Drunks on streets: Maxi taxis ‘fleet’ plan

By Michelle Herbison
A FLEET of maxi taxis should replace a council-run night bus to reduce the number of drunks on Geelong streets at night, according to taxi boss.
Geelong Taxi Network chief executive officer Peter Valentine said he was “talking to council” about maxi taxis travelling to homes and more frequently than the Night Rider bus.
“We’re having those people stand around and cause trouble for half an hour while they wait. A marshal on the rank could say ‘Six going in this direction, off you go’, so it (the maxi taxi service) goes more frequently and where necessary.”
Mr Valentine said an Ocean Grove-bound night bus now stopped at the town’s police station after passengers “got off the bus and smashed things” when left on the streets while intoxicated.
But drunk, misbehaving passengers should “expect to walk”, he said.
Mr Valentine blamed nightclubs’ “non-responsible serving of alcohol” for many behaviour issues in central Geelong at night.
His drivers had “every right” to refuse passengers who were intoxicated, he said.
“They shouldn’t be at the limit that they are in a position to cause trouble and harm.”
Mr Valentine said his company was “desperate” for drivers since many had quit due to safety concerns.
“We can take 40 drivers today. A number of drivers on Friday and Saturday nights say ‘I don’t want to drive anymore because it’s dangerous’.”
City of Greater Geelong central Geelong and waterfront events manager Steve Bentley said the Night Rider operated between 1.30am and 4am Sundays because of insufficient taxi services.
The City had received consistent requests from the community for the bus to operate between those times, he said.
An average 110 passengers used the service nightly, he said.