December 1, 2004
By Anish Abraham
A FAMILIAR sight on Joburg's roads is the bumper sticker that reads 'This taxi stops anywhere'. But, says the City of Johannesburg, not anymore.
The City has taken a decision to enforce by-laws governing where public transport vehicles are allowed to stop.
This means that the Metro Police will now be able to take action against taxis that stop outside of designated areas to pick up or drop off passengers.
According to the City's by-laws allocated lay-bys, where passengers using public transport can be dropped off and collected, have been provided.
In August 2003, Council approved the policy on public transport lay-bys, which set out guidelines on the location and design of public transport lay-bys within Johannesburg
Nthatisi Modingoane, spokeperson for the City of Johannesburg, says: "The City will commence with implementation of the policy and all stakeholders will be informed of the implementation."
According to the City's policy on public passenger transport lay-bys, a lay-by is defined as "an authorised bay within a road reserve where minibuses, midi buses and buses are allowed to stop only for passengers boarding or alighting, not for holding".
In terms of the new policy, there will no longer be separate lay-bys for buses and taxis, which will use the same infrastructure.
According to a City press release, the policy also seeks to ensure taxis do not stop anywhere on the road, especially where designated stops have been provided, as this is illegal. Such unauthorised stops, it said, led to traffic congestion and frustration for other motorists.
In the past, mini and midi bus taxis had been restricted to ranks and priority lanes, although these were insufficient and taxis resorted to using stops designated for buses.
Transgressors can be fined up to R300.
However, taxi operators will be exempt from complying with the by-laws where no lay-bys are provided.
Over time, once more public lay-bys have been provided, the policy will be strictly enforced in all areas.
Modingoane added the Johannesburg Roads Agency had put together a programme and would start increasing the number of lay-bys around the city, in accordance with the Strategic Public Transport Network plan.
Council has appealed to passengers to make use of the lay-bys provided and not ask taxi drivers to stop in areas that will cause a disruption to the flow of traffic.
For more information contact Nthatisi Modingoane on 011 407 7354.
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