THE GOVERNMENT has agreed to change the law to allow taxis to drive in designated bus lanes in the Corporate Area, following talks on Friday between Transport Minister Dr. Peter Phillips and the taxi operators.The proposal was first made at a public meeting in New Kingston last month.
Adolphus Robinson, president of the Corporate Area Taxi Association, described Friday's meeting as "positive," adding that the Minister had given a commitment to address the issues which were put on the table for discussion.
"We got satisfactory responses on all of them (issues)," Mr. Robinson told The Sunday Gleaner.
Mr. Robinson said the Minister also agreed that operators who are waiting to have their road licences renewed would not be prosecuted by the police.
He noted that several operators had been harassed by the police and the Transport Authority (TA), while waiting on the TA to renew their road licences, a practice he called unjust as it was often the inefficiency of the TA which prevented operators from having the licences.
Other issues
At their last meeting, the operators expressed concern about several issues affecting their operations, including the proposed meter system; the issuing of route licences to some persons to operate in areas specified for hackney carriages; and the seizure of the vehicles of persons who drive and pick up passengers on bus routes and bus lanes.
Other issues which the Minister has agreed to examine, Mr. Robinson said, include allowing operators to pick up passengers at the bus stops and the greater attentiveness on the part of the police to clamping down on illegal taxi operators who come onto routes in the Corporate Area.
Mr. Robinson said the operators would be having follow-up meetings with the Transport Ministry, the TA and the Police Traffic Division in the coming weeks to reach a more cordial working relationship.
