Taxis

[telstarbox]

Makes sense as they drive on the left as well!

 

[theageofthetra]

Someone posted a while back that a lot of PHVs are old Priuses imported from Japan, where the battery is shot so it's effectively just a heavyweight petrol car but it still qualifies for congestion charge discount. If this still applies (I know the rules on discounts are tightened up from time to time) then there ought to be a change to the MOT or some other system to check that a supposed hybrid is actually functioning as such for it to qualify for the various financial inducements it gets.

That's correct. Japan has effectively a fake new car market where it's so hard to get an older vehicle through their equivalent of an MOT that they get dumped onto one of their huge online car auction sites & sold very cheaply to other RHD markets. Locals then buy a new car from mainly Japanese manufacturers. These Prius then end up dumped over here as minicabs & Ubers, with many using no battery at all. There is no test for the effectiveness of the traction battery pack as part of the MOT and UK approval process either which is just idiotic.

 

[cactustwirly]

Hello there. I thought I'd create a thread on taxis. Anything to do with taxis is welcome.

I've used taxis for around 20 years, largely in Oxfordshire but not all over the UK.

I've noticed, which clicked in my mind in recent times, that not one taxi is say a 1.2 litre Vauxhall Astra or Fiat 500 and any 1.2 litre model car. Would this be because they'd require fuelling twice a day compared to larger engined models. I know 1.2 litres aren't the most powerful of cars.

Well imagine cramming passengers into a Fiat 500!

A 1.6 litre saloon is better for covering larger distances, and is probably more fuel efficient.
Also a lot of the jobs round me are trips to Heathrow Airport, so you want a decent amount of luggage space.

 

[richw]

The company I used to get to Bristol airport last week, appeared to have a fleet solely of Mercedes Vitos under 3 years old

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

Possibly because if you're driving all day you don't want to be driving an underpowered car? Underpowered cars also aren't great on fuel economy. In my observation, the most popular private hire car around here is the Toyota Prius, which offers performance, fuel economy and reliability.

Those sort of cars would be nice to own, especially as if stuck in traffic it's piece and quiet in a way - you can drive one on Gran Turismo 4 !

I'm not sure what the estate model is but Auto Taxis in Abingdon largely have Toyota hybrid estates (15-plate and 66-plate ones) + the odd 1 or 2 16-plate sliver Mercedes-Benz saloon cars (E-class I think).

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

I remember watching Crimewatch around 13 years ago (probably then) where mini-cab drivers weren't what they seemed (I think a few people altogether hailed one). In London, I'll always get a black cab (I've not been in one yet).

 

[GusB]

Those sort of cars would be nice to own, especially as if stuck in traffic it's piece and quiet in a way - you can drive one on Gran Turismo 4 !

I'm not sure what the estate model is but Auto Taxis in Abingdon largely have Toyota hybrid estates (15-plate and 66-plate ones) + the odd 1 or 2 16-plate sliver Mercedes-Benz saloon cars (E-class I think).

I was in Inverness the other day, and one of the large firms seems to be using hybrid estates too. I think they're Corollas.

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

I was in Inverness the other day, and one of the large firms seems to be using hybrid estates too. I think they're Corollas.

If it's Corollas then must be a 19-plate probably - if new in 2015 or 2016, then I believe it's a Toyota Auris Hybrid estate.

 

[GusB]

If it's Corollas then must be a 19-plate probably - if new in 2015 or 2016, then I believe it's a Toyota Auris Hybrid estate.

To be honest, I have no idea - I didn't pay attention to the age of the plate, but they did seem fairly new. I've spend enough time around Raigmore Hospital in recent months to notice something different (and how decrepit the Stagecoach Highland bus fleet is getting, but that's another story in another thread...!)

I'll be visiting again next Friday, so I'll try to take a closer look.

 

[Drsatan]

I've read that private hire vehicles are not allowed to use meters in certain councils, yet I've been in private hire vehicles in Cornwall and Birmingham that have used them (a conventional taxi meter in Cornwall, an app on the driver's mobile in Birmingham). I'm assuming the decision whether private hire vehicles can use meters or not lies with the licensing authority where they are registered?

Certainly in London private hire rates due to the price war between Uber and other operators have stagnated, affecting drivers' incomes and forcing them to work for dangerously long hours. I've heard of Addison Lee drivers working for 70 hours a week and only earning £4.50 an hour.

 

[route101]

I've read that private hire vehicles are not allowed to use meters in certain councils, yet I've been in private hire vehicles in Cornwall and Birmingham that have used them (a conventional taxi meter in Cornwall, an app on the driver's mobile in Birmingham). I'm assuming the decision whether private hire vehicles can use meters or not lies with the licensing authority where they are registered?

Certainly in London private hire rates due to the price war between Uber and other operators have stagnated, affecting drivers' incomes and forcing them to work for dangerously long hours. I've heard of Addison Lee drivers working for 70 hours a week and only earning £4.50 an hour.

I used a private hire company in Glasgow ( Hampden cabs ) and they used a fare chart for taxi journey once .

In Glasgow theres still some older taxis on the go , seen a M reg and P reg .

 

[route101]

There are four or five in Liverpool at the moment.

Few in Glasgow too

 

[route101]

Hello there. I thought I'd create a thread on taxis. Anything to do with taxis is welcome.

I've used taxis for around 20 years, largely in Oxfordshire but not all over the UK.

I've noticed, which clicked in my mind in recent times, that not one taxi is say a 1.2 litre Vauxhall Astra or Fiat 500 and any 1.2 litre model car. Would this be because they'd require fuelling twice a day compared to larger engined models. I know 1.2 litres aren't the most powerful of cars.

Think theres a five door requirement for taxis

 

[route101]

Until a couple of weeks ago, minicabs were exempt from the congestion charge.

I believe that randomly (or otherwise) TfL will write to minicabs to obtain proof that they were on genuine business when caught e.g. in the congestion zone. Presumably to avoid the above.

The standard of driving by them is shocking. Glued to mobile phones or tablets and with seemingly no other common sense, if the phone says turn left they will happily scoot across 4 lanes of traffic to do so.

Yeah shocking standards of driving . Guess its trying to make money , no excuses though

 

[greyman42]

Think theres a five door requirement for taxis

So a large four door saloon with a boot, such as a Mercedes E class, would not be allowed?

 

[GusB]

So a large four door saloon with a boot, such as a Mercedes E class, would not be allowed?

I think it very much depends on requirements of the local authority. Some councils will be stricter on what is and isn't allowed.

 

[cactustwirly]

So a large four door saloon with a boot, such as a Mercedes E class, would not be allowed?

I've seen loads of Mercedes E class taxis about, so that isn't an issue I don't think

 

[Bletchleyite]

So a large four door saloon with a boot, such as a Mercedes E class, would not be allowed?

I think there is more likely to be a four door requirement - i.e. doors to the rear seats. The Chevrolet Matiz of course meets this, and is a very common taxi in India!

 

[richw]

Four doors and a minimum leg room requirement set by each local authority is Normal. Leg room being measurement from edge of seat to back of front seat/ dashboard

 

[GusB]

While we're on the subject of vehicle requirements, does anyone have, or can point me in the direction of, an up-to-date list of the vehicle types that TfL approve as hackney cabs? I've had a good trawl through their website and done a fair bit of Googling, but I've so far failed to come up with anything.

 

[eastdyke]

While we're on the subject of vehicle requirements, does anyone have, or can point me in the direction of, an up-to-date list of the vehicle types that TfL approve as hackney cabs? I've had a good trawl through their website and done a fair bit of Googling, but I've so far failed to come up with anything.

I don't think that there is a prescriptive list of vehicles as such.
The criteria for the issue of a TfL (hackney) vehicle licence is here:
https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/taxis-a...ply-for-a-taxi-vehicle-licence#on-this-page-0
There are further links within the text. Older vehicles already licenced have certain grandfather rights.

 

[GusB]

I don't think that there is a prescriptive list of vehicles as such.
The criteria for the issue of a TfL (hackney) vehicle licence is here:
https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/taxis-a...ply-for-a-taxi-vehicle-licence#on-this-page-0
There are further links within the text. Older vehicles already licenced have certain grandfather rights.

Thanks - that is one of the pages I had a good look through. You would have thought that TfL would have published some kind of list, if only to give prospective cab drivers an indication of what sort of vehicle they'd need to purchase/lease! Obviously LEVC (what used to be LTi) make vehicles which comply, and I'm aware that there's a version of the Mercedes Vito that also does. Are there any others that meet London requirements?

 

[eastdyke]

Thanks - that is one of the pages I had a good look through. You would have thought that TfL would have published some kind of list, if only to give prospective cab drivers an indication of what sort of vehicle they'd need to purchase/lease! Obviously LEVC (what used to be LTi) make vehicles which comply, and I'm aware that there's a version of the Mercedes Vito that also does. Are there any others that meet London requirements?

OK, by following the labyrinth of links I have found a list of all licensed vehicle types, together with their ages, dated 19/10/2018. That should be more useful to you:
http://content.tfl.gov.uk/taxi-and-phv-fleet-with-age.pdf
The oldest licensed phv appears to be 47 years old, a Morris convertible!

 

[GusB]

OK, by following the labrynth of links I have found a list of all licenced vehicle types, together with their ages, dated 19/10/2018. That should be more useful to you:
http://content.tfl.gov.uk/taxi-and-phv-fleet-with-age.pdf
The oldest licenced phv appears to be 47 years old, a Morris copnvertable!

That's an interesting document - thank you! I have to say I'm somewhat surprised that there were still a few Metrocabs on the road at the time of publication - only 58, but I thought they'd have all been long gone. It's also interesting to note that there were two fewer TX1s licenced at the time - a newer design. Essentially, the current fleet is mostlyTX4s, with TX2s and Vitos making up the numbers.

I'm sure I read something about another company entering the market - was it Nissan? Obviously it didn't come to anything. I'll do a bit of digging.

 

[eastdyke]

That's an interesting document - thank you! I have to say I'm somewhat surprised that there were still a few Metrocabs on the road at the time of publication - only 58, but I thought they'd have all been long gone. It's also interesting to note that there were two fewer TX1s licenced at the time - a newer design. Essentially, the current fleet is mostlyTX4s, with TX2s and Vitos making up the numbers.

I'm sure I read something about another company entering the market - was it Nissan? Obviously it didn't come to anything. I'll do a bit of digging.

The grandfathered Metrocabs are almost certainly LPG conversions (didn't HRH DofE once have one?) which were given 'x' years after conversion.
Not up to speed on London cabs, I have a relative who runs an E7 in the provinces. I would have expected there to be (electric) Nissan NV200's by now in London*. Bear in mind the data link was for last October.

*I am told now apparently called the Dynamo e-NV200 and was expected 'early 2019', as of 25/1/2019:
https://taxileaks.blogspot.com/2019/01/looking-good-for-dynamo-launch-early.html

 

[Rick1984]

This must have be one of the oldest taxis still in use:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/16677680@N04/28455021317
seen it on IOW, was sold 2017.

 

[GusB]

The grandfathered Metrocabs are almost certainly LPG conversions (didn't HRH DofE once have one?) which were given 'x' years after conversion.
Not up to speed on London cabs, I have a relative who runs an E7 in the provinces. I would have expected there to be (electric) Nissan NV200's by now in London*. Bear in mind the data link was for last October.

*I am told now apparently called the Dynamo e-NV200 and was expected 'early 2019', as of 25/1/2019:
https://taxileaks.blogspot.com/2019/01/looking-good-for-dynamo-launch-early.html

That's the one - the NV200.

The E7 was (is?) a decent vehicle, but clearly it didn't meet London standards. We had quite a few in the fleet back then, but they were a major pain in the arse. We'd have customers phoning up and asking for a 7-seater, but we always had to advise that we couldn't guarantee one would be available and had to ask if they'd accept two cars (two fares) instead. The person making the booking wouldn't understand - they call a company and expect us to provide the vehicle they request, but in reality we were dealing with self-employed drivers who paid a handsome amount of money each month for radio hire, and if things weren't going their way they could (and did) book off and ply the streets/ranks instead; there is no guarantee that there will be such a vehicle available at the time that booking has to be serviced. Heaven forbid that anyone tried to make a booking that specifically requested a wheelchair-accessible vehicle...

 

[pieguyrob]

That's the one - the NV200.

The E7 was (is?) a decent vehicle, but clearly it didn't meet London standards. We had quite a few in the fleet back then, but they were a major pain in the arse. We'd have customers phoning up and asking for a 7-seater, but we always had to advise that we couldn't guarantee one would be available and had to ask if they'd accept two cars (two fares) instead. The person making the booking wouldn't understand - they call a company and expect us to provide the vehicle they request, but in reality we were dealing with self-employed drivers who paid a handsome amount of money each month for radio hire, and if things weren't going their way they could (and did) book off and ply the streets/ranks instead; there is no guarantee that there will be such a vehicle available at the time that booking has to be serviced. Heaven forbid that anyone tried to make a booking that specifically requested a wheelchair-accessible vehicle...

Amen to that. Have thrown my dummy out of the pram with the office many a time and gone working the hackney stands. I drive a TX1 in Blackpool.

 

[Joe Paxton]

In London there was a spate of people registering their own cars as private hire vehicles for this end, though I believe TfL changed the rules to stop this.

That's incorrect I'm afraid, PHVs / minicabs have never been allowed to use bus lanes in London.

PHV / minicab licensing in London only began in 2001 - for years the Taxi trade (i.e. Hackney cabs) successfully lobbied against it, fearing regulation would legitimise the PHV business and so erode the market for Taxis.

 

[Bletchleyite]

That's incorrect I'm afraid, PHVs / minicabs have never been allowed to use bus lanes in London.

The end wasn't the use of bus lanes (which as you correctly say wasn't ever allowed), but for exemption from the Congestion Charge.