Taxi Driver Online

Taxis at New Street station could be rationed


Taxi access to Birmingham’s New Street Station could be rationed in an attempt to relieve traffic chaos.

Council highways chiefs are talking to the police and Network Rail about restricting the number of black cabs able to enter the station at peak times.

The aim is to put an end to huge queues of up to 200 cabs attempting to get into New Street, causing severe congestion on nearby roads.

City assistant traffic manager Kevin Hicks said matters were so bad that traffic jams sometimes stretched back to the A38 Suffolk Street Queensway.

Mr Hicks told the transportation scrutiny committee that a long term solution could involve approving a maximum number of cabs permitted to enter the station during the busiest times, although nothing is likely to happen until the £600 million refurbishment of New Street is finished in 2014.

He added that although there are 300 taxi ranks in the city centre, drivers regard New Street as the best spot in Birmingham.

Demand is greatest first thing in the morning with cabbies jostling for position in an attempt to meet the 10.30am arrival from Euston – dubbed the “magic train” by taxi operators because of the number of wealthy passengers from London looking for a taxi.

Mr Hicks said: “The taxi trade sees the city centre, and New Street Station, as a honeypot particularly for journeys to the airport.”

Committee member Coun Kath Hartley (Lab Ladywood) said: “The situation is unacceptable with taxis queuing on both sides of the road and performing u-turns.

Coun Dennis Birbeck (Con Sutton New Hall) added: “It’s a jungle, every man and woman for themselves.

“This has got to be sorted out and it is a question of enforcement. We have got to start enforcing the rules.”

Cab driver Ray Beach, a former committee member of the Birmingham & Solihull Taxi Association, said the council “only has itself to blame” for issuing too many taxi licences over the years.

There are 1,400 licensed taxis in Birmingham and 5,500 licensed private hire vehicles.

Mr Beach added: “We told the council years ago to stop issuing licences, but they wouldn’t listen. If we can’t get into New Street Station, where else are we going to go for work?”

source: http://www.birminghampost.net/news/

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

When are theses councils going to realize that they are to blame for this.

More than meets the eye here I think.

There used to be a permit system now its a barrier free for all......from memory anyway.

CC

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

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

In today's climate you are going to rank up any place you can get a job,as i have said before it would be impossible to give every car a rank space .

Thats true.....but cabs have to rank somewhere, so a deregulatory policy isnt going to work, these problems are nationwide......or am I the only one who has noticed?

CC

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

That's correct Captain.

If they introduce this there will be war in Brum centre.

Plying for hire like you've never seem it.

Brum centre will be permanetly grid locked.

Bring it on I say.

Brum is central, so how many other areas would like to join in a day long drive about in Brum?

It might get politicians to take note ..... then it might not!!

_________________
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Brummie Cabbie.

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No i am going to bring this up at the STF meeting today

Aren't these the guys that used to operate the taxis at the airport?

_________________
Grandad,

The one & only, very same ones!

Know in Brum as BASTA for short, or BASTA R D S for long.

Gladly now deceased, no longer in operation, bankrupt, gone out of business, liquidated, in receivership, etc., etc!!!

_________________
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.

Are the trade better off for that BC?

CC

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

I think so!!

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
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When debating on the TDO Forum.

You'd know I suppose, you work there.

Can't help thinking the situation at the station and the airport and of course with that nightclub, all seem to have came to a head since their demise.

CC

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

The Acting Chief Highway Engineer's FULL Report That Was The Catalyst For This Newspaper Article;

Birmingham City Council

Information Briefing

Report from: Acting Chief Highway Engineer

Date: 16th February 2010

Licensed Hire Vehicles in Birmingham City Centre

Summary:
1. Comments have been received by Highways over recent months from the public, officers and members alike relating to observed traffic problems seemingly being caused by the increase in taxi queuing at some key locations around the city.

1.1 This report outlines the current position in the city in relation to the overall regulation and management of hackney carriages and private hire vehicles. It also serves to highlight current initiatives being developed by Highways and our partners to improve the situation at those key locations.

Background information:
2.1 BCC’s regulatory services department is responsible for the issuing; monitoring and renewal of licenses for hire vehicles (often referred to as Hackney carriages) within Birmingham. Currently around 1400 licences exist for hackney carriage operators. In addition other taxis in the form of private hire vehicles operate within the city. There are over 5,500 licensed Private Hire Vehicles within the city.

Private Hire Vehicles
2.2 Private Hire Vehicles must be pre-booked through a Private Hire operator. Failure to book in advance may lead to the driver, the vehicle and the passengers being uninsured. Private Hire Vehicles cannot be hailed or flagged down under any circumstances.

2.3 The City Council does not control Private Hire Charges but it is a condition that the fare chart is displayed in the vehicle for public view. The fares are based on mileage and are calculated by the operator. All drivers are licensed by the Local Licensing Authority and their vehicles have undergone and passed stringent tests for roadworthiness.

Hackney Carriages
2.4 Unlike Private Hire vehicles the Hackney Carriages can be hailed or ‘flagged down’ in the street. They can also be found at taxi ranks. It was a requirement for all Hackney Carriages to be wheelchair accessible and all Hackney Carriage vehicles are therefore capable of carrying wheelchair users.

2.5 Each Hackney Carriage is fitted with a calibrated meter which can be seen in the cab of the vehicle. For journeys with a destination within the Birmingham and Solihull boundary the cost of the journey is calculated by the meter. A table of fares is displayed inside. All drivers are licensed by the Local Licensing Authority and their vehicles have undergone and passed stringent tests for roadworthiness.

Demand
2.6 Birmingham City Council currently limits the number of hackney carriage proprietor licenses it issues. The Department for Transport (DfT) requires that every 3 years each licensing authority considers whether or not to retain a limit. If an authority wishes to retain a limit on numbers it must show that there is no significant customer demand which is unmet. This is normally achieved by commissioning an ‘unmet demand’ survey.

2.7 The DfT states that each reconsideration of limits should first address whether restrictions should continue at all and goes on to advise that the matter should be approached in terms of the interests of the travelling public.

Key Issues:
3.1 Although there are several reported incidents of occasional problems on the highway being caused by taxi activity, there are two main areas within the city centre that have warranted particular attention from officers over recent months. These are New Street Station and Broad Street.

3.2 New Street Station
3.2.1 During the weekday mornings there is an observed over-prescribed demand for customers at New Street Station. This results in far too many hackney carriages plying for trade in an area with limited off-street taxi storage within the station and, due to limited kerb side space on Hill Street, a modest number of on-street taxi ranks.

3.2.2 This culminates in a position whereby it is estimated that between 150-200 Hackney carriages queue most weekday mornings to gain access to the station which only has capacity to cater for around 40 vehicles within the station curtilage. The queue of taxis trails back through a taxi rank on Hill Street and then along the opposite side of Hill Street with taxis queuing on double-yellow lines. This queue extends further back through Station Street, Theatre Approach, John Bright Street and ends with many vehicles effectively ‘ranking’ on Suffolk Street Queensway. This can cause significant traffic congestion in the area and also presents a safety issue to vehicles travelling on this section of the A38.

3.2.3 A mixture of enforcement action is taken on a regular basis by regulatory services and the police as their respective resources allow. However outside of those enforcement operations, problems associated with safety and traffic congestion on the highway still occur.

3.3 Broad Street
3.3.1The weekend night-time activities on Broad Street offer lucrative trade for both Hackney carriages and private hire vehicles. However as with New Street Station the number of vehicles massively outweighs the demand for trade at most times of the night resulting in taxis queuing both on Broad Street and adjoining side streets. This results in significant traffic congestion being observed particularly on Broad Street and Sheepcote Street – congestion which is exacerbated if there is an evening event at the ICC or NIA whose car parks access on to Sheepcote Street.

3.3.2 As with the problems around New Street Station, a mixture of enforcement action is taken on a regular basis by regulatory services and the police as their respective resources allow. However outside of those enforcement operations, problems associated with safety and traffic congestion on the highway still occur.

Recent Developments:
4.1 With regard to New Street Station, the Gateway redevelopment has provided both challenges and opportunities with respect to the taxi problem. Extensive work has been undertaken with by Highways with Network Rail, colleagues in Regulatory Services and the taxi associations to develop solutions to the issues both in terms of operations during construction of the new station and following its completion. To that end a taxi management plan is currently being developed as part of the station project. It is anticipated that ultimately it will be a combination of improved management on the part of the Station operators and effective parking enforcement on the Highway around the station that will determine the success of this plan.

4.2 In relation to Broad Street meetings have been ongoing with representatives of the Highways, the Police, Regulatory Services and City Centre management with a view to relieving some the night traffic problems caused by taxis in the Broad Street area. In addition, as with other key ranks in the city such in Sutton Coldfield, a system of taxi marshals operate at the busiest times of operation to control taxi activity.

4.3 The work being taken forward as a result of these meetings include improved targeting of enforcement action and the introduction of ‘super ranks’ in the vicinity. These ranks would also be marshalled at peak times by designated and experienced staff to control any potential abuse of the ranking system.

Future Work:
5.1 Much of the liaison work undertaken by officers, both as a continuing function in past years but also as part of specific discussion on the 2 locations referred to in this report, has resulted in the acknowledgement of the need for more effective and ‘joined up’ working of the key stakeholders. The elements of this method of improved working can be summarised as follows.

5.2 Regulation
Improvements in licensing of taxis include a review on the number of licensed hackney carriages as part of the required demand survey. This could also include the use of stronger restrictions on hackney carriage operation at particular locations as part of licences being issued.

5.3 Enforcement
There is a need to increase effective enforcement by both police and the regulatory authority to control errant actions of drivers on the highway, with recognition of the need for additional resources and powers to enable such a step change.

5.4 Management
Recognition that with some locations (e.g. New Street Station, ICC, etc) the key to resolving highways problems associated with taxis, rests with owners and operators of parking facilities in private areas. This responsibility needs to be ‘owned’ by the operators of those locations possibly through memoranda of understanding, development-based legal agreements or planning conditions.

5.5 Infrastructure
The need for suitable facilities (e.g. ranks, welfare facilities, etc) to be planned, designed, implemented and maintained with a balanced view towards the needs of the taxi operators, consumers, retailers and other highway users alike.

Contact details:
Kevin Hicks
Assistant Traffic Manager
Tel: 0121 303 7693

_________________
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.

Is that so?

_________________
IDFIMH