Drivers Call for Acton Over Mason Interview.

What Drivers on the LTDF forum had to say:

1. What a waste of time he was,answered or should I say replied to about three callers,spoke bollox like most politicians and people who have been promoted above their capabilities and generally said everything is rosy in the garden and what wonderful people are employed by T.and P.H..Said that no system existed to convert cabs to Euro 5 knowing full well that there are three converted euro 5 cabs on trial in London at the moment, further stated that if such a device could be found would the manufacturers get in contact with him!!! Why is this bloody country now run with flannel merchants like him!! They seem to get in everywhere the more incompetent you are the higher you are likely to get promoted.. This country would have never won the war with most of the people now in positions of power.
2. Just seemed to keep promoting harmonisation anytime Mr Nestor made a point about taxi drivers he said they have more in common with scabs than you would think, to tell the truth I don't care what he says anymore anyway.
3. Well at least all those doubters out there who believed all the PR in the tame cab trade press about the esteemed £100k Plus Director of LTPH being the Cab Drivers Friend have something from the 'horses mouth' that may cause them to ponder!
4. In my opinion, LTI want to sell cabs and they will not participate in any upgrades of their euro emissions to existing taxis... It appears to me to be a situation of, they've had your money now buy a new one or FO.
5. Demo demo demo.

These are just a few of the ones we can comfortably post!!!

What Dizzy Had to Say:

Mason Said: "Here's my plea to Private Hire drivers who tout...

Don't do it"

Well that's gonna stop them isn't it!

John Mason has spoken and overnight the touting epidemic has ended!



"We are revoking licenses every single day of the week for Licensed drivers caught touting"

Are you really?

Prove it... Show us the figures.

"Don't do it it isn't worth the risk"

What risk?

They can earn more in a week than it costs to get their license, so please tell me where the risk is?

3 Hard long bloody years hammering this sh*t into your brain until you are thoroughly sick of the sight of the place... That's risk!

And you lot just let them get away with stealing our work, and you expect us to sit here and do nothing?

I feel a massive demo coming on.

What say you lot?

In what format do you "liaise' with the Westminster Council" when, Martin Low will not answer Helen Chapman's emails?
Tell us John!

Mason: "And we do what the Mayor sets out in his strategies"

This includes the Mayor's Harmonisation strategy with Private Hire and the STaN agenda.

Mason: "The touts wouldn't exist if people didn't get in the vehicles"

And banks wouldn't get robbed if they didn't have any money in them!

We need a shitload of ranks outside all the new hotels, and some of the old ones.

And we need them ENFORCED!!!!

If Oddy and Masset and the tape measure don't come out we don't get feck all.

It's like asking the blind to install their own safety rails!

Two things were missing from this interview:

LTDA  and   LCDC.   WHY?

Hailo: Taxi Heaven for London’s Black Cab Drivers ~New Service Helps Drivers Reclaim Their Work~

Hailo, a new technology platform co-founded by three London Licensed Taxi Drivers, aims to turn on its head the way black cab drivers manage their working day. Hailo is, above all, a taxi tool to help cabbies work together to reclaim their work, increasing their efficiency, finding more jobs through a network exclusive to London Licensed Taxi Drivers, delivered through a free iPhone application. Hailo is TfL approved and backed by Wellington Partners and Atomico Ventures, the investors in Spotify and founder of Skype.
Developed with cabbies for cabbies, Hailo’s key features include:

•  Accepts card payments: Never turn down a card fare again. Uniquely, Hailo lets drivers take card payments with no additional equipment and with no extra cost to the passenger. 
• Drivers are only charged at cost. (4% processing charge) No monthly subscriptions: Use of the Hailo network and toolkit is free. Drivers only pay a small commission on orders sent to drivers directly by Hailo. 
• Geo-located, real-time, and driver-to-driver events: Hailo provides driver-enhanced info on ranks, bursts and traffic events. These are delivered so drivers won’t receive an update that isn’t relevant to their location, and allows drivers to confirm and update events, ensuring they are always relevant.
• Advanced driver stats: Say goodbye to your logbook. Hailo allows drivers to record and manage their own fares and earnings securely, with up-to-the-minute stats and graphs of downtime, dead-miles, and progress towards personal earnings targets.
• Community and chat features: Hailo is an exclusive community for London Licensed Taxi Drivers, and offers free tools to make their day more fun by keeping them in touch with their mates.

Hailo is being launched to drivers now as a beta service, but from the Autumn will go live to customers addressing a long standing need to match drivers and passengers effectively with no middlemen. Hailo will kick-off its launch to consumers with a substantial mass marketing campaign. Immediate benefits to cabbies on the Hailo network include notifications about empty ranks, road closures, events happening in town, bursts, and traffic updates in real-time at the touch of a button, enriched by driver-to-driver updates.

Hailo was created by the founders of Taxilight: Russell Hall, Gary Jackson and Terry Runham.
Commenting on the launch, Russell Hall, Co-Founder of Hailo, and London Licensed Taxi Driver, said:
“How many times have you been stuck in traffic? Missed a valuable job because you can’t take a
credit card? Or driven around aimlessly not knowing where the work is? Hailo will eradicate that –
geo-located real-time information goes directly to the Hailo app which also works as a credit card
terminal. Hailo makes your shifts more profitable. Why would a cab driver be without the Hailo
network? It’s another string to your bow.”
Hailo is non-exclusive and complimentary to any other service drivers may use. Once launched to
consumers, Hailo will give millions of Londoners two-tap access to book, pay, and tip black cabs.
Hailo’s open and automated matchmaking engine will ensure black cab drivers get customers who are best, not just closest, with the goal of increasing service experience and tips to drivers.
Russell continued, “Hailo is well funded and here to stay. Once we have opened the network to
customers, Hailo will help cabbies start to reclaim some of the business which has been lost to other forms of transport, and provide customers access to a service they really want.”

click to enlarge

Hailo is an invitation-only network, and over 700 drivers have already joined up. Russ, Gary and
Terry will be visiting ranks, airports and venues, talking to taxi drivers about Hailo and extending
invitations to join. If you would like to speak to them, they will be announcing their locations on
Twitter at @HailoDriver
Or register your interest in Hailo at http://hailocab.com
ENDS
For further information contact:
Tim Blythe or Ana Ribeiro
Blythe Weigh Communications +44 (0) 207 138 3204
Tim.blythe@blytheweigh.com ana.ribeiro@blytheweigh.com

Boris Bike Model Hits Problems in Montreal...

Auditor general blasts Montreal's Bixi program

Montreal's auditor general says the city missed several crucial steps in the creation and management of the Bixi bike-sharing program.

Montreal's Bixi Bikes scheme.

In a report released Monday, Auditor General Jacques Bergeron said the city didn't properly study the program's feasibility before its launch. He also said the city it has no authority to market and export the concept, and the Bixi service will cost taxpayers millions for years to come.

Bergeron wrote in his report that basic elements of management were neglected, including risk and cost-benefit analyses, and allowance for a financial margin of error.

In May, city council approved a $108-million bailout package for the program, including $37-million to cover Bixi's deficit, and another $71-million in loan guarantees to export and develop the system abroad.

Exporting the concept is a major source of income for the program.

But Bergeron's report pointed out that under the city's charter, it has no legal right to be involved in a commercial enterprise.

'Comedy of errors': opposition

In response, both the administration and Bixi's CEO admitted Monday that the project was rushed from the beginning, and that many steps were improvised and continuously re-invented as the project developed.

But Bixi CEO Roger Plamondon said he maintains that the city will be fully repaid for its loans, and that steps are being taken to remedy any legal conflicts. He said among the options they are considering is selling off Bixi's export division to private entrepreneurs.

Opposition leaders at City Hall pounced on the report Monday afternoon.

Vision Montréal leader Louise Harel called it a "comedy of errors," and said her party was misled by the city when the bailout was voted on in May.

Bixi was first set up in Montreal in 2009. In 2010, startup costs had it running at a deficit of more than $30 million.

Boris Bikes, cloned Bixi scheme.

Only $30 million eh, one thing about Boris, when he cocks up, it a big cock up. London's bill for these bikes set up was £140 million plus ever £1 in revenue costs the taxi payer £5 in running costs. 

Just How Green are Boris Bikes? see FOI search by Laura Cox.... click here 

Also see Missing Bixi Bikes.... Click Here


No Money in the budget to mark out London's Iconic Taxi Ranks, but an endless supply of cash for Boris's Folly...

Taxi Ranks need to be marked out....By Thomas the Taxi.

Its no good just sticking up a sign on a board...Its amateurish and tacky. 

We need to be bold

We know its a Taxi rank, but no one outside of our trade has the foggiest. when we tell them that this loading bay, or that stretch of bus lane is a Taxi rank, they laugh and take no notice. 


Even Police officers and PCSO's have had to call their station for guidance, traffic wardens have issued tickets and the touts ignore the rules as there is virtually no enforcement.

SHARED SPACES AS TAXI RANKS, DON'T WORK. THEY NEED MARKING OUT PROPERLY.

It has taken nearly two years to get a taxi rank outside the sketch club on Conduit Street (at the request of the club) and every night the touts abuse the shared rank and loading bay. Some nights it gets quite dangerous for licensed Taxi drivers as the touts becoming aggressive and threatening.


Amazingly the door staff tell the Taxi drivers to stop causing trouble and not to argue with their friends. 

The door staff at this venue have been hit in the pocket, as work is slowly being won back by Taxis. The customers want us, the club owners want us (indeed they paid all expenses to get the sign post and TMO in place). 
But TPH/PCO stopped short of marking out the rank properly, WHY? 

They know it causes problems but still the ignore our requests.

Two of the worst offenders, there most nights.

 If TPH do not have the budget, they should take a leaf out of the mayors book and get Taxi ranks sponsored by businesses, see image below. I'm sure Banks and other big companies would jump at the chance of competing with the Barclay-Bike super highways.

 Video by simcoutube

Hendy Grilled On LBC by UCG spokesman, Jonathan Myers.

Original Video- More videos at TinyPic

It would seem Mr Hendy is Paranoid about the RMT...
Well done Jonathan and the UCG. It would also seem that Hendy and LTPH are seriously scared to consult with any drivers group who are not "Backslapping Yes Men".


Again he deny's TfL's own statistics on sexual assault and rape, saying that he doesn't have them in front of him. Something this serious should be embedded in his brain. 
It's not hard to remember Peter, 350 attacks in the last 3 years.


And obviously, you have conveniently forgotten that in the same period, detection and conviction has decreased by 50% with only 3 recorded convictions in 2009.


Hendy says, the figures given by certain taxi trade media are grossly inflated, yet he never knows what the figures are...
Rape crisis centres around the country will tell you that 60% of victims never report their attack.


On this blog Peter, every time we have stated the figures, it has been as a direct result of statistic taken from the Metropolitan police, TfL's website or press releases.


Peter Hendy the buck stops with you. This issue is your own personal failure.


Video taken from the UCG website

Information Appertaining To The Introduction of ID's That You Should Read.

London Taxi Drivers Forum Best Bits:


Just to update you regarding the Consultation that most of the trade it appears was unaware of: 


Taxi and Private Hire 
Consultation on taxi fares and information for taxi passengers 
November 2009
Part of which reads:

Information in the passenger compartment - the taxi driver 

3.62 The taxi driver is legally required to wear his badge when he is working so it can be seen, and to provide it for inspection on request10. However, the badge gives only the driver status (all London or suburban) and number. Taxi drivers generally wear their badge on a chain around their neck or pinned to their clothing, but the badge is not always sufficiently visible to passengers. 

3.63 The driver’s name, photograph and details of the area he is licensed for are displayed on the licence, a copy of which the driver is obliged to carry (but not display) at all times.11 There is no requirement for a driver to produce his licence to a passenger. 

3.64 A study of passenger requirements for information in the taxi, found that 62% felt it was very important for the driver’s badge number to be displayed and 51% said the driver’s name was very important. Presenting information about the driver would also facilitate enforcement, making it easier to see if the driver was plying for hire outside the licensed area, or if the driver’s licence had expired. 

3.65 TfL is considering whether to make information about the driver more available to passengers, for instance by providing an additional identification document to be displayed in a holder on the driver’s side of the partition so as to be visible to passengers. 

3.66 As vehicles may not always be used exclusively by the same driver, any form of identification will need to be removable and transferable between vehicles.


Below is part of an email from the PCO received last week,

We are looking to start rolling out identifiers in the next couple of months. We are still finalising plans around them and so everything about them in my email may still be changed / tweaked so please don’t take this as absolute gospel at this stage and instead look out for the press notice I am going to do soon.

Firstly, it is likely that we will roll them out to green badge drivers first and monitor the impact, iron out any issues before issuing the Suburban IDs. This may sound like the wrong way around due to volumes but we recognise the nervousness with some suburban drivers and want to make sure this is done right.

All being well we will start to roll out the yellow badges. I can confirm that we intend to include the badge number, sector code, borough code and any extensions on the identifier. However, due to the length of some of these we have had to include codes instead of the listed names. The full breakdown of codes will be provided in the guidelines.

The identifiers are being brought in but it is important that everyone understands that they are primarily as a self enforcing scheme (i.e. to deter drivers from plying for hire outside their area) and secondly to help our compliance teams. This is why we are comfortable about adding codes rather than area names to the identifiers. However, it is really important, and we will be including messages when we start issuing these, that it does not result in drivers having arguments on street.

We won’t tolerate any instances of a GB driver taking on the task of enforcing this scheme and any incidents of this happening that are reported to us will be dealt with firmly. Indeed this also applies to YB drivers. The scheme is coming in as a result of responses to a consultation but it is not to turn the trade against each other and we will be very firm in our messages about that.

There will be an email address for issues to be reported to us. However, if say you were reported to us having been seen plying for hire outside of your area, we wouldn’t just write to you with a warning. What is much more likely to happen is that we will monitor for regular reports and use that to feed into intelligence operations for the police, if necessary (e.g. if there are consistently reports about Fenchurch Street) etc. Or, if we do consistently get reports from different people about one particular driver then perhaps we would look at an alternative course of action.
Of course I am happy for you to share the information about them including the sectors and extensions etc. on them and also that this isn't an opportunity for drivers to turn on each other on street. That would be extremely damaging for the trade and is not something we will tolerate. 




Read Dizzies comments on this Email: Click Here


And Finally: 


There appears to be some confusion as to A5 size and where IDs will be displayed

For the record these IDs will measure 210 x 148mm or (in old money) 8.3 x 5.8 inches (A5)

My understanding is that only ONE ID will be issued to each driver as a personal issue showing your badge number and coloured obviously to show whether the holder is a green or yellow badge.

The removable ID will be retained in a clear plastic sleeve which will be permantly attached on the FRONT windscreen only - top left hand side(nearside) when the taxi is on the move.

There will not be any other ID either inside the passenger department or on the rear window.

I don't know what the situation will be when a garage hand is driving on the road for annual inspection or in the future to an MOT station but hopefully all that has been discussed and agreed otherwise the system is doomed to failure from the start

Eco-Power Update....by Dave Davies.

 I would like to thank all of the London Taxi organisations, trade publications and individuals who have shown their support in my ongoing battle against the PCO ( I will continue to call them that because even though they have changed their name the same mentality still exists).


Eco-Powers challenge has no real commercial benefit as the project to install the emissions systems finished in 2008. The reason that I have continued to battle on is mainly out of  principle; I have refused to be bullied by people like Stock and Moffat, because what the PCO have done is not only unlawful, it’s immoral. They are a public body and should not be allowed to conduct themselves in this way.
The idea to clean up emissions is not a bad thing and most people in the London Taxi trade I have met are keen to do their bit.

What is objectionable is an improper entity like the PCO/TFL dictating ridiculous strategies which are not effective at reducing emissions, are actually unlawful and end up costing the taxi trade in financial terms.
An example of this was the Euro 3 emissions project for which Eco-Power supplied a system. The PCO said themselves that they had no technical expertise to manage such a project and appointed the Energy Savings Trust to do so; a private company with no formal certification to approve anything and no responsibility as a public body. How can that have been correct practice?

The  approval process for these Euro 3 systems was not rigorous and was completely mismanaged. As a result many of the systems that were approved were not fit for purpose. The Cab Drivers Club tested some of the systems at a VCA lab and provided test results to the PCO showing the systems failed to meet the Euro 3 standards. The PCO ignored these results and in a subsequent High Court Challenge successfully defended their position, saying that the systems had undergone a rigorous approval process ( which was obviously not the case).

When Eco-Power came to market the other approved systems were sold through exclusive dealers who charged high prices in excess of £2000 +vat a system. Eco-Power allowed any taxi garage with the required equipment and experience of taxis to become an installer and sold its system for £1100+vat. This obviously put a few noses out of joint and the PCO conducted a rigged test to fail the modified Eco-Power system and withdraw its approval. In a High Court battle  in 2008 the PCO were found to have made 2 unlawful decisions by withdrawing the approvals for 2 other Eco-Power systems (which were then reinstated) and to have acted in ‘ a high handed and discourteous manner’. No action was ever taken against those who had made these unlawful decisions and acted improperly.

I have continued to challenge the PCO for the last 3 years because the system that they withdrew the approval for actually works; I have provided VCA test results to prove so. The PCO have not only continued to persecute Eco-Power because I had the audacity to stand up to their bully boy tactics, but they have completely ignored the other systems that have failed dramatically (i.e. Van Aken and Peak which I believe both went bust because they were failing so badly).

In the High Court on Friday Justice Hickinbottom decided to ignore the facts and the unlawful conduct of the PCO/TLF and refused permission for a further Judicial Review. A public body has a legal requirement to have fair and consistent decisions and practices and this requirement has not been complied with by the PCO/TFL. I have been told that the High Court rarely rules against a Public body unless it absolutely has to( regardless of their conduct it seems) I will continue to fight a legal battle and will file an appeal and then refer it to the Supreme Court. If that fails I will go to the European Court of Human Rights.
This is not just about the decisions which have been made with regards to Eco-Power or about any other improper decisions that the PCO/TFL continue to make. It is a challenge to the fact that they continue to exist at all in the way that they do. They are a Public body and should act accordingly. There has been a ‘dictator’ style mentality at TFL and it should be stopped.

The latest decision to impose an age limit on London Taxis is not only unlawful it is absolutely pointless.  Tfl have said that they have done this in accordance with the Mayors Air Quality strategy, which is absolute nonsense. The older taxis are no worse in some cases than newer taxis and I believe the LTDA have conducted scientific research to prove so. In addition the carbon footprint for the manufacture of a new taxi would take 5 years to offset even if the new taxi was a zero emissions vehicle (which it is not). It therefore begs the question ‘Why would TFL impose a very costly requirement on London Taxi Drivers if there is no actual benefit from an emissions reduction perspective?’
The answer, I believe is because they want to cover up the huge mistakes they have made with the Euro 3 emissions project; if these vehicles are scrapped then the fact that some of the emissions systems don’t work is no longer a problem. It may also be the case that they are trying to show that they are doing something to reduce emissions but because they don’t have the ability or technical expertise to do so they have just imposed what is the easiest option for them.

I have proposed many simple and cost effective ideas to the Mayor’s office and TFL which have been ignored.
There are basic clean up technologies which would reduce the emissions of all 20000 London Cabs meaning that the overall emissions reduction would be far greater than targeting a couple of thousand older taxis which will probably create no reduction in emissions at all. These technologies would allow the engine and gearbox to operate more efficiently which would mean that as well as reducing emissions there would be an improvement in fuel economy, covering the cost of the process.

It seems that the PCO/TFL have been allowed to continue with their ‘dictatorship’ style of management because the organisations who represent the taxi trade have not been united. Perhaps now is the time for an alliance of all the Taxi trade organisations to meet and agree on a strategy.
It would not take much ‘untied action’ to get the regime changed.
If an alliance was formed it could take control of this part of  TFLs responsibilities and  implement its own emissions strategies
This would leave TFL to concentrate on the issue that it should be dealing with i.e. licensing of drivers and proper regulation of Private Hire. In fact by relieving TFL of some of its responsibilities it may even save them money.

The purpose of an alliance may be

1. To act as a buying group for fuel. With 20000 drivers who must use at least £100 a week each in fuel (which equates to £2 million a week) an alliance could negotiate with a fuel supplier to distribute fuel with additives to reduce emissions exclusively to London Taxis at no extra cost .
2. The same could be done with Uptown Oil to distribute a biodiesel blend exclusively to taxis (a blend should not create any technical problems to any cab regardless of age)
3. To look at and asses new technologies  that may be introduced. Cricklewood Carriers  have a system which could be used and has been approved by the VCA for improved emissions , yet the PCO/TFL have refused to allow it to be used.
4. To implement a regulated clean up and servicing program, so that all 20000 taxis are in the cleanest possible condition.

These are basic ideas but if the taxi trade takes the bull by the horns and initiates projects itself then it will take away the power from TFL to implement their ineffective and costly strategies.

I think the London Black cabs have been paid a huge dis-service by politicians who fail to recognise their importance. I have travelled all over the word and one thing you can be sure of is that there is not a taxi service anywhere more professional than that provided by London Taxis
Any visitor to London who spots an easily identifiable Black Cab can be confident that they are going to get in a taxi that has a driver who is professional, knows where he is going and that they will not be ripped off. The Politicians should be proud of the Taxi service we have in London, not decimate it.

I have seen the recent information about the deregulation of the Hackney trade and I do not think it has been thought through.
The importance of a Black Cab isn’t just the fact that it’s an easily accessible taxi, it’s the fact that it is so distinct that people know what they are getting into. A min van with a small sticker in the window isn’t.

It’s in the Public’s interest to maintain a properly regulated taxi service in London in sufficient numbers. If taxis are taken off the road then more people drive cars and there will be a significant increase in emissions.

In my view the London Taxi trade needs to unite and take action immediately. In the current climate there will be many other issues demanding the governments attention so it may be a positive thing to take charge of your own destiny.

Regards Dave Davies
Eco-Power

Last Man Standing?...Jason Byrne.

The Anderson Shelter has been reliably informed that Dave Stock is leaving the building (Palestra that is) 


With Ed Thompson, Len Simpkins, Jeroen Weimar, David Brown, Robin Gillis, Mary Dowdye, Dave Stock all gone and Luke Howard moved sideways to the Olympic Transport Network, the only one left, known to drivers, that has any connection to the failed STaN agenda is Peter Hendy.


So who is this man with so much power that he can go on radio and deny TfL's own statistics.

• This is the man who told Taxi drivers to stop moaning and get out more often at a surface transport committee meeting. 
• This is the man who said, just before the last mayoral election that he could not possibly work with a Tory Mayor.
• This is the Man who refused to acknowledge the 54% increase in minicab related sexual assaults.
• This is the man who said Taxi drivers were selfish arrogant fools when they demonstrated to bring public awareness to the rise in sexual assault figure. 

So what credentials and experience of the Taxi trade does this man have for him to be in complete control of our trade. 


Lets have a look at Peter Hendy's CV...

Peter Hendy was appointed Commissioner in 2006, having previously served as TfL's managing director (MD) of Surface Transport. He was formerly deputy director UK Bus for FirstGroup and previously MD of CentreWest London Buses, managing it in London Transport (LT) ownership, leading it through a management and staff buyout with venture capital backing and a subsequent expansion. He started his transport career in 1975 as an LT Graduate Trainee. Peter was also Chair of the Commission for Integrated Transport from 2005 until 2010.

He is 2011/12 President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. 

He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Highways & Transportation, and a member of the London Bus Preservation Group,the London Omnibus Traction Society, the London Underground Railway Society, the Omnibus Society, the Railway Study Association, and the Sustrans (cycling campaign group).

As you can see absolutely nothing to do with the Taxi trade.

Hendy works at Windsor House, Victoria Street and he lives in nearby Pimlico.



With thanks to Dizzy and the LTDF

The National Cab Act 2011.

We have received an Email today from our source close to Westminster, “TheMouseInTheHouse” tells us the report from the commons select Committee is almost ready and MUST be published online by July 19 this year. This is obviously when Parliament rises for summer recess. This would follow the same path and time scale of last year’s Equality bill. We would expect this bill to clear Commons before Xmas 2011 and clear Lords before March 2012. The Act can then be ratified around October 2012.

We are told the report recommends the repeal of section 16 of the Transport Act 1985. This in effect will de-limit Hackneys nationwide. The purpose is to remove the burden of bi-annual market research surveys to limit the number of hackneys on the road. “TheMouse” further alleges that a better way to contain numbers is by quality restrictions. To that end it is proposed that all new Hackney and Private hire vehicles being licensed for the first time will be required to pass Euro 5 emission standards.

Further speculation of the report is not needed. “TheMouse” promises us we will have a sneak preview before publication. However if you were toying with the idea of selling, do it on the “Hurry Up”.

July 19 is only a few weeks a way.

Article posted on the Rainy City Rip Off blog 

High Court Judicial Review Hearing against PCO tomorrow

Hi
My company Eco-Power supplied an emissions reduction system for London Taxis and was subjected to vindictive persecution by the PCO. In 2008 a High Court Judicial Review found that the PCO had acted in ‘a high handed and discourteous manner and had made 2 unlawful decisions. The Judge upheld one of the decisions to withdraw the approval for a modified system and Eco-power has since sought to correct that decision. Despite test pass results the PCO has continued with its improper conduct and this is now being challenged by a further application for a Judicial Review in the High Court.
I would be very grateful if you could publish the details on the website to let people know that the hearing is at Court 3 , The Administrative Court , Royal Courts of Justice tomorrow at 10 am.
It will definitely be a positive thing if as many people are there to show support in challenging the ongoing improper decisions of the PCO and that the Judge can see that people are concerned.
I have spoke with Allan Fleming who has said he will attend along with some taxi trade publications and other interested parties
Regards Dave Davies
Eco-Power

LTDA Threaten to Bring London to Gridlock During Next Year's Games.

PROOF THAT ITS ELECTION TIME AT LTDA TOWERS: 
Or has Oddy finally grown a pair of balls? JB


25,000 black cab drivers are planning a blockade to bring the capital to a standstill over a ban on them using the 100-mile VIP road network during next year's Games. 

Unprecedented restrictions to keep the lanes clear for athletes, media and international sports officials are also set to cause chaos for millions of Londoners.

Cab drivers say prices will increase if the move goes ahead. Richard Massett, an executive at the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association, which represents 9,000 cabbies, said: "There will be a huge problem getting people where they want to go and we will have to deal with the customers' frustration. We will be stuck in jams and for customers fares will soar."

The ban also applies to private hire. Transport for London, which operates the lanes, has offered dedicated drop-off and pick-up points at the Olympic venues. But cab drivers say they will be unable to reach them because of the lanes restricted to officially accredited vehicles only.

They are also at war with Olympic organisers over other restrictions such as bans of right-hand turns and U-turns on key routes. Three years ago black cab drivers caused gridlock when they drove en masse to central London in a dispute with private hire taxis. 

The LTDA will consider the same disruptive action if their Olympic demands are not met. The restrictions will mean huge parts of London effectively become "no-go" areas for cabs or anyone wishing to use them. The main hotspot of the Olympic lane network will be the roads linking hotels in Park Lane to the Olympic Park. 

Closures will affect Park Lane, Hyde Park Corner, Constitution Hill, Birdcage Walk and Horse Guards. These "Olympic-only" lanes will operate typically from 6am to midnight. 

Other routes will only be affected on competition days. They will run from the athletes' accommodation to venues such as Wembley Arena, Earl's Court and Wimbledon.

But there will also be a wider section with major restrictions to speed up VIP traffic. For example, on a large section on the eastbound Marylebone Road, normal traffic will be banned from turning right because they would cross the Olympic lane which is in the middle of the road. 

Similar restrictions apply on the eastbound Mile End Road to the Olympic Park. The issue is potentially damaging to Boris Johnson who won over London's cab drivers before the last mayoral election. 

The Olympic lanes form part of the £25 million Olympic Route Network of traffic restrictions including a ban on turns, phasing of traffic lights and suspension of parking bays and pedestrian crossings. 

It will be exclusively used by 82,000 members of the "Olympic family" with the exception of emergency vehicles on call. Unauthorised drivers who use the lanes face fines of £200. 

A public information campaign by TfL has been delayed by a month and the agency will later this year seek planing permission for a range of road restrictions. TfL has sought to deflect criticism about the lack of information by blaming the Olympic Delivery Authority which recently relinquished responsibility for the measures.

Transport expert Tony Travers said: "It is clear that TfL thinks it has been dropped in it by the ODA and taxi drivers and members of the public are still a long way from understanding what is gong to happen to them." 

A spokesman for TfL said: "We have held constructive talks with the LTDA and have agreed to some concessions not to impose restrictions which would have affected their routes."


Article Published in the Evening Standard 

Another Night of Nonsense in North London 2.

In response to your article on the Anderson Shelter dated Monday, 13 June 2011 'Another Night of Nonsense in North London'...Travis B. I would like to add this below so that all concerned is fully aware of where London suburban drivers can legally and are entitled to operate.

I have attached maps that I have produced if it helps clarify the situation.

Best Regards

Les Hoath

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The 'Island' Rank at Finsbury Park Station is in Wells Terrace off Stroud Green Road.

The eastern side of Stroud Green Road is in Haringey, a suburban sector, whereas, the rank on the western side is in Islington. Therefore, only a few yards outside the suburban sector itself.

A dividing line has to be agreed and in this case it’s the borough boundary, so to allow additional coverage, an 'Island' Rank is agreed on which allows suburban drivers to operate from it, but does not stop All London drivers from operating from there also. So in a nut shell, it’s the public that gain the additional service and the taxi driver the additional income irrespective of the colour of the badge they wear.

Clapham High Street needs additional taxis to service the area especially at night, so you could have either an 'Island' Rank there or you could increase the Merton & Sutton extension to incorporate the small triangle of  Clapham High Street and Bedford Road which was asked for originally when the extension was first requested. Unfortunately, the Ranks and Highways reps stated that Clapham High Street was well served with All London drivers and the PCO (at that time) agreed and this small area was deleted from the request. And even today, it’s still a mini-cab tout’s ghetto with very little taxi supply, if any. By adding this triangle to the Merton & Sutton extension the public will be given an additional choice, a taxi or a touting mini-cab.          

The only other 'Island' Ranks are in the London borough of Wandsworth, Putney station, and the original 'Island' Ranks at Southfield station and Southside shopping centre Garrett Lane. These two ranks were part of the original Wimbledon station 2½ radius sector prior to the boundary changes in April 2000 and this being the reason they were introduced.

I totally agree with Travis B that all this is nonsense surrounds the Yellow Badge and its Sectors. The 'Island' Ranks in Wandsworth should be abolished and that part of Wandsworth ‘Souf of the River’ up to Wandsworth Bridge should revert back to a suburban sector which it was before they extended the original radius from 3 mile to the 6 mile of Caring Cross. This would give the public additional taxi coverage between the suburban sectors, the River Thames and the 'Island' Ranks. 

There are 3 other areas that need to be explained regarding the suburban licensed sectors. The first being an area in Hackney which is now part of the Enfield, Haringey and Waltham Forest sector and has been since PCO Notice 55_06 was issued on the 15th November 2006.  

The second being the Clapham Balham and Tooting areas within the London boroughs of Wandsworth and Lambeth which was added to the Merton and Sutton suburban sector in 2004.

In order to have these additional 2 area above added to their licence they were required to undergo a Knowledge of London assessment for the area concerned.

The third being the boroughs of Epsom and Ewell that were taken away from the Merton and Sutton suburban drivers when the borough boundaries became coterminous with the GLA boundaries in April 2000. These drivers were allowed to continue operating in this area by having a Dual License Plate.

I have no problem with suburban drivers being reprimanded for ‘Plying for Hire’ outside of their sectors, but without physical enforcement by the authorities themselves on the ground, this exercise will be a complete waste of time and money.

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