A new rule on making taxis in South Gloucestershire accessible to people in wheelchairs has been delayed because of “recent global events”.
The Bristol Post reports that the rule was scheduled to come into force in April, but has been paused due to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
In a bid to make travelling easier for disabled people, South Gloucestershire Council decided in 2017 to encourage hackney carriages to switch to wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
A hard deadline for all hackney carriages to be wheelchair-accessible was set for April 1 this year.
But taxi drivers have urged the council to delay the rollout of the new rule.
The council is also considering a separate rule forcing all taxis to be electric by 2030, and electric wheelchair-accessible taxis are currently “prohibitively expensive”.
Drivers also said the pandemic meant a huge drop in trade, and the war in Ukraine had disrupted global supply chains, delaying the manufacturing and supply of new vehicles.
The council’s regulatory committee voted to delay the launch of the new rule on Thursday, March 23.
A report to the committee said: “This is not an attempt by hackney carriage vehicle licence holders and drivers to avoid the policy, and they understand why it is happening.
"The drivers are seeking a greater degree of sympathy from the committee, to give them the chance to adjust to the change given the wider circumstances.”
The policy has already made some progress in increasing the numbers of taxis in South Gloucestershire which passengers in wheelchairs can use.
"According to the report, in 2016 there were 31 wheelchair-accessible taxis, and now there are 37.
But drivers have to wait a year or 18 months to be able to buy a new wheelchair-accessible taxi, according to councillors, who warned that enforcing the policy from next month could mean drivers would be “out of work” — despite the trade having six years of notice about the new policy.
Conservative Councillor Keith Burchell, representing Severn Vale, said: “This has been going on for a long time but unfortunately due to the events of the last three or four years, we have to do something now just to alleviate the situation, because the situation has changed since this was first recommended.
“If the events of the past three or four years hadn’t happened, there would be no way I would be recommending this [delay] today. But the vehicles aren’t available for the trade to get.
"They’ll have to wait a year or 18 months to get a vehicle. That means a taxi driver, if we implement this, could be out of work for a year or 18 months as they haven’t got a vehicle.”
Source: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/wheelchair-accessible-taxis-rule-delayed-8285931
A cabbie has been attacked by his two passengers who then stole his car.
The Windsor Observer reports that Thames Valley Police is investigating a robbery which happened between the hours of 12.05am and 12.35am on Monday, March 20.
The cabbie was driving along Stomp Road, Burnham, when his two passengers attacked him and demanded money.
Luckily he was able to get out of his white Toyota Prius Active car, which the offenders then drove away.
The victim, a man in his 40s, suffered minor injuries to his face that did not require hospital treatment.
The offenders were described as two white men aged between 25 and 30-years-old, around 5ft 8ins tall.
One man had short hair and the other man was wearing a grey hooded top.
The white Prius has not been found since the robbery.
Case investigator, Daniel Fallis, based at Slough police station, said: “We are appealing to any witnesses, or anyone who may have information, about this incident to come forward.
“The car has not been located and so we would also appeal to anyone who has information as to its whereabouts to also get in touch.
“Anyone with information can contact police by calling 101 or making a report online, quoting reference 43230122977.
“Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers to report anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via its website.”
A private hire driver was filmed appearing to urinate in a front garden in broad daylight.
The Liverpool Echo reports that the driver was caught on camera by a concerned resident of Highfield Street in Liverpool city centre on Thursday March 23 at around 9.30am.
The footage shows the male driver stood next to his private hire vehicle. He appears to urinate into the front garden of a flat building on the road.
He can then be seen getting back into the car and preparing to drive away.
The concerned resident who contacted the Echo described the act as "disgusting."
They added: "Totally unacceptable. Nudity in public. There is now bodily fluids urine on the footpath."
"If you are making a journey you should be planning where and when you are going to stop - in restaurants, in hotels or in petrol stations. Good planning could have prevented this. Very anti social behaviour."
There is no single law dealing with public urination in the UK but there are a number of ways you may get in trouble for urinating in public.
Most penalties for public urination are laid out in the byelaws of individual local authorities under section 235 of the Local Government Act 1972.
If you get caught going for a wee in public you are likely to be hit with a Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND) under Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986.
People who receive a PND will be fined £50 or £80, which they will have to pay within 21 days of receiving the notice.
Source: https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/furious-resident-films-taxi-driver-26550414
The Low Emissions Zone in Glasgow city centre will have a “devastating impact” on the taxi trade, an MSP has said in a debate in the Scottish Parliament.
According to the Glasgow Times, Pauline McNeill, Glasgow Labour MSP, led a debate on the taxi industry and told MSPs that hundreds of drivers face a bill of tens of thousands of pounds or be forced out of business.
McNeill said their concerns about the scheme are being “ignored” and they were “neglected” during the pandemic.
The LEZ is due to start in June this year where older vehicles will not be allowed to enter the city centre as they will not be compliant with the emissions rules.
The MSP said: “As we know, around 1,000 cabs out of the fleet of 1,420 are not Euro 6 compliant.
“In other words, there are 1,000 taxi drivers who, at the moment, would not be able to enter the LEZ in Glasgow.
“One can already begin to see the extent of the problem.
“Although 200 cabs have been given an extra 12 months, people in the rest of the taxi sector have been left to find thousands of pounds that they simply do not have during a cost of living crisis.”
McNeill highlighted the importance of taxis to Glasgow’s transport system and economy.
She explained how late night workers rely on taxis to get home after a shift and women, people with disabilities and vulnerable people at night get an “important service” from the drivers.
The MSP added: “It’s time we recognised the importance of the taxi industry and give it the support it needs and deserves, we need to stop the exodus of drivers leaving the profession because of cost of staying in business and impending regulation that is pushing them out of the sector.
"The world we live in now requires a strong taxi service.”
Jenny Gilruth, Transport Minister said she agreed taxi drivers are “vital to the economy” and accepted that the pandemic was “challenging” for them.
On extensions and exemptions for the LEZ the minister added: “It is, of course, for Glasgow City Council to outline its position, but I recognise that taxi operators and the unions have been engaging with the local authority.
“Very recently, Glasgow has confirmed that there will be an additional year for drivers whose taxis cannot be retrofitted, and the position for others is simply a requirement to demonstrate that they have signed up to the process of applying for funding.”
LEVC is celebrating producing its 10,000th vehicle.
Car Dealer Magazine reports that the company’s first TX electric taxi rolled off the production line at its state-of-the-art Ansty factory in 2018 and was delivered in London.
Since then, 10,000 of them have been built and sold across the world from Paris to Madrid and Cairo to Tokyo.
The milestone achievement also continues the momentum of a record-breaking year for LEVC, with 2,508 TX vehicles sold in 2022, making it the manufacturer’s best annual sales performer to date.
The TX electric taxi has now overtaken the diesel-powered TX4 as the most common black cab in London. There are more than 6,000 TX taxis on the streets of the capital – more than 40 per cent of all the black cabs there.
LEVC chief executive Alex Nan said: "This year will see LEVC hit many milestones. As well as producing our 10,000th vehicle, we will celebrate ten years of being part of the Geely Holding Group family.
"The past decade has seen significant change for the business, including a new manufacturing facility, a complete rebrand and the launch of both the TX electric taxi and the VN5 van.’
He added: "Since the first TX rolled off the production line at Antsy in 2018, we have seen demand continue to grow for our purpose-built, advanced, zero-emission-capable vehicles.
"We are proud to have reached the incredible milestone of 10,000 units and we would like to thank all our stakeholders – from our loyal customers to valued employees – for their support in helping us to achieve this impressive milestone.
"Looking ahead, LEVC has outlined a new strategy that will see the business transform into a leading zero-carbon mobility technology company.
"We will build on LEVC’s unrivalled heritage and grow beyond high-end taxi manufacturing, delivering on our mission to offer smart, green, safe and accessible mobility to more customers than ever before."
A private hire driver was found asleep in his vehicle in the middle of the road, prompting concerns for public safety.
A private hire driver who continued to work despite having his licence suspended, has been prosecuted by Oldham Council.
The Hinckley Area Taxi Association has proposed new tariffs to Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, which could make the borough's taxis the most expensive in Leicestershire.
Shaun Meenan attacked the teenager, who was a stranger to him, both in his vehicle and then in her home after gaining entry under false pretenses
Hillingdon Council launches consultation on PSPO to prohibit PHVs and taxis from waiting in residential streets around Heathrow Airport.
A taxi driver was left shaken after being robbed and assaulted by a knife-wielding passenger in Gateshead.
The proposed changes,which are set to be discussed at the licensing committee this week, would affect fares during weekdays, evenings,weekends, and festive periods.
A 71-year-old taxi driver has had his license revoked by the Stratford-on-Avon District Council due to public safety concerns.
Wolverhampton taxi drivers are set to be given powers to record audio in their cabs if they feel in danger following a spate of attacks.
Residents of Stirling are being invited to have their say on plans for a new taxi rank in the city center, as the local authority looks to address a growing demand for taxi services.
As of this year, only 278 licensed taxis are in service, significantly lower than the government's goal of 310.
Over 200 children from across England suffering from chronic or life-limiting conditions experienced a dream come true this weekend, thanks to a heartwarming initiative by London's black cab drivers.
Residents are being encouraged to participate in a consultation on proposed new taxi charges.
Taxi drivers at Bristol Parkway railway station are expressing frustration over a subsidised bus service that they believe is cutting into their business.
A year after the removal of a taxi rank due to lack of customers, Ipswich Borough Council is proposing to introduce a new five-place rank on Key Street.
A taxi driver who had his licence revoked following allegations of posting offensive material online has been given the chance to reapply.
The Glasgow Low Emission Zone (LEZ) has shown initial positive results in reducing air pollution, according to a new report.
Colin Aylward, who lives in Chittys Lane, Dagenham, captured the shocking incident on his home security system.
Independent Councilor Dave Patrick warned that the proposed increases would make Fenland one of the most expensive places in the country for taxi travel
Bleed kit charity, RAPAID, has already installed over 5,000 kits in UK cities in a bid to put emergency bandages in permanent circulation so that they are on hand whenever needed.