Informal taxi ranks earns ire of residents

A TEMPORARY taxi rank on Newlands Drive has earned the ire of residents. Last week Northglen News met with residents from one of the complexes who say their lives have become a ‘nightmare’. They say taxis and buses are using the grass embankment on the road which leads on to the M4 Ruth First Highway.

Since last year, the uMhlanga taxi rank which was situated on Lighthouse Road was temporarily set-up on the M4 off-ramp to allow taxis to pick and drop off commuters in the north Durban area.

However, according to Eugene Ciaglia, a few taxis and buses were now using Newlands Drive as an ‘informal taxi rank’.

Read also: Taxi driver smashes side mirror in road rage incident on N2

“Since the old taxi rank in under construction, a new rank on the M4 off-ramp has been set-up which is fair, because the taxis don’t have anywhere to go. However, of concern, is this informal rank on our road. A few residents are put out by this because of the noise pollution and the litter. I feel the taxis should be using the off-ramp near the freeway.

“It is hard to get out of our complex during peak hour traffic because at times we have around seven or eight taxis and two to three buses. We are also concerned about the security risk, criminals may pretend to be passengers. I haven’t approached the taxi drivers but someone else from the complex did and they were met with hostility. We would like a workable solution that benefits both parties,” he said.

Ciaglia said he suspects taxis were using the embankment due to its proximity to the village and newly set-up rank.

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