A taxi firm is aiming to steal a march on rivals Uber in Manchester by offering rides across the city for under £3.

Gett, an on demand taxi app similar to Uber which uses licensed black cabs, is introducing a special £2.80 deal for customers travelling across the city centre from Thursday, October 20.

Bosses say the deal is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as long as they book via the firm’s app and click on the ‘Gett Promo’ icon and they pay by card.

They say an example of a journey which will qualify for the special deal includes travelling from Old Trafford to Victoria station.

The company first launched in 2010, in competition with similar apps Uber and Hailo.

Gett drivers collect customers who are registered with their mobile app.

The app allows people to hail the taxis using their phone, paying automatically from their bank accounts.

Earlier this year Gett bought long-established black cab firm Radio Taxis in a multi million pound deal, in a bid to further expand its reach.

The firm now operates in more than 70 cities across the world, and bosses say that in London more than half of black cab drivers are now running on Gett.

A statement released by Gett reads: “Gett, the global on-demand transportation and lifestyle app, is introducing £2.80 rides throughout Manchester after it was named one of the most progressive cities in the UK, with the largest tech cluster and growth outside of London.

“Gett would like to celebrate black cabs being an integral part of the digital revolution by introducing everyone to safe and comfortable travel in a licensed taxi around the city.

https://goo.gl/6vHyqL

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A taxi drivers’ union is planning to take legal action against Dundee City Council in a row over wheelchair accessible vehicles.

GMB Scotland has made the decision amid a three-year dispute with the council.

The current system — which the GMB describes as a “two-tier workforce” — requires some drivers to buy wheelchair accessible vehicles, which start at £19,000, whereas other drivers are allowed to buy a vehicle from as little as £1,000.

GMB officer Drew Duffy said: “Dundee City Council seem to be happy with this two-tier system — all we want is a level playing for all taxi drivers.

“We have drivers who were operational prior to changes in 2003, who could purchase any vehicle. Then after Dundee City Council changed their policy on new taxi operators, drivers had to purchase wheelchair accessible vehicles.

“The problem is some of these drivers, prior to the changes in 2003, have now retired but their badges are still active.

“Their vehicles are operating in the city driven by other drivers, so they don’t have to adhere to the changes in the law. I believe this represents around 40% of the taxi drivers in Dundee.”

Licensing committee chairman Stewart Hunter said he understood the frustrations of the taxi drivers but insisted the committee has to decide what is best for the public.

He said: “We have a policy at the moment where the fleet is mixed. I understand their frustrations because it is costing some drivers more than others to buy vehicles.

“But our focus, first and foremost, is what is best for the Dundee public and they want a mixed fleet. We had a consultation around four years ago with disability groups, which the taxi liaison group were present at. We tested out a series of different vehicles and it was apparent that not all passengers were able to access a disabled vehicle which is why we decided to operate a mixed fleet.”

But Drew said: “I would argue that Edinburgh and Glasgow already operate a service where all taxis are wheelchair accessible so I can’t understand why we can’t. We have a date set in November for the case but I hope we can reach a decision prior to this. All we ask is the council to review the system currently in place.”

https://goo.gl/Rixukm

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HULL

Hackney Carriage taxi drivers are threatening to double their fares after being told they must take a different route when picking up passengers from the rank.

The Chairman of Hull Hackney Carriage Association Peter Nilsson says taxi drivers will fight Hull City Council after the authority stopped them turning right out of their rank near Paragon Station.

The changes came into force three weeks ago, forcing all 170 registered cabs to travel left down Ferensway, which drivers say will increase congestion on the already busy road. Before, taxi drivers could go either left or right.

Following a meeting with council officials yesterday, Mr Nilsson said if it does not go back to how it was originally, fares would increase and drivers would strike in a two-hour protest.

He said: "It's the same old story. Losing the right-hand turn will put up our costs by 50 per cent. As drivers we don't want that and it will be the council that are driving the prices up."


https://goo.gl/b0kWbr

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YORK

TAXI operators have raised further concerns about drivers from outside the city operating in York.

They claim operators are travelling from Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield and elsewhere to pick up fares, mainly on weekends, in part due to a lack of enforcement but also due to a new company starting up in York.

Keith Hatfield, director of York Station Taxis, met the council last week and said changes to council policy meant it was easier for other companies to work in the city.

He said: “We’re not afraid of York competition that’s what we’re after, that’s fine. But as long as it’s a level playing field, that’s all we’re asking for.

“They can join Uber from York, we don’t have a problem with that, but these people haven’t gone through the local knowledge test, which takes quite a while. I know people who’ve been waiting to get through that for nine months, it’s a tough test, but makes you a better driver.”

Mr Hatfield said some Uber drivers had refused to move from Hackney ranks while waiting for a pickup, and “we have had to put rank marshals to move them”.

Dave McTernan, from Getaway Cars in York, said “dozens of out of town cars are patrolling the streets of York and working night and day”, and called it “a bad situation”.

He said: “It’s not being dramatic to say it’s out of control.

https://goo.gl/Rocs8m

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LIVERPOOL

A taxi driver may permanently lose access to Uber after a passenger claims her and her daughter were left stranded because he spotted they had a guide dog.

This is not the first time Claire Currie, from Mossley Hill, in Liverpool, has been refused a taxi because of her guide dog Purdey.

The mother-of-four, who used to be a teacher, has a genetic condition leaving her with extremely limited vision, which she described is like ‘seeing through a straw’.

Her dog Purdey was helping her take her 15-year-old daughter to an appointment at Alder Hay Children's Hospital.

But the incident has left her feeling shaken and she is worried it has knocked her daughter’s confidence too, after she is starting to be affected by the same condition.

Speaking to the Liverpool Echo Ms Currie said: ‘I have a condition which means my vision is extremely restricted - it’s the equivalent of looking through two straws - so I like to use the app as it’s really accessible.

‘We’ve been refused access to taxis before now, but I’ve never experienced it with Uber. Usually drivers are really helpful and they’ll move the seat back to make space for the dog and make sure that everyone is comfortable.


https://goo.gl/5DDCVf

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BARROW

New guidelines have been approved spelling out when former offenders can become taxi drivers in Barrow.

A policy review for licensing hackney carriages and private cars has been completed and given the green light.

According to the policy's wording, offenders convicted of murder, manslaughter, rape, and other serious crimes will have their application refused "unless there are exceptional circumstances".

The Barrow Council's Executive Committee said its policy on taxi licensing had to be updated following the child abuse scandal in Rotherham, and the role taxi drivers played.

Former offenders applying for licences will have to wait a period of time from when they were first convicted, or from their release if they were sent to prison.

People convicted of indecent exposure or soliciting would have to wait between five and 10 years before their application would be considered.

Arsonists, violent offenders and those convicted of racially aggravated crimes would also have to wait five years.

Committee chairman Councillor Dave Pidduck said: "As a council we have to make sure that all our policies are up to date.

"These are changes in that policy to reflect the modern situation."

Councillor Brendan Sweeney and Cllr Pidduck both commented on the difficult task it was to draw a line in the sand for offences.

Cllr Sweeney said: "I think the licensing committee spend a lot of time looking at the individual cases. You have to draw the line between a mistake that someone made in the past or if there is no risk.

"Some one has to be able to make a living."

Cllr Pidduck spoke of how taxi drivers should not be exempt from safeguarding regulations.

He said: "Safeguarding is so important now. They are in a position of trust."

The new policy will also introduce changes to make sure taxi drivers are fit to drive.

New applicants will have to provide a medical certificate showing they are fit. Drivers over the age of 55 will be required to prove they are fit to drive every three years.

Drivers will also be required to complete a one-off knowledge test on the area, their understanding of the highway code and numeracy.

Some taxi drivers have supported the changes however there has been criticism these changes, and the charges they incur will push drivers out of the business.

In a public consultation, an anonymous taxi driver wrote: "I feel that I don't see why we should have to pay to prove that I can do my job."

Drivers will also have to require a DVSA driving assessment, however, this is no longer provided in Barrow - the nearest assessment centre is in Lancaster.

As a solution, Cllr Sweeney has called for an enterprising local business to start providing this service, he said: "There is a clear commercial opportunity for a local firm to take that up."


https://goo.gl/fTsKTR