Taxi Driver Online

Just out of curiosity did anyone attend the DFT access to taxis workshops.

I did attend the Edinburgh one and was surprised what the government had to say.

I got they impression after the workshop that the trade were getting wavs mixed up with 100% accessible vehicles.The Government were clear that if possible they would like 100% accessible.

Also i enjoyed the meal afterwards that the government paid for.

38 What vehicles to be deemed hackney carriages Every wheeled carriage, whatever
may be its form or construction, used in standing or plying for hire in any street withinthe prescribed distance, and every carriage standing upon any street within the prescribed
distance, having thereon any numbered plate required by this or the special Act to be
fixed upon a hackney carriage, or having thereon any plate resembling or intended to
resemble any such plate as aforesaid, shall be deemed to be a hackney carriage within the
meaning of this Act; and in all proceedings at law or otherwise the term "hackney
carriage" shall be sufficient to describe any such carriage: Provided always, that no stage
coach used for the purpose of standing or plying for passengers to be carried for hire at
separate fares, and duly licensed for that purpose, and having thereon the proper
numbered plates required by law to be placed on such stage coaches, shall be deemed to
be a hackney carriage within the meaning of this Act.
39……
Amendment. How can a LA change an act of parliament? Any wheeled vehicle yes any can be used. That includes WAV's but should not mean ONLY WAV's!

& there's more, Even if there was scope for the council to change an act ....which there is not! A TAXI is always a Taxi therefore cannot be changed. The only exception would be malpractice or driving ban etc.
I think the councils should be attacked with their own legislation in court.

To me that paragraph seems to be saying that any vehicle displaying a plate or something that looks like a plate shall be deemed to be a hackney carriage. It doesn't seem to me to be saying what a hackney carriage is.
I am only guessing but I would say the reference to stage coaches probably means a vehicle that carries a greater number of passengers than is permitted in a hackney carriage.

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Grandad,

Indeed you are correct.
I would go further and say that any vehicle with a HC plate is always a HC and shall remain so. The plate should go on a similar vehicle not a WAV although I admit that the driver/owner may want to change his vehicle to a WAV and should be free to do so.

They can't, and even by-laws have to be approved by the gov.

But the acts allow councils to decide vehicle conditions.

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IDFIMH

Sorry but I think you are reading something into that paragraph that simply isn't there to try and support your argument.

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Grandad,

Home \ Transport and streets \ Taxis and minicabs \ Licence - hackney carriage - taxi
Licence - hackney carriage - taxi
hackney carraige taxi

A 'Hackney Carriage' is more commonly called a Taxi. It is the responsibility of the Council to regulate the number of Hackney Carriages it licences.

This licence is required for any chauffeur-driven hire vehicle that will ply for hire, be flagged down or hired at a taxi rank. Once licensed, a taxi is always a taxi until the licence expires, is suspended or revoked. These vehicles are either black and white, or are a London-style taxi, have a roof sign and display a white plate on the rear of the vehicle. I interpret this as a plate that is yours/owners for as long as they require it. The fact that LA insist on annual plating is a red herring. Plates have been given out since 1847 & they stayed ON the vehicle till the owner gave them back or miss-used them. The owner of the plates/vehicle merely had to pay his/her annual fees.

And there was me thinking that the council owned the plates...............well thats what ours say.

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Grandad,

They are wrong, they just manage them grandad. The fact is that the LA's do own the PH plates & you just borrow them between fees. There are some councils who renew HC plates every year, I recon its just to get Hc drivers used to thinking that they are in control.

It's actually quite funny reading through this thread and seeing some of the f*cked up ideas some people actually have.

In respect of the thread Jimbo and Sussex have the ball and nobody is getting close.

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 had a white paper given to me some years ago with all the recommendations.

A brief summary as I remember it was this

All WAV by 2012

Council can apply to keep mixed fleet

It's more a case of what they would like rather than what you will have, I suggest if the time comes everyone reading puts in an objection, this on a large scale should open some ears, the paper dated back to around 1994 iirc, so those that wrote it are probably not in those jobs anymore, and hopefully those that are now holding position will be able to see as long as there is enough WAV's on each fleet already that should be ok.

So where is the level of fairness ?? The higher priced vehicle and running costs of a WAV v the Saloon that's been to the moon and back, with a value of not even a WAV's monthly payment...Got to be challengeable in the Courts no....???

Do disabled members of the Public refuse to get on a Train or Bus because they do not like the look of it or the steps too high, or they prefer not to travel backwards ??? I think not !!! So i bet there's neither a Train nor Bus thats accessible to all. But the Train and Bus Companies have at least tried to accomodate the disabled while, certain members of the National Taxi Trade, have only their self interest and finances at the forefront and, IMO always will ! I would like to know the National figures of how many Saloon Operators have made the transition to WAV since the implementation of The DDA in 1994...Anyone care to hazard a guess

Quite a few get into my saloon because they cannot manage the bus.

I would imagine there are one or two who have the same thoughts about a train, although at least the train is fairly steady as they walk to their seat unlike a bus.