Journalist For The Independent, Anna Rhodes, Doesn't Read Her Own Headlines.

Anna Rhodes, journalist for the Independent news paper has made quite an insulting statement in the paper this weekend. She said 

Let’s take a second to review the situation here -  black cab prices in London are extortionate. To take a journey from Covent Garden to Bethnal Green, you’re looking at racking up a fare of around £30 if you’re lucky (I speak from my own experience). This fare price is cut by a third when travelling in an Uber.

The reason Uber is so popular with Londoners is that it is cheap, cheerful – and safe. 

Looks like Anna doesn't read her own headlines. 

We have all seen the thousands of photos and videos of Uber crashes as their drivers take their eyes off the road to look at their phones and sat navs. Who can forget this one, where prince Harry's outrider was hit by an Uber car who pulled straight out of a side road without looking. 

Just over two weeks ago, the trade was shocked by the horrific death of a young toddler as an Uber driver ploughed into his buggy. 

Then earlier this week, just a few hundred yards from the death crash, a Chinese couple were mowed down by another Uber driver, outside the Albert Hall.

And to day, I've been sent this harrowing tale from a young lady from Leeds who's friend was the victim of an attacked by another Uber driver. Read her story below.

Dear Taxi Leaks, not sure if I can post this on here so let me know if not.

Today 26/03/2016 

My friend Rachel was out on her motorbike at work (Food delivery) in Leeds City Centre She came to a motorbike parking bay next to the Merion Centre  and a Uber Taxi was parked in the bay. She asked the driver to move out of the bay as its motorbikes only. The driver got out of the car and continuously punched my friend even when on the floor covered in blood.

This is absolutely outrageous ! Is this the type of drivers Uber hire ? They already have terrible rep when it comes to been absolute menaces on the road but to attack a member of public like that is out of order. My friend is in the hospital and her nose is bust up pretty bad but The driver is now in custody thankfully. Apparently their was about 20 witnesses around the area and someone managed to record the incident. 

Please share this all over Facebook. Uber need to give answers about this ! 

Uber number 2094 reg plate AK60 FPT. 

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

Knowledge Students Statistics, Supplied By TfLTPH.

With thanks to Les Hoath 

from Taxi Leaks http://ift.tt/22Dulam
via IFTTT

Good first step Wes. ..... By I'm Spartacus.

Earlier this week we had Wes Streeting MP for Ilford North introduce a 10 Minute Rule Bill.

For those of us not up to speed on the ins and outs of the Luddite procedures of Parliament, these bills (proposed acts of Parliament) are usually introduced to give publicity for a particular issue, the MP has to speak for 10 minutes and then a vote is taken (that's called the first reading) and if voted Aye as opposed to Noe (see what I man about Luddite) it proceeds to a second reading, they are usually opposed by the government but every now and then they do become law.

So let's look at  Wes is proposing in outline:

English Language Tests for PH, Realistic insurance, Stronger PH Topo testing, taxation rules.

All good stuff, well maybe but no doubt some of the 250k PR budget of uber will be 'persuading' opponents in the house to fight it all the way, they don't want any regulation here or anyone else.

Osborne, Javid and Cameron are already in the tax avoiding rule breakers hutch, but it only takes 12 fair minded patriotic Tory M.P.'s to stand up and be counted, sorry 13 as Ian Austin Labour MP is already in the uber camp.

We await, but why oh why Wes did you not take this opportunity to define Plying for Hire? 
That could have dealt with the illegality of exhibition and availability of an on screen picture and a meaningful pre booking interval, maybe if it gets that far someone will introduce it as an amendment to the Act, some of us will be proposing that.

Expect those who wish to see us gone move heaven and earth against us, that probably includes TfL!

As Mr Al Fayed of Harrods fame once said 'you can 'hire' an MP as easy as walking out of the store and hailing a cab.

So Wes and co. Let's prove for once that he was wrong about the first part so the second part can carry on.

On behalf of us, the wheelchair users, tourists, those without smartphones or postcodes, those who wish a tour or want to avoid a jam, the hard of hearing or poor sighted, those without credit cards, they need taxis, they need expert drivers with real skill, they NEED us.

Stand strong.

I'm Spartacus

from Taxi Leaks http://ift.tt/1RF8rhW
via IFTTT

Despite A Rise In Reported Incidents, British Transport Police Are To Axe Sex Crime Unit.

A high-profile police unit that investigates sexual offences on the Tube and railways is set to be disbanded.

The specialist crime team was created by the British Transport Police to tackle unwanted sexual behaviour on public transport such as groping. 

It had officers who actively searched for offenders on the capital’s transport network.

The move comes despite figures showing a huge rise in the number of crimes being reported.

Between last April and December there were 1,603 reports of sex offences on the Tube, trains and buses in London, compared with 1,117 for the period the previous year — an increase of 43.5 per cent.

Last month, Labour mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan urged the BTP to crack down on groping as a top priority.

The unit is being axed as part of a structural review by the BTP, which will also see the team handling assaults against Transport for London staff scrapped.

Two specialist crime teams will remain in London, covering theft of passengers’ property and bikes.

Editorial Comment:

As we look forward to the 24hr night tube, it's comforting to know that although your mother, wife, daughter, sister, may be at risk to a sex attacker on the tube, at least your bicycle will be safe! 

             Just visualise the phone call:

"Hello, is that the police....I've just been raped on the Piccadilly line"

"Sorry Madam, nothing we can do, budget cuts"

"But he escaped on my bicycle"

"Stay where you are miss, we have an armed response unit on its way"

from Taxi Leaks http://ift.tt/1UOe4JM
via IFTTT

Demo has been postponed....But You Can Still Make A Difference And Fight Back Today,

Upset that demo's been postponed?

You can still fight for your trade today. 

Let's get those responsible for our demise in court.

All you need to do is pledge the 2 hours takings you would have lost today...with £350,000 already in the pot, another 8,000 x £35 would make it happen today.

These wives, mothers, sisters daughters, have put their normal lives on hold. Out on the street, on the ranks, in the shelters and cafes, fighting for your survival.

Don't let their passion become another victim of cab trade apathy.

Certain people have done their best to sabotage this action, after all, there's possibly a spare seat going on the board of TfL when the new Mayor takes office.

But do you really want another 4 years of inactivity at TfL board level?

How much longer do you believe our 350 year trade will survive.

Reports coming in thick and fast of drivers leaving the trade, having to seek other employment as mortgage payments are not being met.

Let's get TfL in court p, where they belong.

There's on,y one criminal in the cross hairs and that's TfL.
Let's make them accountable for destroying our trade.
Let's take no prisoners 

Never give up....never, never surrender 

Don't forget 
If you don't get in the ring, you can't win the fight.

Click on this link below and pledge today
>http://ift.tt/1OZV7kO<

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

Letter To Taxi Leaks : TfLTPH Using Private Hire Vehicles Act As A Cash Cow.

I would like to publish the following letter through Taxi Leaks bearing, in mind we have the ears of MP's now:

In the late 90's, we were informed; "When minicabs become licensed, touting will become their problem, not ours"

A Potted history of the Private Hire Vehicles Act act.

Before the Private Hire Vehicles Act1998, London was lawless. Everyone and anyone who wanted to earn an extra few bob become a mini cab driver in their own cars without any insurance or criminal checks it really was the "Wild West". The Police had zero interest in addressing any issues as they needed to clean up the streets in the West end at the weekends, as the demand for Taxis well outstripped supply.

When the PHV act was drawn up it had three separate but connected stages.

1. Operators license: 

In brief, an office or building with the appropriate planning permission the ability to record the details of every booking and the ability to report data on all bookings.

2. Drivers  PHV Licence:

CRB checked and linked to ONE  PHV operator.

3. Vehicle Licence:

A TfL inspection which ensured the driver was connected to an operator and had the correct Hire and Reward insurance over and above private social domestic and pleasure or full comp insurance. 

Under the Public carriage office (PCO) everybody either complied or died.

Since Transport for London (tfl) took over the reigns:

They saw this as a cash cow business opportunity and as from 2012, with the advent of Uber, they have relaxed the law to the point of " do what you want, we don't care" attitude as long as long as we make money.

Tfl have always clamped down on any indiscretion  for the Taxi trade, which I totally agree with, but have turned a blind eye to the PHV market.

I cannot believe there is no mechanism to make a complaint against a PHV driver with tfl 100,000 plus PHV drivers are above the law and complaint to tfl is just forwarded to the Operator and forgotten. This is completely against " The Natural rules of justice".

PHV drivers were granted a license for a particular area of London and directly connected with a registered operator for e.g Toms cars based in the Angel, punters could walk into they're high street office and order a mini cab and the operator would take the booking, allocate a driver to do the job -to Hackney- for example, the driver would then carry out the booking at a fixed rate agreed upfront, then return to the office and sit in the queue waiting for his next job.

The same system applies to Yellow badge suburban Taxi divers, they can only work the parish or local area take a job in your area complete to and return to base.

Stay with me please..

The radio circuits such as Dial a Cab, RTG, and CompCab have had an automated despatch system light years ahead of mini cabs  since 1960's and has always led from the from in terms of technology the first to introduce GPS and auto despatch to remote terminals in cab but and this is very important, always complied with PCO and tfl's rules and regulations.  

I was delighted to hear today a bill will be amended in the House of Commons around the tightening of the rules around the 1998 PHV act.

My view is simple, every operator should provide Hire and reward fleet  insurance to comply with the 1998 PHV act and the driver must work for one single registered PHV licensed Operator. Because at this moment PHV drivers are affiliated to several different mini cab companies at the same time which goes completely against the act. They are virtually plying for hire with several platforms which is illegal.

The new revisions to the act must include one driver attached to one operator.

Think about this, if the onus of responsibility around insurance is with the operator, then any other bookings outside the said operators remit the car is not insured.

For the avoidance of doubt, if I work for Addie Lee who provide a car and relevant insurance and I sign up to Uber and moonlight accepted a job from Uber and have an accident would Addie Lee's insurance cover this journey???  

Tom Scullion. 

from Taxi Leaks http://ift.tt/1S5J037
via IFTTT

Belgian taxi union calls on drivers to give people rides for free in Brussels.

Following a string of deadly terrorist explosions in Brussels, scores of people have been left stranded. 

A taxi union has stepped in to try to help get everyone to safety, encouraging taxis across the city to drive people for free. 

Federation Belge des Taxis posted a message asking for drivers’ help to evacuate the affected areas.

It later added several photos of relieved customers in the back of cars and thanked the drivers for their “solidarity”.

The Belgian capital descended into chaos following the attacks at the city’s airport and on its Metro service.

A number of similar pages began to materialise afterwards, including Brussels Lift, which connected people looking for transport with drivers

Meanwhile, minicab company Uber has switched off its surge pricing system, allowing people to travel for less. 

But a number of people have reported that not a single car was available for hire in the area.

But the company was still criticised by some for failing to offer rides free of charge.

from Taxi Leaks http://ift.tt/25kb4K2
via IFTTT