.
Later that morning, John Mason, Head of Taxi and Private Hire at TfL, was given a chance to put his view on the current situation.
We are not muggers, thieves, rapists or terrorists.
We are in fact "The Best Taxi Service" in the world.
Every night, an assortment of muggers, thieves and sexual predators line up to take advantage of an uneducated traveling public.
Terrorists have been allowed to park car bombs outside Londons night venues, which were left, completely unchallenged for many hours and yet Taxi drivers, in the course of their work are constantly given penalty tickets for stopping on yellow lines for more than two minutes.
It would seem the only body that doesn't recognise our worth to London, is our very own administrative body "TfL"
John Mason, speaking to Paul Ross said that these people are being caught.
Well last year (2009) assaults including rapes, rose by 54% to a reported 134.
While detection and conviction fell by 50% from 6 in 2008 to 3 in 2009.
Safer Travel at Night isn't working, FACT not fiction.
The Havens rape crisis centers dispute these figures and suggest that most rapes are never reported to the police, so never make it into official statistics. Recently three Met officers were suspended for changing statement to show rapes as non crimes.John Mason will only deal with a silent representative organisation, whose chairman is paid by TfL to say nothing.
The worm is now turning and the drivers are abandoning the Org's. At the recent turnout for the veterans, organised by the UCG, drivers from every representative organisation took part, in-spite of their leaders reluctance to get involved. This service given freely to our nations heros was such a success it is to become an annual event.
But even as the drivers lined up to pick up the veterans who had been abandoned by Peter Hendy's TfL, they were harassed by local traffic wardens. While across the road minicabs were allowed to sit and wait outside a minicab office.
See Simco's Video.
John Mason you sounded like you were on high. Your voice was shaking so much I was really worried about you.
ReplyDeleteWhy waffle, speak gibberish and dig a bigger hole for yourself when all you have to do is DO YOUR JOB.
You were put in charge of administrating The Best Taxi Service in The World and you have failed miserably.
You laugh off thousands of ruined lives, rapes and robberies in Minicabs but this terrible problem exist, is increasing and all under your administration.
Thousands of taxi drivers have taken you to task but you have a thick skin and a bloody nerve.
You must fall on your sword and make way for somebody more suitable. Good riddance.
Yes, and the cab trade press still tries to decry and demean anyone who is prepared to stand up to be counted!
ReplyDeleteWell unlike most of them who sit behind a desk and are paid we have to get a living the hard way.
To Mr Hooper further to his article in TAXI:
1. You say how can so few people set policy for the cab trade?
Answer: Your LTDA exec. have done so for years, Did you ask your membership before you decided to support an age lmit? We aint out to set policy but to defend our trade and not just ourselves.
2. You portray anyone who dears to disagree with your views (made from a very comfortable situation) as some kind of anarchist!
Answer: Without people prepared to act, there would have been NO LTDA!
Those pioneers must be shocked to see what has become of it today, Oh, and is your salary paid from the 'divi' you get from ComfortDelgro whose profits are in part derived from Private Hire?
3. You say why is the RMT involved as they know nothing about the cab trade.
Answer: The branch is rum by WORKING Cab drivers and there is many years oef experience there gained at the LTDA and LCDC. Oh, a lot of what you say applies to UNITE so will you ask them or is it again another 'one eyed' rant.
No more BS John
ReplyDeleteNo more lies
We will still be here in2011
You will not
As much as PAUL ROSS is an experienced presenter,he cannot fully understand how bad the situation is,Now i suggest we contact Radio London,and ask them to set up a 3way conversation live on air,with our JONATHON and JOHN MASON,and see which one declines,this will surely show that MASON and TFL,are not fit for purpose.
ReplyDeleteWell what a good idea lets have that conference call.
ReplyDeleteOr even a TV event on a London Tonight or similiar.
Let TfL answer to the people who pay!
We will never get that,
ReplyDeleteBut maybe we dont need it,
All we need is the challenge to be put out,
And as soon as they bottle it,as they will,you cant argue with facts,
It will make the listeners think,and maybe get the press involved asking the right questions,
Right off to a karaoke,And tonight the song "GOODBYE JOHNNY YOU ARE LEAVING" will have a whole new meaning.
JOHN MASON could have handed us the perfect opportunity,I mean if he and TFL,have nothing to hide,and we could get a radio stn to air it,What reason could he have for turning down the challenge.
ReplyDeleteAfter all thier own complaints procedure is,if you dont answer a complaint,its an admission of guilt.GARYS
Gary S,
ReplyDeleteYes what an excellent point. If we do not answer to a complaint then its proved against us.
Then it's the same for John Mason. There TfL's rules after all.
Surley is not one rule for them and one for us? How unusual!!!!
Certainly unfair and discriminatory.
Lets have a 'write in' Stop the rapes, Scrap the satellites campaign to the Mayor with the traditional address and name blacked out or is it redacted?