IN THE NEWS BURY ST EDMUNDS TEXT SERVICE WINS PRAISE
A taxi text messaging service being operat- ed for the first time in Bury St Edmunds has been hailed by police. A1 Taxis has launched a scheme which texts passengers the regis- tration number, model and colour of their cab. The service, which provides updates on when their car is despatched and
pulls up, allows women to avoid stand- ing outside by themselves waiting to spot their lift home. The Bury Central Safer Neighbourhood Team has praised the initia- tive. Insp Chris Galley told the Sudbury Mer- cury: “This is a brilliant idea - it means people can wait inside whilst their taxi is on its way rather than in a vulner-
able location, and don’t have to step out- side until it has arrived. They also know that the taxi they are get- ting into is genuine. “Whilst Bury St Edmunds is a safe place, we welcome any initiative which improves safety.” Drivers and staff at A1 Taxis, who operate a fleet of more than 40 cabs, have said they
have received lots of positive feedback from their customers. Con- trol room manager Tina Branthwaite said: “We are the first in the Bury St Edmunds area to use it and our cus- tomers really like it as they know what sort of car to look out for. “It definitely does help the confidence of peo- ple booking taxis late at night.”
Credit brokerage by St. Davids Saab, 10 Trusham Road, Marsh Barton, Exeter, Devon EX2 8QH subject to status, terms and conditions. Applicants must be aged 18 years or over. Variable deposits available followed by 59 monthly payments commencing month two. Weekly equivalents are shown for information purposes only. A guarantee and/or indemnity may be required. Finance available to business users only, all other sales categories are excluded. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion. Offer may not apply to all dealer stocks. UK supplied vehicles only. Models shown have optional metallic paint and 9-5 Estate features 5-spoke High Split alloy wheels, available as separate accessories.
Now, even the price is remarkable.
Impress your customers with the luxury and comfort of a Saab, for a lot less than you’d think. And enjoy 2 years unlimited mileage warranty too.
£52.86
per week including VAT.
IN STOCK NOW 9-5 Estate Turbo Edition 1.9TiD (150PS) Manual including:
Leather sport seats 17" 5-spoke alloy wheels Audio controls in steering wheel Cruise control Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control
Electric windows Heated front & rear seats CD player Remote control central locking Rear parking assistance
LADIES’ TAXI SERVICE
A group of impover- ished women have formed New Delhi’s first ever female taxi service.
The service which aims to provide safe
transport for women during next year’s Commonwealth Games will also gener- ating much needed employment in the area.
HULL TAXI FIRMS ANGRY AT NEW MOBILE
BOOKING SYSTEM Owners of a Hull taxi firm claim that black cab drivers have react- ed with anger to its new mobile booking system.
Six O Cars, of Walton Street, west Hull, has employed a “mobile booker” to stand at locations such as Paragon Interchange in the city centre. The mobile booking system is a first for Hull’s private hire companies and David Smith, one of the firm’s partners, claims it is completely legal. The businessman said his booker is not allowed to tout for trade, but attracts cus- tomers by wearing a prominent fluorescent vest with “See me to book a taxi” printed on the back and the com- pany’s logo on the front.
£62.48
per week including VAT.
When asked to order a cab, the mobile book- er uses a handheld computer, or PDA, to send the information back to base and print out a receipt for the customer.
Mr Smith claims the firm’s man on the street, Rob Smith, had already encountered hostility from the city’s hackney carriage drivers.
IN STOCK NOW 9-3 SportWagon Vector Sport 1.9TiD (150PS) Manual including:
Leather/Textile Sport seats 17" 5-spoke alloy wheels Sport leather steering wheel with audio controls Cruise control
Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control Electric windows CD player Remote control central locking Metal-fi nish interior trim
Visit
www.thesaabsale.com or call 0844 2094975 now for details.
PAGE 40
He told the Hull Daily Mail: “There has been a lot of reaction from black cab drivers. Our booker was jostled about a bit recently by two quite hefty drivers. “He had to cut short his session because he was petrified.” Six O Cars decided to use the mobile book-
ing firm to bring in more business by attracting customers on the street.
Hull’s black cab driv- ers remain unconvinced about the legality of the mobile booker and see the new system as a direct threat to their livelihoods.
Mr Smith said the cab firm would neverthe- less continue to use the new system, which was proving success- ful.
A licensing spokes- man for Hull City Coun- cil said: “The council has received a com- plaint about a new style of booking procedure by a private hire firm. We are seeking legal advice on this matter and upon receipt of this we will take the appro- priate action.”
Mr Smith said: “This system is already being used in other places, such as South West London, Watford train station and Colchester. The prece- dent has already been set and I am very con- fident the system will be found to be legal by the council.”
Mmm...we shall leave PHTM readers to make up your own minds. The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, section 67, states: “subject to the following provisions, it is an offence, in a pub- lic place, to solicit persons to hire vehi- cles to carry them as passengers.”
Just the facts, man - Ed
PHTM OCTOBER 2009
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112
