Passenger-Vehicle Topics.
Page 14
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At Bow Street, last week, Mr. Curtis Bennett fined a taxi driver .23 and 2s. costs for driving on the wrong side of a street refuge_ The officer, who witnessed the offence, stated that the driver had a perfectly clear road.
The result of the wateringplaces competition, which we organized for drivers who gave the most complete list of public watering-places on any well-known road, over a distance of not less than 35 miles, will be found on page 127.
At an extraordinary general meeting of the London Central Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., a resolution was passed to the effect that the company be wound up voluntarily. Mr. W. D. Howieson, 17, Priory Road, Bedford Park, W., was appointed liquidator, Bus Success in Halifax.
A motorbus purchased by the Halifax Corporation from Commercial Car Hirers, Ltd., carried out a successful experimental run on the 2nd inst. A heavy rainstorm raged during the trial, but even on the rain-soaked roads most of the hills were taken on top gear.
The New London Fleet.
The Associated Omnibus Co., Ltd., commenced running seven buses in conjunction with the L.0.0.0. on 4th October. These vehicles are in service on No. 43 route—London Bridge to Muswell Hill. The remaining 45 vehicles will be placed in service during the present month.
Taxi Troubles in 0:dham.
L. Wood and J. Hail, both taxi drivers, were summoned at the Oldham Police Court for driving to the danger of the public. From the evidence given, there seems to be little doubt that the defendants were going "all out," the only mitigating feature being that the road was clear of traffic at the time. Both men were fined £ 5 and costs.
Dublin's Stable Industries.
Great hostility is being shown by the Jarvies of Dublin to the proposal to introduce motorbuses into that city. A representative of the drivers, when writing to a Dublin paper, said "One hundred years ago the jarvey was the attraction of tourists. To-day it is the same." He calls the proposed introduction of buses " An attempt to wipe out one of the oldest and most staple industries in Dublin?' The W. and G. Co. still allows the half-gallon of petrol per diem to take each cab into the hiring areas, but does not now make any allowance if the mileage per gallon fall below the average.
London Traffic Rivals.
The latest comparisons between receipts are afforded by the allowing tabular data :—
The drivers of the General Motor Cab Co., Ltd., now appreciate the advantages of the company's present system of collecting takings at night and leaving the taximeter readings to be noted by the drivers themselves.
Education in the Picture Halls. The Dusseldorf tramway authorities are causing to be shown a series of moving pictures which depict the right way in which to get on and off a tramcar. How other vehicles should pass trams is also shown. Hustle.
The Green Lanes route, the electrification of which has been in hand for over three years, it is confidently anticipated by the Tramways Committee of the L.O.C., will be in running order in about two years.
The Co-operative London Cabmen's Association.
This association, which controls 15 Unic cabs, with two drivers to each cab, as mentioned in a previous issue, has acquired spacious premises at 251, Clapham Road, close to the Stockwell Station of the City and South London Railway.
The association is providing for the accommodation of ownerdrivers at 16s. per week, including running repairs. There is room in the present garage for 30 cabs, and there are premises in the rear which can be utilized to garage a further 100. The aSSOClation will annually overhaul and repair the coachwork for all types of cabs
The capital of the association was obtained by subscriptions from its 30 members, who have each paid 210. Six cabs were obtained with this sum of 2300. and the takings were pooled for the purpose of acquiring other cabs. The wet weather of last week considerably improved motorcab takings, and in some places cabs were difficult to obtain.
Heavy Vehicles in Bath.
The Bath Brewery Co., Ltd., has a, three-ton Hanford in service at Bath which is giving great satisfaction. Messrs. Cater, Stoffell and Fortt have taken over a 20 h.p. worm-driven Dennis. According to the motoring correspondent of a Bath paper, a local garage in Bath possesses an 18 h.p. two-cylinder Lacre capable of carrying a 10-ton load I The Lacre Motor Car Co., Ltd., understands the vehicle in question to be one of its 20 cwt. demonstration vans.
Increased Prosperity ?
At a meeting of the Croydon Town Council held recently, the Tramways Manager announced that, during the period between 12th July to 23rd August the trams covered a, distance of 10,624 miles over a corresponding period of last year, with an increased current consumption of 3719 units. This increased mileage and current consumption yield a decrease of 21,553 us. 7d. in the receipts.
To Make Taxis Pay.
,A Yorkshire correspondent writes :—" The life of a taxicab is about five years, according to a Leeds proprietor. Then, by way of qualification, he added that some of the vehicles made in the early days might last a little longer than that, but 'the cheapening of the sale price' has in latter years brought about a. decline in durability and efficiency.
"This depreciation has to be allowed for, some way, somehow.
"In Leeds, the city authorities have conceded the taxi-owners' demands by allowing owners to charge fare-and-a-half between midnight and 6 a.m. The hilly nature of the Leeds district, it is contended, is such that constant gear-changing is necessary, and this has a corresponding effect on the life of the mechanism.
"Sometimes, owners in the centre of Leeds are rung up from out-districts like Roundhay—three miles or so. and the driver then finds he is only wanted for a half-mile journey. In other words, he does about six miles out-and-home for practically only a few coppers of a fare ; and the passenger usually protests against making any special allowance."