Taxi Driver Online

City centre taxi rank will be removed after complaints

https://www.thestar.co.uk/our-towns-and ... -1-9473947

A taxi rank will be removed from Sheffield city centre after complaints from businesses and bus companies.

The lay-by on High Street, at the bottom of Fargate, should only be used by taxis from 7pm to 5am but nearby businesses have complained about drivers parking the full length of it during the day.

Businesses say delivery vehicles can’t pull into the lay-by and there is a security risk because cash collection vans are unable to use it and have to park further away.

South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive supports the rank being removed because up to five taxis are parking there at the same time, protruding into the road and stopping buses travelling along High Street, resulting in congestion and delays to services.

John Priestley, senior transport planner at Sheffield Council, says in a report: “When council officers have spoken to taxi drivers ranking outside these hours, the drivers claimed to have simply misunderstood the signs and operating times.

“They have been observed to drive away, but then return a short time later. Clearly, they are knowingly and wilfully ignoring the restrictions on operating times.

“We have, on two occasions, written to the taxi operators advising them that, unless their members stopped abusing the rank, it would be removed.

“These warnings have proved ineffective as the abuse has continued. Officers consider that the only way to prevent the misuse of this rank is to remove it completely. Taxi drivers will be unable to use the excuse that they did not understand the restrictions.”

Council officers say they expect taxis will continue to wait in the loading bay, unofficially, at night because they did so before the official rank was introduced.

No taxi drivers or companies have objected.
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The good new is that a few new spaces are being created, but not nearly as many as requested by drivers (obviously). Hardly worth anyone outside Sheffield reading what's below, but the above piece is slightly more interesting, and in the interests of balance wouldn't be good to post a story about the removal of a rank without also noting that a few new spaces are being created elsewhere in the city.

If you need a taxi in Sheffield – here’s where to find one

https://www.thestar.co.uk/our-towns-and ... -1-9474047

Sheffield passengers should find it easier to hail a cab after the council agreed to extend taxi ranks in the city.

Taxi companies had asked for new ranks at 17 locations in the city centre and suburbs but the council said they could shortlist five places.

Officers have agreed to open a rank at Division Street, outside Yates bar, for three taxis operating from 7pm – 3am.

An existing rank on Ecclesall Road, outside the Porter Brook pub, will be lengthened to include two extra taxis and will operate from 6:30pm – 2:30am.

And the existing Western Bank rank between Brook Hill and Clarkson Street will be lengthened so an extra six taxis can park there from 11pm – 4am. This will increase capacity to 11 taxis.

Officers refused to extend two ranks on Leadmill Road and West Street following complaints from local businesses.

John Priestley, senior transport planner, says in a report: “The situation will be improved for pedestrians seeking to catch taxis at night as there will be more and larger official ranks which people can go to with a reasonable chance of a taxi being available.”

So the night drivers have to suffer the consequences of the day drivers actions ? Should have just ticketed the offending drivers, they would have learnt the hard way.

The day drivers are generally the night drivers too!. There is just too many taxis,business is not like it use to be