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Bus lanes and spilling the beans! Call Sign came in for some criticism last month following an article headed "the mystery of the taxi bus lanes." The article wrote of the mystery surrounding the sudden and totally unexpected opening to licensed taxis of two bus lanes that we had always been banned from – Bishopsgate north bound and the southernmost part of the Islington (Angel) bus lane. Messages from drivers were flying across DaC terminals telling other drivers they were ok to use both lanes. After making a few phone calls – to TfL, the PCO and the LTDA – I came to the conclusion that the signs had been altered in error, with my mind going back several years to the ludicrous goings-on at Hammersmith Bridge Road where the southbound bus lane was divided into four sections. According to the signs, we were allowed to use the first and third sections! That was obviously incorrect (it should have been the first three sections, but the painters had missed out the second sign). Even after Call Sign complained that we could not be expected to pull in and out of the lanes, nothing was done for several months. I suspected that similar errors had taken place with Bishopsgate and the Angel. The problem was that had I not said anything, my previous dealings with Transport for London tells me that PCNs would still have been issued and although they would certainly have been quashed on appeal, it would have been a hassle. The PCO confirmed to me that the PCNs would probably have been issued, although the grounds for appeal were such that the tickets would have been cancelled. The result of Call Sign informing TfL / PCO was that cabs using the two bus lanes weren’t sent PCNs with the hassle that involves. Some may say that had I kept quiet, they would have been happy to appeal any tickets in return for an extra few weeks of lane usage. However, once the first appeals went through, the errors would have been spotted and the lanes would have reverted to their previous usage. Perhaps more pertinent was the fact that so far as I could see from spending 20 or so minutes on the Duncan Street taxi rank just watching, was that taxis using the last piece of the Angel bus lane before the 7pm free-for-all, was that we made no difference whatsoever. It is so wide that buses loading or unloading at their stops were not inconvenienced at all by our presence. I can understand Bishopsgate because of its narrowness and the number of bus stops along there, but the Angel should become 24 hours because mistake or not, it has now been tested and our use of it during the daytime has been shown to make no difference. It would also help cut down traffic queues along Islington High Street / Upper Street with taxis being taken out of the equation at the Liverpool Road main lights junction. Over to you TfL / PCO… |
 Credit Union "bank" DaC lady "mugs!" |
no - and so did Donna. Of late, we’ve had several enquiries regarding DaC driver Natalia Shalom (A34). Like the others, Natalia is very photogenic and again, following publication in Call Sign, there have been enquiries about reproducing her photo along with articles about her. Natalia once told us that while she dresses up to the nines when going out, she would never dress in any way provocatively when working. Her main interests as a cab driver are how to eliminate touting and female drivers’ safety when in their cabs. As a result, she accepted two offers to speak to organisations that had read about her in Call Sign at her own expense because they involved safety in the cab. I do not consider myself to be mercenary and will often give comments to papers if asked. One long-term client has asked if I can assist with a history they are doing of their company so far as taxi usage in the 70s and early 80s with DaC was concerned. No problem. But when I occasionally speak on radio (usually BBC Radio Scotland) I don’t have to ask for a fee, I know they will send me one. Too many people expect something for nothing or want articles the easy way! I don’t mind the trade press using Call Sign articles, but think it’s a liberty when outside organisations want to use them - but don’t want to compensate the person the article was about. DaC ladies are not mugs and won’t be treated as such… Ed’s lucky day! AGM Westminster Demo Alan Fisher |
