TAXI drivers have been slammed for mounting kerbs and parking on double yellow lines in the city centre.
The queue of waiting taxis have been stretching past the taxi rank near the Odeon Cinema and parking on double yellows as well as on the path.
Dan Brothwell, chair of Bike Worcester, shared a video taken on Foregate Street after a picture was shared of a similar situation in the same area from an account called Badly Parked Worcester.
@Mbayliss14 @UdallVoice out of interest, why have neither of you replied to the tweet above by @MTBfreedom? Is this not an important issue in Worcester (congestion, air quality, road safety)? Here’s a video from this afternoon. Any thoughts? pic.twitter.com/ff7uRn1Zbq
— SHIFT (@goSHIFTscheme) August 29, 2022
The video shows one taxi almost fully mounted on the kerb, and a second overhanging into a bus lane.
Five of the taxis at the beginning of the video can also be seen parked on double yellow lines.
Mr Brothwell believes that communication with the drivers and fines would help improve the situation on Foregate Street.
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He said: "I’d suggest publicly communicating to the drivers that this is unacceptable, followed up with fines if it continues.
"Clearly the double yellow lines indicate the taxis shouldn’t be parked there.
"Cars partially blocking footways is a common problem in Worcester, causing additional issues for wheelchair and pushchair users, damaging the kerbs and footways, added to which many of the drivers are parked with engines running.
"From a cycling perspective, this forces me further out into the road increasing conflict with drivers.
"Travelling in the other direction by bike results in cars being forced into the bus lane, which are then driving straight at cyclists; not for the faint-hearted."
Mr Brothwell said he has also seen vehicles struggling to get through on occasion in this area of the city centre.
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He said: "It’s not a route I use on a daily basis, but it’s a common occurrence when I do walk, cycle or drive this route.
"On occasion, vehicles can’t squeeze through which is then contributing to congestion.
"There’s a similar theme just outside McDonald's with cars being used as delivery vehicles."
Cllr Basherat Ali, Worcester City Councillor for Nunnery ward, believes the area needs to be monitored by the council on weekends.
Cllr Ali said: "As a councillor, I have almost 100 taxi drivers in my ward alone and I know their concerns.
"Worcester City Council needs to be checking this area on weekends as a lot of the spaces for taxi drivers are being used by private cars.
"This means the taxi drivers have no choice but to park elsewhere. It is hard as they need to make a living, but their spaces are being taken."
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