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" ‘Hazardous’ rickshaws face ban over safety fears"

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  1. chdot
    Admin

    "

    RICKSHAW cabs in the Capital are under threat after transport officials launched a bid to ban the “hazardous” vehicles.

    A report to the council brands the pedal-powered taxis a danger to pedestrians, their passengers and other road users, with city officials wanting to follow Glasgow’s lead by refusing to renew licences.

    Riders have been accused of regularly flouting the Highway Code by riding on pavements, blocking emergency exits and travelling the wrong way down one-way streets.

    Operators have reacted angrily to the allegations – arguing all riders are thoroughly trained and follow a strict code of conduct.

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/hazardous-rickshaws-face-ban-over-safety-fears-1-3532095

    Posted 10 years ago #

  2. kaputnik
    Moderator

    The objections, raised by the Capital’s transport officials

    Who are "transport officials"?

    Posted 10 years ago #

  3. steveo
    Member

    Who are "transport officials"?

    The League of Taxi Drivers...

    Posted 10 years ago #

  4. wingpig
    Member

    "Operators have reacted angrily to the allegations – arguing all riders are thoroughly trained and follow a strict code of conduct."

    I suppose it depends whether the code of conduct they follow pertains to their use of their vehicles on the roads, rather than just requiring them to not swear at customers or make sure their trousers are pulled up when they're bending forward to pedal up a hill. I can certainly confirm that at least one of them has at least once ridden on a footway or gone the wrong way. They're probably nowhere near as dangerous to pedestrians as the frequent deliveries of barrelled intoxicants to Fringe premises, resulting in pedestrian excitements such as having to walk on the road to get round a lorry parked on the pavement by the narrowest bit of the Cowgate under G4B.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  5. Dave
    Member

    Cynics might wonder if the black cab drivers have finally have found the right leverage on the right person?

    Posted 10 years ago #

  6. crowriver
    Member

    Considering that Cllr Cardownie is, apparently, the owner of a private hire company, I'd say that taxi drivers (in the broadest sense) already have a voice in the coalition.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  7. crowriver
    Member

    If you have a look here you'll see that the applications are for "Street Trader Non Food Renewal" . There is a blanket objection from Services for Communities Road Services appended to each application file, stating that Environmental Wardens have observed various infractions. It also asks that licenses not be renewed, or if they are, that "stringent conditions" be imposed to manage the "drivers" better.

    It would be a bit stupid if they effectively banned pedal cabs. Black cabs and private hire cars are far more dangerous to life and limb, not to mention polluting the air.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  8. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Considering that Cllr Cardownie is, apparently, the owner of a private hire company

    For whatever reason, his register of members interest page I cannot find on the council site. Can find all the others.

    found it the hard way. http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/directory_record/439849/steve_cardownie This is not on the register.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  9. crowriver
    Member

    Maybe he got out of the trade. However:

    "Council boss says taxi firm is clean

    Fiona Young, Sunday Mail, July 2007

    A COUNCIL chief has defended his work for a taxi company after it was taken over by the boss of a firm linked to a gangland family.

    Steve Cardownie, deputy leader of Edinburgh City Council, insisted his new bosses at Festival Cars, the capital's biggest private hire firm, are "legitimate".

    Four weeks ago we revealed Festival had been taken over by Allan Gibson, director of Glasgow's Network Private Hire, which has links to the McGovern crime clan.

    In 2004 Network were raided in Operation Maple, Scotland's biggest money laundering crackdown.

    Police also searched a petrol station belonging to McGovern lieutenant Russell Stirton and his pounds 500,000 home.

    SNP councillor Cardownie, a member of the council's police board, owns a Skoda Octavia at Festival and employs two drivers to run it for him.

    Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill has met police, licensing officials and other cab firm owners to discuss fears that Glasgow criminals are trying to buy into the capital.

    Last night Cardownie, 54, said: "I have had the taxi for a year. Since then Festival has changed hands twice. "As far as I'm aware these are bona fide businessmen. People with a criminal record cannot get a taxi permit or licence in this city. "I'm happy to stay at Festival."

    Gibson became a director of Festival in May and visits their HQ in Broompark Business Park, Granton, every day. He has been on the board of Network for eight years."

    http://planet-politics.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/little-politics-and-organised-crime.html

    http://www.thefreelibrary.com/COUNCIL+BOSS+SAYS+TAXI+FIRM+IS+CLEAN%3B+MORE+NEWS+FROM+AROUND+SCOTLAND...-a0166901024

    Posted 10 years ago #

  10. chdot
    Admin

    "

    RICKSHAWS have narrowly avoided the axe despite a bid to clear the “hazardous” vehicles from city streets.

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/reprieve-for-rickshaws-after-bikers-retrained-1-3533302

    Posted 10 years ago #

  11. Dave
    Member

    This raises an interesting possibility. It's easy to produce evidence of systematic violations of the law / Highway Code by taxi drivers. Can we now expect to see licences on the chopping block if we submit this evidence to the council? There's no apparent difference?

    Posted 10 years ago #

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