Taxi Driver Online

a hack doesnt HAVE to "put the clock" on for any waiting time when he/she puts the meter on though

The rule should be "any vehicle used for the carriage of passengers for hire or reward"

Lets suppose every bus lane was open to all Hackney and PH just how full of traffic would they get and how many more unlicensed vehicles would try to fool the system say with a topbox or with TFL PH stickers in London

The idea of bus lanes is to enable public transport to flow in peak periods I think there does need to be some restrictions or in some parts of the country there would be no point in their existence

I quite agree that if it is for public transport to flow during peak hours then it should only be a bus lane at peak hours and only for buses. I don't see why taxis are anymore public transport than ph

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

I have to disagree with you on this Toots.

Hackney Carriages are "Public Transport". Only Hacks can tout. As they are public transport the local Authority set the fare or tariff.

The clue about the other side of the trade is obvous in the name, they are not "public" but "private" hire.

When I have a boat, I can "Tout" as a licensed boatman, the local Authority licence me to do so and I am available to the public at large. Acting with my National (MCA) license I may not do this. A contract for charter is required. Whilst it is enough that this is a verbal contract, it is also clearly a private contract.

This is why PH companies need to retain records (or contracts) of hiring, and why Hacks are not required to do so.

For this reason, I firmly believe that Hacks should have universal access to Taxi Lanes.

That said, I support the power of Local Authorities to grant access to the Taxi lanes to PH licensed vehicles in their own area (or not, as they see fit).

So that is why Hackneys are public transport and Ph are not, in answer to your question as posed in the quote from you, above.

_________________
Chris The Fish

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

In general, across the country, hacks sit on ranks or take radio/base work (as per any car, hack or PH) i bet the total percentage of flagdowns nationally set against the total number of pickups pre booked by phone is quite small, most people ring for a cab/taxi whatever.

im available to the public as much as a hack, the nearest rank is 7 miles away and the 2 hacks that live in this village cant take flagdowns, cos they arent plated for this LA....

PH may as well be your next door neighbor giving you a lift, your a private car, available to give people lifts for reward. Hacks are public transport. Bus lanes are for public transport not for private cars charging people for giving them a lift. That's about the just of it as far as I am concerned.

London Lanes are for London Taxis.

If Minicabs want access to the capitals bus lanes, it's quite simple really, do the knowledge, and invest £37K on a Taxi.

Or you could work nights when they're mainly not in use.

Simple question, simple solution.

Chris the Fish:


The private in ph is only the method by which a booking is taken. All buses are privately owned and they set their own fare rates. All HC are privately owned although their fare rate is set to a maximum by the local council. All trains are privately owned and set their own fare rates also. Most if not all regular public transport is privately owned to provide a service for the public. Private hire is no different in this regard. We are only here to provide a service to the public. Your argument regarding the fare being set by the council doesn't hold water when compared to rest of the public transport system. That would imply that because the fare is set by the council it is public transport thus buses, trains and planes are not. We are all part of the public transport system in my belief.

thelodger:


Oh yeah, as I said all public transport is privately owned including HC's so I don't agree with your comment that "PH may as well be your next door neighbour giving you a lift". Has your next door neighbour fulfilled the criteria to offer a service to the public?

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

I think that it is more down to recognition than anything else!

If P.H were allowed to use the Bus/Hackney lanes it would send out a signal to "Joe Public".............Oh! we can now use these lanes as all they would see would be another car, whereas a "Hackney/Bus is obviously distinctive.

In a nutshell it would be difficult/impossible to police.

_________________
if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

I really don't agree with that tbh. People who use bus lanes know they can't but do it anyway and the fact that ph use them wouldn't make that much difference imo. We're allowed to use them here and you don't see that many other motorists abusing the lanes. I can see why you think the way you do with ph being saloon vehicles of all kinds of variety but in some areas the taxis are saloon vehicles. At the end of the day ph are a part of the public transport system and should not be penalised because the public are selfish and try to use the bus lanes, surely cameras on the lanes would solve the problem of enforcement

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

Might be your view, alas not shared with the legislation.

_________________
IDFIMH

Fair enough

just remember that once off your patch, keep out the bus lanes!

("London" as defined how?....)

There are few bus lanes in Lincoln. No concession for taxis or PH.

One is no longer a bus route.

Another, past the Cathedral on Pottergate onto Lindum Hill (downhill) is regularly used by an out of town PH firm illegally. They go through a NO ENTRY sign (buses only) onto the bus lane. Because they operate a fleet of mostly Ford Transit, PH licenced, (in North Kesteven) vehicles.

They think they are OK because the generic term for the type of vehicle they operate is..................................."Minibus"

_________________
Former taxi driver

Toots, to further clarify.

1. A Taxi (hackney) may be hailed.

2. A Public Omnibus may be hailed (even between stops).

3. An Omnibus or Taxi at a "Stop" or "Rank" as the case may be, may not without "reasonale excuse" refuse to carry the prospective passenger. (Because it is "Public Transport").

4. A PH operator may decline any booking. (Because it is not "Public").

5. A PH Driver may not form a rank, accept a booking, pick up a hail, or in effect do anything to suggest that he or she is Public Transport.

_________________
Chris The Fish

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