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Where oh where shall we stop? Recently we were invited to attend a meeting with Docklands Management Services to discuss the constant problems of drivers parking in South Colonnade on double yellow lines while waiting to join the rank in Cabot Square. This causes the road to be narrowed, thereby causing traffic congestion and reports have been received of many near misses between pedestrians and vehicles. We were informed that in the next few weeks, they will be recruiting wardens to move those drivers on who park on the yellow lines. The point was raised regarding moving the rank to another location, because since the opening of the area around Upper Bank Street and Bank Street they have implemented more taxi ranks. Further to the meeting, we have visited the new area and in my opinion Docklands Management Service have gone a little overboard with the number of ranks available. Firstly it was suggested that we use the rank in the middle of the road in Bank Street that faces 10 Upper Bank Street. I believe that it has been marked out for some 17 - 19 cabs. A very good position except for the placing of other ranks which are all for 3 cabs outside 10 Upper Bank Street and the offices at 50 & 40 Bank Street. My feeling is that if all these ranks have taxis on, why would a passenger from one of these addresses walk past a taxi waiting directly outside an office |
THE BIG DOCKLANDS |
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and approach a driver positioned in the centre of the road? |
the option of both account and
cash work. As time moves on, we could then re-site to the
centre-of-the-road rank further along Bank Street. Investigating this theory in more depth, we feel that if two ranks are to be in service for the Docklands area, then they should be set up to compliment each other. What do we mean? Well lets say for example that there are no taxis on E14C and a trip comes out from M/S at 25 Cabot Square. What we believe should happen is that the trip goes to the first cab on the other rank and visa versa before it goes to E14. Unfortunately, the despatched system is programmed to send a trip from a rank to the primary zone. This is being looked into so as to assess the work involved in rewriting this within the system. Until we have the findings of Tom and Debbie Carter and we can introduce this method of operating without affecting other procedures, the new rank will not be implemented. However, until such time, please do not continue to park incorrectly within the Docklands area as it could be dangerous and cause a serious accident. If any drivers wish to discuss the situation on the island, then please do not hesitate to talk to Allan Evans, Tom Whitbread or myself. Keith Cain |
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