We Are The World's Best Taxis, Because Of The Knowledge ... by Courtney Connell

The Knowledge of London is the Bedrock of the Cab Trade started in 1851, it was ordered by Prince Albert that all London cab drivers should know where they were going.

This was because cab drivers  knowledge was poor at the time of the Great Exhibition, since that time we have had the Knowledge of London, which has become an institution just like Parliament, how dear the Conservatives call for the removal of the greatest form of rehabilitation I know which is the Knowledge.

I wonder would these same Mps call for the removal of Black Rod, I think not, we are part of the fabric of this Society,  we are London not the Private hire, we must not let the Knowledge be destroyed at any cost, but we must stay within the law to do so.

 

We pride ourselves on being the best in the World no one else can come close to us, and that is because of the KNOWLEDGE OF LONDON, they call it archaic, but in the West Indian community we have a saying ( A NEW BROOM SWEEPS CLEAN BUT AN OLD BROOM ALWAYS KNOWS THE CORNERS ).

If the Knowledge goes then the Cab Trade goes then thousands of others who earn off the Cab Trade will go, the domino effect,

WE MUST SPEAK AND THINK AND MOVE AS ONE MORE THAN EVER. 

DON'T BE DISHEARTENED TRY AND KEEP STRONG BECAUSE AS ONE WE ARE STRONG.

Editorial Comment by Marc Turner 

My sentiments entirely Courtney. Unfortunately our trade greatest threat is from the 'apathy' of the majority of our own colleagues. 

They believe in letting others fight their battles, then no doubt espouse in the shelters how they would save the trade. But the truth is most of them don't have any stomach for the fight. 

All it would take for the authorities to take heed would be one substantial 'lawful' demo of approx 10/15,000 (from all orgs or none). 

But as has been proved most of our numbers can't be arsed, or just gutless!!

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The History Of The Hit Squad : I'm Not Ready To Sling The Towel In Yet....by Jim Thomas

We've all seen and heard the plans, the Tory Group on the GLA have for us. No need for me to reiterate. 

But what these people don't realise is the spirit that drove us on for years, through the knowledge, is still there burning inside. 

And now the London Taxi Trade, the "best Taxi trade in the world", has had enough of the corrupt, politicians and public officials who bend over backwards to support what is basically;

• An illegal app!

• A company that rides roughshod over regulation, stating its easier to ask forgiveness than permission!

• A foreign owned, multi billion dollar company who allegedly go out of their way, to avoid paying full tax in the Uk!

• A company that employs dubious drivers, with incomplete record checks!

• A company that allows uninsured journeys, putting the public at risk!

How can public official and leading politicians support this company....could be the huge amounts of cash available for the purpose of lobbying?

Many commentators have told us " we're finished, washed up....it's all over bar the singing....the games dead".

Trouble is, I'm not ready to sling the towel in just yet. 

The spirit that saw me complete one of the hardest exams in the world, is still burning away inside me.

But to go forward, we must first look to the past.

The Hit Squad:

We have to go back well over twenty years to see where the idea of an "overt hit" first emerged. Jim Wells chairman of the LCDC led nightly hits on the Sports bar, Hombres, Stringfellows, Hippodrome  and Mr Ali's in Cranbourne street. These well executed manoeuvres, gave work back to night drivers which was being stolen wholesale by then unlicensed touts.

A few years later, after persistent protest, we saw a rank appointed outside the Dover Street Wine bar. Although this developed into a rank not to be too proud of, with the recent closure of the bar the rank itself has become hugely popular with night revellers leaving the Arts club. This will be a substantial source of work soon when Novikov's new restaurant opens, which will also utilise the rank (mainly unused) in front of Mahiki as a feed.

The Forum Hit Squad (FHS), sprang up out of "the battle for Hanover square", which saw nightly protests at Jalouse. The concerted actions from likeminded drivers, produced a new rank right outside the bar's entrance, supported by a feeder rank forcibly taken back by evicting the touts who were illegally parking on the shelter rank. 

Next target was Nobu where a young lady Cabby had been given grief by touts and door staff. After enlisting support massive support from all radio circuits, we got an extended rank outside Nobu. 

   

The FHS was closely followed by;

The Twitter Action Group (TaG) Hit Squad, which used military style, planned manoeuvres.

The TaG hit squad was facilitated by its own Twitter account and it's success saw ranks appointed outside, Tiger Tiger, Abacus, CXR, Swallow and Heddon Street . 

We did a bit of time outside these venues and on rare occasions there were minor altercations, but the look of defeat on the touts faces made it all worth while.

March this year, saw the formation of the Mayfair Mob which has seen even more results, with ranks appointed outside Hakkasan, Novikov's and an extension at the Forge, with more to come soon!

In January 2016, the UCG, will be meeting to discuss the reintroduction of regular direct action. This time it will be the fight of our lives, possibly our last hope.

If we fight, we may win, we don't fight, we will definitely die, it's that simple. 

The  GLA Tory group may have played their hand...But remember this!

The best-laid plains of mice and men, often go awry

#WeAintGoingNowhereBruv

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London Suburban Taxi-drivers’ Coalition's Letter To TfL's OnRoute Team.

You may remember recently that we wrote to transport for London regarding the new OnRoute Taxi and Private Hire magazine. Below are our original letter and their reply-

 

Dear David,

 

I'm writing to you on behalf of the London Suburban Taxi-drivers Coalition and on behalf of the many taxi drivers we have spoken to in recent times….

 

Our members have voiced strong opinion on two issues.

 

Firstly is that we prefer a separate Taxi magazine away from Private Hire. We do not see ourselves as associated with them. Our members can appreciate the Private Hire are there to fulfil a role in London but with the constantly overwhelmingly open and illegal activity it is not something we feel we wish to share a platform with. In addition whilst our standards are very high their standards generally are very low. Again we do not wish to be associated with them.

 

Our members also voiced strong opinion that we do not wish to see Uber the non-British taxpaying minicab app that flouts laws and regulations and is partially responsible for the gridlock that occurs in London every day appearing in the online magazine as if they are "Part of the trade and our friends that we all work together with.”

 

They are not. Uber are our sworn enemies and we will never ever accept them. They will always be that.

 

Uber has been banned in over six countries.

 

Whether or not they have found loopholes in which to work is irrelevant. They are an unethical company. Many of their drivers claim in work benefits and use British taxpayers to subsidise their drivers.

 

Recently one of the drivers was convicted of rape.

 

Most of the private hire industry dislikes them intensely.

 

They charge using a digital” meter" which means if the satellite navigation system cannot find the shortest route (Which it can't) And the driver doesn't know where he or she is going (Which they don’t) then the customer is overcharged.

 

Whether it's legal or not is irrelevant. It’s a rip off and we all know that………….

  

If someone insists that Uber must feature in your online magazine please let us know who they are so we can make our objections known directly to them.

 

Thank you for your attention

 

Nick Gilbert/Alan Miller London Suburban Taxi-drivers’ Coalition

 

 

Dear Nick,

Thank you so much for your email, we welcome all feedback here at OnRoute.

 

To address your specific points:

 

TfL licenses the drivers and owners of taxis and private hire vehicles (minicabs) who operate in London and so must address both areas of the trade within OnRoute.

 

In the two issues of OnRoute that have been published so far, Uber has only ever been mentioned in one story – the High Court ruling on taximeters. As TfL, along with Uber, the licensed Taxi Driver Association, and the Licensed Private Hire Car Association, asked for this legal ruling we were obliged to publicise the result in the magazine.

 

We hope this answers your concerns. If you do any any ideas for aspects of the trade you wish us to cover in future issues, please do let us know.

 

Our next issue is out in February and the major areas we will be covering are compliance activity at Heathrow Airport and the suburban taxi driver roadshows.

 

Regards,

 

The OnRoute team.

 

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TFL AND MPS STEP UP MINICAB ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY OVER FESTIVE SEASON

As the festive season gets underway, Transport for London (TfL) and its policing partners are stepping up the enforcement of minicabs across the Capital.

Prius driver arrested for touting in Lambeth yesterday

As part of the annual Safer Travel at Night initiative (STaN), there will be an increase in patrols and enforcement at key touting hotspots across London to deter illegal activity and help the public get home safely.

To support the campaign, TfL has produced a hard-hitting YouTube film, which highlights the work of police officers, from the TfL-funded Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Cab Enforcement Unit.

It shows the unit carrying out an enhanced STaN enforcement operation across the Capital as they target, seize and arrest minicab drivers illegally touting for business. It demonstrates TfL and the police's strong commitment to stopping illegal minicab activity.

   

STaN, which has been running for over 10 years, is a partnership between the Mayor of London, TfL, the MPS and the City of London Police (CoLP). It aims to make the public aware of the dangers of getting into unbooked minicabs hailed on the street and provides advice on the best ways to get home safely.

The campaign's message is clear - any minicab that isn't booked through a licensed minicab operator is illegal and dangerous. Drivers who offer or accept a journey are breaking the law and putting the public at risk. Unbooked minicabs are linked to serious crimes such as sexual assault and robbery, as well as not being insured to carry passengers.

Steve Burton, TfL's Director of Enforcement and On-Street Operations, said: `During the festive and New Year season more people are out and about, celebrating on nights out. We want to encourage people to plan their journey home. If travelling by cab use a taxi or a minicab, which is booked through a licensed operator; online, via an app, by phone or in person at a minicab office, for a safer way home.

`We hope this new video will bring to life the importance of always pre-booking minicabs for a safer journey home, and highlight our commitment to keeping passengers safe and cracking down on this illegal activity.'

Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Rickett, from the Metropolitan Police Service Roads and Transport Policing Command, said: "We are committed to reducing the number of cab-related sexual offences and we want Londoners to be reassured that we are using a range of tactics to keep them safe during the festive season.

`We urge people to plan their journey home in advance and if they use minicabs, ensure they pre-book. It is illegal for any minicab driver (even drivers licensed by TfL) to accept a fare without a booking made either over the phone, by email or at an office. Booking a minicab will ensure that there is a record of the journey and it will be carried out by a licensed driver in a licensed, insured car.'

More than 400 police officers are regularly mobilised for major operations such as STaN, and TfL directly funds 68 dedicated police cab enforcement officers, 41 TfL compliance officers - which the Mayor recently announced will double to 82 by the end of 2015/16 - and 32 vehicle inspection staff, as part of the work to stamp out illegal minicab activity across the Capital.

LATEST STATISTICS ISSUED BY THE MPS CEU:

Between April-September 2015 the MPS Cab Enforcement Unit arrested 267 drivers for touting and unlawful plying for hire offences. 

253 of these arrests were for touting offences, with 141 drivers summonsed for the offences to date. Of those cases, 61 have been dealt with resulting in 53 convictions (87 per cent), seven cases were dismissed or withdrawn, a warrant of arrest issued to one driver for failing to appear and 80 cases still pending.

In 2014/15, the MPS Cab Enforcement Unit made 572 arrests for touting. 97 per cent of these resulted in a caution or charge. TfL revokes licences of drivers convicted or cautioned for touting.

TfL introduced a "one strike and you're out" policy for any licensed minicab driver convicted of or cautioned for touting in August 2008 where drivers lose their PHV licence for one year. In six months (April-September 2015) 104 licensed drivers have had their licenses revoked.

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Surely It's Time For COBRA ?..............by SEMTEX

 Back during the 70's, when the troubles of Northern Ireland and the Miners Strikes were rife, Government Ministers  decided that in times of National Crisis, coordination was required by all involved.

A secret and special room beneath the Whitehall catacombs was set up, to enable all concerned parties, Ministers, Military Leaders, Government Heads and such, to meet, discuss and launch a plan of emergency action.
This special room for these serious and special occasions, was known as the Cabinet Office Briefing Room.  COBRA for short.

Many important and serious events and issues of UK National importance have since been discussed in this room, but the one common denominator which is the decisive factor of whether this room is used or not, is............................EMERGENCY.
 
Our colleagues certainly do not need me, to spell out that the last few years have probably been the most damaging, the most devastating and the most depressing periods, that our 400 year old profession, has gone through.
I hate it when people say I told you so, but let's be fair here, the signs of what was going to happen to us, have been pretty clear from way back in 2011.

Transport For London and two Mayor, Livingstone and Johnson have systematically dismantled our Cab Trade, brick by brick, nail by nail.

At every conceivable opportunity, the Head's of London have shafted us unmercifully in a scurrilous act of brutal unfaithfulness.

But why did we not expect it ? 

Why were we all surprised ? 

I wasn't ! 

Not one bit ! 

And I have dozens of posts on "the Anderson Shelter" warning us.
 
Livingstone, Johnson and Coe ALL have a record of professional or personal betrayal. If they can't be loyal and faithful to their wives, family and colleagues, why on earth would they worry about betraying us ? 

We are mere minions folks ! 

No more important to them, than any of the other victims that they have unceremoniously smashed into the mud on their way to the top !

Whilst on that very subject, it is looking likely that Zac Goldsmith has an enviable chance of making himself comfortable in City Tower soon. Another one !

The same mould, the same intent the same principles. BETRAYAL either professionally, personally or both, is the common denominator.

 How much pleasure I get watching silver spoon Sebastian, squirming in the hot seat of the Olympic Investigation. An International and potential platinum showcase for the London Taxi, robbed from us by the snidey Lord.
 
We all know that the murky licensing of Uber has so far been unexplained. We all know the ride share app is illegal. We all know that the CRB/DBS is a threat to National Security. We all know that backhanders are being put about by someone somewhere. We all know that it is simply dangerous and wrong to accept mini cab applications from potential terrorists. We all know that the enforcement programme on our streets has been deliberately smoked like a bee keeper calming his bees. 

We all know the taxi emissions demand was bent. We all know the receipt printer condition of fitness was a scam. We all know the taxi scrappage that cost our trade millions was a ruse.  We all know that "they" want shot of us, and we all know too....................................THAT "THEY" ARE WINNING !

 
There are around 25,000 or so of our colleagues, who are licensed to ply their trade as London Taxi Drivers. To represent them, there are around half a dozen or so Unions/clubs/associations/groups, all purporting to "Fight" for the common good and preservation, of both their member's livelihood's and future's.

During my time in our trade, I have been a member of all of them. Read what you like into this if you will, but today and for the last four years, I have been a member of none.
 
Please, please please.....don't think I am knocking or slating any particular Org out there or indeed any particular person or persons.

I was on the phone for well over an hour yesterday, listening to what one of our colleagues was putting into one of our trade orgs. It was a ludicrous amount of hours and a most definite impingement on his private life. But yet he does it every day, and goes on doing it. When one of our staunch trade colleagues and campaigners set up the UCG, it almost killed him ! 

He worked tirelessly fighting for the good of our trade, and quite understandably was warned by his body's  immune system to slow down !
I could name dozens of them. Constantly working their pipes out, putting hours and hours of private family time in, in an effort to clear the road so our trade can drive through.
 
But in spite of this................................We Are Getting Murdered !  

Why is this lack of progress happening ?

Now despite the knockers, I don't buy for a second that these trade reps and people I have spoken about above, do it for stand down money, or to prevent them driving a cab ! 

That isn't the truth. It is hard graft listening to cab drivers whinging and expecting you to wave a wand !
No, they do it because they honestly are trying to find a way in. They are doing it to attempt to create a better future for us.
 
But to be honest, and with genuine and honest and total respect.....................they are losing !
 
If you ask the average cabby on the ranks what we have gained from our trade orgs, he or she would probably struggle for an answer.

If it were me that you stopped and asked, although I would too struggle to see what we have gained from the Orgs, I would offer a reason for where, I think, we have gone wrong.
 
When a trade organisation is set up, it is invariably on the back of a militant like stance, that has maybe given our trade a small amount of respite initially.  Drivers like it, they see something happening and want to be part of the action. However, and in almost every case, the responsibility, administration, management and daily running of such an organisation, starts to become more structured. Structured in legal criteria standards, structured for registration legalities, structured for employment criteria legalities, etc.

When that happens, the legal and industrial responsibilities, criteria and running of the Org, take on a whole new remit. 
 
Orgs are then left in a position whereby the running of the outfit is so embroiled in administration, book keeping, records, memberships, e mail departments, telephone enquiry lines, democratic voting procedures, annual general meetings, diary and planning arrangements, website building and the like, that the aim of the game in the first place, was to defeat the opposition, is overlooked!

All of these tasks mentioned above, require man power to run ! And when that amount of manpower is required to run the admin and organisation side of the Org, the initial militant prowess and biting power, that was so attractive in the first place...........is sadly but unintentionally lost ! 

They are only human ! 

Not only are they doing that, but have to make a living too! 

I know that some of them get a token stand down pay, but it doesn't account for what is lost if they were to just drive their cab.

 
But not only that. Due to the fact that we have half a dozen or so of these trade Organisations representing their members, a sort of football supporters mentality emerges. I have seen colleagues of ours who vehemently give loyal support to a trade organisation's remit, even if they believe the action will be detrimental to their livelihood.  If I think a particular action would be beneficial to myself and our colleagues, I would support and back it to the hilt, irrespective of the lanyard colour.

Personally, and very naively, I would love to see just ONE London Taxi Trade Organisation with teeth sharp enough to take on and wallop anyone who dare attempt to destroy us. A trade org whereby all or at least most of us would belong to, subscribe to and trust to ensure that our children have a profession to follow us in to.

 

That of course, is only in my dreams ! 

Sadly, the reality of the situation is that we have several organisations, all setting their stall out, all purporting and indeed trying to fight for their members. And to a certain extent, they ARE fighting. But it is a fight that all six or so of them are badly getting beat at.

TFL are acutely aware of our fragmentation, and use it very astutely against us. When one of our trade Orgs put on their boots and helmets and other orgs are seen in the media as not supporting it, the press, the public, TFL and anyone else who want to see us in the history books.....................have a field day !

 

We cant all agree on everything I know, but surely we cant all disagree that we are watching 400 years go down the carzy !

 

I know it is easy for me to say and to comment from my keyboard, of course I do. But on the same token, I am not taking anyone's dough either, and saying I will save them. I know our trade orgs have many many dedicated men and women all putting in long hours, giving up free time and punching as hard as they can. But folks, unless we as a trade get our act together and attack this assault on our profession as a combined matter of emergency................... we will see the end of our tenure in the New Year. The mob from California may very well be running out of dough, they may very well be getting a bad reputation, but they are still annihilating our customer base and we need to get them out !

 

Maybe now is the time for the football mentality of our representing bodies to put old scores aside, and merge their wealth, strength and unity......into one more devastating punch to knock out the opposition completely. A pipe dream, I know. But just imagine the strength of us if we could do it !

 We are struggling out there now folks. You don't need my assurance to tell you what January will be like. Cant we all get around the table ? 

Just this once ? 

 

Surely this is now an Emergency..........Surely time for COBRA ?

 

 

Be lucky all. Stay safe.

 

8829 Semtex.

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Exclusive Report : No one has been keeping a check on the extra emissions caused by the gridlock!

Yesterday afternoon, the TfL Twitter account @TfLTPH hosted a Tweet the Managers question and answer session with Nigel Hardy, billed as TfL's head of project sponsorship. 

We were told that Mr Hardy would be answering questions appertaining to the current upgrade of the capitals roads and Red Rout Network, including the Cycle Super Highway. 

It soon became apparent that Mr Hardy was not there to answer random queries and was actually hand picking questions that fitted with prepared statements completely avoiding controversy. 

Mr Hardy was bombarded with questions about the gridlock that has been forced on the East West routes along the embankment and the utter chaos surrounding the Elephant and Castle. He gave quite obvious answers saying it's all going to be great when completed. 

But he kept swerving the major question most drivers wanted an answer to. Why's in nothing being said about the extra pollution the empty buses stuck in the gridlock are producing.

Taxi Leaks side stepped Nigel Hardy (who never answered one of our many questions) and went straight to the experts. We asked @CleanAirLondon if there has been an increase in pollution since the start of these gridlock causing road works and we were flabbergasted by the reply. 

Apparently, no one is checking!

Now there's a surprise.

Air Pollution expert Prof Wilkinson today told the Commons EFRA that EU pollutant limits cannot be regarded as 'safe' levels.

Prof Williams went on to say that in the short term, using petrol or petrol hybrid cars will be significantly better than carrying on using diesel. 

No one at TfL or the Mayors office has answered our questions:

Why are LTC still selling Taxis with diesel engines? 

Why are the Taxi trade not being offered petrol gas?

Who is responsible for the decision to run London's buses purely on diesel, because the failing hybrid batteries were deemed too expensive to replace?

What is the significantly impact of expanding London's private hire fleet to 93,700, currently increasing by 600 every week?

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The Joint Ranks Committee Alleged Misinformation Over WinterWonderland Rank!

A couple of weeks ago, the Joint ranks committee, under the Chairnanship of the LTDA's Ruchard Masset, announced that after 12 months of negotiation, they had secured ranking facilities for the WinterWonderland event. The rank would be situated in Park Lane, opposite Brook Gate in a coach bay that would be suspended. 

We were told that no vehicles would be permitted to stop or wait on South Carriage Drive. 

But, Westminster Parking Services are now saying we been misinformed!

Drivers reported being issued parking tickets by Westminster wardens while sitting in the rank facility on Park Lane!!!

How can this be, you may well ask.

Surely this is a mistake on behalf of Westminster Parking Services?

When we asked the LTDA a few days ago about the tickets, they said it was just the result of an idiot warden....

They also to exception when we said that the whole ranking issue at WinterWonderland was a complete mess.

It now appears they (the LTDA) have it wrong, and the wardens are acting under instructions from Westminster Parking Services.

If Westminster's statement below is correct, then the joint rank committee, made up from the LTDA, LCDC and Unite have misinformed the trade and are totally liable.

Westminster council have just replied to a request for information from Taxi Leaks' special correspondent, about this situation saying:

   

Again this year the trade has been sold down the river by Westminster, the Royal Parhs and TfL at this event. 

Night after night drivers have reported seeing Private shire minicabs being directed into the exit of WinterWonderland by marshals, where they are being allowed to park up and wait for passengers. 

We have asked the LTDA to clarify the situation and if they, along with Unite and the LCDC will be paying the PCNs as they have misinformed the trade, which has led to the drivers receiving these penalty notices. As yet, we have no reply

We will provide space should the LTDA, LCDC or Unite like to make a statement about this situation.

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