A South Oxhey taxi company is seeking permission to increase its fares.

South Oxhey Radio Taxis (SORT) is proposing to change its start fare from £2.70 to £2.90 - an increase of 7.4 per cent - and to extend the night charging hours by a further hour in the morning to 6am.

SORT says the increased fare is necessary due to the increase in fuel costs, taxi insurance and the cost of purchasing new vehicles since fares were last set in 2011.

The company identifies a 5.3 per cent increase in fuel costs, a 33 per cent increase in insurance and a nine per cent increase in new vehicle cost.

A report by officers from Three Rivers District Council attacked the figures produced by SORT as "not a broad reflection of costs".

The report recommends it be refused on the grounds that "aspects of this proposal are out of line with the inflation of the Retail Price Index" and that a time limit of three years be set before any further review is carried out.

The taxi company’s application to the council’s Regulatory Services Committee, which is due to be considered this evening (Wednesday, June 5).

Beauty is to be found on the inside of the Nissan NV200 “Taxicab of Tomorrow.” The box-like little van is officially tagged as New York City’s next taxicab, and the first examples are due to enter service in October of this year. We hopped aboard for a sneak peek at what New Yorkers, not to mention tourists visiting the Big Apple, can expect in future taxicab rides.

Soon to be as ubiquitous as the hot dog stand. The Taxi of Tomorrow is here...almost. The Daily News takes a first ride in the new yellow cab during a test run in New York City.

New Yorkers’ idea of a luxurious ride is a taxicab that doesn’t stink. That’s according to Peter Bedrosian, Nissan’s product planner for the upcoming NV200 New York taxicab, which goes on-duty this October. Nissan’s taxi-related research clinics found that, amongst other features, New Yorkers desperately want a clean cab, one that is free of funky odors.

PHOTOS: NEW YORK CITY'S TAXI HISTORY FROM PAST TO FUTURE

In that regard, the Nissan NV200 “Taxi of Tomorrow” is off to a sweet-smelling start. The model we recently rode in, for a short loop on the streets of Manhattan, still had its new car/new cab smell. Credit goes to the antimicrobial and breathable rear seats, along with a carbon-lined headliner designed to absorb odors. Time will tell whether or not the NV200 remains this fresh once it enters regular service, of course.

That happens later this year, on October 31, to be exact. From that point onwards, and for the next 10 years, the NV200 is slated to be the official New York taxicab. As older cabs are retired – at a rate of roughly 2,500 per year – the NV200 will gradually take their place.

The rear seat of the Taxi of Tomorrow holds three passengers, much like most of the current fleet. What sets them apart? Anti-microbial fabric keeps odors away while loads of legroom keeps passengers comfortable — even in rush hour traffic.

Based on Nissan’s NV200 utility van, the New York taxi variant has undergone a grueling amount of testing and evaluation ahead of its launch. Nissan even recreated a ‘New York City style’ road at its proving grounds in Stanfield, Arizona.

The inspiration for this stretch of punishing asphalt came from an actual New York road, located near JFK airport. Nissan’s engineering team found this was a particularly rough patch, with plenty of bumps and large undulations that would unsettle a taxi – not to mention the increasingly queasy occupants.

Nissan’s engineers have confirmed this particularly ‘inspiring’ road has since been paved over. Could this be some sort of taxicab cover-up? Might Nissan be filling potholes in the middle of the night, purely to protect top-level taxicab engineering secrets?

Um, no. Our apologies to any cab conspiracy theorists out there.

Ride like the city is yours! A panoramic glass roof on the latest taxi will allow for breathtaking views of the city, making that old Crown Victoria seem even more like an ancient relic.

If Nissan had anything to hide, all would soon be revealed during our ride-along in the NV200. Dual sliding doors make getting in and out easy, as does a low and flat floor – which, incidentally, also makes the NV200 much easier to clean after each shift.

Lights at the back of the NV200 (on either side of the rear window) signal when the cab is vacant, and a ‘walking man’ icon alerts other drivers and bicyclists that someone is getting in or out of the cab. The doors glide easily and, once inside, there is a ton of legroom. The width of the rear bench seat can comfortably accommodate three adults, at least for a short cross-town ride. There is also room for one passenger up front. When that front seat isn’t in use, however, it can be folded down and the back functions as a work table for the driver.

Source: Daily News online 06/06/13

New York yesterday:

A court of appeal has thrown out the lawsuit, a last minuet injunction that stopped the use of hailing apps by limousine car services and Taxicabs opening the doors to Uber.

More importantly, Mayor Bloomberg has backed up his threat to "destroy" their "fucking industry" by winning a court ruling which will now allow people in outer boroughs to hail new Taxi and car services without pre booking, changing laws that have stood for many years.

This article from the Verge :

A New York City court ruled today that people can use smartphone apps to digitally hail taxicabs, clearing the way for a new pilot program set to launch soon. The ruling is a move forward for proponents of the technological advance, and for the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC), which adopted the measure in December. Several car services and the Livery Roundtable (a union which represents nearly 20,000 livery drivers) sued the TLC in February, arguing that the program would violate city codes, and that discrimination based on location, age, and race, could ensue. The court threw out that lawsuit today, following a last-minute injunction against taxi-hailing apps in early May.

In New York City, taxicabs can only be hailed in person, while car services can be arranged in advance. This has caused contentious debates surrounding services such as Uber, which, in other cities, make possible the hailing of both black car services and the less costly taxicabs.

To further complicate matters, car service (i.e., non-medallion cars) hailing is only legal within the confines of Manhattan, with the outer boroughs (where cabs are fewer) served primarily by livery services available using smartphone applications and call-ahead services. Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration, however, today won a ruling in Albany which would allow people in the outer boroughs to hail car service cars without pre-arrangement, changing the longstanding laws against the practice. Bloomberg's relationship with the TLC has been extremely strained, with the New York Post reporting that the mayor vowed to "destroy" their "fucking industry" in late May when asked about his plan to replace all taxicabs with the fuel efficient Nissan NV200, a measure which the TLC opposes.

Once instituted, the pilot program allowing smartphone hailing will be available to all New York City cab drivers, though participation will be optional. In a statement to Bloomberg, Mayor Bloomberg said, "In New York City in 2013, common sense and the free market say that you should be able to use your smartphone to get a cab, and that’s why we created a pilot program to allow users to do just that."

This from the Wall Street Journal:

The state Court of Appeals unanimously upheld Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s plan to allow a new class of taxi service in boroughs outside Manhattan, reversing a lower court that said the mayor had skirted City Council opposition by going to the state legislature instead.

The ruling is a major victory for Mr. Bloomberg on one of his signature efforts to reform the way New York City’s taxis, liveries, black cars and limousines operate.

In this case, Mr. Bloomberg and Taxi and Limousine Commission Chairman David Yassky have said they want to allow up to 18,000 livery cars to begin offering street-hail service in areas that are under-served by the existing city fleet of 13,000 yellow cabs, which do virtually all of their business at the city airports and in Manhattan’s business and nightlife districts.

But a state court judge in Manhattan declared the so-called “boro taxi” plan unconstitutional in 2012, deciding that Mr. Bloomberg had violated the Home Rule provision of the state Constitution, among other provisions. The state law was an end-run around the City Council, which had traditionally set the city’s taxi rules, Justice Arthur Engoron ruled.

The court of appeals unanimously overruled that reading in the decision released Thursday, saying that the taxi law addressed “a matter of substantial State concern,” which justifies the legislature’s role in passing the plan.

all 64 news sources »

An angry mob surrounded a taxi driver in Cambridge after an 88-year-old woman was badly injured attempting to avoid the vehicle as it rode a pavement.

The dangers of city taxis flooding ranks and parking on double-yellow lines came into sharp focus after the incident involving Vera Mowat.

She was visiting the city from her home near Kettering with her daughter and grandson and was about to cross St Andrew’s Street when a taxi mounted a pavement to park on double-yellow lines.

The pensioner said: “He wasn’t going to stop and almost knocked me over. I tried to get out of his way and fell over and came clattering down.

“The street was heaving with people who saw what happened and this angry crowd surrounded the taxi. They were absolutely furious and were shouting at him and my grandson was very angry. He was lucky he got away without someone taking serious action against him.”

The pensioner was helped across the road to John Lewis and the ambulance service was called.

She said: “The doctors said they had never seen bruising like it. My whole leg is purple and the lower side of me is extensively bruised. I can hardly walk and the pain is terrible.

“I am just so angry. I didn’t call the police, which is something I really regret now. I know Cambridge has a problem with taxis parking on double yellow lines. Something has to be done about it.”

The incident happened just after 1pm last Friday.

Police targeted taxis in St Andrew’s Street amid concerns cars queuing beyond the end of the rank pose a hazard to pedestrians and cyclists issuing 50 fines from February to April for causing an unnecessary obstruction.

David Wratten, a director and chairman of Cambridge City Licensed Taxis, which represents the trade, was appalled by the incident.

He said: “We certainly would not condone mounting the pavement. That is a very busy area and although it is difficult to pick up and drop of passengers it is very dangerous to mount the pavement. We would discourage our members, or anyone, to do that.”

A police spokesman said: “We were not made aware of this incident however, we will continue to crackdown on any motorist who ignores parking restrictions, especially if their actions put pedestrians or other road users in danger.”

Source: Cambridge News on-line

EDITORIAL COMMENT:

The situation in Cambridge has come about by the Licensing Authorities deregulation of the Hackney carriage services.

Councillors and environmental campaigners, continually complain about emissions from Taxi exhausts, but authorities do not provide adequate ranking facilities. And it's even worse in London.

In London we see too many Taxis having to queue just to access ranks. Just a few decades ago, there was one rank space for every Taxi licensed. Today there is only one rank space per 65 Taxis.

Ranks Update notice:

Over-ranking

Complaints have continued to be received about taxis over-ranking and queuing on the corner of Hans Road/Basil Street/near Walton Place. This is obstructing other vehicles and causing problems for local residents and businesses. If the taxi ranks serving Harrods are full then drivers must not queue in the road and should move on.

Workers who lost their jobs at a Coventry-based taxi maker are being given the chance to apply for about 30 new vacancies.

The London Taxi Company, formerly LTI, was sold to Chinese firm Geely in February after owners Manganese Bronze Holdings went into administration.

About 99 out of 176 jobs were lost after the move into administration.

The jobs are at the Holyhead Road site and Unions say 77 former workers are being sent letters about them.

Thirty-two new vacancies will be offered to about 77 ex-production team members, with a view to "low-level production" starting in mid-August.

Peter Johansen, vice president of The London Taxi Company, said: "We've already recruited 38 employees this year and we've got 58 in total that we're going to be taking on in the coming months [across the UK].

"Thirty -two of those will be in production in the Coventry factory in the next couple of months, so it's good news."

He said full production would hopefully begin by the end of September.

"We've sold over 200 new cabs in the UK in the last couple of weeks and we've got a five-week waiting list for a new cab," he said.

"Internationally it's going to be a record year for us because we've already taken orders for over 800 vehicles and there's many more orders pending."

Peter Coulson from the Unite Union said he is "quite optimistic" that there will be more jobs in the future.

He said: "In terms of the new jobs, they're totally new engagements, but they will be actually taken on to previous rates of pay and also the hours of work… so its's very, very good news."

Source BBC News

Again the good name of London's licensed Taxi trade, voted the best Taxi service in the world for many years running, has come under attack from a substandard news paper and a minicab firm with stick on fruit used as an unauthorised livery.

Is this VHS and Betamax all over against?

The news item, also carried online by the Transport Research Laboratory stated

"The launch of an electric taxi fleet in the British capital has been delayed after it emerged that the existing charging network is not compatible with the vehicles."

We would also point out that the vehicles in question are not now or ever will be TAXIS, they are minicabs.

As the Substandard reports, "Green Tomato Cars had been planning to have its electric taxis on the roads by June 21st, but now they will not be operating until late summer at the earliest."

For Green Tomato Cars to have a fleet of electric Taxis, first they will have to buy a fleet of vehicles that conform to the conditions of fitness laid down under the Hackney carriage and London Cab Acts. These vehicles would of course have to be wheelchair compatible, have a turning circle less than 25 feet and could only then be used in service by licensed Taxi drivers.

Good luck with that Hamish! Or did you really mean electric minicabs?

"While London currently has some 1,300 charging points, only one is compatible with the Chinese-built cars, and the minicab firm is now calling for the introduction of more rapid charge stations."

At this point we would ask, how much is this minicab firm's owners and backers going to invest in these new charging stations, or are they expecting us as rate payers to pick up the bill for their private, commercial venture?

Hamish Phillips, a Green Tomato Spokesman, said: "The infrastructure is not in place to run an operation like ours.

"Our cars are in use 12 hours a day travelling between 120 and 150 miles. We can’t have them standing idle."

"Green Tomato already has a 300-strong fleet of hybrid vehicles on the roads, but has not set a definitive date by which it expects to have its 50 electric taxis in service."

So by the last statement we would assume the fleets drivers have signed up to do "The Knowledge". As this takes on average 44 months this will give them plenty of time to save up for proper LTPH approved Taxis.

Lets not forget, in a previous article on Taxi Leaks, we were informed that in China and Japan, customers are avoiding electric Taxis like the plague. To save battery usage drivers refuse to put the radio on, disable the heater (giving passengers a blanket) and dangerously drive on side lights really using wipers. Many Taxi drivers in Tokyo refuse to drive electric cabs as their taking fall.

Just imaging the scenario:

Car picks up from the Royal Albert Hall at 11pm. It's raining and freezing cold. Passenger wants to go to Heathrow hotel.

Driver gives passenger a blanket opens drivers window and using a squeegee on a stick, clears the screen. As the minicab approaches Heston services, the driver announces, "Just got to top up the power mate, be about an hour if you want to grab a cuppa."

Below, the Chinese electric BYD, not compatible with current charging stations.

It seems the Mayors ignorance knows no bounds.

Despite the fact that he now has conclusive evidence that the taxi age limit is of no benefit to reduce pollution he is still in denial.

When asked in Mayors questions about the recent Supreme Court ruling which confirmed that legal limits for NO2 had not been met, the Mayor still claims that they have and still brags that he has implemented a taxi age limit
.

Supreme Court Judgement - nitrogen dioxide (1)

Question No: 1296 / 2013

Stephen Knight

Does the Supreme Court’s declaration that the UK is in breach of Article 13 of the EU Air Quality Directive, adding that the way is now “open to immediate enforcement”, increase the likelihood that any resulting fines will be delegated to the Greater London Authority (GLA) under new powers contained within the Localism Act (2011)?

Written response from the Mayor

This is a matter for Defra. I am focused on improving air quality in London and have put in place an ambitious package of measures, including tighter Low Emission Zone standards, retiring the oldest taxis and cleaning up the bus fleet.

These measures have already reduced emissions of NOx by 20 per cent and of PM10 by 15 per cent.

(an absolute lie)

Supreme Court Judgement - nitrogen dioxide (2)

Question No: 1297 / 2013

Stephen Knight

What new actions do you propose to take to reduce NO2 levels in London as a result of the recent UK Supreme Court Judgement that London’s air pollution is in breach of Article 13 of the EU Air Quality Directive in relation to NO2?

Written response from the Mayor

I refer the Assembly Member to my answer to his previous question (MQ1296) in regard to the ambitious package of measures I have introduced since becoming the Mayor.

Furthermore, on 13th February I announced a package of additional air quality measures to be delivered in my second term and up to 2020, including:

- a new Ultra Low Emission Zone for central London from 2020, subject to a feasibility study

- retiring the remaining 900 oldest Euro III buses in TfL's fleet and replacing them with ultra-low emission Euro VI buses

- accelerating the roll out of hybrid buses, with 1,600 on the road by 2016 including 600 of my iconic New Bus for London. This is equivalent to around 20 per cent of TfL's bus fleet

- new measures to reduce emissions and clean up construction sites

- retrofitting a further 24,000 homes, public buildings and schools with energy efficiency measures

- introducing a new £20m Mayor's Air Quality Fund to support the boroughs in tackling local air quality hotspots.

Source: With thanks to Dave Davies.

Is it all over for Tim Yeo?

The Energy and Climate Change select committee chairman has been stung by the Sunday Times, offering to become a paid advocate for a fake firm for £7,000-a-day.

Conservative MP Tim Yeo, who chairs the Commons Energy and Climate Change Committee, is alleged to have used his position to help a private company influence Parliament.

Sunday Times investigators secretly filmed the former environment minister.

The paper alleges he coached the boss of a firm, owned by a company that was paying Mr Yeo, before the businessman gave evidence to his committee.

Mr Yeo denies this, and says he intends to contest all the allegations.

Yeo Sees the Light Over Climate Change

Here is a sound bite from everyone’s favourite Green Tomato, Tory Tim Yeo back in 2009:

“The dying gasps of the deniers will be put to bed. In five years time, no one will argue about a man-made contribution to climate change.”

And here he is this week on the perils of man made climate change:

“The first thing to say is it does not represent any threat to the survival of the planet. None at all. The planet has survived much bigger changes than any climate change that is happening now. Although I think the evidence that the climate is changing is now overwhelming, the causes are not absolutely clear. There could be natural causes, natural phases that are taking place.”

Presumably he’ll be buying shares in Shell next.

The conflicted chairman of the Energy and Climate Change select committee has time and time again flown the green flag this year, insisting that it is mere coincidence he makes over £100,000 a year from his own renewable energy investments.

Even if a conflict of interest is declared, its still a conflict of interest…

Tim's Taxis:

There was particular interest in Tim Yeo’s taxi troubles over last summer. There was a distinctly nasty smell lingering around Eco City Vehicles, an environmentally-friendly taxi company chaired by Yeo, and their wheeler deal to conveniently introduce an age limit for London’s taxis. The job earned Yeo some £440 per hour, but when Number 10 started sniffing around he quickly resigned on the quiet. Guilty conscience?

The latest Register of Members’ Interests shows that Yeo pocketed £40,000 for 91 hours work at Eco City last year, thats a generous £440-an-hour.

Sources BBC news and Guido Fawks

The Sunday Times undercover operation has allegedly exposed corrupt conduct of Tim Yeo , Chair of the Energy and Climate Change Committee. In a meeting which was filmed he was asked if he could help a fictitious Solar Company and he bragged ‘I’ve got a very close relationship with all the key players in the UK Government’ and said ‘I think I could help define how to influence the policy process here, at a national level and on a local level...’

Extract from the Sunday Times

THE Tory MP in charge of scrutinising new energy laws has been caught boasting about how he can use his leadership of a powerful Commons committee to push his private business interests.

Tim Yeo told undercover reporters — posing as representatives of a firm offering to hire him — that he was close to “really all the key players in the UK in government” and could introduce them to “almost everyone you needed to get hold of in this country”.

He said he could not speak out for them publicly in the Commons because “people will say he’s saying this because of his commercial interest”. But he assured them: “What I say to people in private is another matter altogether.”

Yeo, chairman of the energy and climate change committee, was approached by reporters claiming to represent a green energy company.

These statements are shocking, but what is more shocking is that he has not just said that he could potentially do these things to the undercover reporter, he has allegedly been doing this for years and getting away with it.

In 2007 Tim Yeo was appointed as Chairman of Eco-City Vehicles, a role for which he has been received substantial reward of tens of thousands of pounds and shares in the company.

It is also alleged that while he was Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, and he used his position to ‘influence the policy process’ and used his ‘close relationship with the key players in Government’ to benefit his own company Eco-City Vehicles.

In 2009 at the Tory party conference, Yeo suggested an Age Limit for London Taxis, saying that in order to reduce pollution older vehicles should be scrapped.

In 2010 Boris Johnson (obviously one of the ‘key players’ Yeo refers to ) proposed an Age Limit for London Taxis in his proposed Air Quality Strategy to reduce pollution in London.

The Department of Transport had previously advised Transport for London against imposing an Taxi Age Limit on the basis of emissions because ‘the older taxis are not necessarily more polluting than the newer taxis’.

Many London Assembly Members and MPs asked the Mayor on many occasions to conduct testing to prove that the older taxis were more polluting and he flatly refused to conduct even the most basic testing.

Public Law requires that the Mayors decisions are evidence based.

An improper and unlawful consultation for the Taxi Age Limit was carried out which involved the CEO of Eco-City Vehicles. A similar Age Limit Consultation in Newport in Wales was ruled to be unlawful by a High Court Judge.

The London Taxi Age Limit was implemented by Boris Johnson in January 2012, needlessly scrapping several thousand London Taxis and forcing operators and drivers to buy Tim Yeo’s new Mercedes Vito Taxis.

When LTPH Director John Mason was asked about the shortage of vehicles last year he said "There are plenty of new Mercedes Vitos to buy or lease."

The improper and unlawful involvement of Eco City Vehicles in the Taxi Age Limit Consultation was exposed in September 2012 and Tim Yeo immediately resigned his position as Chairman, although absolutely no disciplinary action was taken against him.

London MP Andy Slaughter challenged Boris Johnson about the improper consultation and in a letter the Mayor replied that Eco-City Vehicles had no involvement whatsoever in the taxi age limit consultation.

This is proven to be factually incorrect by the TFL minutes of the consultation meetings, which show Eco City Vehicles CEO Peter Da Costa attending the meetings and persuading others to impose an age limit.

Boris Johnson claims to have had no contact with Tim Yeo, even though Tim Yeo now claims to have a close relationship with all the key players.

In 2012 the Environmental Research Group at Kings College London was commissioned by the City of London Corporation and Ealing Council to conduct proper emissions testing on vehicles in London, and the emissions of more than 10,000 taxis were measured using a new roadside technology.

In May 2013 Defra published the report from this testing which showed that the older taxis were no more polluting than the newer taxis , and in fact that the brand new Mercedes Vito taxis (that drivers had been forced to buy at £43k from Yeo’s company) were actually creating MORE NO2 than the older taxis.

However, the result is that there has been absolutely no reduction in pollution in London in 10 years. The Mayors own research has shown that 4267 people a year are dying from pollution and absolutely nothing g has been done to change that.

There should be an immediate and urgent Public Inquiry into the corrupt practices which have directly resulted in thousands of deaths from pollution.

We have all seen the Defra report. One of the most important reports to hit out trade for many years.

The report proves the 15 year Age Limit on Taxis was completely unnecessary and was not supported by technical or scientific evidence.

But what do we get from the LTDA, LCDC and Unite...the ones who engage with LTPH directly through the "engagement policy"?

Absolutely not one word.

Not one word in the Taxi Magerzine
Not one word in the Cab Trade News
Nothing in the Badge

Have they been ordered to remain silent?
Is this the price the UTG have to pay for membership of the engagement policy team?

Last week, news that in the last 6 months, LTPH/TfL/STC teams have only managed to revoke the licenses of 6 touts (these cases are subject to appeals and could amount to less).

Incredibly, it has taken Safer Travel Command (ex-TOCU) officers, The Mets Cab enforcement teams and LTPH compliance teams, six months to catch and convict 6 touts!
One copper on a push bike could do better than that on a Monday night at just one location, Swallow Street.

Not one word from the UTG!

We have also learned recently that Boris categorically lied to the GLA about NO2 emissions concerning new and older Taxis. The Defra report states that older cabs produce less NO2 than TX4 euro5 and Mercedes Vitos. In fact the highest emissions of NO2 come from Vitos 111 and 113.

Not one word from the UTG!

Plus today news broke regarding Tim Yeo in the lobby Gate tapes (old news already posted on this blog but this time supported by undercover video)

As of yet, nothing from the UTG. Not one word...

One third of the licensed Taxi trade are paying subscriptions, to representative groups who appear to be gagged by the engagement policy.

LTPH's engagement policy, has bought our trade to its knees and we will never be able to stand tall again, while its in place.

Try this one on for size.

From the 17th of June, licensing authorities will no long be informed what is on your CRB check

No I'm not making this up

Only the applicant gets a copy of the CRB check

The appropriate authority will be informed if this check is clear or there is something on it...but they won't have the right to know directly from the bureau what's on it.

Therefore, appertaining to the London Taxi trade, If/when LTPH are advised, that the information disclosed to the applicant is not judged to be clear, they will then have to write and ask the applicant to forward on the original certificate.

Complicated...you bet!

Does this leave the door open for possible corruption...you bet!

Does this add another layer to the process where information could be lost...you bet!

LTPH will then make a copy of this certificate and return original to the driver.

So, LTPH will have a cheap photo copy rather than their own official copy of the disclosure document. This copy will then be destroyed when a decision has been made about the application.

The CRB check will be renamed a Document and Barring Check (D&B)

UPDATE SERVICE:

There is however (at a price) a new update service available, which allows LTPH to go on line at any time and check you criminal record status.

This means that you will still have to apply and pay for your CRB check, but LTPH will be able to check on line (also at any time while the license is current) rather than write to you and ask for the original.

For the pleasure of saving LTPH two lots of postage and allowing them to carry out online record checks free of charge, you will be required to pay £13 annually. Any driver who subscribes to the new Update Service will need to provide LTPH with details on their licence application form and confirm that they consent to them carrying out the online check.

They will all, of course, argue that by you paying the added fee, it will ensure that your details are more secure! We would argue, FOLLOW THE MONEY!

TfL say the changes are being made by the DBS and not by TfL. It is one of the government’s priorities to overhaul the criminal records regime to give individuals greater control of their own information". That is until LTPH asks for it.

A Moscow-based luxury Minicab start-up is hoping to expand beyond Russia, targeting London as its next destination in a determined, technology-driven business plan.

Wheely already operates a fleet of Mercedes around Russia's capital, employing over 100 drivers, and running the entire business from a mobile app.

In Russia Taxis cannot be booked from a telephone service, and even customer feedback such as lost property must be reported by email. This keeps down the cost of employing call centre operatives.

"We initially thought we were going to operate SaaS to other car companies, but we then realised we could actually use it just for ourselves," Anton Chirkunov, founder of Wheely, said earlier this week.

With no driver's licence and so "using taxis quite a lot", 23-year-old Chirkunov is basing his business formula on low overheads and reasonable pricing - especially important when it comes to cracking London's Minicab trade.

"When you look at the London market, there is a lot of competition, and Addison Lee is just one of them," said Chirkunov.

"And I am going to compete on price and on service. So right now I am going to be charging around £41-43 to their £79 [for a trip into central London from Heathrow."

Having already carried out a ‘soft launch' around the Olympics, Chirkunov has already succeeded in integrating himself into the London Minicab community, making a particularly useful hire:

"My general manager in London is from Addison Lee," Chirkunov revealed, before announcing that he intends to double his current 20 London drivers to between 40 and 45 by the service's official launch on 19 June.

Initially, the company will be hiring Toyota Prius drivers, but is hoping to begin operating a fleet of Mercedes E class and S class vehicles after launch. The cars are luxurious indeed, with free, fast Wi-Fi included as well as leather interiors and tinted windows.

When initially tested, their app, on an iPhone 5, did run into trouble on a few occasions, inaccurately gauging our location which meant pickup points got confused, but drivers were helpful and courteous - despite a language barrier - and problems could well have been down to 3G roaming connections.

Conservative MP Tim Yeo is to stand aside as chairman of a committee while claims he used the role to help a private company influence Parliament are being investigated.

The MP rejects suggestions he coached a businessman employed by a firm with which he has financial links on what to say in evidence to the committee.

But Mr Yeo said he did not want the probe to "distract" its work.

Labour had said it was "difficult to see" how Mr Yeo could have continued.

Mr Yeo, chairman of the Commons Energy and Climate Change Committee, was secretly filmed by Sunday Times investigators posing as representatives of a fictional energy company seeking to hire his services.

In the recording, he appears to suggest that he told a businessman what to say to his committee before the businessman appeared before MPs last month.

'Smooth running'

At the meeting, Mr Yeo publicly excused himself from questioning GB Railfreight managing director John Smith because of his acknowledged conflict of interest as a non-executive director and shareholder in its parent firm Eurotunnel.

Mr Yeo's work for the company is declared in the MPs' register of financial interests and he mentioned it at the start of the committee hearing into the bio-energy industry.

Excerpts from The Sunday Times secret recording

But in the secret recording, the MP claims what he did for GB Railfreight "in private was another matter altogether" and he "was able to tell him (Mr Smith) in advance what he should say".

Mr Yeo, who has referred himself to the parliamentary standards commissioner, has said he had chatted briefly with Mr Smith five days before the hearing during a visit to one of the firm's freight trains.

But he has "absolutely and unreservedly" denied the suggestion that he had told him what to say.

The BBC's political correspondent Chris Mason said momentum had been building for Mr Yeo to step aside ahead of a meeting of the committee on Tuesday - with Labour making it clear they would no longer support him.

In a statement, Mr Yeo said he had taken the decision to temporarily relinquish his post "solely to ensure the smooth running of the committee during the next few weeks".

He added: "I firmly believe that I have not breached the MPs' code of conduct in any respect and therefore await the outcome of the commissioner's investigation with confidence.

"I do not wish the commissioner's investigation to be a distraction from the committee's important work. I believe that during the past three years the committee has been extremely effective and I want this to continue."

'Serious questions'

Before Mr Yeo made the announcement, Labour said he was facing "serious" questions about his conduct and allegations that he had "used his position to further the interests of his clients".

"Tim Yeo has the right to defend himself but it is difficult to see how he can continue as chair of the select committee pending investigation by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner," shadow Cabinet Office minister Gareth Thomas had said.

Eurotunnel is the sole owner of GB Railfreight, having bought the firm in 2010.

Mr Yeo and other select committee chairmen are elected to their posts by other MPs for the duration of Parliament.

They receive a supplementary payment of £14,728 in addition to their MP's salary of £66,396.

The allegations come amid calls for a tightening of the rules around lobbying of ministers and MPs to ensure greater transparency, with the government promising to bring forward legislation in the coming weeks.

Source: BBC news.

PRISON chiefs were slammed last night for wasting millions of pounds pampering Britain’s lags.

Figures obtained yesterday revealed the Ministry of Justice signed off £4.3million of contracts to private firms.

These included nearly £1m on minicab firms to ferry inmates and staff between jails around the UK.

More than £700,000 was blown on a troupe of actors hired to try to rehabilitate prisoners through role play to help them to get jobs. Three prisons ran up an £84,000 bill between them making sure convicts got nice haircuts.

Around £60,000 was spent bringing in cleaners at East Midlands jails to mop up blood and dirt.

Invoices also showed the cost of everyday items, such as £100,000 on toothbrushes and even £23,000 on whistles for guards.

The figures were published by the ministry in contracts signed off last year. They emerged as Chancellor George Osborne warned Cabinet colleagues to slash spending ahead of another round of budget cuts.

He already reduced the department’s budget from £9billion at the start of the Coalition Government to £6.8bn.

Matthew Sinclair, of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: “Taxpayers will be taken aback by the amount of their money that is being spent on these prison contracts.

“It’s shocking that at a time when departments are reducing costs, this massive amount is being spent on things like minicab fares.

“The ministry must look closely at exactly where taxpayers’ cash is going.”

Tory MP Priti Patel said last night: “In an age of austerity this example of profligate waste shows the extent to which the Ministry of Justice needs to get a grip on the amount it is spending.

“These items need to be first on the list for the spending review to see where savings can be made.

“The public will be appalled at the waste.”

The next time you receive a penalty for picking up a passenger on Zig Zag lines of a Zebra Crossing, should you appeal?

I totally believe that their is no law that states a Taxi stopping to pick up a passenger is parked. This is why we are allowed to stop to pick up and set down in bus lanes, on double yellow, or double red lines even with chevrons on the kerb, because in Law, we are not parked.

I recently asked the DoT for the guild lines on Zig Zag Lines and was sent a link to a web page here is that page:

Part 5:Pedestrian crossings (191 to 199)

191

You MUST NOT PARK on a crossing or in the area covered by the zig-zag lines.

You MUST NOT OVERTAKE the moving vehicle nearest the crossing or the vehicle nearest the crossing which has stopped to give way to pedestrians.
Laws ZPPPCRGD regs 18, 20 & 24, RTRA sect 25(5) & TSRGD regs 10, 27 & 28

192

In queuing traffic, you should keep the crossing clear.

Highway Code - Rule 192 Keep The Crossing Clear

193

You should take extra care where the view of either side of the crossing is blocked by queuing traffic or incorrectly parked vehicles. Pedestrians may be crossing between stationary vehicles.

194

Allow pedestrians plenty of time to cross and do not harass them by revving your engine or edging forward.

195

Zebra crossings. As you approach a zebra crossing

look out for pedestrians waiting to cross and be ready to slow down or stop to let them cross
you MUST give way when a pedestrian has moved onto a crossing
allow more time for stopping on wet or icy roads
do not wave or use your horn to invite pedestrians across; this could be dangerous if another vehicle is approaching
be aware of pedestrians approaching from the side of the crossing.

A zebra crossing with a central island is two separate crossings (see pictures in Crossings (18 to 30)).
Law ZPPPCRGD reg 25

I could be wrong, but i believe the DoT have failed to supply me with any proof of law or Highway Code rule/guideline that prohibits stoping to pick a passenger on Zig Zags and is unlawful or shows that picking up a passenger would render a vehicle as parked.

Rule 191 clearly states, you MUST NOT park on a crossing or in the area covered by the zig-zag lines.

You MUST NOT overtake the moving vehicle nearest the crossing or the vehicle nearest the crossing which has stopped to give way to pedestrians.

But there doesn't seem to be any section applicable to Zig Zags that states you must not stop to pick up or set down passengers, whether a Taxi or private vehicle.

Only been done once in 40 years for picking up on a zig zag, but I will no longer be paying this penalty in future, and will challenge all the way to the adjudicators.

minicabit launches nationwide Private Hire Taxi booking app with O2 investment

Service can make it easier and more affordable for visitors to venues to book minicabs

London 16th May 2013 – O2, the UK mobile operator, has invested in minicabit to launch the first nationwide minicab booking app for smartphones.

minicabit app

minicabit (www.minicabit.com) enables price comparison, booking and payment of cab journeys across the UK, for both local and long distance trips. By uniquely including quotes from licensed Private Hire Taxi operators beyond the user’s local area, minicabit’s comparison engine can save customers up to 30% off the cost of their trip.

As a result of opening up the market to more customers, minicabit’s network of over 100 fleets across the UK can service virtually any length of trip. Now, with O2’s investment, minicabit has launched the first smartphone app for booking such trips around the UK.

Geoff Symonds, Director of Transport Strategy at AEG Europe, said: “The O2 in London has been working with minicabit for well over a year. We have welcomed its ‘network approach’ which has allowed us to work with our favoured minicab operators all under the minicabit brand for our customers. It has been great to see customers even 100 miles away use the minicabit website to attend our events, a benefit of its wide network. Initiatives such as minicabit’s offer with O2 Priority Moments, as well as its new mobile app, now provides another viable transport option for our customers travelling to our venue.”

The app will come pre installed on O2 iPhone, Android app coming soon.

EDITORIAL COMMENT

SOMETHING LTPH's LEGAL TEAM SEEM TO BE IGNORING!

LONDON CAB ACT 1968 sec4.

4 Prohibition of the display of certain signs or notices on, and the issue of certain advertisements in connection with, private hire-cars.

(1)There shall not, in the metropolitan police district or the City of London, be displayed on any private hire-car any sign or notice—

(a)which consists of or includes the word “taxi” or “cab”, whether in the singular or plural and whether alone or as part of another word; or

(b)which consists of the words “for hire”, or the form or wording of which is in any other way such as to suggest that the vehicle on which it is displayed is presently available to take up any passenger wishing to hire it, or would be so available if not already hired.

(2)No advertisement—

(a)indicating that motor vehicles can be hired on application to a specified address or telephone number, being the address or telephone number of premises in the metropolitan police district or the City of London; or

(b)on or near any such premises indicating that motor vehicles can be hired at those premises,shall include the word “taxi” or “cab”, whether in the singular or plural and whether alone or as part of another word, unless the vehicles offered for hire are licensed cabs or the advertisement makes it clear that they are not.

Brightmove Media, has announced it received official authorisation from Transport For London to launch TaxiCast on the first fleet of 25 London black taxis with digital taxi-top advertising. This is the world’s first regulated and approved commercial roll out of digital roof top advertising on London black cabs.

BrightMove Media has worked very closely with both TfL and Transport Research Laboratory to set the standard for roof mounted digital advertising.

The London licensed taxi cab market is a highly regulated sector. The company has had to pass a number of stringent, comprehensive tests to demonstrate complete safety and compliance for the vehicle, pedestrians and other road users.

The TaxiCast technology offers a first for drivers and operators of London Black Taxis. The taxi can be quickly fitted out with the roof-mounted panel which is then centrally controlled to offer advertisers geo and time targeted digital advertising on the streets of London.

Piers Mummery, Chief Executive of BrightMove Media, commented “Today marks an important day in the progress of digital outdoor advertising.” Digital advertising on taxi roofs not only changes the London skyline, but also offers advertisers and brands tailored advertising at street level.

Mummery continues, “Out fleet is signed up and ready to go, we have committed advertisers and the equipment is being fitted to the fleet right now.”

Over the course of 3 months their ‘First Fleet’ will be responsible for delivering over 2 million bright, vibrant and arresting ads to London’s unique cityscape, day and night.

The launch of TaxiCast is confirmed for Monday June 24 2013, reinforcing London’s profile as a leader in innovation and pioneering technology.

Just when you thought it couldn't get any crazier out there on the streets, just when you though the planners had reached their peak.

Along comes another hair-brain scheme from the people who are about to narrow the Haymarket from four lanes to two.

Baker Street is all set to be the next target, in a report carried out by the Urban Realm and Transport Study Group it is claimed that Baker Street itself is an uncertain gateway with poor quality materials and interfaces between public and private sectors. It is also claimed that major congestion occurs not with the traffic but on the "Narrow Pavements causing pedestrian congestion" with poor quality crossing points.

Issues

Wide carriageway and disproportionate space given to vehicular traffic

› High traffic speeds and division caused by traffic density

› Narrow footways

› Noise and Pollution

› Inactive frontages along Orchard Street

› Tide marks between new public realm and areas in need of improvement

› Bus routings, space between bus stops and catchments

Perceptions

› Street dominated by vehicle traffic infrastructure

› Busy bus and coach route

› High volumes of taxis

› Poor pedestrian and cycle connectivity

› Mixed public realm quality and lack of continuity

› Lack of trees and green space

› No reason to pass through it

› A long walk to nearest attractions

Problems

› Congested footways

› Under-utilised carriageway space, yet protected as a

strategic through-route

› Barriers to movement and street clutter

› Lack of cycle facilities

› Parking demand on Sundays and pedestrian visibility

Three statements from Peter Hendy on the Eddie Nestor Radio Show BBC 94.9 , 13/06/13.

1 There have been 1006 revocations of PH drivers licenses in the last five years.

2 Vulnerable young women less likely to get into unbooked minicabs

3 If you don't want your business taken by illegal touts, lets get some cabs out there with their lights on.

In the statement on revocations made by Peter Hendy, 1006 sounds like a lot, but when you consider this total over 260 weeks, it's under 4 a week. Plus the conviction rate has slowed dramatically, in the first quarter of 2013, there were only 6 revocations;

(1) 57296 Belal Ahmed 10/01/13

(2) 57905 Emrullah Cicen 24/01/13

(3) 51192 Matthew Ade-Tayo Kalejaiye 01/02/13

(4) 144301 Mohammad Khalil Chaudry 15/02/13

(5) 83905 Muhammad Rafiq 10/03/13

(6) 24888 A K M Shohidul Hoque 15/03/13

Possibly, the reason why he chose to go back 5 years, the figures for the last year are abysmal.

He also said that the police are much better these days at handling touting, really?

The word from Taxi drivers on the streets at clubs and bars would show completely the opposite.

If, as Peter says vulnerable people are now less likely to get into un booked minicabs, how does he explain the statement made in the Problem Orientated Policing report "Unlicensed mini cabs operating in Wandsworth", a report that won the prestigious Goldstein award, that the true figures for minicab related serious sexual assaults, including rapes in London are currently at an all time high of approx 25 attacks per week.

Lets not forget that Peter Hendy once said, on the Eddie Nestor show some years back, after a reported 52% rise in minicab related sexual assaults, that he didn't recognise the figures and they were probably the result of a militant Taxi drivers Blog. The fact was they came from TfL's own website and had been confirmed by the Met police as well as a prominent London assembly member.

Again Peter Hendy has a swipe at the licensed Taxi trade by insinuating that we do not work hard enough and the failings and incompetence of his LTPH directorate lay at our feet.

In 2008, Hendy stated to a London assembly surface transport committee, that Taxi driver take their money by 9pm and then go home. He also said " When you come out of the Grisvenor House at midnight you can't get a Taxi as they won't rank there. Not like the Hilton, now that's a much better rank."

When told by London assembly member Peter Holme Cross that Taxi drivers were unhappy, he said, "They are always unhappy, they need to get out more often."

Peter Hendy paid Hailo a huge compliment saying how great the service is and that he himself is a regular user. He also went on to say that the CabWise app was still available and working fine.

This is not true. It still doesn't work properly on the iPad, never has done, even though its been reported numerous times, it's impossible to book a licensed Taxi using the app on the iPad.

Finally Peter Hendy now in his sixties, stated that he has no intention of ever retiring. On his money neither would I.

CABWISE OR CAB NOT SO WISE?

South Oxhey Radio Taxis Proposes 20p Fare Increase: Council Objects And Wants 3 Years Fare Freeze

Taxi of Tomorrow preview: Nissan NV200 hits New York City streets ahead of scheduled fall debut

Lest We Forget

Court Ruling Allows New Taxi and Car Services To Be Street Hailed In Outer Boroughs of New York.

Angry mob's outrage at Cambridge taxi driver after pensioner injured

London Taxi Company Taking On New Staff At Coventry Site

Green Tomato Cars....Taxi Fleet...My Arse.

BORIS LIES: IS IT ALL OVER FOR TIM YEO?

YEO EXPOSED BY SUNDAY TIMES....by Dave Davies

United Trade Group: Hear No Evil...See No Evil...

CRB CHECK: Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse!

Russian app-based Minicab startup Wheely takes aim at London's Addison Lee : Everyone's Got An App:

Tim Yeo to step aside amid probe into committee coaching claim

Minicabs, Toothbrushes And Actors, Shocking Bill.

ZIG ZAG LINES: Is Picking Up A Passenger Defined In Law As Being Parked?.... By Jim Thomas

Part 5:Pedestrian crossings (191 to 199)

191

192

193

194

195

Thinking of upgrading your phone on O2...Well think again! O2 invests in national minicab app

TfL Approves Taxi Top Digital Advertising

Baker Street Two Way, With Pedestrian Priority Zone, Buses and Cycles Only Between George and Blandford.

Australia: Angry taxi drivers gather at Parliament to protest proposed laws

Peter Hendy's TfL Propaganda, Insults The Taxi Trade, Yet Again...by Jim Thomas.

Three statements from Peter Hendy on the Eddie Nestor Radio Show BBC 94.9 , 13/06/13.

1 There have been 1006 revocations of PH drivers licenses in the last five years.