No one understood why they were based at the junction of Panton Street and had no power to help with drivers who were battling with touts outside the exit of Tiger Tiger. We were kept in the dark that they had been given strict instructions by John Mason not to get involved in disputes and not to move from the junction.
After complaints from Taxi drivers that the marshals at Panton street junction are no more than a waste of our license fee, it's been decided to move them to the Golden Fare rank for a months trial. This is a great chance for the marshals to regain their reputation, as we all hope they will be afforded the same operational tactics as the LTDA marshals and this time, be allowed to move.
Drivers should not forget, the rank is in service seven days a week. So please help out if close.
I have also been reliably informed, in the next few weeks we can expect to see a new rank at Bear Street and Charing Cross Road. The rank (if marked out correctly and TMO's are in place) will be fed from the old rank by the Garrick Theater, which in turn will be fed by Cranbourn Street. This should do away with the complaints that drivers using Charing Cross Road are disregarding and disrespecting Taxis ranking in Cranbourn streets.
I am really in two minds about this rank,Part of me says yes its a good idea,as it gets the public home safe,and okay it puts a few extra pounds in the drivers pockets.But at what price,
ReplyDeleteYou can hear the CBJs now,where you going sir,and qouting £5 less for the journey,as now they know exactly what we will be charging,yes sir legal,look licensed by the PCO,
And if that person had used the Golden Rank the week before they know that the CBJs right.So I think in the long run it will cost us even more work.Where the real problem is non enforcement of the law.Be fair in these times of cuts everybody is watching their pennys.
And the they have just paid £50 to get in a club,and £8 a drink,so whats a cab fare matter dont wash,because they have paid for a nights entertainment,rip off yes but an expected rip off.
As I say I am undecided,but I think we should look at both sides of the situation,a situation that should not have arisen,If LTPH,had the courage to confront the touts,and as soon as they broke the rules ie,CBJ outside the clubs revoke thier license,And force the STAN police to do thier job.
Saying that I can remember when the old cab enforcement was disbanded,and became TOCU,and the famous qoute,The mayor can throw as much money as he likes at us,but cant tell us what to do.So really TFL has been seen as a waste of space since day one.
GARYS
Agree with above.
ReplyDeleteIt's a double edged sword.
The £20.00 'local' is a real swindle and can only harm us.
A fixed price to the burbs can be attractive.
What happens if you get two out of towners who pay up £20.00 to say the Royal National Hotel and then smash the cab or the driver up because they think they have been turned over for a 10 minute ride!
Who will compensate the driver?
TfL? Marshalls.com? Martin Low? LTDA?
I bet you are on your lonesome.
As ever with any TfL 'initiative', it raises more questions than answers.
Surely we do not want a race to the bottom with the touts!
Only well managed rank and proper enforcement of all touting is the way to go.
ReplyDeleteLast night, Friday, Regular touts outside Casino were informing punters that the Taxis are double price on Fridays and they(touts) will do it cheaper.sic.
Punters were asking me if they will have to pay extra for the taxi from Coventry St. They didn't seem happy until were informed that the fare is properly metered.
Rip Off Fare Rank is detrimental to Taxi Trade and if continued will loose us a lot of work and loyal punters.
Also what right has Westminster Council to set Taxi fares.
Nice to see Mr Peter Rose of UNITE making friends with the marshals at Tiger Tiger on Friday.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt to find out if there was any marshalling work for his members to share equally on an open and fair rota basis and not just for himself.
Anyone who thinks otherwise is a cynic.
What a nice chap!
These concerns echo what we said about the Golden Fare Concept before Christmas.
ReplyDeleteWhile we feel that this rank should be serviced throughout the week, to keep scabs and rickshaws at bay, overcharging customers with fixed prices takes us one step closer to HARMINISATION.
As was said in the post, we don't have full details of rank in Charing Cross Road but how will they attracked drivers when just round the block Golden fixed prices are available.
Typically TfL have not thought this through. It's just another example that this authority is incapable of running the Taxi trade efficiently.
Sorry but i have to disagree,I reckon TFL have thought this out.And its all part of a bigger plan.Have you considered the rank opening co incides with Westministers plan to issue the touts with tickets by post,So very soon the immeadiate area around there will be clear of touts,and those that do will stick out and be promptly arrested.So that will give us all the work.Once this has happened given the traffic chaos there,we with all the will in the world will not be able to keep the rank full of cabs.
ReplyDeleteVery soon there will be more people than cabs.And we will hear we have to get these people home,and obviously you cant handle it.So at peak times we will have to let PHVs pick up there on the same deal.Remember sTaNs report shared spaces.My own opinion is this will be the first.With others to follow.The only way we can fully service this rank is light off,and straight back there,But wheres the sense in driving passed work.And they know this.The rank should never have happened in the first place,unless it was directional.The way I see it is its just a way out for TFL and the Police to cover thier failings in not enforcing the law.
GOLDEN RANK,well remember all that glitters aint GOLD.
GARYS
Spot on Garys, we need a directional rank now, and that will be serviced 100%.
ReplyDeletepicked up a young guy who worked in WCC a few years back (around 2000/2001 i think) and he was chatting in the cab about the fact that WCC were looking at the possibility/legalities of allowing PH to ply for hire at key times such as Fri/Sat nights.
ReplyDeleteI remember explaining to him the unfairness of that; the fact we earn the right to ply for hire etc etc and he asked what would i do? I suggested the usual "going home rank" idea to him, having it located in or near Trafalgar Sq (was before the changes) and marshalled by retired cabbies or official trade org marshalls.
My point is that all this has been a long time in the planning. They already have their plan and there is little chance of it changing! It would have been passed by the various trade groups and had their blessing.
We've been sold out by old hands who have lost touch with the trade they purport to represent.
clock is ticking - tick tock tick tock!! The flag may just fall for the last time soon guys!
I apologise as i will probaly upset a lot of people now,but feel this has to be said.we are losing this battle simply because we are just giving in to TFL.at the moment we have four unions representing us.LTDA,UNITE,LCDC,RMT,the first three are doing a fine job of sending us down the river,and the last the RMT are not doing a thing.talk to thier supporters all you get is a lots going on you dont know about.of course i f%%%ing dont because nobody says.so i have to draw my own conclusion,and thats nothings going on they could probaly buy the other three out,and if TFL wont talk to them sue them and make them.the only people i can see actually doing something is the ucg.and thats because they are genuine cab drivers who are not after money.unless we very quickly get a union thats transparent,open and honest we may as well all close up and go down the pub
ReplyDeleteAnon.
ReplyDeleteSomeone not talking to you is not a legal matter in itself, From my dealings with the RMT everything is in the open, have a sign up and come to a meeting, it will only cost you one months subs if you dont like it.
There is a lot going on but most of it is legal and political some it is not as obvious as a papaer!
Remember we are all trying to rectify 20 years plus of poor representation.
" Never look a gift horse in the mouth"
ReplyDelete