Over the next few weeks, the Taxi Leaks team will post a series of email or letter templates.
We would like to ask you to give just a few minutes of your time, to copy and paste these templates to a selection of MPs, MEPs, London Assembly Members.
We will also post the email addresses of top TfL officials.
The idea of the emails is to bring the serious nature of our predicament to the attention of those we feel have a duty of care towards our trade.
Its about time somebody voiced the concerns of the industry.
Nobody is claiming that Taxi and Private Hire apps don't provide an easy, seamless method of booking, but to allow them to flout laws, that operators and drivers have been persecuted for by TFL over the past few years, is frankly disgusting on TFL's part.
TfL are simply scared of the tech companies finance and political clout.
It's a matter of principal, a matter of passenger safety and a matter of keeping a clear differentiation between what a taxi is and what a private hire vehicle is.
Right now (by their inaction) TFL are given all PHV operators license to break TFL's own laws.
It won't be too long till all PHV drivers, simply start touting on the streets, as this appears to be what TFL's public response on this issue is now allowing. Certainly their inaction against Uber in particular and defence that their time based metering is not actually metering, will set a precedent.
Below is the first template.
It's short, but to the point.
Contact the Mayor, your MP, MEP, a member of the a House of Lords and a selection of London Assembly members (where applicable, use the yellow and grey box in the right hand column).
TEMPLATE 1:
Dear ...... Mayor of London, London Assembly Member (if applicable), MP, MEP, TFL, TPH etc...
Why is the licensing authourity 'Transport for London' failing in its duty of care towards the London taxi-cab trade by not taking any action against a phv operator that is in breach of section 11 of London Private Hire Act of 1998.
The act is clear, the company in question is using a 'device' to calculate time, distance or a combination of both.
Private Hire Vechiles are not allowed to use such a 'device'.
I look forward to your reply,
Full name and address...
Ends:
Important Email Addresses:
mayor@london.gov.uk
peterhendy@tfl.gov.uk
leondaniels@tfl.gov.uk
garrettemmerson@tfl.gov.uk
peterblake@tfl.gov.uk
Simon.Buggey@tfl.gov.uk
Steve.burton@tfl.gov.uk