Taxis usually operate in busy areas and having designated space to pick up and drop off passengers such as taxi ranks is vital to keep towns and cities moving.
Designated taxi ranks and pick-up and drop-off points are often designated at airports, bus and train stations, as well as in busy shopping areas.
Transport networks
These key locations are set aside so passengers know where they canTICKE find a taxi and are linked to other modes of transport, such as rail and bus stations, to make onward journeys as seamless as possible.
Similarly, taxi ranks are often sited on the edge of pedestrianised town and city centres to make it easier for passengers carrying shopping or luggage.
The problem is that key spots such as these can be tempting for other motorists who cannot find a legitimate space, or decides to use it to avoid paying to for car parks, especially if it is a short visit.
But it can cause severe disruption for taxi drivers, who are unable to park to pick up or drop off passengers, or who become blocked in by a driver who has left their vehicle to run an errand.
And while ranks are reserved for taxis – which have public hire insurance and can be flagged down in the street and do not have to be booked in advance – private-hire vehicles (PHVs) are not permitted to stop or wait in them either, as they are not part of the regulated public transport system the rank is designated for.
Crackdown on taxi ranks
The problem was highlighted in Liverpool last month when licensing officers issued 37 tickets to drivers illegally parked in the city’s taxi ranks.
Taxi Point reports that Liverpool’s licensing enforcement officers worked alongside parking services to carry out the operation which focused on drivers who had “left their vehicles in designated taxi-only areas, causing disruption to licensed taxis and their passengers”.
Taxi Point explains that taxi ranks are “legally reserved for licensed taxis to pick up passengers and provide a vital service in city centres, particularly during busy trading periods. Vehicles parked illegally in these spaces reduce accessibility for the travelling public and make it harder for taxi drivers to operate efficiently.
“The council’s message is that ranks should be kept clear and available for their intended purpose. Further operations are expected to take place in future.”
A Liverpool City Council Licensing spokesperson said: “Liverpool licensing enforcement officers conducted a joint operation with colleagues from parking services over the weekend, targeting inconsiderate motorists who had parked their vehicles on taxi ranks.
“A total of 37 penalty charge notices were issued. Taxi ranks are for taxis!”
Most people who illegally park in a taxi rank won’t realise the disruption they are causing. By blocking the rank, they are making it more difficult for taxi drivers to work. They are also creating a safety hazard by forcing taxi drivers to pick up passengers in the road, which is not only dangerous, but can cause an obstruction and delays for other motorists.
Taxi ranks are designed for short-term use by licensed taxis. Drivers are not earning when they are waiting for fares and the system is designed to quickly put passengers into the next waiting cab. It runs smoothly as drivers take their turn to pick up fares and those who park illegally create unnecessary disruption and risks.
