Taxis and private hire vehicles are a highly-flexible form of public transport that can play an increasingly important role in improving accessibility.

We hold regular liaison meetings with operators to examine how taxi and private hire services can be integrated with other forms of community transport, so as to use the best solution to meet local needs.  An independent study into the role of taxis and private hire vehicles in Tyne and Wear has recently been carried out, and this will help to inform our future strategies. 

We are also seeking to improve waiting facilities at taxi ranks (such as the taxi queue shelter at Sunderland, shown in the photograph), to extend taxi marshalling schemes, provide information on taxi and private hire at public transport interchanges and maximise the use of technology such as smartcards.