Travelling Companions
You can travel with up to 4 companions. If you have a wheelchair there may only be room for 3 companions in the taxi.
Types of bookings
Taxis
Taxicard bookings are treated in exactly the same way as any other taxi booking. If you ask for a taxi to be provided
as soon as possible they will begin their search straight away.
For advanced bookings, even if you have booked a taxi well in advance of your journey, they will not look for a taxi
until approximately 15 minutes before your journey. Taxis are not allocated in advance. This is the way all radio
controlled taxi circuits deal with advanced bookings.
Note:If they find you a taxi immediately and it is close by it may arrive early.
Please be ready for this because if the taxi has to wait or you send it away
it will cost you more.
Sending the taxi away can also cause further delay, as a new taxi will have to be found for you and you will
use another trip from your allocation.
We suggest you consider the following when booking your taxi:
If you wish to book a taxi for immediate travel, you should try to book a minimum of 30 minutes before the time you would like to travel.
Extra time should be given for bookings that are important, for example:
- Connecting with on-going transport
- e.g at train or coach stations
-
Outings to shows or other
events where tickets have been bought in advance.
- Other important appointments
However, you should be aware
that taxis are not suited to journeys where it is vital that you arrive
at your destination at an exact time.
If you require a return journey you may book it when you book the outward
journey. Please inform the contractor if you cannot be contacted while
you are at the location from where you will make your return journey.
If you are booking in advance you may wish to avoid requesting a vehicle either on the hour or half hour if it is not essential. Most people book for these times and you may find more vehicles are available if you book at quarter to or quarter past the hour instead.
If you make repeat journeys on a daily, weekly or monthly basis these
can be booked in advance to save phoning on each occasion.
Private Hire Vehicles (Mini-cabs)
You may be sent a private hire vehicle (PHV) in response to your booking as these are used to supplement and improve supply.
You will be informed in advance if a PHV is being sent in response to your booking.
Availability
of Vehicles
Every effort will be made to supply you with a vehicle but at certain times it may be difficult to find one and it may arrive late.
In
some
circumstances none may be available. This is because the number of available vehicles varies continuously throughout
the day and demand can sometimes be greater then supply.
For example this can occur:
- During
rush hours
- When
weather conditions are poor - traffic moves more slowly and there are
more street hirings
- During
special events such as major state or sporting occasions - when taxi
movements are restricted or drivers choose not to work
- Christmas
and New Year holidays - when less drivers choose to work
When
no taxi is available - what this means
The contractor may not be able to inform you that they cannot provide a vehicle until shortly before the requested arrival time. The operator will try to contact you and ask whether you want them to keep trying to locate a vehicle or whether you wish to cancel and make other arrangements.
Taxicard is not a guaranteed service.
It is important to always tell the operator how you can be contacted if you are not at home.
The contractor
may not be able to inform you that they cannot provide a taxi until shortly
before the requested arrival time. The operator will try to contact you
and ask whether you want them to keep trying to locate a taxi or whether
you wish to cancel and make other arrangements.
This is why it is important to always try and tell the operator how you
can be contacted if you are not at home.
N.B. Taxicard is not a guaranteed service.
Wheelchair Users and Assistance
- All licensed taxis are wheelchair
accessible, and the contractors' drivers are obliged to take wheelchair
users
- It is the law that wheelchairs
are properly secured inside the taxi. Drivers should do this. Please
ask them to help you if they fail to do so.
- Some electric wheelchairs
and scooters are too large to be carried by a taxi. The contractor will
advise if this is the case with your chair.
- Some of the larger than usual
wheelchairs can only be carried by certain types of taxi and you may
have to wait longer until one becomes available - seek the contractor's
advice.
- Drivers cannot offer the type
of specialist assistance given by some forms of dedicated transport
for people with disabilities. They will give reasonable assistance into
and out of taxis, but are not permitted to lift people under any circumstances.
If specialist help is required a companion who can
give
it should
accompany you.
Taxi Ranks
You can pick up Computer Cab or Data Cab taxis from ranks
providing you have your Taxicard with you and the taxi has their logo
on it. Drivers
should accept your Taxicard as long as they are for hire.
To download
a list of taxi rank locations click here.
Street Hailing
You can hail a Computer Cab, or Data Cab or taxi in the street provided that the
yellow for hire light is on, you have your Taxicard with you and the taxi has their logo.
You need to have registered your name and address by phone with Computer Cab.
