The London Taxi Drivers Association, seek judicial review of cycle superhighway

Mayor Boris Johnson's plan for cycle superhighway linking east and west London does not have planning permission, taxi drivers told a court.

The Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association is seeking a judicial review of the £47m Westbourne Grove to Tower Hill route, via the Victoria Embankment.

The lanes will take up space causing disruption, the High Court heard.

Transport for London (TfL) said the plan was "works of improvement" and did not need planning permission.

The two-lane cycle way across the city is set to finish in the next few months.

Steve McNamara, Licensed Taxi Drivers Association's (LTDA) general secretary, has described the scheme as Mr Johnson's "last hurrah" before leaving office in May.

Project rethink

The LTDA is asking Mrs Justice Patterson to grant a judicial review of the decision, which could force a rethink of the project.

Mark Lowe QC, for the LTDA, said construction started last April without planning permission or an environmental impact assessment (EIA) as required by the EU EIA Directive.

He urged the judge to class the project as a "development" as defined under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, which was not exempt from the need for permission, more so as it was could create "significant adverse environmental effects".

Howard Carter, general counsel at TfL, said "the east-west cycle superhighway will make London's roads safer for all, particularly cyclists".

Timothy Straker QC, appearing for the organisation, said the LTDA's objective was plainly "the cessation of further works, if not the dismantling of the work already carried out".

He said such a move would cause "considerable and unjust inconvenience" to the project. 

The hearing continues and is expected to take two days

Source : BBC news

from Taxi Leaks http://ift.tt/1Rnw3Xi
via IFTTT

The Rise In London Private Hire Driver Numbers, Is Increasing Journey Times By 10%

An increase in the number of minicabs in London has lengthened journey times by an average of 10% over the past 12 months, according to research from Addison Lee.

According to the private hire car firm, the number of new entrants to the market has increased by 56% over the past two years. Much of the growth is down to the success of Uber, the ride-hailing app, which has gone from zero to more than 20,000 private hire cars in just three years.

There are nearly 95,000 licensed private hire drivers in London in total, and estimates suggest the figure will rise to 148,000 in the next two years.

Addison Lee’s chief executive, Andy Boland, says: “Our drivers and passengers have been telling us that London congestion has been getting worse and that journeys are taking longer. Now we have the evidence. At busy times, some parts of the capital are literally grinding to a halt.”

There has been growing pressure on politicians in recent months to impose restrictions on the number of minicabs in the capital, both because of congestion and pollution, but Andrew Jones, under minister at the DoT, said earlier this week that the government would not do so.

The growing number of minicabs in the capital persuaded the mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to say last May: 

“We must be able to take action against the threat posed by the massive increase we are seeing in the number of private hire vehicles.”

For Boland, too, there are too many drivers. “Congestion and slower journey times are huge issues for London drivers,” he said.

Source : www.theguardian.com

  

from Taxi Leaks http://ift.tt/1mXVQIx
via IFTTT

Letter From LTDA Member : Re Camden's Tottenham Court Road Taxi Exclusion

A document from Camden's Lawyers' to the LTDA re: Tottenham Court Road taxi exclusion, made grave reading. 

Camden did consider the inclusion of taxis in their redevelopment scheme, but research data showed taxis as the main cause of serious accidents in the area. When the findings were challenged, Camden produced evidence that they had exhausted all avenues and could not locate data that identified taxis from PH. 

So, as of now, we are considered the most dangerous vehicle on the road- because of THEM! 

Whether Camden wanted us or not isn't relevant, at least let us know the real reason

I cannot stress enough the importance of this. Years of TFL blurring the boundaries between taxis and PH; actively recruiting staff to big up so called similarities (as opposed to highlighting differences) has left the trade wide open to assault. 

We remain the only legitimate alternative to the minicab swamp that swills around us, and the public NEED to know that there is an option. 

First and foremost, we should to be recognised by officialdom for what we are, and that is;

THE SAFEST TRANSPORT CHOICE IN LONDON.

Editorial Comment :

So, for all the councillors, planners and consultants involved with and on behalf of Camden Borough Council.

This is a highly regulated, extremely safe, fully wheelchair accessible Licensed London Taxi....

                              And these are not.....

from Taxi Leaks http://ift.tt/1KeuXFr
via IFTTT

Definitive Answer From The Department Of Transport Under Secretary On PH Number Cap.

Tom Brake, Shadow LD Spokesperson (Foreign Affairs), Liberal Democrat Chief Whip, Shadow LD Leader of the House of Commons

Asked the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a cap on the number of private hirevehicles operating in London

Andrew Jones, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Replied, "this Government does not intend to amend primary legislation to allow the number of private hire vehicles licensed in London or elsewhere to be restricted".

from Taxi Leaks http://ift.tt/1mYRvFv
via IFTTT

Liquefied petroleum gas can help solve London's air quality crisis

Calor Gas' Head of Strategy and Corporate Affairs Paul Blacklock, writes that London cabs switching to LPG could significantly improve London's air quality and calls on London Mayoral candidates to embrace this option. 

The news that the nitrogen dioxide (NO2) hourly legal limit for all of 2016 was breached just eight days into the year is the reason I spoke to the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, last week during his LBC phone-in about his plans to clean up London’s transport.

London’s air quality is the biggest environmental threat facing the city this year. And it is an issue that will be central to the forthcoming Mayoral election.  

Transport for London have already done a lot of work on providing solutions for this issue - not least the introduction of hybrid electric taxis from 2018 which are an essential aspect to improving the quality of our air. But they are not the only solution and at an estimated £60k, could prove to be too expensive for many drivers.

Currently London’s cabbies can convert their polluting diesel taxis to LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) in return for a five year extension to their operating licence. 

TfL has indicated that the incentives for these conversions may stop in the near future, just as London’s air quality is reaching critical levels. 

A properly deployed plan to convert targeted sections of London’s taxi fleet to LPG will help clean up London more quickly and save cabbies’ money in the long run.

To help manage the immediate air quality crisis, there is a strong argument for TfL to extend their existing policy throughout 2016 and 2017 - allowing black cabs to convert to Euro 6 LPG autogas engines in return for a five year extension to their licence. All the emissions research points to immediate huge reductions in Nitrogen Dioxide and other harmful emissions, allowing TfL to deliver improved air quality over the next two years, before the implementation of the Ultra Low Emission Zone in 2018.

From 2018, politicians, policy makers and the industry will be encouraging black cabs to take advantage of TfL’s subsidy to convert to hybrid electric vehicles.

But the brutal reality is the subsidy for electric cabs will not cover all of the existing fleet, leaving a large number of cabbies to fully fund the electric solution themselves. 

And as things stand, TfL’s current plans mean that without the LPG conversion option many taxis will be allowed to continue running on diesel well beyond 2020.

Cabbies are working in an ever more competitive post-Uber market and many will feel they can no longer afford to continue working. 

In order to maintain the number of black cabs post 2018, TfL should also offer cabbies additional, more affordable options such as LPG to supplement the 9000+ electric cabs.

LPG is a much cleaner fuel than diesel and petrol and offers a solution which can be deployed now, without the need for subsidy, as cabbies will get a payback on their £8000 investment within 2 years - meaning cleaner air for London, in a shorter timeframe and for less money.

But separate from the reduction in emissions, London’s cabs will once again show the world they are leading the world in cleaner taxi technology, TfL will maintain fleet numbers, a competitive and fairer marketplace and also benefit from licence fee  income.

Other cities are already taking the lead.  The Labour controlled Birmingham City Council is supporting the conversion of its taxis from diesel to cleaner LPG, whilst in Japan, Toyota is launching its zero emission capable Black Cab, again on LPG, for just £16,000 from 2018.

It is easy for London to establish a way forward which would fully support the drive to hybrid electric taxis whilst at the same time drastically reducing the air quality emissions from the taxis remaining on London’s roads.

With London’s air quality being the biggest environmental risk for London this year these simple LPG solutions provide Boris an opportunity for a real environmental legacy for Londoners and for Zac Goldsmith and Sadiq Khan the opportunity to be seen to be leading on improving London’s air quality.

from Taxi Leaks http://ift.tt/1W7crFT
via IFTTT

THE "MAYFAIR MOB" TRIUMPH AGAIN, WORKING FOR THE TAXI TRADE.

 New Taxi Rank Markings In Wardour Street.

Last night, rank markings were repainted outside the old Floridita bar/restaurant, in preparation for its reopening as "100 Wardour Street".

The rank markings have been made clear enough, for us to easily move off any tout chancers. 

In addition, local wardens have agreed to ticket any vehicle other than a Taxi, seen parked or waiting at this site. 

Great team work again on behalf of the trade, by members of the Mayfair Mob, who have been working hard behind the scenes with both TfL and the council to complete this project ahead of schedule.

Please do not use this rank as free parking as it will be a working rank and is expected to be as busy as Novikov's Berkeley Street. 

If you see touts, parked up on our ranks, move them on and give it ten minutes. If there's touts there, then there's work there. 

Other rank triumphs for the Mayfair Mob, such as Hakkasan and Forge, have proved to be great assets in our fight to take the work back of the touts.

Other new ranks are currently under negotiation, but we need you to use them. 

Now the ball is in your court, use 'em or lose 'em.

from Taxi Leaks http://ift.tt/1Q454hW
via IFTTT

Canadian PM Announces Bill To Ban Uber.

Newly elected Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is taking a stand against Uber.

An internet poll, commissioned by Satov Consultants, a Toronto-based researcher and business advisory company mentioned Uber have covered 30% more rides than dispatched Taxi cabs in the major Canadian and American cities where both can be used. 

Since the introduction of Uber in Canada, new polls have revealed people are 56% less likely to use traditional taxis, but more important, they are 21% less likely to use public transport. This has put hundreds of thousands of licensed taxi drivers out of work across North America.

Prime Minister Trudeau made an announcement late Saturday evening in a press conference that a bill will be passed through the House of Commons that will be putting a halt to the service, promising to protect the integrity and commitment of traditional licensed Taxi drivers.

Mark Satov, founder of Satov Consultants, said “Uber is currently doing to the traditional taxi model what Expedia did to travel agents and what Amazon did to the vast majority of bookstores. 

Uber has grown its market share faster than anything we’ve ever seen and completely destabilised incumbents.”

Traditional Licensed Taxi cab drivers everywhere from Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, even Edmonton and Niagara Falls have caused major disruption by protesting against Uber, and are now demanding Trudeau put and end to the service.

             ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

        Coming to an org near you, very soon.

from Taxi Leaks http://ift.tt/1RBjxDT
via IFTTT