High noon for 300 cabbies
July 24, 2009
More than 300 will drive from the City of Manchester Stadium to the town hall to protest over what they say is 'blatant discrimination'.
It follows a similar protest last month, when 40 private-hire cabbies drove in from Newton Heath.
They handed council chiefs a petition with more than 2,000 signatures.
Drivers say nothing has been done - so they are planning an even bigger protest every Tuesday until they get a response.
Massive traffic congestion is expected on August 4, when the hundreds of drivers take to the streets for the Sportcity to Albert Square protest.
They intend to hit all nine other councils in Greater Manchester on following Tuesdays.
Driver Derek Brocklehurst, who has organised the convoy, said: "Manchester does not allow private-hire to pick up or drop off disabled and elderly customers in bus lanes.
"This is blatant discrimination from Greater Manchester councils and we can no longer stand by and let it happen.
"Unfortunately, after handing in 2,000 signatures from private-hire, Hackney drivers and disabled customers to Manchester town hall, we have had no response from officials."
Current regulations permit black taxis, but prohibit private-hire firms, from pulling in and out of bus lanes. The private-hire drivers say this discriminates against their older and disabled passengers.
This is blatant discrimination from Greater Manchester councils and we can no longer stand by and let it happen
Derek Brocklehurst
Derek, who works for Cresta Cars, added: "We have organised 300 private-hire drivers to protest, starting on August 4.
"We will then hit the other nine councils every following Tuesday for nine weeks, driving around their town halls - because any changes to the bus lanes need agreement from all 10 councils."
Manchester city council insists it has no plans to change the rules.
Coun Richard Cowell said: "There are more than 15,000 private-hire vehicles in Greater Manchester, so allowing them to go into bus lanes would mean delays for the public transport the lanes are intended to avoid."