The United Cabbies Group are launching a campaign to stop the M4 Bus lane from being removed.

This will affect all Taxi drivers and not just Heathrow workers.

We are starting by sending emails to our MPs.

Please copy and paste the following email and send it to your MP.

You can find them by clicking the link and entering your postcode in the box.

Contact Your Politician

Enter your Postcode below:

Dear Mr [enter name]

As a resident of your constituency and as a London Taxi driver I am somewhat dismayed to learn of the Secretary for Transport, Philip Hammond's decision to revoke the M4 bus lane.

I have to question on what basis this decision has been made as the Transport Research Laboratory has produced figures to show that over all journey times have improved since the introduction of the M4 bus lane, and safety figures have also improved.

I suggest that the decision to close the bus lane is the wrong decision based on my points below;

1 - No apparent consultation period with coaches, buses, motorcycle or taxi trade representatives.

2 - The blatant lack of regard for public transport at a time when we are looking to ease congestion and reduce our carbon footprint, thus high occupancy vehicle lanes for buses and coaches can be key tools in persuading people out of their cars and onto public transport. One full coach removes approximately a mile of motorway traffic.

3 - The fact that CO2 emissions were cut by 16%, fuel consumption had improved by 16% and that noise levels were down by one decibel with the introduction of the M4 bus lane.

4 - The fact that traffic flow will ultimately be reduced just 3.5 miles further along the highway, so in essence removal of bus lane will make no difference at all.

5 - An opinion that the estimated £409k cost of removing the bus lane would be better spent elsewhere during times of financial hardship.

6 - The fact that the bus lane will be re-introduced for 2012 Olympics at yet more cost to the tax payer.

7 - The fact that if properly enforced then the bus lane could be a source of extra government revenue at the expense of those who illegally utilise the bus lane. It is public knowledge that this stretch of bus lane is insufficiently policed which led John Griffin of Addison Lee Private Hire to encourage his drivers to illegally use the bus lane. Just fourteen £60 fixed penalty notices were issued in 2008 with just six by September 2009 in the bus lane, were Transport for London placed in charge of this stretch of bus lane then the fixed penalty notices would have run into the thousands.

Figures published by the Highways Agency for the first three months of the scheme show:

‘Average daily flows of traffic on this section of the motorway have increased.

The lane saved buses, coaches and taxis more time than cars, but journey times were quicker for all vehicles.

During the morning rush-hour buses and taxis saved up to nine minutes and other vehicles up to six minutes.

Overall, the bus lane saved more than 700 person-hours every weekday.

There is no evidence of drivers diverting on to other roads
3,400 vehicles a day have been using the lane - 700 coaches or minibuses and 2,700 taxis.’

I suggest the M4 road closure is nothing more than an attack on Prescott and Labour by Mr Hammond in order to boost his own ego and position he holds with his peers just before the Conservative Party conference.

Yours Sincerely
[enter your name]


It has been a very bad week for the London Taxi trade which has seen the announcement of the removal of this bus lane, the loss of the Bishops Bridge Taxi rank at night to buses, and John Mason Director of Taxis & Private Hire (PCO) condoning Addison Lee openly touting on the streets outside the Grosvenor House Hotel.

The United Cabbies Group will not just sit there and watch this trade be eradicated in front of our eyes.

The UCG is open to anyone who holds a green or yellow London Taxi drivers License, and we urge you all to join us in the fightback.

Please visit our website at...

www.ucg-london.co.uk

Thank you.