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THE CONTRIBUTION OF TAXIS TO AN INTEGRATED TRANSPORT POLICY By Councillor David Begg, Convener of Transportation, City of Edinburgh Council. Government ministers have indicated that the White Paper on Transport, due to be launched in May, will advocate an end to our love affair with the car, greater emphasis on public transport, walking and cycling. But will the document be good news for the taxi trade? 1 am confident that it will. Many people forget that taxis are a form of public transport and unlike buses and trains, taxis can offer passengers a door-to-door service. Though they account for only a small share of total trips, we are using taxis more often. Whereas in 1975/76 each of us travelled an average of 13 miles a year in taxis or minicabs, today we travel 39 miles. In most cities they are the only mode of public transport available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. People without access to a car make above average use of taxis. For businessmen taxis are often the most convenient form of transport to get between meetings, and tourists are also heavy users of taxi services. In Edinburgh we already recognise taxis as a form of public transport. That is why we allow them to operate in Greenways, alongside buses and cyclists. This arrangement has already caught the eye of councils elsewhere in the country~. From speaking to taxi drivers, the Greenways on A8 and Leith Walk seem to have been well received. Further lanes will be implemented later this year on Lothian Road, the A70 Slateford Road and the A71 Gorgie Road. TAXIS PLAY IMPORTANT ROLE It is easy to picture taxis simply as black cabs running around city streets. but they also play an important role in smaller towns and rural areas, where other forms of public transport might be non-existent. That is why I was pleased to see in the Government's budget announcement that n~ral taxibus services were one of the forms of transport that would be eligible for grant aid under the new rural transport initiative. ESSENTIAL SERVICE FOR HANDICAPPED We should also remember that taxis are essential for those with mobility impairments. People with disabilities use taxis twice as much as others in the community. I am proud of the achievements that the City of Edinburgh Council and the city's taxi operators have achieved on this front. Edinburgh was the first capital city in the world to have a fully wheelchair accessible taxi fleet, we have the biggest taxicard scheme in Scotland, and Edinburgh drivers have led the way in a unique training programme for handling passengers using wheelchairs. If taxis are to play a bigger role in solving our transport problems then we must treat them as a mainstream element of transport policy, rather than simply a licensing matter. Let me illustrate some ways in which they can play a bigger role. PARKING PROBLEMS AT CRITICAL PROPORTIONS Across the UK, cities are facing increased pressure on residential parking. The problem is reaching critical proportions in Edinburgh, so we must show people living in urban areas that they will not be mobility disadvantaged if they do not own a car. Taxis have a crucial role to play here, but it will only be realised if fares are kept down and there is a sufficient supply of taxis at times when they are most needed. Unfortunately a significant number of people believe taxis are too expensive and there are not enough of them. The Government's White Paper is also likely to promote the concept of the 'seamless interchanges' - where people can step smoothly off one mode of transport and into another. I believe that much more could bc done to improve links with taxis at railway stations and I would also like to see taxi ranks at park-and-ride sites on the edge of towns. We need to grow the taxi market so that the customer and operators both benefit. The key to this success is for operators and councils to develop effective partnerships. Professor David Begg is the First Bus Chair of Transport at The Robert Gordon University. Hc is an advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister. John Prescott, and the Minister for Transport, Gavin Strang MP. He is a member of the Scotlish Office's National Transport Forum. Professor Begg is a Non-Executive Director of The British Railways Board. He is also Secretary of the Scottish Transport Studies Group. Councillor Begg is Convener of Transportation on The City of Edinburgh Council and is thc Transport Spokesperson for the Convention of Scottish local Authorities. DAVID BEGG |
