Bus Lane PCN

Silver-Surfer_2

Deleted_User wrote: »

What? They had old fashioned LED displays like the display on my old JVC VCR.

What he means is private hires have always needed to be booked in advance or taken from the taxi office. If you've jumped in one in the past that has plied for trade you wre uninsured.

Silver-Surfer_2

bigjl wrote: »

I think those not living in London are at a slight disadvantage in this thread.

As Private Hire don't use the same vehicles in London and PH can't have a meter.

And all PH drivers are clearly informed of the differences during the Licencing process.

The only reason Taxis are allowed in Bus Lanes in London is due to the need to ply for hire.

Which PH are not allowed to do.

The OP has already stated they are not Uber which shows they have some knowledge of the PH trade in London.

I smell BS I'm afraid.

Other than the taxi test that's not unique to London.

[Deleted User]

Silver-Surfer wrote: »

What he means is private hires have always needed to be booked in advance or taken from the taxi office. If you've jumped in one in the past that has plied for trade you wre uninsured.

I said private hire taxis round here have always had meters in displaying the fare of the current journey just like taxi taxis. Who said anything about jumping in bogus taxis.

Unlike London, most of the country's taxis and private hire companies all use the same makes and models of cars and some areas you hardly ever see a "black cab".

In my area almost no one ever uses the term "mini cab" to describe private hire cars.

bigjl

Silver-Surfer wrote: »

What he means is private hires have always needed to be booked in advance or taken from the taxi office. If you've jumped in one in the past that has plied for trade you wre uninsured.

A Private Hire passenger can't be picked up from a "Taxi" office in London as they are not Taxis, they are Private Hire or "Minicabs"

bigjl

Silver-Surfer wrote: »

Other than the taxi test that's not unique to London.

Which "Taxi test" are you talking about?

The Taxi driving test done after the KoL is completed?

Or the Cabology tests that are also done after completed the actual KoL?

There are only a small number of vehicles allowed to be a Taxi in London.

The TX1, TX2 and TX4. The Metrocabs (old diesels and new range extender Electric version) and the Vito Taxi, specific version for London with rear wheel steering to meet turning circle requirements. There will also be an electric TX Taxi at some point in the future.

Silver-Surfer_2

bigjl wrote: »

A Private Hire passenger can't be picked up from a "Taxi" office in London as they are not Taxis, they are Private Hire or "Minicabs"

So you cannot take a mini cab from their office/base?

Silver-Surfer_2

Deleted_User wrote: »

I said private hire taxis round here have always had meters in displaying the fare of the current journey just like taxi taxis. Who said anything about jumping in bogus taxis.

Unlike London, most of the country's taxis and private hire companies all use the same makes and models of cars and some areas you hardly ever see a "black cab".

In my area almost no one ever uses the term "mini cab" to describe private hire cars.

No one, until you just did.

[Deleted User]

When it's time to go home at night after a few pints at the local CIU club, I phone one of many taxi (private hire) companies. If they have a car available, it will arrive in less than 10 minutes usually. I get in and it takes me home. During the journey home the meter displays what the fare currently stands at. When I arrive home the meter says the total amount I owe for the ride home. I pay it and get out.

I've never had a taxi (private hire) where the driver has just plucked a price out of his head when I've reached a destination without any fare on display.

Only time when the meter is off is if I have pre-booked a set fare to a predefined destination.

You cannot just flag a taxi down as if you were in London, unless you are extremely lucky. And certainly not at 12am on an idle Tuesday night, even the taxi rank on the high street is empty at that time unless it is a weekend.

Up here only way to tell the difference from a taxi or private hire is to look at the licence plate on the rear bumper. We don't have all these weird and wonderful black cabs, mini cabs, private hire vehicles, etc. They all use Skoda saloons and estates.

Car_54

Some councils require meters in private hire cars, and some don't. I've used a few PH cars over the past year, some in Surrey, some in Greater London. None have had meters, and there is a huge variety of cars: generally either 7-seaters or large saloons. A few Skodas but also BMWs and Mercs.

Some of the companies actually advertise fixed fares to popular destinations, e.g. Heathrow, regardless of the start point. If not, they will usually quote a fare if you ask when you 'phone. Otherwise the driver uses an app or simply his odometer (or possibly plucks a figure from his head as LeeUK suggests!)

bigjl

Silver-Surfer wrote: »

So you cannot take a mini cab from their office/base?

A Minicab isn't a Taxi.

Never has been and never will be in London.

Outside of London where the requirements to become a Hackney Carraige are more in line with Private Hire or Minicab requirements here may be some blurring of the distinction.

But that is irrelevant in this thread as it is specifically about London, making what happens outside London of no value to this discussion.