Taxi trouble on pedestrian walkways
FOURWAYS - Taxi behaviour on William Nicol Drive has always been a hot topic for motorists, but recently taxis have also started driving on the road's new pedestrian lanes.
Numerous residents have reported that taxis drive on the middle islands of William Nicol Drive, as well as pedestrian lanes on which people are walking and cycling. “These pavements are supposed to be non-mountable which I’m afraid is not the case,” David Foley, chairperson of the Douglasdale Sector 4 Community Policing Forum (CPF) said. “We need to protect the citizens that are not in vehicles.”
Foley said the problem was at its worst in the morning between 6.30am and 6.45am, when taxis are trying to avoid bumper-to-bumper traffic by climbing the curb. “If we want to be a world-class African city, we need to pick up our game and manage these transgressors effectively,” he said.
A domestic worker, who worked in Lonehill, was allegedly run over and killed by a taxi on William Nicol Drive, near Steyn City, on 26 January while she was walking on the side of the road.
Chairperson of the Douglasdale forum, Jean Berdou, confirmed the incident and warned the community to be cautious. “Whether you’re walking, are on a bike, in a car or in a truck, all road users need to be aware of their surroundings.”
Berdou said the forum is currently in talks with various stakeholders about preventative measures that can be taken to protect road users from lawless taxis.
The Douglasdale police are also taking a stand against taxi lawlessness by conducting weekly operations in the area. Warrant Officer Balan Muthan, head of communications for the Douglasdale police, said during the operations, officers monitor the road and stop taxis to check for licences and road worthiness.
