York’s trike taxi follows in Billy Connolly’s tyre tracks

4:56pm Tuesday 6th March 2007

VISITORS and residents will soon be able to enjoy a wheelie good tour of York - in this spectacular motor-trike.

Councillors have given limo boss David Black the green light to operate the private-hire vehicle, in a venture inspired by Scottish comedian Billy Connolly.

Mr Black hopes it will be up and running by the middle of next month, in time for the summer tourist season.

The trike holds two people at a time, and will cost £25 per person for 30 minutes.

Mr Black, 29, said: "It will add to tourism in York. My daughter, Imogen, who is seven, has been on and loved it.

"We took her for a spin in it and she hasn't stopped smiling since."

Mr Black, who runs A1 Limousines, in Clifton Moor Gate, York, said he had seen a similar trike in the Lake District, and said it seemed like "a lovely way of earning a living and catching a tan".

He said the vehicle, which will operate under the slogan Don't Take A Hike - Take A Trike, had generated a lot of interest, and he already has a booking to take a groom and best man to a wedding in Haxby in July.

In his application for a licence, Mr Black wrote: "Seeing Billy Connolly's world tour on television, where he travelled across the UK, Europe and United States on a Boom Trike, I thought what a fantastic idea it would make for a city proud of its tourism to introduce a trike taxi to York.

"After witnessing the demise of so many of our industries over the last four years and reading of more to follow, I feel one way we are moving forward is in tourism.

"I feel offering this service could only add a new dimension to our tourism economy and would be welcomed by visitors and locals alike."

Coun Brian Watson, who was on the committee which considered the application, said: "The licence was approved with the condition that he cannot enter the foot-street area at any time.

"We felt this was one of those interesting and unusual ventures that deserved support."

Mr Black had applied for a taxi licence, but changed to a private-hire vehicle one, on the advice of John Lacy, the council's temporary licensing manager.

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