The UberX app has launched in Cambridge using Hackney Taxis. Already the scheme has been hailed a 'disaster' for other cabbies in the city.

The company claims the new app has already proved “hugely popular” with availability in more than 20 towns and cities across the UK.

But Rashel Mohammed, chairman of Cambridge Hackney Carriage Association which represents about 200 drivers in the city, claims Uber is a disaster for the industry.

He said: “Uber on the surface may seem like a reputable company. If anything- they are very destructive to the industry. As soon as they gain a strong hold, the balance of power shifts irreversibly in Uber’s favour. Then, both the drivers and passengers have very little choice.”

Paul Bradley, vice chairman of the association, said: “We don’t have a problem as they have a operator’s licence and have said they are using local private hires so are working within the law like our other companies. 

"I’m not sure how they can use the Hackneys because it’s my understanding that Uber’s price is worked out on their app but hacks have to by law, use the meter set by the city council within the city boundaries.

“I would like to remind people that if it’s the technology people like our own company’s such as Panther and A1 Cabco have had this for a while available for download where you can load on your credit/debit card and track your taxi coming to you and your journey is recorded.

“My only fear is that if they get bigger here the London Uber Prius cars will then come along and cause similar chaos as they are creating on London roads.

“We welcome competition as long as it’s a fair playing field.”

And commenting on the News Facebook page, Florian Arapi said: “Disaster Uber,with drivers not knowing were they’re going. And the worst £5 charge if you cancel the ride, be careful don’t fell asleep on Uber you might end up miles from your destination.”

Simon Wynn added: “Good old Cambridge council giving a license to a company that is single-handily ruining a industry. A company that is worth billions while their driver’s work all the hours under the sun while making £5 an hour. Also with the City Deal we are meant to be getting cars off the road but they have now opened the flood gates to what could be hundreds and hundreds of so called taxis.”

The Uber app allows anyone to book a trip with a licensed private-hire driver at the touch of a button. Now users in Cambridge can download the smartphone app and book a taxi.

A journey to King’s College from the city rail station would cost £5.80 and from Market Street to the Science Park will cost from £8.65.

Fred Jones, Uber’s general manager in Cambridge, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be launching in Cambridge today. There has been a lot of anticipation for Uber’s arrival and already more than 20,000 people in the city have opened the app in the last three months. From today we’re looking forward to helping people get a safe and affordable ride at the touch of a button.

“This launch also means that locally licensed private-hire drivers can now apply to use the Uber app and become their own boss – choosing when they want to drive.”

All drivers using the Uber app in the UK are licensed for private hire and Cambridge drivers will have a license from Cambridge City Council which includes an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)  check - the same checks as black cab drivers and care workers

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Free Advertising On All Taxis : Is The Trade Being Mugged Off ?

The headline says it all, are we being mugged off with the TfL mandate of credit card acceptance?

Look at they way it's been implemented:

  • Only certain providers have given a carte blanche 

  • This select few will be able to charged the driver whatever they want in the future with no guarantees. 

  • Drivers are being forced to sign a lengthy contract or lay out hundreds of pounds to use an independent machine that could soon be obsolete if TfL mandate meter connectivity.

  • Many small business refuse to accept Amex but we're told we have to.

Anyway my attention has been drawn to the stickers that TfL insist that we have to have in our taxis!

Why are TfL insisting we display various commercial logos on a public information notice. 

Are we not advertising Visa, MasterCard, Amex and Diners club ? 

If this is the case, why are we letting them advertise on our (or the proprietors) property free of charge ? 

I believe we should be contacting these companies and demanding they pay each vehicles owner a payment for the ads , let's say...£1000 pa would be fair. 

Someone somewhere is getting paid by these companies and in my personal opinion, I wouldn't mind betting TfL are in receipt of a nice little earner. 

I know the ITV's successful soap Emmerdale, are paid to advertise contactless payments. Watch next time someone buys something in the cafe or shop with signage prominent in all the shots.

What we display on our vehicles should be our own personal choice, not some TfL manager or TfL Board Member with a conflict of interest. 

If TfL are going to insist we have to have these advertisement style stickers under conditions of fitness, then we should be paid in the same way drivers with super sides or drop down seat adverts are paid.

Would any proprietor let four massive global companies advertise in four prominent places in their Taxis forever more, free of charge ?

Would TfL let us advertise our Taxi apps on the sides of their buses, or on their underground rolling stock, free of charge ?

Regards 
Zola25 

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Ever Wondered Why TfL Are So Adamant That Taxis Must Take Credit Cards...by Gerald Coba.

So a certain TfL board member Mr Ron Kalifa, is Deputy Chairman of credit card system provider WorldPay and is also a non executive director of Visa Europe.

WorldPay has a subsidiary called WorldPay Uk which makes the ingenico card machines which (among others) have been authorised by TfL for use in London Taxis.

It could be argued that Mr Kalifa has a strong financial interests in Taxi accepting CCs....it could also be argued that he has a conflict of interest?

I bet @TheLTDA 's political advisers will be all over this....not.

This is what is on TfL's website, in regards to Mr Ron Kalifa

Ron Kalifa was appointed Deputy Chairman of Worldpay in 2013. Previously, he was Chief Executive Officer for over 10 years, building and leading Worldpay into the premier global payments company it is today. Worldpay is the pre-eminent FinTech company in Europe and is one of the largest payments companies globally.

Ron has been a driving figure behind the success of Worldpay, one of the world's largest payments companies, which last year became the UK's most significant FinTech IPO when it listed on the London Stock Exchange.

With over 15 years' experience within the global payments industry, Ron holds responsibility for the strategic direction of this FTSE 100 business which employs over 5,000 employees across 25 offices in 13 countries. Ron has extensive experience of the payments ecosystem - including card payments, cash management and trade finance and transaction banking.

Ron is also an independent consult to Advent and its advisers on a variety of issues, particularly in relation to new investment opportunities.

Ron has spent part of his career in the USA as well as Europe.

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UCG's Letter to Theresa May 8th November 2016

Letter from United Cabbies Group

 to The  Prime Minister; The Rt Honorable Theresa May.

Hand delivered to 10 Downing Street November 8th 2016

............................................................................................................................................................

 

 

November 8th 2016

 

The Right Honorable Theresa May

10 Downing Street

London

SW1A 2AA

 

Dear Prime Minister,

 

I write to you as the General Secretary of the United Cabbies Group (UCG) a trade body that represents the interests of the Hackney Carriage drivers in London, and other UK cities.

 

Our members have called upon us to arrange a formal protest, today, as they now have no confidence, in TfL and its management team; today, we, the Licensed Taxi Trade, bring our discontent with TfL to Whitehall to raise awareness of serious threats to London. We do not call these protests without giving serious consideration to the affects they have, on the general public and we apologise for any inconvenience our protest may cause; however, we feel we are left with no other option as we have exhausted every possible avenue in our attempts to get Transport for London to address our concerns.

 

 

 

2

Whilst we have a number of unresolved issues with the day to day administration at TfL, our main focus is on health, safety and the economy.

 

A number of recent reports, on the worrying decline in London’s air quality, coupled with excessive journey times, have resulted in an unsustainable increase in traffic congestion, this manifests itself in pollution taking London well above safe limits.

 

Approximately 9,500 people are dying prematurely every year, twice as many as previously thought. London has breached EU safety limits on NO2 for five consecutive years. (source King's College London)

 

Oxford Street has the worst NO2 levels in the world.

 

As working Taxi Drivers we are exposed to this toxic pollution more than any other road user; it is often suggested that the Taxis we drive disproportionately contribute to these levels, whilst this is true, it is not of the driver’s choosing. We have a very limited choice over the model of Taxi and design criteria of the vehicles we drive. Transport for London have failed to provide the Taxi trade with an affordable choice of vehicle that is more environmentally friendly and thereby allowing us to compete in an increasingly competitive market.

 

Buses (subsidised by TfL)  are the highest polluters, of all vehicles on London’s roads,  followed by Private Motor cars (because of the number of them on the roads at any time) Taxis are in third place. (source King's College London)

 

3

Another consequence is that of massive real loses to London’s economy. We have used official figures to calculate the loss of productivity, to London every year.

The figures are simply staggering and costly; anybody who needs to travel for business, logistics or the emergency services can attest to this.

 

Transport for London has implemented road traffic management policies that have caused serious damage to London’s health and wealth.

 

When Leon Daniels took on the role of surface transport director at TfL  road speeds in London averaged 8.98mph. This is now below 7mph.

 

Sustrans reported in 2014 that 9.6 million trips as car driver/passenger were taken every day (this figure is rising). Based on official figures London is losing 1.4 billion hours, every year, stuck in traffic jams, creating congestion, pollution and costing UK businesses millions of pounds, of lost income.

 

There are a number of other worrying issues regarding TfL and their fitness to run London’s transportation system.

One of the most concerning issues is the continual rise in rape and sexual assault figures pertaining to Private Hire drivers in London; TfL have failed in their duty to protect the public and their licensing practices must be investigated. The last published figures showed 111 sexual assaults, committed by Private Hire Drivers; the latest figures, that were due to be released in September 2016, are still unavailable and despite FOI requests remain so. Leaked information suggests this has risen to 263 for the six months to September.

 

                                                               4

There have been several allegations of corruption at TfL ranging from contracts awarded for underground 3G infrastructure to tendering for bus contracts.

 

There is an individual who has claimed he was directly told that unless he submits a payment, his solution to a pollution problem will not be accepted. (I have this person's details and he has repeated this accusation to me)

 

There are also some very dubious and questionable relationships between senior TfL staff and mini cab company Uber that have been uncovered, in leaked emails, amounting to “Coaching” answers to difficult questions, that would expose illegal behaviour. We believe this was done with the sole purpose of misleading the public and the Greater London Assembly (GLA).

 

 

There is also the Security risk from lack of enforcement on counter terrorism. A while ago, there was the potential for two very serious incidences. A Private Hire Vehicle (AKA mini cabs) was left unattended, outside a London nightclub whilst filled with gas cylinders; the vehicle was towed away (oblivious to the danger) and upon unloading, at the car pound, a bomb was discovered - fortunately it failed to detonate. A second vehicle, disguised as a mini cab, was identified nearby, by police - that also failed to detonate. With so many PH vehicles parked outside venues and TfLs total lack of effective enforcement this could happen again but next time with unimaginable dire consequences

 

 

 

 

5

 

TfL is an organisation with a budget of £10.4bn 2016/7 but is not accountable to anyone. Even the Mayor seems to have no power to deal with this behemoth of an organisation that is now very apparently out of control.

 

There is something very seriously wrong at TfL but this is not just our view. A recent GLA future proof report, described TfL as “woefully inadequate ; we believe this warrants an inquiry.  We therefore formally request that you grant a Statutory Public Inquiry. For the sake of London's, Health, safety and wealth.

 

We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you or your representatives in order to discuss our concerns in further detail.

 

Yours faithfully

 

 

Len Martin

General Secretary

United Cabbies Group

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Police play it dirty, time to take the gloves off...Jim Thomas.

The met police did everything in their power to disrupt the effect of the demo in Whitehall. They arrived early, put cones and ribbons down the middle of the road and diverge cabs away from Whitehall. 

Four days prior to our protest, wearing masks, carrying weapons and daubing graffiti over public buildings, the police allowed the anti-austerity anonymous group to run a mock for many hours. A peaceful demo by London Taxis drivers and they decide to use heavy handed tactics. 

This is the respect we get, for playing by the rules and letting the authorities know our plans in advance....

Just after 2 pm more cones were strategically placed, cutting off access from Parliament Square. At the same time this aggressive Traffic a Cop (recognise him*) and his team were diverting unsuspecting drivers away from entering Whitehall from Trafalgar Square. 

*Same aggressive traffic cop trying to divert cabs away from the demo.

After Marshals complained, the police relented and within minutes, the demonstrators achieved complete gridlock. 

Outside the gates of Downing Street, Trevor Merralls, vice chair of the UCG gave an emotional speech, before leading a delegation down to number 10, where they handed in a letter to the PM calling for an inquiry into TfL.

We were informed that the tactics employed by the police had actually backfired as the knock on effect from Taxis redirected, had caused chaos reaching back to Kensington in the West and the City in the east. 

Members from the GLA turned up and spoke to the organisers in front of Downing Street. 

Many drivers are now calling for future demos to be unofficial with multiple hits at various locations. 

This isn't the first time the police have not kept to their agreement to let drivers demonstrate peacefully. 

 Support again from the Cabstop and Knowledge students 

 

We have been informed that the Met Police have agreed to meet with the UCG to talk about the continued plying for hire and the use of fog lights by Prius drivers 

One thing that saddened me yesterday was the amount of Taxis I saw with jobs in as I made my way in towards the protest. 

These drivers who carried on working, now have no right to complain about the situation the trade finds itself in. Station ranks were well attended and so was Heathrow. 

Time to take the gloves off. 

  

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A Final Call To Arms : Surrounded...But We Have The Fire Power.

 Never in our London Taxi Trade's history, have we been under such threat and pressure. Never have we had so much competition to remain an iconic world respected trade. Never have we been up against such vigorous and persistent opposition. But worse of all, never in our tenure initially granted by The Protector Oliver Cromwell, have we been governed, controlled and managed, by such a biased, short sighted and duplicitous hierarchy as Transport For London.
 
They appeared to have bent over backwards, to enable our famous and proud service, to dissolve unchallenged without the slightest sign of empathy or loyalty to so many years of platinum standard service to London and it's travelling public.
 
I saw this coming nine years ago, and have bored even myself, let alone my colleagues, and preached  and whined  on and on, that Men were coming to kill us. I didn't trust the commissioners of Law, and neither should I have done.

That of course, is all in the past, I know. But surely, in the precarious and volatile thread that our future now dangles from, it is apparent that a hard and serious challenge is the only perceivable course of action for us ?
 
Surely it is blatantly obvious by now, that the negotiations, meetings, deals and blah, blah effing blah.......has won us nothing ? 

Or is it me ? 

Am I missing something here ?

You see, I have many, many  fantastic friends and colleagues in or industry, and they belong to all different trade clubs, unions and organisations. Nothing wrong with that of course. I understand that. BUT.......only if when push come to very important shove......we all stick together .
 
When the UCG announced imminent trade action, I cheered and clapped in unity, happiness and hope. It is after all, our only hope. We are surrounded folks. The men are here ! They got in through an unlocked back door, they are positioned, tooled up to the teeth and ready to take us out the Taxi game.

So when our colleagues at the United Cabby's Group, call for the back up battalion to give these shysters a fight, come down the ropes and blow the windows out,  it is of absolutely no question about it, that anybody who drives a cab for a living, and wants to continue into the next decade, is certainly gonna be there, to answer our united trade call for assistance ? 

Right ?
 
Don't even ask such a stupid question ! 

Of course we will all be there!

I know some of us belong to other regiments for sure, but we all want to win the war, and as one, we are an army..........aren't we ?  

We all drive the same cabs, don't we ? 

All got the same meters, haven't we? 

All got a bill and a badge, haven't we ?
Of course we have ! 

And we are all London Licensed Taxi Drivers.  All trying to stay in a trade that we have worked so hard to belong to, for so long, under so much pressure from everywhere.
 
I know, that like me, we have all heard the old chestnuts about " So and so is working his socks off behind the scenes " or " Just play it slowly, softly softly catchee monkey " or " So much is being done in the background "
 
You can say that again ! So much IS being done in the background............but it aint from us and if it is, its failed !
 
Unfortunately we've heard that the major trade organisation who claim to support the future of London Taxi drivers ARE NOT WILLING TO SUPPORT THE UCG's CALL !

 
I am not a Diva, I am not anybody special and the trade will certainly run without me. I know that.
 
But when you think of the work that front line action teams like the UCG do to try to claw back a fight that we hold onto by a whisker, I find it an insult to their tenacity and spunk, to refuse a call for solidarity and help.
 
See you there in Whitehall folks. 

This is surely our last chance to be counted.
 
And in the best and most sincere traditions of The Great London Cabby................Be Lucky.
 
8829 Semtex.

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'A clear and present danger'....Someone's Got To Warn The Public!

Someone's got to warn the public now, as TfL appear to be waiting till after Uber are relicensed, before they release the shocking truth about the rape and sexual assault figures.

Whilst the TfL compliance officers harass working Taxi Drivers for the heinous act of not displaying or having credit card stickers in the right place, touting and those playing the 'fog lights game' continues seemingly without any let or hindrance.

If that's 'intelligence led' enforcement then I suggest they get some, intelligence that is.

If that's not bad enough, we have vehicles with bogus MOT's and PH drivers (who could have serious health conditions or be recently discharged from Broadmoor) carrying the public. Any sane person who doesn't live in the Alice in Wonderland (or is it bonus land of TfL) would think every resource would be deployed to stop the unfit vehicles and drivers, but no, apparently and unbelievably they can drive until they next renewal...

If that's not the case TfL aren't denying it.

If someone is injured or worst the lawyers of the victims know who to come for and who to contact for the evidence of this gross dereliction of duty.

We also have a well known PH operator with drivers working 90 plus hours a week to scratch a living whilst the operators proceeds of their exploitation disappear offshore, previously they have even sent messages along the lines of 'you have been logged on for 80 hours, keep it up'.

This alone should have led to an immediate revocation of the operators licence, but we all know it won't happen, Why?

TfL are fighting tooth and nail not to publish the horrendous sexual assault figures Why? 

Could it be it reflects badly on TfL, the police and their apparently favoured operator (see the 'Dear Jo' emails for evidence?)

So LTDA members if you want to know why we are all calling for a parliamentary enquiry, the above should be enough, more than enough.

PR companies won't make it happen nor will the 'comfortable men' at Woodfield Road or their supine associates, we will keep on until the enquiry happens and it will happen if we keep up the pressure.

See you in Whitehall and if you definitely can't make it, see you this Sunday on the Poppy Cabs event.

We are fighting for survival, let's be 'avin you!

I'm Spartacus

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