Should London Taxi Trade Offer Reduced Fee Trips To Clinics, For Over Eighty'sTo Get Vaccinated ???

Below is an article published in the Northern Eco. 

This is a fabulous idea and would be great PR for the trade. It could be financed to help drivers cover their expenses, but that may affect drivers currently receiving government grants.

It could easily be set up by one or more Taxi-Apps and could be over seen by one of our associations working with the NHS. 

I believe many drivers who are currently sitting at home doing nothing with their van parked up outside, would jump at the chance of volunteering to help the elderly locally. 

Article:

A TAXI company is offering free transport to passengers aged 80-plus attending Covid-19 vaccine appointments.

Budget Taxis, which operates in Newcastle and North Tyneside, is making the scheme available from Monday for use by the over-80s who have already received vaccine appointments.

They must quote “free taxi” when booking, which must be made 24-hours in advance of the vaccination appointment, subject to availability.

There is also a contactless app, which allows passengers to book, track and pay for the taxi, all by your phone, reducing the need for cash contact.

Budget Taxi owner, Mohammed Suleman, said: “It’s a priority to everyone that the elderly receive their vaccines, so we want to make sure they’re getting there in the safest way possible.

“We will make sure you arrive safely, for free.”

TAXI LEAKS EXTRA BIT: 

Looking through Taxi Leaks post, I see the wonderful effort put in by drivers over the years, from the goodness of their hearts. 

No one seeking reparation or publicity, just the desire to help others less fortunate. 

The trip to Disney Paris, with the children from GOSH, the children’s day out to the seaside...plus, the fantastic work carried out by cabby volunteers for the Taxi Charity for military Veterans.....delivering food parcels and such.....wonderful work. 

In times of great need, like the kings cross fire and the 7/7 disaster where drivers stopped working (without being asked) and formed groups that took the walking wounded to and from hospital, many working overnight, taking exhausted hospital staff home. Again at the London Bridge and Westminster Bridge terror attacks where drivers took people out of the danger zone, some drivers taking frightened passengers all the way home for free.....

A lot of comments have been made on Facebook and Twitter, by those who haven’t even read the Northern Echo article, which is basically a salute to drivers in Newcastle (who believe it or not, are in the same boat as us, our situation is far from being unique). They put this initiative together on their own behalf, without any prompting from government, licensing authority or NHS promoting.....just Cabbies again stepping up to the mark and filling a void.

The philanthropic nature of our trade, will never be destroyed by those haters and trolls who take great joy in putting others down.....an unfortunate trend that has emerged with the expansion of social media. 

Long live the trades charities, and long may our drivers continue to rise above the attacks and adverse comments from those with nothing better to do.