Has Bojo Lets The Cat Out Of The Bag? ...

Why was it announced, on LBC that Addison Lee had won a contract to supply vehicles and use the special lanes at the 2012 Olympics

Not a rumor, a statement from Nick Ferrari on his LBC radio show.
Nick Ferrari said:
"Now this is for the delegates, and I think for some of the competitors as well isn't it?  But well lets name it, it’s Addison Lee.  I think it’s the biggest company probably in the country and they have got the contract to take judges and competitors." 


Boris did not deny this. For a Transcript of the Call, Click here.

The Caller then asked if he picked up a competitor from Paddington Station, would he be able to use the fast track lanes, to which Boris answered 

Boris:

"Ray I think that’s fairly unlikely to happen.  The competitors basically are going to be moved from the Olympic village where they will be staying, to their events or their places of training, with the team and with their coaches. We want to be able to have the Olympic Route Network, which will be much much smaller, let me repeat this, will be much much smaller than the Olympic Route Network was in Beijing."

But Boris failed to come back to the Addison Lee issue. 


One interesting point in this call was that Boris announced 33,000 Licensed Taxis in London. How can we take any of his statistics seriously when he can suddenly add 30% more taxis than there are.

 Why then, did Addison Lee, through their Twitter account, announce straight after the Bojo interview that they hadn’t tendered for or received such a contract?

Can’t think what these two important statements mean....Read on.

Shelter Talk: 

They could never supply the vehicles or the drivers!

It is rumored, Addison Lee are to take deliver of 1200 new Galaxy’s early next year, bringing their total to 3700.

Addi Lee has bought out smaller PH firms in the past. So they have a wealth of man power at their disposal.

Shelter Talk: 

But I thought BMW had the contract to supply the cars.

If BMW are supplying the cars someone has to supply the drivers.

He can and will!

In 2012, when the games are on London will be in Gridlock for best part of the day and most of the evenings as day drivers try to recoup lost income by working longer in to the night. This doesn't just affect Taxis.

There will be many of the 80,000 Ph drivers only too pleased to drive new BMW's in the special lanes.

Allegedly, Boris was put on the spot yesterday and didn't realise the tender hadn't gone in yet.

Their is nothing we can do about this, as it seems by Bojo's statement, it has already been sanctioned by TfL (don't we know some one on that Board?)

What we have to worry about is how this affects us after the Olympics.

The UTG's joint ranks committee and the Surface Transport committee have been in discussion with the affected parties, ie PH and the Licensed Taxi trade, with an eye on implementing what they are calling "Executive Private Hire Ranks". Namely, marshalled private hire Ranks to be used by more upmarket firms such as Addison Lee, West one and Lewis Day. These ranks where cars will be ready for immediate hire, will probably be situated at top end hotels, mainline stations and at week ends beside booths in the West End. It is believed that permits will have to be purchased by the driver to work from these marshaled ranks.

What then, the airport?

Shelter Talk:

They could never take us out of the airport, it will never happen!

Just like private hire licensing, private hire marshaled ranks and private hire liveries, it can happen quite easily and has happened in many provincial airports, Click here for the latest:

I have been mentioning these so called PH golden ranks for sometime now, but no one seems to be taking any notice.

Its just like when I protested over the shared taxi rank space at kings cross bridge. I said it would lead to PH ranking outside venues all over London. I was told by Oddy and others, I was being alarmist!

Whitcomb Street Private Hire Rank: 

The story first broke exclusively on the Anderson Shelter Wednesday, 26^th, November, 2008:  Click Here, was a foot in the water by TfL and Westminster Council to try and judge the response from the Licensed Taxi Trade. The trade united which bought about the mass demo in February 2009.

TfL shook to its foundations and was petrified that the trade could actually come together in this way.

And so, a specialist was bought in to segregate the different faction of the trade and keep them segregated. Thats the story so far!

The only ace we have left up our sleeve, is the Olympic games and TfL are waiting with baited breath to see if we will plan anything.

But do you want to go that far to save your job, your trade, your living.