Children with additional needs have been treated to a special day out as part of the 77th Glasgow Taxi Trade Children’s Outing.
Hundreds of people lined the streets on Wednesday 19 June, to catch sight of the decorated taxis, as well as over a hundred drivers dressed up as famous cartoon characters, volunteer to take children to Troon for a day to remember at the seaside.
The tradition, which began in 1945, is free of charge for the families involved and has become a famous event in the city thanks to the generosity of the drivers and many volunteers.
In keeping with tradition, the cabs are decorated with balloons and colourful figures, with a judge picking the top three to lead the procession.
The stars of the show were the Willy Wonka cab, Euros 2024 and an army themed taxi.
The journey began at Kelvin Way and the atmosphere was buzzing as the Police Scotland & Federation Pipe Band marched through the street ahead of taking a tour of the city before the children were driven to the beach.
The sun even made an appearance in Glasgow with skies also clearing in Troon.
Private hire taxi technology platform Veezu and Seatfrog, the rail ticketing app revolutionising train travel, have announced a strategic partnership which says will end the anxiety with trains and taxis.
Seatfrog’s cutting-edge tech-nology will be connected to Veezu’s extensive vehicle network, taking passengers from their home straight to the best seats on trains and then directly into a Veezu car on arrival at the best price available.
The partnership aims to eliminate the headache many passengers face across the UK, waiting in endless taxi queues or missing taxis because their train is running late, by connecting train journeys and taxi network data for the first time.
Passengers’ rides will auto-matically connect to their rail departure and arrival times, so they can step out of the train station straight into their waiting Veezu ride.
Veezu passengers will also be able to easily upgrade their train tickets to first class on the way to the station, from £13 – with Seatfrog’s unique app features, where Brits have saved over £80 million on first class upgrades.
Veezu will be rolling out the partnership across an initial five stations: Leeds, Sheffield, Cardiff, Newport, Swindon - so if you’re booking a ride to any of those stations, you'll be able to head directly to Seatfrog to bid to an upgrade to First Class for less.
Nathan Bowles, CEO of Veezu, commented: “Partnering with Seatfrog is an exciting step towards redefining travel in key UK cities.
“Together, we’re going to make it easier than ever for passengers to enjoy an integrated journey and sit in the best seats on the train.”
Seatfrog’s CEO, Iain Griffin, added: “Journeys should be easy, but in the UK, we’re constantly reminded that we’re mere mortals every time we jump off a train to catch a taxi – long queues, no vehicles available, surge pricing, stress.
“No one has seamlessly connected taxis to train journeys, changing that is long overdue.”
For more information about the collaboration between Veezu and Seatfrog visit: http://www.veezu.co.uk/partners/seatfrog and https://seatfrog.com/partners/veezu/.
Uber has officially been granted a licence to operate in Dundee, in what has been decribed as a major shift for the city's taxi industry.
Dundee Culture reports that the decision came after Dundee councillors approved the global ride-hailing company's application to establish an office in the Flour Mill complex on Commercial Street.
This move is expected to bring substantial changes to Dundee's transportation landscape.
Uber's presence will introduce increased competition, potentially leading to lower fares and more options for residents and visitors alike.
The entry of such a prominent player into the local market signifies a broader trend of digital disruption in traditional industries.
Supporters of the decision highlight the benefits of modern, app-based convenience and the potential for job creation.
However, the introduction of Uber has also raised concerns among existing taxi operators, who fear that the increased competition could impact their livelihoods.
As Uber begins its operations, all eyes will be on how the company's innovative model integrates with Dundee's existing transportation framework.
This development is poised to reshape the way people move around the city, setting a new standard for urban mobility in Dundee.
Source: https://www.dundeeculture.com/post/uber-has-secured-a-license-to-operate-in-dundee
People are 'sick to death' of oil spills in Bootle which are costing the council thousands of pounds and causing travel 'chaos' for local residents.
The Liverpool Echo reports that there have been four oil spills on Millers Bridge in Bootle in the last year alone which have resulted in multiple road closures while the oil is cleaned up. These closures can last up to four days and can cost thousands of pound to clean up.
Residents and taxi drivers have complained about the frequency of the spills, the dangers they present to the community and the impact on their livelihoods.
Ste Brown is a taxi driver and rep for the Hackney Drivers Association and he mostly operates from the rank outside Asda in Bootle. Ste's main point is about the danger created by the oil spills. He said: "Honestly, it's a miracle no one's been hurt or even killed."
He remembers an incident on Millers Bridge when he was forced to contact emergency services. A wagon was caught spinning its wheels on the bridge after another oil spill because it could not find the grip to get up the slope. As a result, the truck started to reverse back onto a major A road.
Ste said: "As a wagon driver, you've got no choice. You have to go over Millers Bridge, but if they get half way up and there's an oil spill, they're stuck in an impossible situation and then everyone around - residents and drivers - are placed in danger.
"It feels like it's only a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt or worse."
Ste believes the spills are happening due to a lack of checks on vehicles leaving the industrial sites on Derby Road. He said: "I've seen these oil spills happening for the last ten years.
"You have wagons leaving with unsafe loads and we're being told it's 'driver error' but how many times can these drivers make the same error. It has to be a bigger problem, but no one's coming up with a solution so, it will just keep happening. We're sick of it.
"They need to put checks in place because this problem is preventable, but only if there's a will to do it."
The impact on Ste and his fellow taxi drivers is significant. The road closures and traffic delays caused by the oil spills means his journey times are doubled and results in half the fares. Furthermore, people are left waiting at empty ranks like the one at Asda because all the drivers are caught up in traffic.
Another taxi driver, Kenny, said: "As a local taxi driver, I have witnessed first hand the significant disruption caused by the unannounced and prolonged closures of Millers Bridge.
"These closures have forced us to take longer, more convoluted routes, leading to increased travel times and higher costs for our customers. The unpredictability and inconvenience have not only upset our regular customers but have also deterred potential new clients, significantly impacting our daily takings.
"The repeated closures have also had a ripple effect on local businesses. With customers experiencing delays and increased travel costs, many are choosing to avoid the area altogether."
Another concern for both Ste and Kenny, as well as local residents, is the cost of cleaning up the oil spills on Millers Bridge and who is responsible for paying these costs.
A response by Sefton Council to a Freedom of Information request about clean-up costs for an oil spill incident on April 24, stated: "The costs of the ‘clean up’ operation are now finalised; the total cost being £12,429.75."
The letter added: "These costs have been met by the council. If the organisation responsible cannot be traced, then the council will not be able to recover the costs."
The worry for many residents is the impact on the local authority budget. Due to 14 years of austerity, council finances are stretched to the limit and unrecoverable costs from 'preventable' oil spills will have a significant impact on those finances.
Source: https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/chaos-roads-taxi-drivers-say-29368153
When renewing or applying for a new licence, drivers must now have a certificate of good conduct from their relevant Embassies if:
An applicant has lived outside of the UK, Isle of Man, Channel Islands or Gibraltar for three months or more at ANY POINT from the age of 10
This includes any licence holder who has lived or been on holiday in other countries for three months or more since their licence was granted
Manoj, Chairman of the BF hackney association said: "This is absurd and ridiculous, some licensed drivers sought asylum at a young age and most have lived and worked in the UK for an average between 10 to 45 years with no criminal convictions.
"They have permanent residence in the UK and are now required to supply this certificate.
"Many Hackney drivers, belonging to ethnic minorities have raised concerns of potential discrimination with this policy and are worried about meeting renewal deadlines
"Whilst we understand the importance of public safety and the need to do this for new applicants, applying the same rules to existing drivers, many of whom already hold an enhanced DBS certificate seems illogical and will create unnecessary financial burden and inevitable delays in obtaining these certificates.
"We believe it's crucial to understand the policy's impact. We request Bracknell Forest Council (BFC) to conduct a survey to determine how many licensed drivers have been disqualified in the past 25 years due to similar requirements.
"Furthermore, this policy will also discourage new drivers from joining the profession and could negatively impact passengers, particularly vulnerable demographics, by causing driver shortages and increased waiting times.
As an alternative solution, we propose exploring options like: "Extending the timeframe for obtaining the certificate as well as considering alternative background checks from previous countries of residence that meet DBS equivalent standards."
David Lawrie, Director of the National Private Hire and Taxi Association (NPHTA) said: "Yes I agree it is ridiculous. The guidance issued was for those drivers who have been out of the UK for three months or more within the last three years, not since a driver was a child."
Ways of increasing the amount of wheelchair-accessible taxis across the city are set to be explored to make it easier for those who need one to get one.
Cumbrian taxi drivers are fighting back against proposed licensing changes they fear will cripple their livelihoods.
Bolton taxi drivers are urged to sign up for free safeguarding and disability awareness training before the deadline on October 31st, 2024.
A Conwy Council meeting on Monday revealed a critical failing that allowed a taxi driver whose license had been revoked to continue transporting children to school.
Worcester City Council is seeking public opinion on a proposal to make safeguarding training mandatory for taxi and private hire drivers.
A proposal to increase driver, vehicle and private hire operator licences was discussed on Friday 19 July 19 at Sheffield City Council’s waste and street scene committee.
Through this collaboration, FREENOW willl provide additional benefits giving drivers up to 25% off pay-as-you-go rates across the entire bp pulse electric charging network and discounted fuel at all UK bp branded sites.
Wakefield Licensing, working alongside West Yorks Police Roads Policing unit, NPT, Off-Road Bike Team, Police Intercept Team, DVLA & DVSA, held a Partnership Day of Action at Thornes Park.
A pilot emissions reduction grant scheme providing financial support for hackney carriage drivers to upgrade to cleaner EURO 6 and fully battery powered vehicles has been launched.
The ride-hailing giant has submitted an application for an operator licence to Darlington Borough Council, with a decision expected in August.
Darlington could soon see Uber cars on its streets after the ride-hailing giant applied for a licence to operate in the town.
Stratford-upon-Avon District Council has revoked the licences of two taxi drivers following a series of speeding offences.
A Northampton taxi driver has been found guilty of trafficking cocaine between his home city and Milford Haven.
The move comes after concerns were raised by the taxi industry about the rising cost of purchasing new vehicles.
Guide Dogs charity has asked licensing authorities in England for their support in sharing guidance on the law on carrying guide or other assistance dogs with all taxi and private hire operators.
Reading Taxi Association (RTA) chairman Asif Rashid has slammed Reading Borough Council's proposed phase-out of older petrol and diesel cabs by 2028, calling it a financial burden for drivers.
Dorset Council is poised to review taxi fares across the region, excluding Weymouth and Portland which have separate regulations.
A North Belfast man, Ruairi Fintan Muldoon (31), has been sentenced to 12 months in prison with an additional 12 months on supervised release for a botched attempt to rob a taxi driver.
Passengers are been invited to take part in a survey aimed at finding out if the taxi trade in West Suffolk is accessible to all.
A Glasgow man, Darren Gray, 31, launched into a verbal tirade and racially abused a taxi driver on Paisley Road West on August 19th, 2022.