want to renage on it? Perhaps they weren't in support of it in the first place?

If you are going to have a wav policy I suppose one way is a policy of natural progression by way of vehicle age. The policy is quite clear, any vehicle license renewable after January that requires a replacement vehicle because of age policy, has to be a wav. That seems quite simple to me but I suppose those effected might be of the opinion that they have not been consulted properly? If they do feel that way then they could always take a legal route but in the end no matter what happens in court the council will eventually get what they wan't. I just wonder what the council put on the table at these negotiations with the local taxi association because it appears to me it wasn't so much as a compromise but a take it or leave it.

Accept this policy or we will deregulate numbers.

Regards

JD

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Its Human nature to appease before hand by saying what you think they want to hear...then in the cold light of day realise that you maybe should have said something differently in the First case.

Its also the average authorities way to force things through by Authority bullying rather than by ongoing and evolving discussions and debates...This is simply bacause they can....and they like that feeling of power in their otherwise sad lifes. Authorities will never to let things evolve and mature as they have only Immediate action and result as an objective, this is because spending our money is easy for them, this at a time to when the Taxi trade is feeling the true bite of recession makes it even harder and more unpalatable.

Maybe their Grandiose plans should be put on the back burner until the Economics of change is less of a bitter pill to Swallow and that the fear of having to conform may bring about bankruptcy has subsided for all.

Bradford already have E7's licensed so can't see them insisting on LTI vehicles only.
Hackney Carriage needs to be a mixed fleet as not all disabled people can get in a WAV. Our local disabled access committee spoke up for us when the council were considering making all the fleet WAV's.

I think most folks on here sort of agree with that, but can you answer the billion dollar question as to who pays up to £35,000 for a motor and who buys a Skoda?

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IDFIMH

A good question, often asked, and never answered.

But the answer any saloon car owning taxi driver will give, is anybody but me.

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Former taxi driver

The lucky people who have saloons will be the people that own them now.
Councils will end up only issuing plates for WAV's
Unfortunately for Bradford they should of kept to the agreement they made as it looks like they may be all forced to replace their vehicles with WAV's.

Skippy



Everyone else

Disabled test drive wheelchair-friendly taxis


People with disabilities road-tested new taxis yesterday as part of a consultation to determine which vehicles are the easiest to use.

The six taxis with different layouts and ramps were all purpose-built and included two London-style cabs as well as Mercedes-Benz and Peugeot people carriers.

It follows a push by Bradford Council to increase the number of wheelchair-accessible taxis available in the district from the current levels of 11.6 per cent.

Jill Grant, of both Bradford Access Action and Bradford and District Disabled People’s Forum, was among those who tried out the vehicles for size.

She said: “It’s shown me that wheelchair-accessible vehicles have got to be purpose-built rather than converted. I also thought the London-style cabs would be the best for me, but I couldn’t turn my wheelchair round once inside. I like the Mercedes as its comfortable and there is room for other passengers too.

Janet Cuff, of Able All, a group for the physically disabled, also tried out the taxis. She agreed that the Mercedes vehicle was the best as she could climb in using the two steps.

A meeting took place afterwards to discuss in more detail people’s preferred choice of taxi specifications.

The consultation follows a review by the Council’s hackney carriage unit which found there was a significant lack of vehicles that are suitable to carry wheelchair-bound passengers. As a result taxi drivers and councillors have agreed to a new deal which would see 36 wheelchair-accessible taxis being commissioned next year.

However, on Monday the Telegraph & Argus reported that taxi drivers are being accused of exploiting a loophole.

The agreement was that hackney carriage owners would start swapping saloon cars for wheelchair accessible vehicles from next year as licences were renewed. This would mean 36 new vehicles for use by the disabled next year alone and a further 150 in the following three years. But since the agreement was reached 20 drivers have approached the Council’s hackney carriage unit about renewing their licences early.

The Council is looking to close the loophole at a meeting of the regulatory and appeals committee later today.

At the same meeting councillors are being asked to increase the taxi licence fees by at least 35 per cent.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Another nail in LTIs coffin

Why would they want to?

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Horses for courses.

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

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IDFIMH