Liverpool City Centre Traffic Issues

[MPTE1955]

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.

So you want to alienate taxi drivers and stop them earning a living plus stop the convenience of people that may not have time to get a bus or wait for a private hire cab, or even have lots of shopping that they can't carry home. Taxi drivers are out at least 12 hours a day trying to earn a living and never know what they are going to earn but you want to take ranks out of the city centre. How ridiculous and you clearly have no idea.

Park and ride not closer to the centre because of football fans, think you need to realise that football fans have car parks they always go to and places they always park, think the impact of football fans would be minimal, so no idea there either.

Comparing Chester to Liverpool for taxi ranks, chalk and cheese spring to mind.

Finally the 79 issue, you have just said bus at Queen Square would take longer to load, so more time wasted there and less buses than on the stand but more time loading, plus more people squeezing on to a bus at one stop. Another ridiculous idea, I rest my case.