Cabbies cruise in
15-March-2005The Standard
A GROUP of London taxi drivers found themselves a long way off their usual routes yesterday when they visited the Twelve Apostles near Port Campbell.
The drivers are helping promote the Great Ocean Road with pictures of the landmarks painted on their famous black cabs vehicles as part of promotions for next year's Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. The six cabbies toured through the south west yesterday as part of a week-long trip to Victoria to familiarise themselves with the region.
The taxis act as mobile billboards in London's inner-city, while their drivers play the role of international ambassadors, passing on first-hand experiences to Londoners and other passengers. Pictures of the Twelve Apostles have been painted all over 25 taxis, while 150 taxis have graphics along their sides.
Cabbie Toni Hill said the logos had been painted on his taxi for about six months and people would often get in and ask what it was all about and where the Commonwealth Games were. Mr Hill said about 30 per cent of his passengers started talking and asked about Melbourne when they saw the logo. He said a lot of people knew about kangaroos and Aboriginies but did not know a lot more about the Australia. Mr Hill said it was his first trip to Australia and he loved it.
The cabbies visited Melbourne before travelling along the Great Ocean Road and were to return via Ballarat. A taxi driver for 12 years, Mr Hill said he noticed many differences between taxis in the two countries. Mr Hill said a taxi licence in London could not be bought and prospective drivers had to work for about five years to get one. "Once you're a cab driver it's a passion and you have great pride in it" he said.
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