Better Transport

A press release by the local group Campaign for Better Transport, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Volunteers from Campaign for Better Transport, Leicestershire and Rutland in a Taxi Watch Campaign have been surveying Hinckley’s taxi operations at taxi ranks in George Street and at the railway station over the Christmas and New Year period to see if there are too many taxi spaces and to assess the quality of the service provided.

Campaign for Better Transport, Leicestershire and Rutland said:

"There are spaces for nearly 20 taxis in the town centre ranks and despite complaints that this is too few and that taxis are causing congestion by holding up other traffic, while waiting in places they are not supposed to, this is not backed by the evidence of the surveys.

"Contrary to this though, possibly there are too many taxis for the people who want to use them, as there is evidence of taxis waiting for ages for customers to turn up for them."
 
The surveys have also shown up a need to upgrade the quality and approach of this part of the public transport industry.

Campaign for Better Transport, Leicestershire and Rutland said:
 
"All taxi drivers are now supposed to wear badges as identification for passengers to see, but on several occasions taxi drivers were observed operating without wearing badges.

"Taxi drivers’ local street and place knowledge is another issue that must be sorted out more quickly than it is now. Members of the public frequently get asked for directions to local landmarks by taxi drivers using cars even with the major taxi local firms. Taxi firms must be having difficulty recruiting drivers! Companies should insist on more training for new drivers taken on before they are allowed to take fares, after all, taxis are public transport, in fact very expensive public transport and you wouldn’t expect to have tell the bus driver the route would you?"

The Taxi Watch Campaign included taxis and private hire cars, licences for which are issued by district councils. Campaign for Better Transport, Leicestershire and Rutland will be sending information about its observations to the Borough Council in Hinckley.