TukTuk Taxis and hire. Would it work here?

[TotalControl]

I've been contemplating this for a little over 3 days and would like more input from you lot.

Would something like this work in the UK? Nottingham has them but I was thinking that we could benefit by having something similar (on a slightly smaller scale) where I live. I haven't spokn to them as I'm still dwelling on the thought.

It wouldn't just be a taxi service. I'd want to introduce a few funky designs for private weddings and parties etc.

Does it sound desireable? I have the drive for this to work and get the ball rolling pretty swiftly if so but don't know if it is something that has legs.

[Pistom]

There would certainly be a demand in many places but have no idea how it could be licensed.

UK weather goes against it so I suspect the business plan would be difficult to calculate.

It is so obvious though that if it could be done, somebody would have.

[Dogwatch]

Brighton had them for a while but modern traffic and not very generous Victorian streets rather did for them.

[voicey]

Dogwatch said:

Brighton had them for a while but modern traffic and not very generous Victorian streets rather did for them.

I recall they were operated as a bus service on a fixed route and thus didn't need a taxi licence.

[TotalControl]

Yeah, read about Brighton. I was wondering if running the taxi service as a Summer project would be of any benefit? The winters would probably pretty much render them useless unless they're on stilts and have tog10 duvets in them with heaters on full blast.

Functions and events would be a yearly thing though.

[Bebee]

There's never a tuktuk when you need one

[vanordinaire]

There are some cycle rickshaws in Edinburgh, slower and more expensive than taxis so mainly a tourist thing.

[sealtt]

Sounds like a cool idea to me, people like that sort of stuff on holiday especially.

[Nickyboy]

They tried them in Oxford but they turned out to be lethal so now they're piled up behind the local taxi companies workshops

[Sarkmeister]

Are you sure Nottingham has them? They were a few rickshaws for a while, but I think that was only when TK Max moved and they were moving customers to the new store for free. Not seen tuk-tuks.

[sideways sid]

vanordinaire said:

There are some cycle rickshaws in Edinburgh, slower and more expensive than taxis so mainly a tourist thing.

...And in London.

I think tuk-tuks work where:
1. the cost of labour of the operator is insignificant relative to the wealth of the passenger, which by the time you employ an operator in UK, it isn't
2. there is less concern over safety and insurance, the cost of which would be astronomical in UK cities
3. climate makes them a valid option all-year round. In UK, a taxi would be much nicer about three-quarters of the time
4. you can't rent a Boris Bike for half an hour - fine everywhere except London, for now...