Whatever you do, do not get into the back of the cab with a passenger' ....by I'm Spartacus.

Those words ring in our ears as loud today as they did when the head of the PCO gave out badge over many years.

So fast forward to the current passenger compartment Credit Card fiasco orchestrated by TfL which means that's exactly what will be  required if a card won't swipe, or been rejected etc. etc.

Sure it's a great idea that very cab should accept credit cards, most drivers do now with mobile terminals, as in use in millions of shops, restaurants and cabs worldwide, but somehow the world's no 1 Taxi trade can't be trusted.

What's not a good idea is that the driver will have to enter the passenger compartment to resolve a problem or retain a stolen card.

So here are some questions needing answering by TfL:

1. Where is the Health & Safety risk assessment for this proposal and what are the control measures for the increase of the risk?

2. Where are the results of any consultations carried out with working cab drivers, passenger groups etc insisting on a fixed terminal in the passenger compartment?

3. Why did you retreat from your original policy of capping charges to the driver yet insisting we had to absorb whatever any company wished to charge us?


Here's another couple for the under fire General Secretary of the LTDA Mr S McNamara:

1. You have stated  'it's a done deal', quite with who and who did you 'do a deal with?

2. What consultation did you have with your membership apart from those who are retained at Woodfield Road or on stand down at LAP etc?

3. How much advertising revenue is expected from fixed terminal companies in TAXI magazine?

If any of the other UTG (LCDC, UNITE) want to answer the same questions don't hold back, we are all interested.

So before someone is assaulted or a malicious allegation made, We demand the Deputy Mayor Val Shawcross intervenes TODAY, so that full and meaningful consultations and assessments can be carried out before any implementation date.

Happy to comply with the requirement to take CC on mobile units that the trade have used hundreds of thousands of times without query or complaint.

In short 'what was broke that needing fixing'?

I'm Spartacus

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Why 10 told Boris to go easy on Uber : Connecting the dots Uber Freight, Uber Personal Mobility

     

Unsolicited pop up add on the Uber App. Uber doing the government a favour...but at what cost?Uber's partner in the voter mobilization initiative, Bite the Ballot, is supported by none other than City law firm Hogan Lovells. This just happens to be the same firm that, in representing Uber, managed to persuade a High Court judge that Uber's measurement of time and distance billing is not, errrmm, a time and distance meter.  Hogan Lovell's Yasmin Waljee is a Trustee of the Bite the Ballot campaign.

We now know why number 10 told Boris to go easy on Uber. Even though they knew that Uber had been licensed illegally, their campaign had intentions to use the App, which has an alleged 1 million down loads, to encourage hipsters to register to vote in the Brexit election. 

Pundits said the more people from this demographic that voted, the more chance the government had of winning the vote to remain.

But don't just take my word for it. See the archived post on the UPHD blog. http://ift.tt/2bGtfE0;

This is definitely worth a read: Posted on the 28th May 2016.

Uber has started pushing messages to passengers in app to register for eligibility to vote in the upcoming EU referendum. According to the Guardian Uber is partnering with the mega cool Bite the Ballot campaign to get hipsters to care more about politics with messages like: 'But Politics needs rebranding!'

Don't get me wrong, UPHD is far from cynical about the importance of democratic participation and mobilizing the vote but context is key in understanding some of the motives beyond the virtue. Consider the following:

• The FT reports that Uber got involved in this initiative after attending a meeting at Number 10 Chaired by Daniel Korski calling on tech companies to do more to mobilize 16-24 year old's to vote. This demographic is, according to the Electoral Commission, twice as likely not to be on the register as the general population. Polls also show this group is more likely to back a Cameron led Yes vote. Now this is the same Daniel Korski who was caught red handed arranging a cozy chat with TfL's Leon Daniels and London Deputy Mayor Isabel Dedring last October to discuss issues of pressing national importance such as 'Uber Freight potential' and 'Uber personal mobility'. All of this was going on in smokey Whitehall backrooms, though later uncovered in an FOI disclsoure, while the rest of us were allegedly having our say in the private hire regulatory review consultation. In light of Korski's enthusiastic support of Uber, planting a pop up message to get out the EU referendum is but a small ask of Uber from Downing Street.
• Uber's partner in the current voter mobilization initiative, Bite the Ballot, is supported by none other than City law firm Hogan Lovells. This just happens to be the same firm that, in representing Uber, managed to persuade a High Court judge that Uber's measurement of time and distance billing is not, errrmm, a time and distance meter.  Hogan Lovell's Yasmin Waljee is a Trustee of the Bite the Ballot campaign.
• Uber has a history of picking sides and muscling in on political decision making to get its way even at the cost of other vulnerable stakeholders. It did so on the issue of a cap in New York, it rallied customers to back its selfish interests in the TfL private hire regulatory review. In the Mayoral election Uber strong armed drivers into sending a letter to Zac Goldsmith supporting poverty inducing services like Uber Pool where Uber reduces the fare by 25% and increases its commission share from 20% to 35% leaving the driver with crumbs. The point is, Uber cannot now credibly support a neutral get out the vote campaign when its politics have been so partisan. Will the company continue to support such a campaign in the future if the demographics are likely to run against its own corporate agenda?

In summary, great work Uber in getting out the vote. We just hope the price of the favour done for Korski and Number 10 does not come at the cost of  upholding worker rights for 105,000 private hire drivers now in a hunger games race to survive on starvation wages due to Uber's business model.

   

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Taxi Charity Receives Much Deserved International Coverage.

Recently the press has not been the best friend of the cab trade.  Reporting is often biased and sloppy, and journalists persist in printing outdated stereotypes of the trade, so unlike the trade that we know and love.

However, the press has rallied somewhat in the coverage that has been given to the Taxi Charity and I thought readers might find it interesting to know which parts of the media have written about our veterans, their wonderful skydives and the work of the charity.

The coverage began in France, when Fred Glover and Ted Pieri, both WWII veterans from the Airborne Division, revisited Normandy and carried out a tandem skydive in aid of the Taxi Charity. Interestingly the Evening Standard also carried a piece. 

Fred, Ted, Graham Pike (a Taxi charity committee member) and I followed up the Normandy jump with a skydive with the Red Devils on 25th August.  

Naturally the veterans were again deservedly newsworthy, and we have coverage for both events ranging from the Jersey Evening Post, the Daily Mail, and People magazine’s website in the US.

Yet more publicity has been in the Worthing Herald, Guernsey Press, Irish Independent, West Sussex Gazette, Ouest france, the Celebrity Auction, Forces TV, MOD blog, Belfast Telegraph, Forces TV, BT.com, the Times, Mature Times.

Now we have been able to announce the thrilling news about winning the final of the National Lottery awards, and the Standard has published our entire press release.  Of course everything becomes yesterday’s news in the shortest possible time, but as ever, I hope that some of this coverage will resonate with the public and remind them of all the wonderful things that London’s finest do for them    

-- 

Frances Luczyc Wyhowska

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As More Evidence Racks Up Against TfL And Uber, Taxi Orgs Go Into Silent Mode.....Why The Inaction?

Let's just recap for a moment:

TfLTPH's Twitter account frequently post that Uber met all the requirements for licensing, when first licensed in 2012.

And still do....

REALLY?

Uber have never had a required landline for pre booking.

Uber has never had a landline for customer services. 

Uber have operated from premises with no current operators license variation!  

When challenged over Uber's move from NW1 to N1, TfL compliance gave them a six week grace period to sort out a licence, even though the staff manual states their licence should have been revoked immediately there and then (yes I still have the emails Helen).

Leon Daniels states to the GLA Transport Committee, Uber drivers have on/off insurance!

Association of British Insurers state no such policy exists.

Sir Peter Hendy tells GLA Uber has a landline but he didn't have it with him!

Daniels states Uber has landline for bookings, gives number to GLA.

Number turns out to be Jo Bertram's private number!

TfL denfend Uber's phone used as a Taxi meter, in the high court.

Judge declares its not a meter!

Gran Davis states publicly, Boris told him that "number 10 had told him to go easy on Uber".

 

Emails emerge...Daniels alleged to be coaching Uber's Jo Bertram!

FOI request shows serious sexual assaults through the roof. 154 from Feb 2015- Feb 2016 with Uber drivers alleged to be responsible for 32 attacks!

Met Police admit only 10% of all sexual attacks are reported. 

TfL put pressure on LTDA to dumb down statistics on AddVan and remove TfL logo!

Record of multiple phone calls between Daniels and Bertram emerge!

Toronto case: 

Uber admit they don't take required pre bookings anywhere in the world including London. They state on oath that jobs go straight to the drivers phone where the driver then accept the Job!

Uber confirm they've never taken pre bookings by announcing they have future plans to take pre bookings using the app not a required landline!

Hundreds of sexual assaults, thousands of traffic accidents, multiple road deaths and two murders!

And now, Just when you thought there could be no more corroborating evidence that TfL are colluding with Uber's operation.....this!

Complaint made to TfL :

"Today Monday 29 August at 12-55 at Bus stop H Wilton Road by Victoria Station, I witnessed a TFL bus Marshall openly promoting Uber to the travelling public.

A man and his son were asking for information and she asked if he had the Uber app.

I think that this is an utter disgrace as there is a Taxi rank just down the road.

It makes you wonder if backhanders are being dished out from the top of TFL to the bottom.

I await your reply, also I shall consider taking this to the press.

You have seven days to give me an appropriate response".

Complaint posted on FaceBook Save Black Taxis Group

Posted with full permission. 

With all the evidence that's come to light over the last few months, you may like to ask your representative group, why they have been so silent of late

Ask the org or union who take your money for representation, what they intend to do with this plethora of information and evidence that alleges malfeasance.

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Use TAXIAPP....Take A Black Cab....Its The Thinking Person's Choice.

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TfL Charging Passengers For Using Free Replacement Buses....And They Know They're Doing It.

Kingston and Richmond bus users could have payed out of hundreds of pounds unnecessarily after being charged full fare for free buses — and Transport for London knew it was happening.

The 65 and 371 routes from Petersham Road, between Sandy Lane and Star and Garter Hill, and into Kingston have been diverted or cancelled because of utility works that started on July 31.

Three replacement services, the 565, 571 and 572, are running in their place.

The TfL replacement buses are advertised as free during the five week-long roadworks and posters state: "Passengers will still need to tap in but will not be charged."

But anyone using a contactless Visa card instead of an Oyster card will see the full £1.50 fare come from their account.

Siobhan Pestano, who was travelling to Kingston from Ham, noticed she had been charged after boarding the 371 replacement.

She said: "When I noticed the money had come out of my bank account I rang TfL to complain and was told that it was because I'd used my [Visa] card and not an Oyster.

"Well that really set me off because they knew it was happening. I was completely furious.

"Why are there no posters saying 'Oysters only' if they know other cards will be charged.

"These works are happening in the summer holidays when families tend to use the buses much more.

"There will be people who can't afford the charge if they were expecting not to pay.

"Others will not have time to call up TfL for a refund."

Anyone using a contactless payment card twice a day, five days a week on the supposedly free routes would be eligible for a £75 refund after the five weeks of works. TfL cap all bus journeys in London at £4.40.

Emma Smith also found she had been charged when she used her contactless card on the 565 route. She claims she spent 15 minutes on hold to TfL before giving up on getting a refund.

She said: "It was only £3 so I just thought it wasn't worth my time in the end.

"But I bet there are a lot of people using the buses everyday that are racking up a fortune."

A spokesman for TfL said passengers were asked to tap in for security and data collection purposes.

He added: "We appreciate this matter being drawn to our attention.

"We’re looking into it, but in the meantime customers concerned they have been charged should contact our customer services on 0343 222 1234 or email customerservices@tfl.gov.uk."

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Man charged with manslaughter after 23-year-old dies following incident in Farringdon Street

A 32-year-old old has been charged with manslaughter following the incident on August 26.

Alexander Bruce Thomson, 32, of Wandsworth has been remanded in custody and will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on August 29.

The victim, who died the day after the attack, was travelling with four other passengers in a mini-cab through the City following a night out. The men got into the cab near Farringdon station.

We want to hear from anybody who might have been in Farringdon Street and who may have seen what happened as the cab pulled up and stopped.

– DETECTIVE INSPECTOR KAZIM TOPRAK

At around 11.20pm the driver stopped the car and called the emergency services and the victim was taken to hospital. 

His immediate next of kin are aware, but are in the process of informing other close family members. A post-mortem examination will take place in due course.

The City Of London Police have put out his appeal on their website:

A 32-year-old man has been charged with manslaughter after a man died following an incident in a minicab in Farringdon Street on Friday, 26 August.

The victim, a 23-year-old man from London, was pronounced dead on Saturday evening, 27 August.

His immediate next of kin are aware, but are in the process of informing other close family members at this time. A post-mortem examination has been scheduled to take place at St Pancras mortuary in due course (date to be confirmed).

Alexander Bruce Thomson (23.02.1984) of Broomwood Road, Wandsworth was charged with manslaughter on Saturday 27 August and he has been remanded in custody to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday 29 August.

Detectives from the City of London Police continue to appeal to anyone who may have witnessed the incident which happened after a minicab stopped in Farringdon Street on Friday night.

The victim was travelling with four other passengers following a night out having got into the cab near to Farringdon station.

At approximately 23:20hrs, the driver stopped the cab near to a bus stop by the junction with Old Seacol Lane, just north of Ludgate Circus, and emergency services were called. Both police and London Ambulance Service attended and the victim was taken to hospital, where he later died.

Officers arrested one of the passengers at the scene on suspicion of GBH and he was subsequently charged with manslaughter as above. No other arrests have been made at this time.

Detectives are urging any witnesses or anyone with information who may have been in Farringdon Street at the time the cab stopped to get in touch with them.

Detective Chief Inspector Perry Stokes, from the City of London Police said: “Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the victim’s family at this time. This was a tragic incident where a young man has gone to enjoy a night out, but sadly he will not be returning home.

“I would urge anybody who was in the Farringdon Street area on Friday night who witnessed the minicab stopping and what happened after to get in contact with us to help with our enquiries. The area where the cab stopped was not far from Ludgate Circus and there would have been other people making their way home at the time who may have information that could help us piece together what happened.”

Anyone with information should contact the City of London Police on 0207 601 2222 or call Crimestoppers, which is completely anonymous, on 0800 555 111.

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