York taxi passengers to get safer, greener rides

- making them even safer, with fewer emissions and offering greater choice, especially for disabled passengers.

An extensive consultation carried out this summer has helped shape a new Taxi Licensing Policy for the city. Feedback was gathered over the course of 12 weeks, from taxi users and members of the trade, North Yorkshire Police, disabled residents and York Hospital.

As a result, the new policy requires vehicles to meet the higher Euro 6 emission standards to help improve air quality across the city. To add confidence among passengers, especially more vulnerable people, the policy supports the supply of more wheelchair-accessible taxis and aims to increase awareness of and extend safeguarding standards among drivers and operators.

To make them easier for passengers to identify, Hackney carriage taxis - which can be flagged down on the street - must be black, while private hire cars - which can only be pre-booked and not stopped in the street - can be any colour other than black. This change will be phased in over a number of years.

Cllr Kate Ravilious, Executive Member for Transport at City of York Council, said: “For many residents, taxis are a key form of transport and source of employment. It’s essential that they are properly and fairly regulated to ensure their safety and supply. Operators and drivers in York must be well-informed and highly qualified to deliver a great and safe service to their many, and often disabled or vulnerable, passengers.

“The new standards we’re setting put us in line with national best practice guidance and raise the safety and cleanliness of the city’s taxis even higher, plus put greater emphasis on driving standards and road safety, to help protect all road users. I look forward to seeing the full and detailed report next month.”

A report was presented to the Council’s Licensing and Regulatory Committee on 8 October, and you can read it here. A full and detailed report on these changes will be discussed at full Council on 21 November