A LONG-SERVING taxi driver has become so exasperated with Oxford’s roads that he has quit and found a new job.

Former cabbie Richard Barlow gave up his taxi career after having enough of having to drive bumper to bumper for hours on end due to traffic, as well as dealing with the numerous potholes. As a taxi driver for more than 40 years, he knows the streets of Oxford better than most, but even he could not avoid the constant roadworks and congestion around the city.

While he enjoyed his time behind the wheel, Mr Barlow, 63 – who started a new career in manufacturing earlier this year – said he would not return to his taxi job due to the infrastructure in the city failing to be up to scratch.

Mr Barlow said: “It’s the traffic and the potholes. There are potholes all down the Woodstock and Banbury roads. But there are also too many private hire vehicles on the road, and there is not enough work.

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“You have to pay a lot out. It’s £400 a year for your plate, there’s two MOTs and fuel on top of that. “It got to the point where my wife said I wasn’t earning the money I used to, and I decided to find a new job. I miss the job, but it’s done now and I won’t be going back.”

Referring to the current congestion caused by work at the Cutteslowe and Wolvercote roundabouts, plus Frideswide Square, he added: “When I was driving the traffic was horrendous – it must be a nightmare for them now.

“Roadworks are the biggest problem – they never get it right. Why do they have to do all the roads at the same time? If the meter’s running it’s not so bad, but if they’ve paid in advance it’s worse; you’re sitting in traffic wasting your own time.

“At the end of the day, it is just so annoying.” The Kidlington resident, known as “Richard Cabbie” by Oxfordshire radio stations, said his greatest achievement in his taxiing career was succeeding in his battle in 2008 to get Oxfordshire County Council to allow taxis to use bus lanes.

Mr Barlow won a 10-year fight to use the lanes after presenting Oxfordshire County Council transport bosses a 3,500-name petition.

He thanked the Oxford Mail for its coverage during the campaign. But as well as being a voice for taxi drivers across the city, Mr Barlow also transported many famous names from Oxford venues.

He said: “I have picked up a few famous people over the years. I met Barry White years ago; I picked him up, then dropped him off at Oxford railway station.

“I once dropped off Ronnie O’Sullivan at Luton Airport and picked up a few of the great West Indies cricket team when they toured England in 1986.

“I have met a lot of people over the years.”

Mr Barlow also spoke of some difficult situations on the road.

He added: “I was once driving and someone wrapped the cord from my radio round my throat and tried to mug me.

“I was robbed on Christmas Eve one year as well.

“But I did enjoy the job. The guys I worked for at 001 were really good to me. “Tony and Mark Green have always been loyal to me; I would like to say thank you to them.”



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