A Toronto taxi company is under fire after photos were posted on social media showing several cabs parked in a downtown bike lane on Friday night.
Photos were tweeted of the Beck Taxi vehicles parked in the segregated bike lanes at Richmond Street West, near Bay Street.
Marcella Jones tweeted to the company, as well as Toronto mayor John Tory, that the practice “shows zero regard for cycling safety.”
unacceptable! @BeckTaxi turns Richmond bike lane at Bay St into a 20-cab taxi stand. @CycleToronto @JohnTory #bikeTO pic.twitter.com/wfe7t1JZDD
— Marcella Jones (@jonesmcella) December 5, 2015
15 Beck Taxi's using the bike lane as a taxi stand. #biketo #topoli pic.twitter.com/ZcD8zfx8MS
— Ev Delen (@evdelen) December 5, 2015
Kristine Hubbard, Beck Taxi’s operations manager, responded on Twitter, saying she agreed with Jones and that the incident was “Dangerous and embarrassing.”
There was an event at the location last night that we were not aware of. Supervisors from Beck have been attending all major events to 1/2
— Kristine Hubbard (@KristineHubbard) December 5, 2015
ensure that things are in order. Beck msgs clear: no cars should be illegally using bike lanes. I can't imagine how the line started. 2/2
— Kristine Hubbard (@KristineHubbard) December 5, 2015
We have been asking for help from by law enforcement all along. We get no response from the City. Fare refusals, bike lanes, etc.
— Kristine Hubbard (@KristineHubbard) December 5, 2015
We'll do a better job. A full line of taxis. Dangerous and embarrassing.
— Kristine Hubbard (@KristineHubbard) December 5, 2015
Hubbard also placed some of the blame at the feet of the city, saying that while more taxi licenses are being issued, there are no more legal spots being created.
With 5500+ taxis in Toronto there are < 200 legal spots for them to sit. The City ignores when planning yet more taxis being licensed.
— Kristine Hubbard (@KristineHubbard) December 5, 2015
