Article
BUS and taxi lanes cannot be opened for everyone
to use, taxi drivers warned yesterday as proposals to restructure the
industry were announced. Commenting on plans to open these lanes for
hackneys and chauffeurs, the National Taxi Drivers’ Union warned against
them.
“You can buy a hackney licence for €250 so what’s the point in having bus
lanes if everybody in the country is going to be in them,” said president
Tommy Gorman.
The recommendations were announced by the Commissioner for Taxi Regulation,
Ger Deering, have been generally welcomed by the taxi unions but they do
admit that there are some things “we are going to have to talk about.”
“These recommendations will make it a more professional business and we’ve
been calling for many of these things to happen for a long time,” said Mr
Gorman.
“In September we’ll go to the Commissioner with our own shopping list in
answer to his one. He hasn’t closed the door on this and we are happy about
that.”
Cars will be made more disability friendly as part of the reforms.
Mr Deering said: “Currently many taxi, hackney and limousine drivers and
operators provide an excellent service.
“Some, however, provide a sub-standard service and there are issues of
non-compliance that require attention.”
The recommendations are the result of the most extensive review of taxi,
hackney and limousine services and vehicle standards in Ireland.
The changes will begin early next year on a phased basis and should be fully
in place by 2008.
The first set of changes will include a customer charter, a complaints
procedure which will be processed through the office of the commissioner,
and a new fares system.
Talking metres to assist people with impaired hearing, a swivelling front
passenger seat for people with mobility issues and a bright yellow door
handle for people with visual difficulties have all been proposed to better
facilitate those with disabilities.
A training programme will be introduced for new recruits with a refresher
course for existing drivers.
Mr Gorman said: “It’s about time that drivers will have proper training,
we’ve been requesting that some form of training programme be put in place
for a while now.”
The recommendations have now gone to public consultation and any submissions
will be considered up to September 26.
The Commission for Taxi Regulation was established as an Independent Public
Body by the Minister for Transport in September last year. .
Source:- Irish Examiner
The Commission for Taxi Regulation proposes to make changes in relation
to a number of issues. Full details in relation to the Commissions proposed
changes and consultation documents are available for download here
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