While it is a good idea to force the taxi drivers to follow the existing rules, it doesn't mean we can't give them a minor exception that doesn't interfere much with the main goal of the whole excersise, letting the streetcars move with fewer obstructions.
OK. Then exceptions should apply to cyclists too. And, and, and....
Btw: I watched the entire excruciatingly painful council session on Youtube, albeit with some real bright spots. Staff were excellent. Keesmaat looked ill-at-ease to begin with, but got over her trepidations when realizing that other than the few councillors who knew their stuff, dealing with the rest was putting on a brave face to not to laugh at how absurd most were.
Staff, Byford included, made the case to *not* give taxis an exception time and again. Cressy gave an odd speech towards the end, it was obvious a deal had been made outside of chamber, the pro quo being Tory's 'impassioned' (complete with shiny plastic wrapping and patent shoes) speech for Cressy's cave on the taxi exception.
I have to question if Staff need counselling and therapy after appearing in council sessions. Credit to them for their patience in dealing with so many incompetents...
Getting back to exceptions...cars with four passengers, trucks with collapsed pedestrians in the back, a partridge in a pair of trees, and a cow jumping left over the Moon....all acting as "public transit" by the terms of some councillors and mayor...
I hope that city staff were given permission to make adjustments to the pilot to improve its performance without having to go back to council.
Evidently not, that came up a couple of times "pilot creep" it was called by Holyday a couple of times, but the answer was that (gist) "We will come back to Council for any changes needed".