http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: "Third of taxis fail vehicle tests" (Edinburgh) en Fri, 22 May 2026 02:17:10 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15806#post-205668 Tue, 01 Dec 2015 04:02:03 +0000 Tulyar 205668@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That is the big problem with taxi licensing. It is a parochial matter, and thus varies widely from Council to Council. Far better perhaps to make the regulation of all commercial use of the roads network a detail managed on a National basis, thus avoiding the risk of local conflicts of interest with local Council members/staff and local taxi associations. The single umbrella might also cover the currently unregulated use of sub 7.5T vans, a vehicle type which has seen a massive growth in mileage and registrations, often where an operator seeks to cut the costs of operating a larger vehicles requiring Class C/E drivers, more onerous paperwork etc. Unusually the Scottish Traffic Commissioner does have a peripheral role in taxi matters - regarding appeals on tariff reviews. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15806#post-205657 Mon, 30 Nov 2015 22:11:13 +0000 rob_88_rover 205657@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Has anyone used Uber yet since it was launched in Edinburgh?</p> <p>I used in America last month - pretty decent to be fair and much cheaper than normal cabs </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15806#post-205644 Mon, 30 Nov 2015 19:04:47 +0000 Stickman 205644@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It's amusing that some of the usual suspect commentators are getting upset about generalisations made about taxi drivers: how they aren't all the same, don't tar them all with the same brush, most of them aren't bad drivers, have a bit of sympathy for them....wonder if they'll be saying the same at the next cycling article? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15806#post-205635 Mon, 30 Nov 2015 14:21:15 +0000 Edinburgh Cycle Training 205635@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Its interesting that CEC gets to set its own standards over and above an MOT (and good they seem to be high)</p> <p>What would be good too, is if they had their own driving skills test (also set higher than a driving test) before giving out a license/plate </p> <p>AFAIK, the existing 'knowledge' test is mostly/simply a test of navigating your way through the city's streets. TBF, most satnavs these days probably do as good a job. A practical driving test seems more important to me that a knowledge of routes. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15806#post-205617 Mon, 30 Nov 2015 10:52:03 +0000 kaputnik 205617@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>or one of the indicator bulbs not being quite as yellow as it should be</em></p> <p>*insert stock joke based on mock incredulity that taxis have indicator bulbs here* </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15806#post-205616 Mon, 30 Nov 2015 10:41:20 +0000 wingpig 205616@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote><em>"one in three taxis <u>and private hire cars</u>..."</em></blockquote></p> <p>The state of the inside of them doesn't bother me so much, except where it could be taken as an indicator of driver state-of-mind and/or behaviour. I've seen far fewer PHCs than proper taxis emitting FirstBus-worthy levels of smoke from their rears. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15806#post-205613 Mon, 30 Nov 2015 10:30:54 +0000 chdot 205613@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Might</em> not be as bad as it sounds -</p> <p>"</p> <p>Cab boss Tony Kenmuir said Edinburgh taxis had to meet higher standards than most other places in the UK.</p> <p>He said: “The kind of things they take into account are general cleanliness, so maybe 
even a little tear in a seat or one of the indicator bulbs not being quite as yellow as it should be.</p> <p>"</p> <p><a href="http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/third-of-taxis-fail-vehicle-tests-1-3962095" rel="nofollow">http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/third-of-taxis-fail-vehicle-tests-1-3962095</a> </p>