Council seeks to modernise taxi fleet and tuk-tuks could soon be on city streets

[dutchman]

Rickshaw-style tuk-tuks and pedicabs could soon be on Coventry streets – alongside measures to modernise taxi travel amid competition from Uber



A tuk-tuk is a three-wheeled motored rickshaw popular in Asian nations, while a pedicab is a pedalled tricycle carrying passengers on the back.

But people in Coventry will not be able to hail them in the street and will have to pre-book – with all journeys limited to inside the ring road and around the railway station.

More council-licensed private hire vehicle companies – including those based outside the city – would be permitted to use app-based services enabling passengers to book taxis using their mobile phones, and they could pay fares using contactless and card payments.

Coventry City Council’s ruling Labour cabinet will discuss the plans on Tuesday.

Council leaders claim the changes will prepare the city for a tourism boom during UK City of Culture in 2021 and improve air quality.

Councillors will be asked to approve a public consultation on proposals to grant licences based on emissions rather than the age of a vehicle.

At present, the council’s policy is that Hackney carriage black cabs over 10 years old and private hire vehicles over six years will not be licensed.

The council says it is accelerating its campaign to have zero-emission taxis and private hire vehicles by 2024.

Cabinet member for city services councillor Jayne Innes said: “We are determined to continue to improve the air quality in the city and the change to checking vehicles through emissions rather than age is an obvious way we can make a difference and create a cleaner, healthier city for us all.

“The changes are being brought in after consultation and include things that customers really want to see – such as contactless and card payment and the introduction of Tuk Tuks and pedicabs.

“It will help to make us more tourist-friendly and give a real atmosphere to the city centre, helping people to easily travel between our many attractions and enjoy something a little more out of the ordinary.”

Other changes would see compulsory refresher training for all drivers around disability and child exploitation and new ways of testing drivers applying for a licence.

Tuk-tuk and pedicab drivers would have to be trained for their vehicle and would not be licensed to drive any other form of taxi.

Councillors will discuss the changes at a meeting on November 27.

[dutchman]

Council leaders claim the changes will prepare the city for a tourism boom during UK City of Culture in 2021.

[rebbonk]

Only within the ringroad and needing to be pre-booked?

This council have absolutely no idea.

[dutchman]

From Bangkok to Broadgate - update on Coventry tuk tuk plan



Plans to place novelty pedicabs and tuk tuks on Coventry's roads have been given the green light by the council.

Cabinet agreed to introduce the quirky method of transport in time for the City of Culture 2021.

The new pedicabs and tuk tuks, which will be powered by pedal or a small motor, and will operate near the railway station and the inner ring road.

Motors will be electric or zero-emission capability engines and drivers will only be permitted to accept pre-booked fares.

Supporters say the move will make Coventry more tourist-friendly and help reduce emissions on the city's roads.

Cllr Ram Lakha, deputy cabinet member for city services, said "this is a good report" which "tackles the issue of clean air".

But making tuk tuks and pedicabs available to those who pre-book only "will not work", Cllr John Mutton warned, adding that it prevents people from waving down a driver on the spot.

He said: "I am very disappointed that despite members saying on numerous occasions that tuk tuks will not work if they have to be pre-booked, it is still one of the requirements.

"Although I will be supporting this, I will keep my beady eye on this.

"This is not how tuk tuks work in any other city."

The plan is one of a number of new licensing laws passed by the cabinet.

[rebbonk]

This type of transport is 'jump on, jump off' as you need it. Pre-booking will be an absolute disaster and won't work.

[dutchman]

Council's tuk tuk plans hits the kerb

Plans to introduce tuk tuks and pedicabs to the streets of Coventry have hit a speedbump - with no one found to actually run the service.

In 2018, Coventry City Council unveiled plans to introduce the new modes of transport to the city's streets, with the goal of launching the service in time for the City of Culture in 2021.

But with that year now just months away, and no sight or sound of any tuk tuks on their way, the project appears to be in jeopardy.

According to the council, they have received no applications from anyone looking to operate the service.

Though last year, they revealed that they had received some interest - which did not result in any licenses being granted.

The council acts as a licensing authority, handing out taxi and private hire licenses, they do not actually operate the services themselves.

It is not known what the next steps are for the council, but at this time, it appears unlikely that tuk tuks will be seen on the city's streets in the near future.

[rebbonk]

Looks like potential operators, the ones who actually invest their own money, see no profit in this hare-brained scheme floated by our wonderfully inept, and woefully out of touch, council.

My fear now is that the same councillors that thought it a good idea in the first place, will find some way to subsidise their hopeless idea using our money.

[Melisandre]

What a great way of killing more people off with inhaling taffic fumes that causes cancers fact which they are refusing to treat as if we need this with Covid19.