SHUTTLE BUS SERVICE • IDEA REJECTED
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lN its report, which was issued on Monday last, the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee rejected a proposal that the needs of tne inner area of London should be met by a shuttle service of buses.
The suggestion was prompted some time ago, it being contended that the number of the Board's vehicles running during the slack periods, was excessive, and the chief cause of congestion.
The idea was that most of the Board's services should terminate outside the central area, with a shuttle service operating from these points into the central area.
The committee is of the opinion that the provision of suitable bus stations is impracticable and, further, that substantial criticism would be levelled at any scheme which curtailed the facilities so long enjoyed by the public.
DISASTROUS GARAGE FIRE IN SCOTLAND.
A N outbreak of fire at the Annan Pi' garage of the Caledonian Omnibus Co., Ltd., last week caused damage amounting to £7,000. Six single-deck buses and one double-decker were lost and the garage gutted. The office at the rear of the garage was not affected.
TENDERS FOR ADVERTISING ON EDINBURGH'S TRANSPORT.
TENDERS are invited by Edinburgh 1 Corporation for the advertising rights on trams and buses for a period of three years as from July 1. Tenders, which should be sent to Mr. D. Robertson, town clerk, must be received by May 24. Full details are obtainable from the transport manager, 2, St. James's Square, Edinburgh.
GLASGOW TAXI MEN AT WAR WITH MAGISTRATES.
TAXICAB owners in Glasgow are at war with the magistrates regarding the construction of their vehicles, and they are likely to raise the matter in a test case iu the Court of Session.
The dispute has arisen over a ruling by the magistrates. win:, issue licenc,es for the cabs,-to the effect that the forward sides of taxis must be .open and that the vehicles must have a turning
radius of 25 ft. • • .These regulations were laid down in October, 1936, and became applicable to new licences which came into force
on May 11. The regulations were adopted by the magistrates in exercise
of their discretionary powers in granting or refusing applications for licences.
Many taxicabs do not conform to these regulations and the owners claim that their enforcement will menace their livelihood. They are to claim, in a test action, that the magistrates' action exceeds their discretionary power and that it will entail considerable hardship on owner-drivers, as the cost of altering existing vehicles will be so high as to be almost prohibitive.
A SAURER REAR-ENGINED BUS.
A FEATURE of the annual Swiss
Motor ShoW, recently held in Geneva, was a Saurer single-deck bus driven by a rear-mounted 100 h.p. sixcylindered oil engine. The power unit is set in a special compartment formed in the rear of the bus body, with its crankshaft parallel with the axles. The compartment has two hinged panels at the sides and a large lift-up panel at the rear, so that ready access can be gained to all parts of the engine.
SCOTTISH OPERATORS' SUCCESSFUL CONCERT PARTY.
THE Western S.M.T. Entertainers, composed of employees of the Western Scottish Motor Traction Co.. Ltd., a subsidiary of S.M.T.. Ltd., last week broadcast a variety entertainment in the Scottish Regional programme.
The programme was entitled "Road Transport," and was one of a series representing the industries of Scotland which are being broadcast.
The Entertainers have given 84 concerts to more than 40,900 people during the past three winters. These have been in the different towns in the southwest of Scotland, served by the company's bus services, from Greenock to Stranraer and Dumfries. The show is given once a week during the winter months, and the Entertainers have succeeded in raising more than £1,700 for charities and other deserving causes.
PRODUCER-GAS BUS IN YORKSHIRE
ABUS, operating on producer-gas, has been put into operation by the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., on one of its local Harrogate services, between Starbecic and Oatlands. The vehicle, which uses anthracite fuel, is one of the company's single-deck machines, which has been converted by its engineers. They have adapted an ordinary petrol unit to the use of producer-gas and four seats have been removed at the rear to accommodate the producer. .
Whilst no official information as to the performance of the vehicle is yet available, it is understood that its speed compares quite favourably with the previous petrol-engined machine and that there is less noise. On its .first journey it covered the route well within scheduled time.
A 40-YEAR-OLD BUS.
ONE of the oldest motorbuses in Scotland. if not in Great Britain, has been sold by Mr. Donald Forsyth, Forrestfield, California, to Messrs. Gibson and Co., motor engineers, of Leith and Aberdeen.
This old bus was in service at Falkirk for 40 years, running between Newmarket Street and Carron. It is of the wagonette type and is distinguished by the fact that it has tiller steering and rear wheels larger than the front wheels.
It is fitted with a single-cylindered engine having tube ignition. A pioneer of transport services in Falkirk, this machine was forced off the roads by the competition caused by the introduction of trams in Falkirk.
Since then it has been in the possession of the Forsyth family at California. The new owners intend to use the vehicle for exhibition purposes.
IS AN ADVERTISEMENT PLYING FOR HIRE?
Tii borough magistrates of Derby, last. week, dealt with an important test case of interest to all taxicab proprietors and owners of private-hire-car services in the town.
Messrs. Kenneth Lingard, proprietors of the " Black Arrow " private-hire service, Derby, were summoned for plying for hire while unlicensed to do so, and Icapermitting unlicensed hackney carriages to ply for -hire. Two other Derby drivers were also summoned for plying for hire while not licensed to do
Announcing that they were not satisfied that the prosecution had -made out a case, the magistrates dismissed the summonses.
It was pointed out by the prosecution that hackney licences and permission of the Watch Committee were necessary to run hackney carriages in Derbs,', and that the cars of which Messrs. Lingard were the proprietors. bore no notices to show that they were hackney carriages. This was in order providing that they did not ply for hire, hut it was alleged that, having set clown passengers who had booked the machines privately, these cars were driven back to the garage displaying a notice: " Black Arrow. 8d. per mile. Phone Derby 4209."
It was submitted that this was a form of plying for hire because it held out an inducement to anybody wishing to hire a car and solicited patronage.
It was pointed out, however, that there was no question of stopping to pick up passengers in the streets. The case turned upon the notices displayed in the cars, which, it was submitted, were nothing more than advertisements.
RECEIPTS DOWN, BUT PROFITS UP—IN LOWESTOFT.
AT a recent meeting of Lowestoft Town Council, it was reported that the transport undertaking showed a net profit of £1,009 4s. bd. for the past year, an increase of £129 16s. 9d. on the previous 12 months. This increase in profit was achieved in spite of the fact that transport receipts for the year were down by £388. The thanks of the council were offered to Mr. H. H. Saunders, the general manager.
PRIVATE CAR USED AS EXPRESS CARRIAGE
w/HEN the owner of a private car WV appeared before the King's Lynn Bench last week on charges of causing a motor vehicle to be used as an express carriage 'without a public-service vehicle licence, driving a public-service vehicle without a licence, and having no roadservice licence, the prosecuting solicitor said that the Traffic Commissioners understood that the practice of urng private cars for hire purposes was unfortunately rather widespread in Norfolk, particularly in relation to some of the big construction works that were now going on. A further charge, of not being covered by insurance when taking passengers for reward, was brought.
Defendant was stated to have said that he and the Passengers were working at Raynham aerodrome. He charged about a shilling a day, per person, to cover petrol and other expenses.
It was further stated that a special bus service was run from King's Lynn to the aerodrome at a loss.
The Traffic Commissioners did not ask heavy penalties, but they hoped that the publicity would act as a deterrent in the future. The first three cases were dismissed on payment of 12s, court fees, but, in the case of the insurance charge, a fine of 10s. was imposed.
IVYBRIDGE OPERATOR
ACQUIRES NEW SERVICE. irHE coach tours, until recently oper
ated by Mr. J. M. Malcolm, of Plympton, have been taken over by Messrs. J. Hoare and Sons, of Ivybridge.
MANCHESTER ACCEPTS GARAGE TENDER.
THE tender of J. H. Billings and Co., Ltd., for the conversion of Princess Road tram shed into a bus garage has been accepted by Manchester Corporation Transport Committee.
It is understood that the corporation is to prepare plans for the erection. of an extension of its garage on laud at Elm Street, Water Street.