'Don't blame us': Taxis hit back in Glasgow city centre row

Glasgow Times

2 days ago

A consultation on whether to lift the cap on the provision of taxis and private hire cars has just closed, with some in the nighttime economy, led by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, pushing for more cars to be allowed.
They have blamed a lack of availability of taxis and private hire cars as a reason why fewer people are coming to the city centre in the evenings and weekends.
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The cap on taxis just now is 1420 and for private hire cars 3450.
The private hire market is at the capacity limit, while there are 1227 taxis operating.
Uber also claimed there are thousands of hires going unmet and wants the cap lifted to allow it to put more cars and drivers on the road.
(Image: Newsquest)
Glasgow Taxis, however, the city's established taxi organisation, has hit back at both claims and said lifting the cap would only see existing drivers struggle to earn a living.
In its submission to the council, it pointed to a Chamber of Commerce study that showed overall safety, cleanliness, and the availability of alternative entertainment options affected people's decisions on visiting the city centre.
It stated: 'In that survey, 80% of city centre visitors (and 82% of non-visitors) expressed a desire for improved late-night train service, and extended operating hours for trains and buses were the most cited improvement that would encourage more visits.'
It added: 'Taxis and Private Hire often fill the gap created by limited late-night public transport, rather than being the first-choice mode for most people leaving the city centre.'
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(Image: Newsquest)
The taxi firm pointed to wider behavioural changes that have led to fewer people visiting the city centre.
It said: 'The after-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, have changed many individuals' habits.
'There is evidence of an emerging preference for different social patterns. For example, some people now go out earlier and return home before midnight, and a growing portion of, especially younger adults, are abstaining from alcohol-focused nightlife.'
On claims of not enough taxis, it said other factors are the cause of any long waits.
Glasgow Taxis carried out a rank survey at Gordon Street on four Saturdays this year, January 25, February 1, 15 and 22 between 21.30 and 03:00.
It found, across the four nights, the rank handled between 530–570 taxis and 900–1,050 passengers over the roughly five and a half hour observation period.
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The report stated: 'At no time was there an absence of taxis available at or near the rank.
'Even during the periods when a passenger queue formed, there were taxis present on the rank or waiting in the feeder lane on Hope Street.
'The instances of passenger waiting were not due to a lack of taxis in the vicinity, but rather the speed at which those taxis could be processed and loaded.'
The report said more cabs would not have made a difference to waiting times.
It found delays were due to poor traffic management around the rank, for example, clogged lanes preventing taxis from moving up, delays due to some drivers not accepting card payment - leading passengers to skip the first taxi in line-, fare negotiations between drivers and groups of passengers, and occasional instances of taxi driver misconduct- like leaving the rank out-of-turn.
The conclusion reached was: 'Adding more taxis beyond the numbers already in circulation would likely not have increased the number of trips provided in those hours, because the rank and road constraints were the governing factor.'
Instead of simply increasing numbers, Glasgow Taxis recommended some steps to improve the service.
It wants improved ranks and enforcement of parking and traffic around ranks.
It called for mandatory car payment options and taxis to be included in wider public transport improvements
It also asked for consideration of night shift only licences to address concerns about specific times.
Dougie McPherson, chair of Glasgow Taxis, said: 'We are not in step with some in the city on this issue.
'The struggles I the night time economy are affected by a lot of other factors, like working from home, behavioural changes, people staying in the local areas, city centre parking charges, yet the blame is being laid at the door of the taxi trade.'
He said it was 'the path of least resistance' to release the cap and let the provision of cars find its own level.
Mr McPherson added: 'It is unsustainable to cater only for peaks.'
He said Uber is the only supplier in favour of removing the cap, adding: 'They fight against regulation wherever it exists.'
Drivers, he said, were struggling to make a living on the digital platform.
Mr McPherson said: 'We are the only city with a cap. That doesn't mean we are wrong to have a cap.'
He concluded: 'Late night trains and buses are poor and the underground goes off early.
'To lay this at the door of the taxis and private hires is misguided.'
The council's Licensing and Regulatory Committee will now decide whether to keep the cap on the number of vehicles that can be licensed.