The Taxi and Private Hire Sector
The taxi / private hire sector is an increasingly important part of the overall transport mix, yet one that is often neglected at a strategic level by passenger transport authorities. Its importance can be seen in the fact that the distance travelled by passengers in taxis / private hire vehicles increased by 30% between 1997 and 2005, compared to a 6% decline in local bus passenger miles outside London over the same period.
Click on chart to enlarge
Source: Transport for London, taxi licensing authorities outside London and The Scottish Executive
From a social inclusion perspective, taxis have a major role to play. Contrary to any lingering perception that taxis are a luxury expenditure, it is people with the lowest household income who make the most taxi journeys. Furthermore, taxi use occurs over three times as frequently by people in households without a car, compared to those with access to a car.
Despite the freedoms created in the 1985 Transport Act for taxibuses and shared taxi and hire car arrangements, authorities have been slow to engage with the taxi sector. Many authorities are not recognising the potential contained in their dual roles as the standards setter, using their licensing powers, and the largest single purchaser of taxis and private hire services, within their education and social services functions.
Click on chart to enlarge
Source: Traffic Commissioners Annual Reports
TAS has substantial experience of taxi and private hire service procurement, and particularly of ensuring good quality standards for vulnerable passengers. Incremental spot taxi procurement is a bad habit that time-pressed administrative staff can easily fall into. In one recent exercise, TAS identified over £100k annual saving available simply through more effective management of existing contract arrangements.
We have a good understanding of taxi and private hire licensing regulations and processes under the different legislative regimes that apply across the UK, and have developed driver training systems covering the needs of disabled passengers, for incorporation within the licensing process. We have also developed new vehicle standards specifically for regulating vehicles capable of carrying wheelchair users, and for ensuring and testing compliance with M1 seat belt, anchorage and restraint requirements.
TAS was an early adopter of the new National Transport Tokens stored value card as a simple, controllable tool for taxi concessions, in the new scheme introduced in Milton Keynes following our review (with partners RATC) of accessible transport services.
National Transport Tokens stored value card and reader
Finally, we have advised on DDA implications for the taxi industry and regulatory bodies, and separately have looked at the design of and market for new, more accessible, taxi designs at a European level.
In short, for straightforward, flexible and good value service, consider the taxi and private hire car sector and consider TAS as your partner in developing this relationship.