Taxi Driver Online

An interesting response from PCO to a query raised by a colleague after loads of conflicting replies from TfL:

Quote: 'Firstly, may I apologise for the conflicting responses that you have received from Transport for London on this matter.

I can confirm that legislation states that licensed taxis from outside London can use Bus Lanes. In London, licensed private hire vehicles are not at present allowed to use bus lanes and it is easy to distinguish between a private hire vehicle/private car and a licensed London Hackney Carriage as under the current Conditions of Fitness only certain types of vehicles can be licensed as Hackney Carriages.

In other parts of the UK, licensed taxis are not necessarily limited to certain types of vehicles and if your vehicle is similar to that of a licensed taxi in London then you will not receive a fine for driving in bus lanes. However, if your licensed taxi does not conform to the type of vehicle licensed as a London taxi then, although you are allowed to use the Bus Lanes, it is likely that you may well receive a fine as a result of the bus lane enforcement cameras not recognising your vehicle of that type to be a taxi. If this is the case, then you can appeal this fine and providing you can provide proof that your vehicle is licensed then any fine will be waived. '

And thanks to all the info Don Glave has given us, never will be either.

I find this very interesting, does the legislation only cover Taxi Lanes (otherwise known as bus lanes) in London, or would the legislation allow me, in my Hackney Carriage, to use any Taxi Lane in any district?
Bottom line, does anyone know what is the legislation that is being alluded to - I can't find it.
Help on this would be appreciated.

_________________
Chris The Fish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdlyi5mc ... re=related

In Nottingham, I have noticed that some of the bus lane have signs that say "buses and wheelchair accesable taxis only."

_________________
Grandad,

Why is that, do people in wheelchairs get preferential treatment

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

Good point Toots..there's Equality..then there's Over Equality to the point of Inequality..

I told one of my colleagues exactly how to appeal and avoid the charge from TfL......He went and paid it!!!

No it's because all the Taxis in Nottingham are WAV's. They had some problems last year when the PH were using the lanes around Upper and Lower Parliament Street in the City. Normal vehicles started using the bus lanes thinking the PH were normal vehicles.

The Council have altered the signs to WAV's only.

It all depends what it says on the signs.

If it says 'Taxis Only', then you are ok, if it says 'Local Taxis Only', then you ain't.

_________________
IDFIMH

One of our lads tried it in a TX last year, they got him some days later with a letter and a fee.

Nottingham city taxis may be all WAV but taxis from say Gedling, Rushcliffe and even me are not but we can't use the bus lanes.

_________________
Grandad,