Street Cars

Street Cars is a taxi firm owned by Steve McDonald and Lloyd Mullaney, with its cab office in Victoria Street, Weatherfield.

Licencing history
In 2000, Vikram Desai and Steve McDonald went into partnership to create the mini cab firm, but both had to borrow money for their investments, Vik from cousin Dev Alahan and Steve from Jez Quigley. Steve's loan caused them both grief as nightclub owner Jez made Steve deliver drugs for him, and made it clear that he had no choice in the matter. To get rid of Jez, Steve testified against him for the murder of Tony Horrocks, but he was found not guilty. The ordeal ended with Jez's death at the hands of Steve's dad Jim McDonald after Jez had Steve beaten up for shopping him to the police.

Business was good for Street Cars, especially in the local area, though the bosses were almost always short of drivers. By a stroke of luck, Eileen Grimshaw came to work at Streetcars as radio operator when Vik picked her up in his cab and was impressed with her detailed knowledge of the area.

In 2002, Street Cars was investigated by the Taxi Licencing Enforcement Team who had received complaints of sexual harrassment on part of a driver. Vik's affair with married Hazel Wilding put him under fire from her husband, but his ex-girlfriend Bobbi Lewis admitted she had filed the complaint to get back at him.

In December Vik was involved in drug smuggling and hid cocaine inside Karen McDonald's suitcase when she went to Tenerife with Steve. When Steve found out he emptied the drugs into the canal. Vik left Coronation Street leaving Street Cars in debt because of his gambling. Dev Alahan bought Vik's share of the business, and left Steve to run it as his heart was never in it as he already owned a chain of corner shops. In 2005 he sold his share to Lloyd Mullaney for £15,000.

Later that year, Steve took on Ronnie Clayton as a driver. Ronnie used to work for City Cabs and was married to its owner Jimmy Clayton. Jimmy was determined to lure her back to him and made hoax call-outs to Street Cars. Steve also dated her. Things reached a head when Ronnie was lured to a deserted farm and held at gunpoint with Steve, but Lloyd came to their rescue.

Incidents
One of Streetcars vehicles had a collision in 2002. Les Battersby had driven to a waste ground to top himself, but was stopped by Dennis Stringer. Dennis was killed but Les survived.

Owners

 * Vikram Desai (2000-2003)
 * Steve McDonald (2000-)
 * Dev Alahan (2003-2005)
 * Lloyd Mullaney (2005-)

Drivers

 * Vikram Desai (2000-2002)
 * Steve McDonald (2000-)
 * Gary Mallett (2000)
 * Les Battersby (2001-
 * Patrick Tussell (2002-2004)
 * Tracy Barlow (2003-
 * Claire Peacock (2005-
 * Lloyd Mullaney (2005-
 * Ronnie Clayton (2005-2006)
 * John Stape (2008-)

Other staff

 * Eileen Grimshaw (radio operator 2000-)