Edinburgh private hire drivers staged a protest on Thursday in the form of a go slow convoy to highlight what they regard as “ongoing issues” with The City of Edinburgh Council.
Drivers formed a group called Edinburgh Private Hire Drivers United, assembled at Lochside Crescent in South Gyle early in the morning and then proceeded at a slow pace towards the council offices on East Market Street.
The drivers staged the protest to draw attention to various concerns including:
* Access to Bus Lanes and Bus Gates: Unlike hackney carriages, private hire cars are currently prohibited from using bus lanes and bus gates in Edinburgh. This forces them to take longer routes, contributing to city centre congestion and increased emissions.
* Relaxation of the Window Tint Policy: Drivers are currently required to remove factory-fitted tinted windows from their vehicles—a costly and unnecessary expense.
* Enhanced Engagement from the Council on Policy Decisions: Drivers are seeking better levels of engagement and discourse between the council and the trade, especially in shaping future transport and licensing policies in Edinburgh.
A spokesperson said: “We are a vital part of Edinburgh’s transport network, providing hundreds of thousands of journeys every week, from school runs to late-night travel.
“Despite this, we are treated as second-class to the hackney trade and are repeatedly ignored on key issues. We want to be treated as part of the solution to Edinburgh’s transport challenges, not as part of the problem. We hope this action will finally get the council to listen to our concerns.”
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
Like this:
Like Loading…
Related