PRIVATE HIRE EXCLUSIONS
Yet the introduction of such restrictive areas and zones, is forcing drivers to do exactly that! But we will see councils dismiss that by saying: “it is not without reasonable cause, drivers should know the routes” which is a very poor excuse since each area is different, more so now where the reality is that not all private hire drivers are local, in fact, most are not, being licensed by a local authority many miles away.
Is this really such a problem?
During Covid, we watched as the number of bus and cycle lanes increase massively, in many cases reducing triple lane routes down to two-lane routes, causing far more congestion than there ever was, and therefore having a massive impact on air quality in those areas, which then leads to the introduction of more CAZ charges.
In larger cities, we have seen entire areas effectively closed off to private hire vehicles, which means they cannot take the travelling public to their destinations, nor can they collect them from pubs, clubs, shops, health centres, and various other locations due to simply not being allowed in any more.
There may be “alternative routes” but those create huge detours, adding large costs on to the travelling public, effectively removing the private hire sector from being available in those locations.
Why should private hire vehicles be included?
As above, ease of travel, reduction in costs to the travelling public and those less able bodied that simply cannot walk the distances to meet a booked vehicle. Many less able bodied passengers rely heavily on the use of taxi AND private hire services.
In fact, the latest Act of Parliament for accessibility: Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Act 2022 includes both taxi AND private hire vehicles; the 1976 Act as quoted, includes both taxi AND PHVs, and in the signage adopted by many for EV charging points, the word “taxi” allegedly includes both taxi AND PHVs.
Therefore, in our opinion, the use of bus lanes and bus gates should indeed include both taxi (hackney carriage) AND private hire vehicles.
It is time to realise that taxi AND private hire vehicles are licensed to transport the travelling public in an efficient manner, and must not prolong the journey. It is time to make a change!
PHTM NOVEMBER 2024
PUBLIC TRANSPORT LANES OR BUS LANES?
Most bus lanes across the UK allow both hackney carriages and buses to use them. They are traffic free corridors created for faster journeys and to encourage using public transport over owning your own car. Many more bus lanes are being created in cities across the UK.
At the same time, we are facing a national bus crisis. Most Regional Mayor campaigns have promised to fix local bus services - look at Manchester’s Bee Network.
Meanwhile the number of PHV licences now being issued by councils across the UK is through the roof, business is booming. However, the same is not true for hackney carriages - their numbers have remained the same or are rapidly declining in some towns and cities
At the same time councils are spending millions on grants for both hackney and private hire drivers to upgrade to newer greener vehicles. But in most towns and cities PHVs cannot use bus lanes!
PUBLIC PERCEPTION
Every council employee in the UK dealing with school contracts refers to a private hire vehicle as a taxi. Hospitals tell people their taxi is on the way after calling a private hire company. After getting off a train even the leader of Bradford Council calls a private hire company and asks for a taxi.
Society has accepted that a private hire vehicle is a TAXI and sees no difference. But when it comes to bus lanes, private hire vehicles are unnecessarily kept out.
IT MAKES NO SENSE!!
l Councils don’t realise the impact this has on local economies.
l Councils don’t realise the effect this has on the public being able to actually use a form of public transport.
l Councils don’t realise that their school transport costs would go down if private hire vehicles could use them.
It’s time for councils to allow both PHVs and hackney carriages equal use of bus lanes - once passengers are on board, they offer exactly the same service.
The investment and infrastructure is there already. Councils surely now need to explore allowing all licensed vehicles to use these bus lanes.
Asif Shah Operations manager Arrow Cars
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