Foo - Auckland - Taxis keen to get key to bus lanes

Some good for/against arguments in this one! What do you think?

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3548994&thesection=news&thesubsection=general&thesecondsubsection=&reportid=52008

13.02.2004
By STUART DYE transport reporter
Taxi drivers are calling for law changes to allow them to use bus lanes.

It would ease congestion and pave the way for a better taxi service, according to the Taxi Federation.

In Wellington, some concessions have been made with cabbies allowed to use parts of the bus lane network and having designated pick-up and drop-off spots.

But in Auckland, where the lanes are all on arterial routes into the CBD, taxi drivers are banned from bus lanes.

The federation is preparing a case to take to Auckland City Council ahead of talks next week.

Under new transport legislation - the Land Transport Management Act - taxis are classified as "public transport" for the first time.

John Bryant, Auckland president of the Taxi Federation, says this means they should be given the same rights as other public transport providers. "Why should Stagecoach and bus operators get the benefits for providing essentially the same service as us?" he said.

The federation's biggest arguments are the number of disabled children taxis take to school, and the number of business people driven to the CBD, particularly from the airport.

"Why should these people suffer and have to be late when they have no choice but to get a taxi? Buses are not an option for many people," said Mr Bryant.

He estimated up to 800 disabled children were carried by cabs in Auckland each day. Meanwhile, the journey from the airport could be 20 minutes longer and $15 more expensive in bad traffic.

"We are basically not allowed to provide a reasonable level of service to customers," added Mr Bryant.

But Auckland City Council said last night it would be unlikely to agree to the cabbies' claims.

Bus lanes were not "public transport lanes", but "passenger transport lanes" said transport committee chairman Greg McKeown.

Only vehicles with 13 seats, including the driver, could use the lanes.

"Clearly a taxi driver carrying one passenger and using a bus lane is not actually making a great contribution to passenger transport service," said Mr McKeown.

The council would be willing to look at whether the 13-seat by-law was the correct number

They're allowed to use bus lanes over here. Personally I'd like to see them prevented from doing so. Regent Taxis are generally the biggest pack of pricks on Earth, but that's beside the point really. Taxis are just the same as any other car. You might just as well scrap bus lanes and make it like any other traffic lane if you allow taxis to use it.

The federation's biggest arguments are the number of disabled children taxis take to school, and the number of business people driven to the CBD, particularly from the airport.


I hate it when some self-serving moron drags disabled children into some political argument.

Perhaps the law should be amended to allow taxis to use the bus lanes only when transporting disabled children.

Dan

Taxis use the bus lanes here in Geneva and there's no problem.

I'm for it. Anything that helps public transport - and yes, taxis are, or should be, considered public transport. Buses, bicycles and taxis are allowed in the bus lane here. It seems to work ok.

Problem is, unless it's a motorway, these bus lanes are our bike lanes...... and I actually use them, they do work well in most cases (only something like 25km in ttotal for the whole city!)...NOW what is your opinion? :D

Brendon