An Open Letter To Mayor Boris Johnson, From Taxi Driver, Paul Salmon:
Dear Boris Johnson
I am writing regarding the immense pressure that you must be under regarding the Public and Private hire taxi trades and the other new kid on the block.
There appears to be much misinformation going around...
I saw some interviews of late between Steve McNamara of the LTDA and various oppositions. One point in particular came across quite ignorant from an interviewer strongly addressing the point on the 5 minute wait rule; she said it absolute bonkers to suggest that it is in the consumer’s interest to wait on the side of the road in the rain late at night as a vulnerable lady while her driver can’t pick her up because he has to kill five minutes to adhere to the proposed rule!!!!!
She is absolutely right why would anyone who wants a cab immediately want to wait for a “pre-booked minicab” when a taxi can be obtained in exactly the same way and can pick up immediately? At least the trades can agree on that one.
The Public Taxi industry and the Private Hire Minicab industry are 2 different services that are choice for the consumer.
The former provides a public service for Londoners, Tourists and Disabled People and is fully regulated with a professional driver that has undergone an additional driving test, disabled requirement test and extensive knowledge testing. The driver must use a purpose built vehicle and is compelled to accept pick-ups, display a valid insurance certificate and use a meter that is set by its regulator.
This service is for those who want an immediate ride without booking or notifying a separate operator and those confined to a wheelchair.
The latter is a private pre booked service that offers a partially regulated service that does not need to display insurance nor be a purpose built vehicle and is not compelled to take passengers including disabled and are also given the choice of what they can drive and charge and can vary the amount by personal choice throughout the day.
This service is intended as a pre-book service and the driver will arrive at your location at your request via an operator. This service is usually cheaper on longer journeys.
Consumers have a choice and the Private Hire Consultation proposals are there to help improve the services. Technology is embraced by the consumer as we move into the digital age and the consultation is set up to improve safety and make the industries more viable and help give clarity to the laws.
If the five minute rule is not in the consumer’s interest it is no cause for tech firms to demonise the consultation entirely.
The consultation gives TFL the regulator the chance for public feedback. There is much animosity in the trade at the moment that needs addressing.
In order for the Public Taxi service and Private Hire Operators to continue to exist such clarity as defining a pre-booked service to an immediate pick up service need to be defined. A five minute stipulation is a very relaxed proposal to a pre- booked service. If consideration such as waiting for the car to arrive is off set against the 5 minutes then one can hardly refer to it as a pre-booked service in comparison to an immediate hiring.
Picking up off the street without the need for an app for private hire vehicles is also a subject that crops up from time to time. What is seen as a pathetic attempt for the Public Taxi industry to halt competition or as inequality needs to be addressed. As there is no issue with Private Hire drivers to apply to become Public Taxi drivers this makes a level playing field and leaves nothing in the way of equality.
Competition is not an excuse for a Private Hire driver to use his services the same way as a Public Taxi driver does or a Public Taxi driver to take advantage of the same lesser requirements of a Private Hire driver. Drivers can compete within their own industry for competition, such as Addison Lee competes with Carrot Cars. Taxi drivers and Private Hire drivers should not be seen as competitors as Bus Drivers are not seen as competitors to Taxi Drivers.
The Public Taxi industry would collapse if no clarity between the Public and Private industries was in place.
The measure of deregulating the Public Taxi industry would make both Private and Public Taxi industries and the Consumer suffer; the disabled requirement and the regulated meter would cease to exist.
Foreign tech apps (that bear no responsibility as can be found in one particular app’s terms and conditions) will takeover and corner the market; congestion will grow and extortionate fares that can be fixed at the operators/work allocators leisure would be the norm as they become the glorified regulatory body and London would suffer as a whole.
The consultation is there as a way of communication it is not intended to stifle tech apps, suck up to cabbies or operators nor is there is rewind the clock on technology. It is about fairness in the industry and improving consumerism. The consumer must not be snared from corporate giant industries into thinking that traditional taxi drivers are a bunch of luddites.
Many drivers love the new technological advances such as taking different payment methods; taking pre- bookings from responsible tech apps and picking up e-hails that are offered through these apps. What Private Hire operators and Taxi Drivers don’t like is how the regulations are being relaxed to make way for corporate oversea giants that just want to label us ancient, anti-tech and jealous out- dated over-priced dinosaurs! When it is they who are trying to stop the private hire consultation from going ahead as they see public consultation as a threat!
Paul Salmon