Taxi Shortage in Aberdeen Creates Safety Risks for Late-Night Walkers

Long Queues at Taxi Ranks Persist in Aberdeen

Aberdeen residents face rising safety concerns as a significant shortage of taxis forces many to walk home at night. Long queues at taxi ranks have become a common sight, raising alarm among locals. Despite the arrival of Uber in Aberdeen, the issue persists as the company struggles to recruit enough drivers to meet demand.

Councillor Lynn Thomson from Aberdeen Women’s Alliance highlighted the impact on women, noting that safety concerns often dictate their decisions.

"Being a woman, every time you go out you think: ‘Will I take this path? It’s a bit longer but it’s better lit and it’s busier.’ Will I actually go out at all? If I can’t get home safely then I might just stay home," she remarked.

Such challenges not only deter people from venturing out but also harm the local economy, as fewer individuals participate in nightlife activities.

Impact on Students and Late-Night Workers

Christina Schmid, President of Aberdeen University Students' Association, underscored the heightened sense of "unsafety" experienced by students and young professionals at night.

"Even that feeling might hinder some folk to go out or take a shift late at night, especially women or young students," she stated.

The lack of reliable transportation options is discouraging many from accepting late shifts or enjoying nighttime social activities, exacerbating the feeling of insecurity.

Uber’s Struggles to Ease the Taxi Shortage

Uber’s arrival in Aberdeen in October brought hope for alleviating the taxi shortage. However, the platform has encountered significant barriers in onboarding new drivers due to Aberdeen City Council's stringent street knowledge test requirement.

“From the demand that we’re seeing in our app, we could probably hire roughly about 200 drivers tomorrow,” said Matthew, a representative from Uber. “But we can’t, at the moment, because of the Aberdeen City Council street knowledge test which is constraining supply.”

Aberdeen currently has only 284 private hire cars, a stark contrast to Glasgow's 3,450 and Edinburgh's 2,717. The disparity highlights the acute transportation challenges in Aberdeen compared to other major Scottish cities.

Council’s Efforts to Streamline Driver Licensing

Aberdeen City Council has taken steps to address the taxi shortage by revising the street knowledge test. A working group involving councillors, local businesses, and the Disability Equity Partnership was established to review the test.

The updated test, introduced on 10 December, has reduced the number of questions from 64 to 44. However, Uber maintains that the changes will not significantly increase the number of drivers on the streets.

"From our perspective, it will have no material difference on the number of drivers on the streets of Aberdeen," Matthew commented.

The council emphasized its collaborative approach, noting the involvement of diverse stakeholders in refining the test.

A Persistent Issue for Aberdeen

Despite these efforts, the taxi shortage continues to pose serious challenges for Aberdeen residents, particularly women and students, who often find themselves walking home due to the lack of available transportation. Safety concerns remain at the forefront, with long queues at taxi ranks and the limited availability of private hire cars exacerbating the issue.

The ongoing struggle highlights the need for innovative solutions to address the rising safety concerns and transportation gaps in Aberdeen.