Taxi holding-zone a dead loss
2009-02-12
Lise Beyers
ALMOST two years have passed since the taxi holding zone on the Berg River Boulevard was opened, and still it is not being used. This holding zone was constructed by the Municipality at a cost of almost a million rand to bring relief to chaotic circumstances at the taxi-rank at Shoprite, but to no avail. In practice, taxis are to wait at the holding zone and only six taxis per route would be allowed to stand at the Shoprite taxi-rank to collect commuters. An operations manager would be on duty at the taxi rank and the holding-zone, and once a taxi had left, they would communicate with each other via two-way radios to summon another taxi to the rank. This system has never worked, because taxi drivers refuse to use the holding zone, and a lack of implementation by the municipality. Taxi drivers say that it is dangerous for their commuters to cross the busy Berg River Boulevard and that there is no shelter for them in bad weather. They also fear that if they use the holding zone that opposing taxi groups will lure their clients away. In the mean time, the Shoprite taxi rank has gotten out of hand. During peak-hours, up to 100 taxis are crammed into the rank, making the area a haven for criminals. Shop owners have complained that often thieves disappear into the crowd of taxis and commuters, never to be seen again. The area is also badly littered. But still the holding zone, complete with locked toilets, stands empty, a white elephant in the heart of Paarl.
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