SCOTLAND’S first motorcycle taxi service is set to get the green light.
An East Lothian-based entrepreneur has applied to the council for a licence to establish a "motorcycle private chauffeur service" to operate in the area.
And now the council is to debate changing the definition of a private hire car to allow his
new business to get off the ground.
Current rules do not permit motorcycles to be used for private hire, although in recent years a number of Scottish local authorities have been approached about the idea.
Councillors in East Lothian have now been advised to consider developing standards and conditions which would allow them to license motorcycles as private hire vehicles.
These would have to take into account issues such as health and safety and insurance premiums, which are usually much higher for a motorcycle.
Kate Smith, senior solicitor with the council, said: "There are a number of councils in England that license motorcycles as private hire cars, such as Derby and Bristol. These councils have developed specific standards and conditions to allow the licensing of motorcycles as private hire cars.
"Although English councils are subject to separate legislation, many of the requirements and considerations are similar to those under Scottish legislation.
"Licensing of motorcycles would, however, require a significant change to East Lothian Council’s current private hire car licence conditions, which currently only allow the licensing of four-wheeled vehicles."
Motorcycle taxis have been operating in London for a number of years, and have proved a popular way of beating the traffic.
Denis Murphy, operations manager at Addison Lee, one of the companies to offer the service, said: "The reason this was started was a traffic issue, as our regular car service just couldn’t get through London traffic fast enough.
"The bike is great for that and is mainly used on runs to the airport. We provide the waterproofs and the helmet, and the driver and passenger can still talk to one another through microphone headsets.
"It has proved very popular with business customers, although it is a bit more expensive than a regular taxi."
Whether they would catch on in Edinburgh is another matter. While the city has its own well-documented traffic problems, the Scottish weather could turn away a lot of customers.
Keith Bell, of the taxi drivers’ group CabForce, said the poor climate and a lack of customers meant he could not see the idea catching on here.
"I can understand why something like that would be popular in London, where the airports, for example, are quite far out from the city and the roads are almost permanently gridlocked," he said.
"That is not the case in Edinburgh, however. The airport is quite close and, while we have some congestion, the traffic is not nearly as bad.
"I cannot see where the customers would come from. People like taxis because they are safe, comfortable and, crucially, offer shelter from the elements.
"The weather is an important factor and I don’t think many people would relish the idea of getting on a bike in the freezing cold if it was raining.
"I wish anyone starting up this business the best of luck, but I do not think it will catch on here."
East Lothian Council’s licensing sub-committee are to consider the application at a meeting next Tuesday.
