THE ROLE OF TAXIS AND PRIVATE HIRE CARS IN GREAT BRITAIN

This paper reviews research on taxis and private hire cars in Great Britain to try to assess the potential role of these forms of transport in public transport provision. The findings show that the size of the taxi and hire car industries has grown substantially in recent years, reflecting increasing demands for their use. This has probably been encouraged by a fall in taxi fares relative to bus fares. Studies of use indicate that taxis and hire cars should no longer be seen merely as a rich man's form of travel but as an integral part of basic public transport provision. Grounds for the quantity and fares control normally applied to the taxi (but not private hire car) industry have also been assessed. Experience with the use of shared taxi and hire car services to date has been reviewed, and in light of operational promise it is concluded that this is one area of operations where further expansion might beneficially be sought in future. Another is in the provision of services for the disabled. (Author/TRRL)

• Corporate Authors:

  Department for Transport, England

  Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street
  London,   England  SW1P 4DR
• Authors:
  • Jackson, R L
• Publication Date: 0

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 32 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Demand; Forecasting; Hiring policies; Paratransit services; Persons with disabilities; Pricing; Private transportation; Public transit; Rental cars; Ridership; Ridesharing; Tariffs; Taxi services; Taxicabs
• Uncontrolled Terms: Hire; Increase; Shared taxi; Use
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 1243: Car; 285: Demand (econ); 1726: Disabled person; 9032: Increase; 228: Leasing; 1128: Paratransit; 746: Private transport; 1129: Shared taxi; 241: Tariff; 1148: Taxi; 8119: United Kingdom; 9084: Use
• Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Society; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00394373
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Report/Paper Numbers: Monograph
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: May 31 1985 12:00AM