Letchworth Taxis - Part Of London Lifeline

By Author: Chuck Hall Jr.
Total Articles: 9
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Taxicabs in the UK provide an important service for the public for commuting, especially for those who are in the lower income group. Taxis in a city like London are probably lifelines for many who are in a daily grind to go to work places, go shopping, or for any important errand.
Any random street scene in London is never without taxis.

Whenever we look at Letchworth Taxis plying along the road in London, we are in fact looking at a long lineage of taxicab service in Britain.

Indeed, the history of plying for hire in London dates back to 1625 when the first Hackney cab stand appeared at the May Pole in Strand. The subsequent chronology makes interesting reading.

* It was Joseph Aloysius Hansom who in December 1834 registered his first patent safety cab. The story goes that he sold his rights for ￡10000 but was probably never paid. But that did not prevent the first two-wheeler cabs plying in London from being famously known as Hansom cabs.

* The year 1903 saw the entry of the first petrol-driven cars, though battery cars were already plying from as early as 1897.

* The 1950s ...
... saw the emergence of Austin FX3 later trailed by FX4 and then the well-known TX1-TX11.

Why Do We Call Cabs For Hire As Taxis?

It was the German Wilhelm Bruhn who first invented taximeter in 1891. Daimler Victoria, built by Gottlieb Victoria, was the first ever automobile fitted with a taximeter. It is this word taximeter that got coined as taxi for taxicab service.
Women Taxi Drivers

Today you may not be surprised when you see a woman driving one of the Letchworth Taxis. Neither would anyone else be. Quite naturally, because our attitudes have changed as far as the gender identity is concerned. The popular conception that the male and female domain is exclusive is now buried decisively. Rather, it would not be out of place today when certain customers would specifically ask for a woman driver.

Regulatory Framework of Licensed Taxis and PHVS in the UK

All taxicab services in the UK including Letchworth Taxis are governed by the prevailing regulatory framework. The regulations administer three areas.

* Quantity regulation that limits the number of taxis that can ply on the road.

* Quality and safety regulations that govern quality of service, safety, and efficiency.

* Fare regulation that standardizes fare charged specifying mandatory

* And maximum fare.

Two Types Of Vehicles Operate In The UK Market.

* Licensed taxis like Letchworth Taxis that can ply for hire on the streets and can also be pre-booked via telephone.

* PHVs (Private Hired Vehicles) that cannot ply for hire but can only be pre-booked.

A flip side of traveling in taxi is the amount of pollution you are exposed to. As per a survey, when traveling in a taxicab taxi, you are exposed to the highest level of pollution compared to other modes of commuting such as walking, bus, and private car.

Fortunately, the trend is now leaning toward eco-friendly cabs. You can already see these in some cities of the United States like Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York. Eco-friendly cabs use natural gas as a fuel as it is the cleanest burning fossil fuel and is abundantly available in many countries. Emerging trends indicate welcome news for London taxicab travelers. In June past year, a zero-emission fuel cell hybrid black cab was unveiled in London by Deputy Mayor Kit Malt house.

This new generation taxi, scheduled to go into operation in 2012, is fuelled by Intelligent Energy hydrogen fuel cell system in combination with Lithium polymer batteries.

Passengers in the near future may well witness Letchworth Taxis having the benefits not only of great service and efficiency but also of an experience of zero emission.

Central Letchworth Taxis is a local private hire and taxi company based in Letchworth Garden City. They operate 24×7 Taxi service 365 days a year. All taxidrivers of Central Taxis Letchworth are CRB-checked by North Herts District Council. Visit the site http://www.centraltaxisletchworth.co.uk for more details.