Taxi pick up/drop-off points to enhance point to point service
The Transport Department will introduce a taxi pick-up and drop-off point scheme to further enhance taxi's role in providing point to point service for its passengers at busy clearways.
Three taxi pick up-and drop-off points have been identified and will be in operation from 10 am on March 9. They are located at Nathan Road southbound between Granville Road and Cameron Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, King's Road westbound near Ming Yuen West Street, North Point and Chui Tin Street outside Sun Kit House at Sun Chui Estate, Sha Tin.
The Assistant Commissioner for Transport (Ferry and Paratransit), Mr. Alan Lui, unveiled details of the scheme at a press briefing today (March 6).
"With the provision of taxi pick-up and drop-off points at convenient locations, we hope taxi service will become more attractive to passengers, " he said.
At taxi pick-up and drop-off points, taxi drivers will be allowed to pick up passengers immediately after setting down passengers at clearway restrictions. They can also pick up passengers when their taxis are empty and on hire. Other types of vehicles are not allowed to pick up or set down passengers at the taxi pick-up and drop-off points.
"To minimize the impact on traffic, taxis are required to leave at once after dropping off passengers if there are no intending passengers. Taxi drivers will be prohibited to stop the taxis and wait for passengers at taxi pick-up and drop-off points," he said, adding: "Taxi drivers should exercise self-discipline in order to make the scheme a success."
Special traffic signs and road marks indicating the locations and extent of the taxi pick-up and drop-off points, and its restriction of use by taxis only will be in place before the implementation day to facilitate the easy recognition of the taxi pick-up and drop-off points by both taxi drivers and passengers and other road users.
"The taxi pick-up and drop-off point scheme is an extension of the taxi drop-off point scheme which has been successfully implemented since early 2000. If the scheme works satisfactorily and is accepted by both taxi drivers and passengers, it will be extended to other parts of Hong Kong", Mr. Lui said.
To improve taxi service, Transport Department had designated 11 taxi drop-off points and uplifted 75 clearway restrictions for taxis and other vehicles in 2000.
End/Tuesday, March 6 2001