Taxi Driver Online

'Shared taxis are better than buses'

TAXIS should replace buses to help people who do not own a car to get around the countryside, a senior government advisor has said. The Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) believes a shared taxi scheme is the best way to provide public transport in areas where demand is low but the needs of local people must be met.

CRC chairman Stuart Burgess, the Prime Minister's rural advocate, said: "Rural bus provision has declined steadily over the past 20 years. This, combined with a reduction in local services, such as post offices and shops, has resulted in poorer access to many facilities for the 9.5 million people living in rural England."

He pointed to research which shows just half of rural households are within 13 minutes of an hourly or better bus service, compared with almost 90 per cent in urban areas. "Even if buses are running, services are generally patchy, operate just two or three times a week, and can be inconvenient and expensive," he said.

The CRC wants the Government to support community schemes like shared taxis which can deliver "cheaper, subsidised transport, even in areas where there is currently none at all, allowing people better access to jobs and services, as well as reducing car dependence and cutting emissions".

Last year a report by the Commission for Integrated Public Transport (CfIT) backed the idea of shared taxis in rural areas.

It said limited demand for commuter routes and the need for time-sensitive services for hospital visits or dental check-ups, make it almost impossible for commercial operators to make a profit in the countryside. The CfIT urged ministers to launch a pilot scheme of a shared taxi service which allows travellers to pre-book transport, instead of subsidising regular bus services.

The body, which advises the Government, suggested the trial run could take place in Cornwall.

Dr Lynn Sloman, vice-chairman of CfIT said: "The UK should aim for shared taxi schemes to be developed to the same scale as in mainland Europe. Schemes there provide from five to 50 times as many passenger trips as typical schemes in England, and have achieved significant economies of scale.

"Shared taxi services only run when requested and so are more cost-effective and environmentally sustainable than conventional rural bus services. But most importantly they offer flexible, affordable services which complement the wider public transport network. We are pressing for Government to fund a pilot to demonstrate the very real benefits offered."

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IDFIMH

im cheaper than a taxi
and faster than a bus
why go with them
when you coulda gone with us...

ding ding, mind the doors please

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

How is it going to be subsidised

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

by giving £1000 to anyone buying a new vehicle and trading in an Lti....

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Apply to the local County Council for a grant. A guy who used to post on here many moons ago did exactly the same thing, he set up something called a Taxi Bus scheme, he got funding from the County Council, offered them a route and whala he was away. He could also pick up and drop off at bus stops.

I think that had something to do with the use of the word 'bus'. It appears they are suggesting that taxi drivers be subsidised for a taxi share. What I was curious about was if you subsidise a taxi in rural areas because people share the vehicle what would be stopping other taxis in none rural areas from doing the same

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Pre booked and fair sharing..........hmmmmmmmm..isnt that the domain of Private hire. I can do these things already just as yet without the subsidy.

This is more suited to Private hire than Taxis as it is not likely to be hailed from the roadside but needs pre booked instead. Besides Private hire is more common in rural areas simply because there is no where to rank up and hardly anyone standing in grassy lanes hoping to hail a Taxi that'll never happen by.

Taxi/hacks have ranks, PHV have the rest of the world, internet, phone, text, enail, etc, etc...

be happy!

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

apart from about 0.000001%, council staff/committee/quangos dont know theres a difference between HC and PHV

may it continue...

we had a A5 info flyer arrive by post tell me how the new pedestrianised area may be accessed by "taxis", so i asked if PH can do the same...

2 months/no reply yet...

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

HC have all those advantages as well if they so wish

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

get away.....

so why do HCs moan about PH so much then?...

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

NOT ALL HACKNEYS HAVE RANKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cos there aren't enough rank spaces usually and cos PH keep behaving like HC's and picking up off the street Apart from that they want the world to themselves, why else

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Because out of all the bad news stories posted on TDO about rogue drivers, attacks, unlawfully plying for hire, rip off prices, refusal to take guide dogs, unable to take wheelchairs . . . .

9/10 times it's a PH vehicle / driver involved.

i think its because they get no-one walking to a rank when they can ring PH and the vehicle comes to them..

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most