Taxi Driver Online

This is an utter cracker

If this was in PHTM, or whatever, you'd almost think it was the 1 April issue


Businessman says moving Greenock taxi rank could help save planet


Image: Greenock Telegraph

AN Inverclyde businessman says changing the location of one of Greenock's busiest taxi ranks could help to save the planet.

John Burleigh believes moving the taxi rank outside Tesco in Greenock to the stretch of road down towards the Oak Mall lights on Dalrymple Street will ease congestion and put a stop to vehicle idling.

Mr Burleigh, who was a Liberal Democrat candidate in the Inverclyde Council election in 2021, claims that as the road is on a slight downward gradient, taxi drivers would be able to switch their engine off and roll down bit by bit using the handbrake.


Image: Greenock Telegraph

Alongside reducing harmful emissions, he said the change would stop traffic bottlenecking at the Tesco entrance on Container Way, making things easier for drivers, commuters and customers.

Mr Burleigh has been in touch with Inverclyde Council, Tesco management and environmental organisation Earthshot about the plan.

He added: "Dalrymple Street is a perfect location for this as there's a gravity-feed system and drivers will just be able to simply roll down the hill.

"You could get more than 10 cars lined up with each one just moving down a bit when the one in front drives off.


Image: Greenock Telegraph

"It would be good for Tesco as it would take away the congestion, disruption and chaos which ensues at busy shopping times.

"If the rank was moved to Dalrymple Street, the taxis would not interfere with customers' cars.

"Figures show that an idling car fills the equivalent of 150 balloons worth of harmful emissions every minute.

"Switching off engines can go along way to improving air quality - and will save on fuel for cabbies too."


Image: Greenock Telegraph

Mr Burleigh is proposing to remove the bus stop that currently sits at that side of Tesco and says that would work as there's already one on the Container Way side.

The former teacher reckons if all taxi ranks across Inverclyde were build on a downward gradient, there would be a significant reduction in harmful emissions.

He added: "Moving the rank would benefit everyone. In my mind, everyone would win if we push this through."

An Inverclyde Council spokesperson said any proposal for a new taxi rank would have to go through the correct process.

They added: "There is a list of designated taxi stances which also stipulates how many vehicles can use each stance.

"Any request received for a new or amended stance would need to go through the necessary statutory processes, and require consent from and consultation with all relevant stakeholders including the trade, roads authority, police, and the public, before it could be introduced."

The Tele have also approached Tesco for comment.


Image: Greenock Telegraph

What could possibly go wrong, apart from maybe a ticket from police, or an appearance before the licensing committee?


For a start, I wouldn't use my electric handbrake to stop the car from any speed at all. Even at walking pace it feels like an emergency stop. Handbrakes aren't designed to bring the car to a stop, except in emergencies.

The idea is not 100% unfeasible, but if you suggested it to a professional driving trainer, or did it during a driving test (say), you'd be toast. And that's with the engine running, never mind with it off


Why stop at Greenock and Inverclyde?

But can't see it catching on, somehow


In other words, "pi$$ off, ya daftie"

And whoever wrote the council's response above either doesn't have a clue, or is just being diplomatic. I suspect police would simply say that his suggestion is bad driving and dangerous, for example.

As nutty as a fruitcake.

Pure and simple.

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IDFIMH

I saw something on the internet recently which said the lib dems are losing all their support in Scotland so maybe this is just a publicity seeking stunt

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Lib Dem folks are generally decent people, and I'm not saying this fella isn't.

But they have the benefit of never having to worry about putting their numpty policies into being.

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IDFIMH

Oh! but they did when in that coalition with the tories which we are all still paying for.

as I seem to recall they were just supporting Tory policies with none of their own adopted

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Whilst this may have been a sensible idea in the days of proper handbrakes, modern electronic parking brakes will not release or apply without the ignition on and the engine running. Has he never broken down in a modern car and watched the recovery driver use skates under the wheels to get the car on the recovery truck?

Roy, that's kind of what I wrote initially in response.

But thinking about it, on my Passat the electronic handbrake will definitely apply with engine off and ignition off (although key fob might need to be in dash, but not sure). Pretty sure it will release as well without engine on, but pretty sure ignition would need to be on, or at least key in dash). But, of course, no doubt other cars are configured differently.

As regards it being 'sensible idea' in the days of proper handbrakes. Well, it might be feasible, and we've all done stuff like that. But chances of it becoming official advice, even in the days of manual handbrakes, would have been pretty unlikely I'd guess.

Well, electric cars or automatics won’t just ‘roll’ anyway. There’s no such thing as a handbrake these days, they’re PARKING brakes.

I keep on laughing about his model of a road and cars.

He then tips them forward to demonstrate the way those cars would go forward if pointing downwards.

Who would have thought?

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IDFIMH

Has this idiot not realised that you cant go down hill without going up a hill first!!