A veteran taxi driver in Lancaster marked his retirement last Friday by offering all his customers free rides as a gesture of appreciation for their years of support.
Anthony Wilson, who has served the community for over two decades with 848848 taxis, hung up his keys for the last time on Friday, May 30.
To celebrate his retirement, he dedicated his final shift, which ran from 5:30am to 3:30pm, to providing complimentary journeys to everyone he picked up.
Wilson announced his generous farewell on Facebook, expressing "mixed emotions" about leaving the trade. He extended his gratitude to his "valued customers from Lancaster and Morecambe, for your continued support throughout my years’ success of driving a taxi."
Reflecting on his career, Wilson shared: "There are so many stories to be told and so many good and bad memories to be taken from my many years’ experience of providing a service."
He also paid tribute to his colleagues, adding: "I haven't got a bad word to say about anyone and it's been a pleasure to have worked with every one of you for all these past years. The banter has been great."
Urging continued local support for the taxi industry, Wilson concluded his heartfelt message with the promise of free rides: "For me to pay some respect and give something back to the people that have supported the trade I'll be out on my last day working from around 5.30am till around 3.30pm and every job I do will be completely FREE."
He ended with a warm farewell to both colleagues and regular customers, stating: "You will all be sadly missed and I wish every one of you the very best for the future."
The decision comes after mounting concerns within the taxi community regarding abuse directed at drivers, alongside demands from passengers for increased reassurance during their journeys.
The initiative comes in response to growing public concerns that passengers are being left stranded if they don't have physical money, expecting to pay with modern options such as contactless cards or smartphone apps.
Three taxi drivers in Huntingdonshire have had their licences revoked in recent months, with more than 20 vehicle licences also suspended.
A significant number of drivers are finding the economic and logistical realities of public charging untenable.
Contactless technology has been introduced into driver’s ID cards, meaning passengers can view a digital version of their driver’s private hire or taxi driver licence simply by tapping the card.
he move comes after a forecasted shortfall of £23,700 in the council's hackney carriage and private hire vehicle licensing budget.
A man accused of failing to pay a nearly £100 taxi fare for a journey across Mid Wales did not appear in court on Tuesday 3 June, prompting magistrates to issue an arrest warrant.
Plans to introduce a more precise method for calculating maximum taxi fares in East Devon have been stalled due to a dismal response rate from local hackney carriage drivers.
The decision marks a victory for cabbies who had been vocal in their opposition, even resorting to a payment strike last year.
Anna Brunskill, 49, received 11 penalty notices, nine of which arrived on the same day, despite having no connection to the vehicle or its driver.
North Wales Police have issued a stark warning to the public in Wrexham, advising them to exercise caution when choosing taxis after a report of an "unauthorised taxi" operating in the city.
The largest hackney carriage fleet in Manchester, will continue to provide a safe and reliable service across the city, provided by drivers with unrivalled regional knowledge.
In partnership with Lewis Taxis, a trusted local company serving the area for 50 years, FREENOW is now offering a quick and easy way for locals and visitors to book taxis in the city.
Kerse Cabs earned the accolade for consistently going "the extra mile" for local residents.
The decision, made at a committee meeting on June 3, followed a consultation with around 300 hackney carriage drivers and private hire vehicle licence holders.
Cllr Daisy Blakemore-Creedon, 19, believes such a measure would boost public confidence, particularly for those travelling late at night.
Glasgow's premier taxi operator has strongly refuted claims that a lack of available cabs is crippling the city's night-time economy, instead pointing to wider issues and behavioural shifts as the real culprits.
Police have released an image of two women they would like to speak to regarding an ongoing investigation.
Anees Arif, 52, of Lees, Oldham, pleaded guilty to multiple offences, including illegally waiting in a hackney carriage rank and accepting an uninsured fare.
This drastic measure comes after numerous attempts by the local authority to get drivers to agree to register for the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) update service.