ROUND-UP: ‘Cycle taxis’ in Bury St Edmunds, FREE NOW drop sponsorship and Blackpool taxi tariff rise

‘Cycle Taxis’ in Bury St Edmunds?

The use of rickshaws functioning as taxis in Bury St Edmunds is to be discussed with the council after a voluntary charity pedicab service looks at targeting fare-paying tourists.

According to East Anglian Daily Times, the West Suffolk Council licensing and regulatory committee will meet on Monday 23 January to discuss any policy changes around rickshaws.

The not-for-profit organisation recently launched a commercial delivery service named EcoCarriersBSE. The organisation is seeking the opportunity to launch a cycle taxi service.

FREE NOW pull six-figure RTE sponsorship deal after controversial Tommy Tiernan taxi joke

Global taxi firm FREE NOW have ditched their sponsorship deal with Irish media channel RTE after comedian Tommy Tiernan told a controversial joke about taxi drivers.

According to the Irish Independent, RTE presenter Emer O'Neill walked out of the Vicar Street comedy show upset after hearing it. The joke, which focussed on taxi drivers at Dublin Zoo, has forced FREE NOW to pull its lucrative sponsorship of The Tommy Tiernan Show.

Blackpool taxi tariffs set to rise 9%

Blackpool councillors have given the green light to increase taxi tariffs by nine percent in a bid to fight off rising industry costs facing taxi drivers.

The new tariffs will go to public consultation before going live. If final approval arrives, a five mile taxi fare will increase by £1.20 to £13 from £11.80 during daytime rates. Evening rates will move from £14.80 to £16 and late night rates from £15.40 to £16.60.