Liverpool City Centre Traffic Issues

[EDB325]

RE: Liverpool City Centre Traffic Issues

(18/10/2018 17:14)iMarkeh Wrote:  It would increase dwell time at Queen Square slightly but as less buses would be using the stand, overall the stand occupancy would be slightly lower.

I am not disputing the fact Park and Rides are good sometimes close to the city centres but they can also work out of town. Northern Ireland has quite a few park and rides. Ballymartain P&R is 12 miles away from Belfast. Sprucefield Park and Ride is 10 miles away from Belfast. Gillmoss P&R is only 5.5-6 miles away from Liverpool. Plus it is in a fantastic position for football and Aintree Racecourse. Move it closer to the city and it will be used by people to park for free/cheap and walk to the football which defeats the object.

If there are that many cabs parked up in ranks awaiting a fare, obviously there isn't enough demand for them. At the end of the day, you don't go to any other city and see the endless black cab ranks. They should be on side streets and should be limited to nights on main roads. It just takes up space which could be used for other things. If there were a steady stream of taxis going in and out of the rank with people using the taxis often, it is worthwhile but I rarely see the area being used.

Chester Train Station is a great example for taxis. During the day, the taxis can only be on one side of the road and they have the 'queue'. At night (or as soon as the City Rail Link has finished), they can use both sides of the road and they have the queue. Princess Street Bus Station was good as well as you could fit a good 8-10 taxis in the taxi area but there was also space for buses. Why can't similar be done in Liverpool to maximise the use of available space. Black Cabs are mainly used at nights by those who just want a quick taxi and can't be bothered to call and wait for a car. During the day, black cabs aren't used much therefore less ranks are needed.

After 44 years as a black cab driver, I can safely say that you have about as much idea of how the cab trade works as I have about performing open heart surgery.