ROUND THE COUNCILS OXFORD:
WARRINGTON: COMPULSORY CARD PAYMENTS PLANNED
Plans to ensure taxi passengers in Ox- ford can pay their fares if they do not have cash have been met with a largely positive response. The Oxford Mail reports that at the start of March, Oxford City Council launched a public consultation to ask whether card pay- ments should be- come a mandatory option for hack- ney carriages and private hire vehicles. This would mean that taxi drivers could still accept cash, but would also need to offer the option of card pay-
ments. Most Oxford Mail readers who com- mented online about the council’s plans were enthusiastic but others were not so forthcoming. The city council’s consultation was open until April 12. When it first opened in March, the council said that it wanted to know what peo- ple thought about the idea of making card payments mandatory because of queries which had been received from members of the public. Tom Hayes, the city council’s cabinet
member for Zero Carbon Oxford said: “With the cashless society becoming more and more a factor of everyday life, whether it’s pay- ing in restaurants, shops, or even on buses, we realise that there is a now a growing demand to extend this form of payment to taxis and private hire vehicles.” Mmmm…Under the current circumstances, cashless transactions are even more ap- propriate; the less handling of notes and coins the better, for drivers and pas- sengers alike. – Ed.
TAXI FARE INCREASE PUT ON HOLD
An increase in taxi fares and penalties for customers who vomit in cabs has been put on hold because of coron- avirus. The Warrington Guardian reports that the council’s licensing committee voted to increase the fares and fouling charge last month following requests from cabbies. It is expected to result in
an average percent- age increase in fares of around seven per cent, with the foul- ing charge rising from £30 to £50. The changes were set to come into force as long as no objections were submitted. But the council has confirmed that the increase in fares and fouling charge has now been put on hold.
A spokesman said: “Currently, the taxi trade is looking to play their part in supporting critical workers – and as members of the community in their own right. “The priority at this time must be the national and local response to the health pandemic and our officers are working hard as part of this response.”
STATES OF GUERNSEY: GUIDANCE INDUSTRY ON VIRUS MEASURES
Taxi drivers can refuse a fare if the ride is deemed non- essential or the pas- senger has flu-like symptoms. According to the Guernsey Press, in order to help pre- vent the spread of Covid-19, Traffic and Highways Services has issued guidance to the local taxi and private hire industry in consultation with Public Health Ser- vices. In order for Guer- nsey Airport staff to manage arriving pas- sengers in an effi- cient and timely manner, it has been decided to close the airport taxi rank to general taxi busi- ness with immediate effect. Director of Traffic and Highway Ser- vices Karl Guille said: “All taxi drivers have been asked to decide if a fare is essential and in
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compliance with the latest guidance that has been issued by Public Health Ser- vices. “For example, jour- neys should prim- arily be limited to key worker travel and passengers seeking to attend or return from medical appointments either on or off island.’ Anyone feeling un- well or displaying flu-like
symptoms
will not be transport- ed and taxi drivers have the right to decline the fare. Passengers arriving into Guernsey Air- port on essential journeys are encour- aged to use their own vehicle wherev- er possible to get to their home address so they can begin the mandatory 14- day self-isolation. Where travellers are unable to use their own vehicle, a friend or family member
may collect them, but they must observe social dis- tancing advice at all times and clean the vehicle after use. The only circum- stance where a taxi should be used is when there is no alternative for pas- sengers to get home from the airport. Passengers arriving into Guernsey should be taken directly to their place of resi- dence, they should not stop at a shop or anywhere else on the way.
Only one passenger is permitted per journey, unless it is a returning couple or family and they are going to self-isolate together.
Departing passen- gers can still be dropped off at the airport by taxi or PHV if they are unable to make alternative arrange- ments.
MAY 2020
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