Two of the most frustrating things as a private hire driver are passengers throwing up in your car and receiving a PCN ( Parking Charge Notice )
There are many ways to deal with a drunk passenger potentially using your car as a puke bucket but there is only one way to deal with a PCN, and that is to avoid getting it in the first place.
Having to fork out between £65 and £135 of your hard earned money is a big dent in your profits and could easily mean a full shift worked for free.
I have been fortunate not to receive a PCN yet as a private hire driver, and although I try to be as careful and aware as possible, it’s probably more down to pure luck than anything else.
Saying that, I’ve probably got a juicy fine in the post on its way to me as we speak. 🙂
The reason I say it’s more down to luck is because I only found out recently about bus stop clearways despite the fact that I had already looked into the regulations regarding pick ups and drop offs.
The full TFL regulations can be found here, but they can be misleading if you just quickly gloss over them. In fact, another page on the TFL website states “PHVs can also cross bus lanes to gain access to the kerbside to pick up or drop off passengers, but must leave the bus lane straight away” without going into more detail.
If that’s all you read, you would presume just like I did that as long as you pick the passenger up quickly, you can stop at any bus stop.
But you would be wrong and risk a potential fine as that is just a vague generic rule that does not apply to bus stop clearways.
Bus stop clearways where introduced to prohibit cars from stopping or waiting in bus stops. The main benefits where to help the bus align with the kerb to enable level access for disabled passengers and pushchair users, ease congestion as a correctly aligned bus will not block the road for other road users and ensure that bus services operate on time and are not delayed.
What Indicates a Bus Stop Clearway?
When you approach your pick up location and your passenger is standing at the location of a bus stop there are a couple of things you need to look out for.
1-If there is a wide yellow line by the Kerb, this is a bus stop clearway and you can not stop under any circumstances.
2-On red routes, both taxis and private hire vehicles cannot stop at bus stops marked with a wide red line by the kerb.
How to Pick Up Passenger Waiting On A Bus Stop Clearway
As you approach the pick up location and you notice the passengers standing in the middle of a bus stop, you want to look out for either the wide yellow or red lines. If you have identified that your passenger is waiting is a bus stop clearway you will either have to stop before or after the bus stop where possible. More often than not you will find zigzags or pedestrian crossings before or after a bus stop which again are absolute no no’s with regards to stopping and can also land you in hot water, so look out for them also.
If there is a left turn just before or after the bus stop, you can also turn into it, park up in a safe spot and call your customer through the uber app and explain where you are. I have also on occasion, run out of my car to the edge of the road and caught the passengers attention to let them know where I was.
Risking a hefty PCN or fine to pick up a rider in a bus stop clearway is obviously not worth it. That could be £5 fair that could end up costing you a minimum of £65. Even my highest paying ride to date wouldn’t be enough to cover the cost of a PCN.
I often wonder why riders stand in the most awkward, illegal or down right dangerous pick up spots. Are they stupid, inconsiderate, drunk, or simply just unaware? I like to think its the latter, so if you explain your reason for not stopping directly in front of them, they will understand why they had to walk a few extra metres to get to your car. It’s really not a big deal, and every passenger I’ve had to pick up slightly away from where they were standing, where nothing but understanding and nice.
Where you CAN Pick Up and Drop Off
- Single or double red lines
- Single or double yellow lines
- Bus lanes
- Parking bays
Where you CAN’T Pick Up or Drop Off
- Areas marked with wide red lines
- Zigzag lines (for example, by pedestrian crossings or school crossings)
- Taxi ranks
- Where there is a ‘No stopping’ sign
- ‘Bus stop clearways’ marked with a wide yellow or red line by the kerb
Information taken from the Uber website also states – “Taxis and private hire vehicles can pick up or set down customers in a bus lane even if they are not normally allowed to drive in it. However please note the following guidance:”
- If stopping in the bus lane will cause congestion or block the lane, don’t pickup or drop-off.
- After a pickup or drop-off private hire drivers must exit the bus lane if during restricted usage times.
- While single and double red lines are acceptable, wide red and yellow lines are not.
As a private hire driver, your main goal is to maximise you day and earn as much money as possible. The last thing you want, is to get caught out for a silly mistake by stopping to pick up a passenger illegally and receiving a PCN.
Take some time to learn and familiarise your self with the rules and regulations of the road to make sure this doesn’t happen to you.
Lets be honest. Most of us had taken our driving test 2 or 3 decades ago so I’m sure we can all do with a brush up on the rules of the road again, especially if your new to driving into the chaotic streets Central London.
