Taxi Driver Online

Fare Queuing Taxis Cause Leeds City Centre Gridlock

3 September 2009

Leeds city centre is being brought to a standstill by queuing taxis.

Every day scores of black and white Hackney carriages park up on key routes waiting for work. One queue often stretches along the Headrow causing chaos for buses.

Leeds City Council was forced to act after the problem became serious in Boar Lane near the train station. A 'snake' of parked taxis waiting to pick up passengers spilled out into Boar Lane from New Station Street.

Two temporary ranks were set up in Eastgate and Meadow Lane close to Asda's headquarters, but this has only shunted the problem on.

The glut of taxis is believed to have been caused by a number of factors.

These include the removal of a rank at Leeds Bradford Airport, a lack of parking near the station for taxis waiting to pick up passengers and a fall in customers.

The council's traffic department is trying to solve the problem but privately some in the council believe there is no solution, at least in the short term.

A spokesman said: "The council provides numerous taxi ranks around the city and wider district for taxis to wait and the public to find them.

"However, problems occur when too many taxis try to use the most popular ranks, causing congestion for buses and other road users.

"The rail station is regarded by many as the main city centre rank, but efforts are being made to encourage both the public and taxis to also use other locations.

"We continue to work with the police, Metro and the taxi firms to provide adequate ranks, both permanent and temporary, the most recent being a bay on Meadow Lane which will hold 20 taxis when fully operational.

"But it is vital that taxi drivers work with us so that key points, particularly around the train station and The Headrow, do not become clogged and cause problems."

FirstGroup spokeswoman Denise Robertson said: "First services in Leeds city centre have most definitely suffered over the last few days as the result of taxis parking outside designated taxi ranks, creating congestion along many of our key corridors."

She added: "The current situation cannot continue and we apologise to our passengers for any inconvenience caused and thank them for their patience while this matter is resolved."

One bus-user Pamela Hughes, 69, of Rodley, said: "It's just absolutely horrendous from about the town hall right until the bottom of Eastgate because all the taxis are having to park there outside Primark.

"I got off the 760 Keighley bus at the art gallery. I said to the driver I bet you don't pass me before I walk to Primark – and he didn't."

Chairman of the Leeds Hackney Carriage Badge Holders' Association (check] said: "Quote to come."

Source; YorkshireEveningPost.co.uk

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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The Government introduced Section 16 of the Transport Act 1985 & created a MONSTER.

The monster has continued to grow ..... all over the country.

The monster is now massive & continues to grow all over the country.

You might say that the cabs (exactly the same situation in Brum as in Leeds ..... probably a lot more cabs queueing) are illegally parked & you would be right.

So PC Plod moves the cabs on periodically. (Last time he did, one of the drivers told him that he has to work for a living & doesn't have a police pension).

So the cabs move on & ply for hire around the city centre, obviously taking up spaces at the back of ranks that are not full on the way, as per the bye-laws.

But 250 extra cabs on the city centre streets, all driving & plying for hire, soon starts to block the city up with traffic.

So the bus companies start to complain abouy taxis doing their job ..... driving & plying for hire, as per the bye-laws, until each cab in turn might find a space at the back of a rank.

PC Plod finally relents & continues to allow the long snaking queue into New Street Station of illegally parked taxis, which is the preferred option to city centre gridlock caused by taxis only doing their job as per the bye-laws.

THE MONSTER CONTINUES TO GROW ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

I wonder what would happen if one day in the not too distant future ALL cab around the country for ONE DAY ONLY, worked to rule. No over-ranking ..... drive & ply for hire in the most lucrative areas ..... abide by the bye-laws ..... etc.

Would there be gridlock in most cities & towns that have embrassed the MONSTER??

YOU BET THERE WOULD!!!!!

AND THE MONSTER CONTINUES TO GROW & GROW & GROW ..... !!!

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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If it wasnt for section 16 we'd have nationwide deregulation.

CC

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

I know the history; Jim Whelan, Harold Marks, Lord Renton & the other Lord, whose name escapes me at the moment, & all.

They did an excellent job all of them. God Rest Their Souls.

But Section 16 still allows the issue of Hackney Licenses to the point of stupidity & continues to FEED THE MONSTER!!!

Lord Winchelsea was the other fellow; drove a green cab as a private vehicle for many years.

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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Disagree with other members' views;
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I am not criticizing what was done by the trade reps at the time, but in hindsight it might have been better to let that happen.

Because if it had, by now ALL cities & towns would have been gridlocked with cabs over-ranking & driving for hire.

The government would have had to do something sooner rather than later under those circumstances, as they surely will have to some day in the future.

Just a thought that you probably won't agree with.

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

I am not criticizing what was done by the trade reps at the time, but in hindsight it might have been better to let that happen.

Because if it had, by now ALL cities & towns would have been gridlocked with cabs over-ranking & driving for hire.

The government would have had to do something sooner rather than later under those circumstances, as they surely will have to some day in the future.

Just a thought that you probably won't agree with.[/quote]

I take your point.....and bearing in mind I was still at school then perhaps it would have been better

CC

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

.....or long stay car parks, as they are sometimes known.

OK...some of these ranks would be used more by the public, if drivers persevered with building trade at these sites, but many are old, defunct ranks that should be scrapped, due to a change in circumstances for example (such as the business that used to supply customers no longer being there). They often only only serve in allowing a council to state that they have some ranks that drivers don't use, when the truth is that there'd be more chance of getting a job if you were parked on your driveway. And yes...before someone says it...trade reps must share the responsibility for allowing this.

It led to 1000s and 1000s more PH on the streets, which has led to fewer jobs for taxis, which has led to more taxis on the ranks.

If the taxi trade was doing the job right, then there would only be a few PH plates stuck to the back of those stretch things.

In other words the taxi trade thought it was being saved by section 16, yet it was being doomed by it.

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IDFIMH

Perhaps sussex......but I get the feeling some in the HC trade want section 16 removed under the illusion the pre 1985 situation will return.

CC

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

A very good observation indeed .... but then hindsight is 20-20 vision.

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

It would be far better to increase driver standards than to restrict vehicle plates. If the criteria for drivers was increased there perhaps wouldn't be so many taxis on the road IMHO.

I don't think anything will bring the trade back to pre 1985 and to be honest I wouldn't want it to, it was a nightmare trying to flag a cab down then

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

I bet it still is for you Ms Toots ..... tight shiny black rubber gear & big whip in hand, standing at the side of the road!!!

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

If I was dressed like that I would have no problem getting a taxi now would I

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

Some would say that's why cab drivers in London are the best paid cab drivers in the UK.

_________________
IDFIMH

But the worse dressed

CC

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