Mayor Khan Expects Cabbies To Provide The Same Service , As He CutsFunding For Taxicard.

Mayor Sadiq Khan's plan to slash the level of funding he provides for Taxicard services, has come under criticism from London's Local Councils.

The scheme subsidises taxi journeys for the disabled, allowing them to make journeys many would otherwise struggle to afford.

Taxi card holders pay a small amount towards the fare, and the rest is paid by the scheme. 

But the Mayor who funds the scheme through TfL, has announced plans to reduce funding by 13% in the coming financial year, followed by further cuts next year.

"This means fewer journeys or a lower level of subsidy for disabled people using the Taxicard account" said London Councils, a cross-party body, representing all local authorities in the capital. 

Councillor Julian Bell warns that TfL and the Mayor’s decision to draw up the cuts without first carrying out an equalities impact assessment could leave them open to a legal challenge.

Bell, serves as Chair of London Councils Transport and Environment Committee and is also the Labour leader of Ealing Council. 

The Councillors also said that the cuts go against Mr Khan’s election pledge to support the Taxicard scheme. He went on to say; “The scale of cuts proposed would appear to undermine Mayor's statement of support.”

City Hall claimed that despite the proposed cuts, both they and TfL are “fully committed to the Taxicard Scheme, and can guarantee that there will no reduction at all in the service being provided anywhere in London. 

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It's Official, Uber Are Operating Illegally And TfL Are Complicit.... By Jim Thomas

The answer has been there all the time and both TfL and our orgs have completely missed it. 

Listening to the licensing hearing from York yesterday, the subject was touched on more than once. But even so, no one seems to be picking up on this. 

It’s not as if this has been kept secret (like the hacking of Uber customer details, Or GreyBall, or the UberRape stats, of the Uber fake medicals, or the 13,000 Uber drivers with fake DBS certificates), this has been mentioned on oath in two court cases, one in Canada, the other in London at the workers rights tribunal.

There was even an all org meeting called to discuss this issue at Taxi house (which I attended) and it turned out both the RMT and Unite hadn’t bothered to research the subject. 

There was no follow up to this meeting.

All the time, the answer has been there and it doesn’t need an APPG parliamentary commission, or a Judicial review, or a million pound war chest.

So what is this magic bullet ?

Don’t just take my word for it, take the trouble to listen to the webcast in the York licensing post. 

A number of the witnesses giving evidence said virtually the same thing. 

Here is Lee Ward, Chairman of ALPHA, giving his objection at the Licensing hearing, it's just 3 minutes long but gives all the insight needed.

  

At a number of licence applications, Uber were asked a very simple question. 

"Could you tell us who the contract for the journey is between...?"

Who accepts the booking, is it Uber or the driver?

We have been told twice under oath in court, that the driver accepts the booking and this is illegal !!!

At all applications where this question has been asked, Uber gave no reply and the application was subsequently withdrawn.

Why are our orgs not asking this question?

Why haven't TfL asked Uber this question?

PH operators Abstract of Law PHV act 1998.

Sometimes, the answer to the most complicated problems are quite simple.

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MP Jackie Doyle-Price, Wants Law Change To Prevent Uber Operating InThurrock On TfL Licence.

Safety concerns over Uber drivers operating in Thurrock

Concerns have been raised over Uber drivers operating in Thurrock, with the MP for the borough calling for a change in the law.

Jackie Doyle-Price, who is the MP for Thurrock, said she is concerned for public safety and wants the law to change to prevent Uber drivers operating in Thurrock on a TfL licence.

She said: “To qualify for a license you have to be judged as being a fit and proper person. I am aware that there are at least three individuals who had their application for a taxi licence declined by Thurrock Council who subsequently were awarded licences by TfL and offer Uber services.

“It is compromising the licensing regime operated very effectively by Thurrock council and that gives me concerns about public safety.

“The law isn’t fit for purpose and needs reform.

"It was passed in 1831, when Hackney carriages were pulled by horses. It predates the motor car, let alone the smartphone.

“In the meantime I choose not to use Uber. I have never used one and don’t intend to start, no matter how much cheaper they are.”

This comes after it was reported that Uber’s TfL licence review would not be until Spring of next year, meaning they can operate on that licence for at least another three months.

Although Uber drivers are not legally allowed to pickup outside of London on a TfL licence, they are allowed to drop passengers off.

A taxi driver, who works for Thameside Taxis but only wished to disclose his first name – Paul – also raised concerns for people’s safety in the borough.

He said: “I think this is a big issue and my main concern is the safety of the passengers in Thurrock.

“As taxi drivers, we have to go on a Child Sexual Exploitation course and also have to comply with Thurrock Council’s regulations. Uber operate outside the law”

Uber have been contacted twice for comment but have not responded.

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London Taxi Driver Hailed Local Hero.

            Screen shot taken from FaceBook

A black cab driver has been hailed as a 'hero' after helping a nurse get to work during the snow storm over the weekend.

The nurse, who works at Queen's Hospital, found it difficult getting a taxi due to the vast amounts of snow coming down in the area on Saturday night.

A number of companies were asking for double the normal fair due to the inclement weather.

But the nurse - who doesn't want to be named - hailed a cab on the street and on arrival at Queen's he refused to take her money.

The story was shared by a friend of the nurse on Facebook who called him a "hero".

Another person wrote "Well done to the black cab driver you sir are a gentleman" with one saying "Glad there's some good out there"

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Balochistan Activists Accuse London Mayor Of Censorship

LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan has been criticised over his office banning an ad campaign relating to a conflict-ridden region in Pakistan.

The #FreeBalochistan adverts were displayed on London taxis and buses to highlight alleged “war crimes and human rights abuses”, but were later removed by Transport for London (TfL) for allegedly breaching advertising guidelines.

Peter Tatchell, a human rights activist who helped organise the campaign, told Eastern Eye that the ban was an attack on freedom of expression. He accused TfL of allowing a foreign government to “dictate” the adverts it carries.

“Transport for London was wrong to bow to ‘demands’ by the Pakistan government to block these human rights adverts. Pakistan is seeking to ‘impose in Britain the same censorship’ about Balochistan that it imposes inside Pakistan,” Tatchell said.

“The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled that the adverts are legitimate and acceptable, so why is Transport for London still censoring them? I appeal to the mayor to intervene to get the adverts reinstated,” he added.

Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, is Pakistan’s most restive province. It is afflicted by Islamist militancy and sectarian violence as well as the separatist insurgency.

The region, which makes up 44 per cent of Pakistan’s land mass, has often made the headlines with reports of mass kidnappings, torture and executions.

The ASA said it had considered the complaints, including from the Pakistan High Commission, regarding the “Free Balochistan” ads but did not believe there were grounds to launch a formal investigation, despite it being a “politically sensitive issue”.

“After carefully assessing the complaints, ASA council did not consider that the ‘Free Balochistan’ ad made a specific claim that threatened the territorial integrity or sovereignty of Pakistan,” the agency said.

It added that advertisers had a right to express their views as long as the ad was in line with the Advertising Code.

“The ASA’s role is to assess what appears in an ad itself, not to make broader judgements
about the intent or political cause of an ad,” it said.

“As such, without making a judgment on the legitimacy of the cause being advertised, we considered the ad was unlikely to cause serious or widespread offence and did not take further action.”

A spokesperson for TfL said: “The advert did not comply with our advertising guidelines. We instructed London Taxi Advertising to remove them.”

TfL’s advertising policy says “adverts defending the right to life, liberty and security will not normally be banned, even if they are controversial and sensitive”.

Earlier this year, the company allowed the display of an overt political ad campaign relating to the regional dispute in Qatar over alleged human rights abuses.

When asked about this specific instance, TfL said it had “nothing further to add”.

According to media reports in Pakistan, the British high commissioner in Islamabad, Thomas Drew, was summoned by Pakistani authorities on two separate occasions last month over the adverts, which Pakistan said “directly attack its territorial integrity and sovereignty” and should not be allowed on “the soil of a friendly country”.

Bhawal Mengal, a human rights activist from the World Baloch Organisation and coordinator of the ad campaign, claimed that TfL’s actions were “unfair” to the Baloch
people and British values.

He said: “It was surprising that the UK high commissioner would succumb to the pressure so quickly and release a statement that is actually against the UN charter which Britain is a signatory of.

“Sadiq Khan was quick to act on Pakistan’s orders in getting TfL to remove the ads, without realising that if the ads were in fact a major violation of its guidelines, how did they make it on to the cabs and buses to begin with?”

Bhawal claimed such campaigns are important to make people aware of the human rights breaches in the region.

“I would simply ask them to reconsider the adverts, not to give in to Pakistan’s bullying tactics and rather be true to their values and to the values that the UK believes in and stands for,” Mengal added.

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Jamie Owens Explains 'Why I Decided To Leave London Taxi Radio.

Hosted this week by @SuperCabby

Special Guest messages this week:
Drumslayer
Grant Davis

Issues discussed this week:

* Explanation of why I decided to leave LTR
* Uber head to court this week for the appeals process Uber appeal to be heard on 19th April 2018
* Sean Stockings still does not have his license back
* Sean Stockings appeal
* TFL Scrap the need for 13,000 PH drivers with fake DBS checks to reapply for their license
* Fraser Nash not started production of the Metrocab due to impending Supreme Court decision issued by LTC/LEVC
* Call for handsfree mobile phones to be banned
* Get launch on Demand Porsche cars
* New Website for Cab Chat Show
* Uber licensing decision in York
* Uber licensing decision in Leicester

Email: admin@cabchatshow.uk
Tel: 07784 161656
http://cabchatshow.uk

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More Traffic Khanage On Holloway Road, Plus Another Waste Of Time Consultation.

From 01:00 on Monday 18 December until 04:00 on Monday 8 January, the A1 Holloway Road will be closed in both directions between Digswell Street and Highbury Corner roundabout. This is while we demolish and build a stronger Highbury Corner Bridge. 

Travel advice

 

Signed diversions will be in place for all traffic. Roads in and around the area are expected to be busier than usual, especially during peak hours. Buses will be delayed, diverted or stop short of their normal destination. Access to the station, local shops and businesses will be possible at all times. 

Please plan ahead and allow more time for journeys. For full details, please visit http://ift.tt/1PWBuYM

I apologise for the inconvenience caused by these essential works.

Yours sincerely,

Nick Fairholme

Oh No... Not Another Useless Consultation!

TfL are consulting on the next stage of the Mayor, Sadiq Khan’s plan to help tackle London’s toxic air pollution, which contributes to thousands of early deaths in our city each year. 

To have your say visit 

http://ift.tt/2ASit9P

From 8 April 2019, the Mayor is introducing the Ultra Low Emission Zone in central London, replacing the T-Charge with an even tighter emission standards for diesel vehicles. There will also be new Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) licencing requirements from 2018.  

Further information on what this means for private hire vehicles can be found here

 

To help further reduce toxic emissions in London, the Mayor is also now proposing to:

  • Extend these tighter emissions standards to the whole of London for lorries, buses and other heavy goods vehicles only in 2020 

  • Expand the ULEZ for all vehicles including cars, vans, motorbikes and minibuses up to the North and South circular roads in 2021 

 

This consultation ends on 21 February 2018.

Yours sincerely, 

Alex Williams,

Director of City Planning, TfL

TAXI LEAKS EXTRA BIT

If TfL were really serious about tackling London's so called Toxic air, then the Mayor should step in to stop the massive amount of congestion being caused by the segregated cycle super highways. 

We now have 24hr congestion on many London roads that wasn't there before the lanes were put in. 

Also the over supply of London buses needs to be dealt with. At the last bus strike, London's pollution level dropped by 50% but a blind eye as always was turned towards these statistics. 

 

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