COVENTRY city centre has introduced a taxi marshal service to make travelling home safer and quicker in the night time.
Coventry Business Improvement District (BID) opened the taxi rank in Spon Street, and all taxi’s are being monitored to make sure they are licenced and are used only by black cabs.
Marshals are monitoring private hire cars to make sure they stop in a safe location.
Training has been provided for the taxi marshal by taxi licencing at Coventry City Council and it has been providing extra enforcementto support the marshals to make sure they are following rules.
Mohammed Amjad, a taxi driver in the city centre, said: “Before the introduction of this service there was no real coordination at taxi ranks.
“Private hire drivers would come in and block up the area and as a result we would lose customers.
“I have definitely seen a change since the programme was introduced. It is making it safer for our customers too when they are trying to get a taxi.”
Coventry BID manager Joanne Glover said: “We are consistently looking for new ways to improve the experience for all stakeholders in the city centre.
“Whether you are visiting a bar or restaurant, run a business or are a taxi driver servicing the city centre, we are committed to making that experience as smooth, safe and enjoyable as possible.
“The pilot for the taxi marshal scheme is going well, with parking significantly more orderly in taxi ranks, traffic flowing and unauthorised vehicles being deterred from operating.
“Night time visitors to the city centre are now able to leave in a swifter and safer fashion by utilising licenced vehicles.
“Our night patrol team has also intervened in a number of incidents to help people get home safely and de-escalate potentially challenging situations.”
