Becoming a taxi - using bus lanes
Discussion
Getting fed up of my commute, I'm trying to come up with new routes/buses etc to use. But then thought about all of those empty taxis driving down the bus lanes.
Whats to stop someone just being registered as a taxi but never running anyone anywhere and just abusing the system? Hey, if you've got a few minutes you could even do a job!
Whats to stop someone just being registered as a taxi but never running anyone anywhere and just abusing the system? Hey, if you've got a few minutes you could even do a job!
glynnbob said:
About £3.5k in your plate badge crb medical and first years insurance mate so don't think it's easy.
Figured it'd not be cheap. But my bus is £1500 a year, plus I have to sit on it with other people, it's always late or cancelled so I get wet etc.Medical!? Some of the taxi drivers I see would probably get out of breath saying that word.
Depends where you are really.
Different local authorities have different rules.
For example, in the messed up system that is the town of Brighton, Private Hire cars (even from outside the area) can use the bus lanes. Of which there are now quite enough, too many in fact thanks to the bloody Greens. whereas if you're in London, PH cars cannot use them at all.
Also, doesn't have to cost anything like £3.5k. Again, depends where you are.
Different local authorities have different rules.
For example, in the messed up system that is the town of Brighton, Private Hire cars (even from outside the area) can use the bus lanes. Of which there are now quite enough, too many in fact thanks to the bloody Greens. whereas if you're in London, PH cars cannot use them at all.
Also, doesn't have to cost anything like £3.5k. Again, depends where you are.
itcaptainslow said:
Buy a scooter. My commute and general biffing about has been made so much brighter by a Honda PCX125. 110mpg, easily filtered through traffic, bikes can use most bus lanes around here and I don't pay for parking anywhere. Means that when I drive, I actually enjoy it.
It's crossed my mind, but my commute is actually 20 miles, with the first 15 driving to the street with the bus, then 5 miles on the bus. So it'd be 20 miles on one, mainly on dim lit rural roads. illmonkey said:
Getting fed up of my commute, I'm trying to come up with new routes/buses etc to use. But then thought about all of those empty taxis driving down the bus lanes.
Whats to stop someone just being registered as a taxi but never running anyone anywhere and just abusing the system? Hey, if you've got a few minutes you could even do a job!
Always wondered with the high number of 'private hire taxis' I see in East London.Whats to stop someone just being registered as a taxi but never running anyone anywhere and just abusing the system? Hey, if you've got a few minutes you could even do a job!
I don't think there is anything in theory stopping you. The issue would be the cost. You need to do a second test, plus a few other things like paying for a CRB check, then your car would need to be licensed and have various bits and bobs (taxi plates, possibly a meter fitted, I'm not sure on that). On top of that you would need to get insurance for private hire. Yes, you would not be using it as that, but try convincing your insurance company of that should you have an accident. It's not going to be cheap. There was stories of some car's in London doing it to avoid the congestion charge, but they were all very expensive cars where the owners presumably could get someone else to sort out the details.
Get a propped bike then 
For £3.5k you could get something decent.
illmonkey said:
itcaptainslow said:
Buy a scooter. My commute and general biffing about has been made so much brighter by a Honda PCX125. 110mpg, easily filtered through traffic, bikes can use most bus lanes around here and I don't pay for parking anywhere. Means that when I drive, I actually enjoy it.
It's crossed my mind, but my commute is actually 20 miles, with the first 15 driving to the street with the bus, then 5 miles on the bus. So it'd be 20 miles on one, mainly on dim lit rural roads. For £3.5k you could get something decent.g3org3y said:
illmonkey said:
Getting fed up of my commute, I'm trying to come up with new routes/buses etc to use. But then thought about all of those empty taxis driving down the bus lanes.
Whats to stop someone just being registered as a taxi but never running anyone anywhere and just abusing the system? Hey, if you've got a few minutes you could even do a job!
Always wondered with the high number of 'private hire taxis' I see in East London.Whats to stop someone just being registered as a taxi but never running anyone anywhere and just abusing the system? Hey, if you've got a few minutes you could even do a job!
Someone did this famously in Ireland.
It worked.
Depends if your pockets are as deep as Mike's tho?
http://www.irishcentral.com/news/ryanair-boss-mich...
(PS: I think this has all stopped now)
It worked.
Depends if your pockets are as deep as Mike's tho?
http://www.irishcentral.com/news/ryanair-boss-mich...
(PS: I think this has all stopped now)
illmonkey said:
itcaptainslow said:
Buy a scooter. My commute and general biffing about has been made so much brighter by a Honda PCX125. 110mpg, easily filtered through traffic, bikes can use most bus lanes around here and I don't pay for parking anywhere. Means that when I drive, I actually enjoy it.
It's crossed my mind, but my commute is actually 20 miles, with the first 15 driving to the street with the bus, then 5 miles on the bus. So it'd be 20 miles on one, mainly on dim lit rural roads. Steve_F said:
illmonkey said:
itcaptainslow said:
Buy a scooter. My commute and general biffing about has been made so much brighter by a Honda PCX125. 110mpg, easily filtered through traffic, bikes can use most bus lanes around here and I don't pay for parking anywhere. Means that when I drive, I actually enjoy it.
It's crossed my mind, but my commute is actually 20 miles, with the first 15 driving to the street with the bus, then 5 miles on the bus. So it'd be 20 miles on one, mainly on dim lit rural roads. Unlikely but i wonder if uber drivers would qualify for the bus lanes (as they are taxis but not 'real taxis').
An explanation for those not familiar.
http://m.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-ne...
An explanation for those not familiar.
http://m.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-ne...
illmonkey said:
It's crossed my mind, but my commute is actually 20 miles, with the first 15 driving to the street with the bus, then 5 miles on the bus. So it'd be 20 miles on one, mainly on dim lit rural roads.
Mine is pretty decent for the open road. You wouldn't want to take it on a motorway, but it buzzes along at 65mph happily and with a decent set of waterproofs is comfy. I can say this from experience as I did a 60 mile trip on it in the pissing rain the other day. The knowledge the trip is costing you beans keeps you warm inside.
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