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Sorry I have not up dated this page recently , so many other things to put on the other pages. If you have anything you would like to see here, let me have it.
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This week it was disclosed that a bus driver in the city of Bristol had been a drug addict. A spokesperson for the bus company said that he had not declared that he had a drug problem. She went on to say that they were willing to give people a second chance. I would suggest that it was the people who were riding in the bus that was giving him a second chance not First Bus. It may not have come to light if the person had not died of an overdose.
It has also been reported that a former Bristol hackney carriage licensing officer has appeared before magistrates, charged with bribery and corruption involving private hire drivers. The case was adjourned until April. How many PH drivers are out on the road without a license?.
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Dear Drive I have written to my M.P. Jean Corston and will send you a copy of this letter also.
I feel this needs further
discussion amongst the trade. In light of the buses now being considered
for service until 2.00am I feel it imperitive that the trade strenghtens
its position in relation to public transport. I am also led to believe that Government has abolished fuel duty rebate and has forced the bus company to warn council that fares are to rise significantly. I believe that there will be no better time than now to force our case and hope that the trade are farsighted enough to support these efforts. Regards Ian ABCD |
CABBIES CALL FOR HELP
AS TRADE HIT By NIGEL DANDO The Association of Black Cab Drivers is pressing the council to set up more taxi ranks and review how it issues licenses to new applicants. It says there has been an increase of 190 licensed drivers - up from 273 to 463 - since deregulation, which removed the limit on the number of hackney cabs in the city. The association is asking the council to consider integrating taxis into the public transport system by providing subsidies to cabs as it does to a number of bus services. It represents 154) cabbies who have paid at least £16,000 for vehicles to meet the council’s requirements. Association secretary Ian Johnstone said: “We believe that the potential within the public taxi trade is consistently overlooked to the detriment of all concerned. “To include the trade within the framework of subsidised services would help alleviate some concerns surrounding current rank provision by keeping a high percentage of vehicles on the move. “This would cut costs on routes that are not currently financially viable. It would also give equal opportunity to those whose initial investment is becoming more difficult to recover” Mr Johnstone said: “There is an opportunity to improve the transport system in the Bristol area and create a benchmark for the country as a whole to follow It may appear to be a radical approach, but it would bring major benefits to the people of Bristol. ‘We are saying - we are here, use us.” The council said it was reviewing how the trade had operated since deregulation in July 1997 and would consider the association’s ideas. |
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It's true what they say first impressions are very important.
Every person I pick up who is a visitor to Bristol, all tell me the same thing.
The driver that brought me from the station was going mad about the centre,
about how sorry he was about the travelling time and about who's fault it was.
We are the reps of a company called Bristol
and the councillors are the managers of the company ( don't laugh ). What every
manager should know is , don't upset the reps.
If you do, that rep will not be presenting the company in a very good light
and very soon, you will not be able to sell your product.
It appears that the managers of this company are doing there utmost to upset
the reps. The results of which are coming back to me as a negative and depressed
workforce. I used to enjoy selling this company because I believed in it. I
no longer enjoy selling or believe in the product. How can you tell someone
that this would be a good place to open an office when you know what is happening
in the city.
My maxim has always been when you say goodbye to visitors at the station, always
leave them with a smile, a pleasant word and a positive attitude. It's getting
harder every day to keep this facade.
Taxi drivers will always give you their opinion whether you want it or not and most visitors want the advice of some one with local knowledge. On the other hand a bus driver will be asked things like can I put my case under the stairs or where's the conductor. So why do the council hold taxi drivers in such low regard and treat First bus like gods.
See City Centre page for my latest ramblings.
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This is article from the West End News , a Bristol paper that is not council friendly. I always enjoy reading it. The articles are mainly Clifton based but a good read for taxi drivers. This article was from the Sentinel section. |
It has been reported that Redditch Council has advised the public not to encourage Taxi Drivers to talk about Religion, Politics or Sex. What nonsense . |
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Bristol has been awarded £6.5 million by the Government in the transport settlement plan.
The Council believe that this is in recognition for the work they have carried out in public transport and reducing traffic.
( Where do these people live?.)
Ministers have now ruled out setting a national road traffic reduction target, but they will examine local benchmarks on congestion and traffic.
I think what this means is, it will depend on what political party is in power
in that local council as to what medicine the motorist has to take.
If they are trying to win votes in an area the medicine will be sweet, so it's
not going to taste very nice in Bristol.
What we are taking now is likely to kill the
City, not cure it.
I think they may have suddenly woken up to the fact that motorist's have a vote
and they are sick and fed up with being screwed.
It may be too late for this council.
We have had enough of them making a mess of our City, then telling everyone
what a success it is.
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I would like to thank the people @Bristol for
giving welcome host taxi drivers the chance to experience the new attraction.
I am sure that we will be able to repay you with the ability to pass on what
we have seen.
Well done @ Bristol..
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With this in mind I have compiled a report and asked that this is placed on the agenda for the next forum meeting due to be held next week. You are also aware of my determination for the trade to be viewed as an equally important part of the public transport structure within Bristol and with this in mind have approached those interested parties with a view to including our trade within the framework of local and subsidised services.
I would hope that this receives support within the trade
and would be interested in any comments individuals may wish to make.
I have sent copies of all relevant correspondence for your perusal.
Ian ABCD
Link to Ian's Report
My Comment
Ian has obviously done a lot of work on this report. Well done.
As a saloon taxi driver I hope that my representatives are looking after my
interests as well as Ian is looking after his members.
The idea of subsidies for taxis is a interesting
and innovative one.
At the moment for a driver in my position, I do not consider that this trade
is able to give a reasonable return for the capital investment of a wheelchair
accessible vehicle.
If the council want to treat us as though we are a department of the social
services, then give us finance to run a social service.
This may come as a shock to them, but we are out there to earn money. We are
in business, we are not a charity.
What other business has it's prices set by the local authority. They licence
pubs but they don't tell them how much to charge for beer. They give the First
Bus Company millions of pounds but the don't tell them what to charge. They
licence restaurants, sandwich shops, fast food vans, clubs, massage parlours,
cinemas even beggars and who's prices do they set!, Taxi Drivers. The poor bloke
that they insist, has to equip himself with the most expensive millstone he
will ever buy.
A wheelchair accessible vehicle.
Sorry, I'm ranting again.
Well done Ian. As I am no longer a trade representative, I will not be at the
next forum. So if you get me a copy of the agenda I will post it on this page.
Mike.
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The
Wildscreen and Explore facility will be opening in the spring of 2000. Before
then, I hope to find out something about the project. I also want to know
how we can be part of the experience of visitors who will come to Bristol.
We are the sales force, the reps, the people who will help to make it a
good day out. I want families to leave the wildscreen happy and when they
get home to say " what a great day out and wasn't the taxi driver nice.".
Your attitude will make the difference between whether someone comes back
to Bristol or not.
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UPDATE :-) IMAX.... IMAX A CINEMATIC
EXPERIENCE.(-:}
Back to top. Bristol is celebrating the success of its ground breaking
Welcome Host Taxi Initiative making it through to the top three in the awards
finals.
The initiative has seen over 60 taxi drivers take part in the West Country Tourist
Board’s Welcome Host programme to build on the warm welcome visitors to the
city receive.
Cllr Pat Roberts, Co-Chair of Bristol Tourism & Conference
Bureau said: "This initiative has pushed to the top of the agenda the quality
of customer service in the public transport sector - an important issue for
visitors to and residents of Bristol alike.
Its' success so far is a tribute to the dedication of the Bristol taxi drivers
who have embraced the concept whole-heartedly and realised its potential for
bringing great benefits to the city."
Bristol Welcome Host Taxi Initiative, Bristol Tourism
and Conference Bureau,
St Nicholas Church, Bristol tel 0117 946 2207
Contact Priscilla Chapman
2001
Do you know who your councillor is. Check this page to make sure.
List of Councilors names and Political party.
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