Call Sign January 2016

Page 3

from the editor’s desk

Transport for London

A question...

I have a problem with TfL because I really want

Inside this issue is a Ron Yarborough article

to like them; contrary to some opinions I hear

about Lambeth Council cancelling the

regularly, there are some very nice, helpful peo-

Loughborough Junction traffic experiment

ple there. The problem is that like those opin-

after it became obvious that traffic congestion

ions I mentioned, added to some horrendous

caused by the scheme was bringing the area to a

stories passed over to me, I am starting to dis-

complete standstill, never mind what it was

like our licensing authority as a whole with

doing to the atmosphere in the form of added

something of a vengeance.

emissions.

Last month’s Chairman’s Report where

Also in this issue are some letters sent to Call

Brian Rice went into print to voice his frustra-

Sign’s Mailshot regarding the Camden Council

tion at the lack of security drivers had by being

one-way traffic scheme at Tavistock Place that

told they had to renew their licences via credit

regularly chokes up the Russell Square area. So

cards and that cheques “could hold up the issu-

we have a question to ask our readers.

ing of a new licence,” it caused my phone to go

But before the question; Camden aren’t stop-

into meltdown for almost a week with not just

ping at Tavistock Place because they also intend

Dial-a-Cab drivers calling, but non-radio too! I

banning all traffic except buses (and bikes natu-

should have given them the Chairman’s num-

rally) from Tottenham Court Road between

ber, but hey, I’m not totally stupid - albeit occa-

As I said at the beginning, I want to like TfL

the hours of 7am and 8pm, while at the same

sionally a bit silly!

but that seems to be almost impossible, at least

time making Gower Street two-way. Of course,

So to save anyone else calling, yes, they

until they get someone there who shows even a

the Gower Street scheme will make little differ-

will accept cheques made out to London

minimal amount of commonsense...

ence as the traffic hardly moves anyway!

Taxis Private Hire. Brian also mentioned, my

Camden is then also looking at making

medical form that went adrift somewhere in

Understanding the public

Camden High Street just one single lane

Sheffield, well that has finally turned up

I get a lot of tweets passed over to me and quite

northbound. At the same time as all those

around one month after I was told it hadn’t

honestly, while I can see the possibilities for

crazy schemes, Transport for London are

arrived and that I could lose my licence if I

Twitter - especially when it comes to the night-

issuing around 2500 private hire licences to

didn’t send it!

time Mayfair Mob whose main priorities are to

drivers who haven’t a clue where they are

Then there was the driver I wrote of a few

reclaim our ranks and work from the touts -

going unless their satnavs work. And that is

issues back who was arrested by gun-toting cops

there is no way while still in my editing job that I

every single month! Whatever road space left

at Canary Wharf for not having a licence, even

could ever go onto that service. Every now and

is virtually unusable.

though he showed them the receipt he had

then, an interesting one seems to crop up, but

So to the question aimed specifically at

from the Post Office via their Check and Send

most are either silly, make you smile or contain a

both TfL and Camden: Is it true what they

service. He still hasn’t received his new licence,

traffic report. But all take time to read.

say and that there are more out than in??? To

has been told that he cannot drive a cab until he

Anyway, this isn’t an anti-Twitter piece

our readers: Yes, we know that you know,

gets it, has now been off work since July and is

but just about one Tweet that seemed to be

but do you know if they know that you know.

living on his savings - those savings that he had

spot-on.

I don’t know! What I do know is that both

intended keeping until his retirement! We hear

It may be that I don’t have all the information

TfL and Camden should feel ashamed at the

of temporary licences - but not for him! To me

on UberPool and how they got it past TfL.

way they are destroying a once great city.

this sounds like a ‘punishment’ for his admitted

However, while I’m not exactly sure why Maaxi

But do they even know???

stupidity in not following up the non-receipt of

Taxi never got off the ground, I do know that

his licence. Just having paid for it was obviously

they had a lot of hassle from TfL. In the end, the

Wrong!

not enough for TfL.

taxi sharing app seems to have got fed up and left

Last month’s Call Sign contained an article claim-

So what is it now? Well a press release has

the arena. Then along comes UberPool and

ing that the former parcel service, CityLink that

announced a congestion crackdown by TfL.

marches into that same arena, announces that it

announced it had gone bust on Xmas Eve 2014

Ok, so most of the traffic congestion has

has set up a ride sharing scheme and apparently

was behind a new coach service from St Pancras

actually been caused by TfL anyway, but it’s

that one is ok with TfL. Of course it could be that

to Stansted. This CityLink is actually owned by

never too late to make amends! So what is

we’re all wrong, but we appear to be not impor-

ComfortDelgro who also own ComCab. It has

this crackdown?

tant enough for TfL to explain anything they do.

nothing to do with the parcel business that went

Well they are introducing a new team of Road

So to the Tweet I spoke of earlier. In 45 years

bust. Sorry for misleading anyone, but they were

and Transport Enforcement Officers to watch

of being a licensed Taxi driver (before I became a

still touting for business...

key traffic routes across town to help crack

black cab driver!) I can only ever remember hear-

down on “illegal or inconsiderate behaviour

ing of one female passenger saying that she did-

Happy New Year

and other problems that cause congestion.”

n’t want her taxi driver to know where she lived.

It probably isn’t December 31st yet, but can I still

What? Yep, they have 40 officers, which appar-

She later made a complaint to this circuit because

wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year.

ently will be increased to 80 by the spring.

of sexist comments the driver had made on the

Sounds ok, until you hear that these officers

2015 was a rather strange year because at one

way home. The complaint was upheld and the

will “...help deal with problems such as illegal

point it really looked as though things were pick-

driver expelled. I think we can safely say that

stopping or unloading of deliveries, which can

ing up - then Paris happened and you could see

whether they use us or not, women trust taxi dri-

cause delays to drivers and bus passengers.”

a sudden quietness descend over London.

vers to get them home safely, even though that

Don’t know about you, but to me that sounds

In Paris, despite the rhetoric about standing

involves knowing where they live.

like another name for traffic wardens and more

up to terrorism, unsurprisingly there was still an

So to the Tweet! It came from Sharon Grant

money for TfL coffers!

80% reduction in theatre bookings and I suspect

who tweeted: #UberPool - an easy way for

The team will apparently

“help to move

that whilst not as much, London has also seen a

weirdos to find out where you live. No

unlawfully stopped vehicles, issue PCN’s to ille-

reduction with many patrons not being prepared

thanks.

gally parked vehicles and clear unnecessary or

to sit in an enclosed space.

I don’t know who Sharon Grant is, but I thank

poorly set-up roadworks!” Yep, definitely traffic

There is little doubt that the world has

her - not for supporting London Taxis, but for

wardens!

changed and I’m not sure that it will ever return

bringing commonsense into our arena and for

What London needs is simple; traffic lights

to a period of peace. But hey ho, we’re British

showing TfL what the genie that have let out of

that give traffic the chance to move before turn-

and we carry on regardless! So yes, let’s hope

the bottle is thought of.

ing red again, time for pedestrians only when

for that Happy New Year that we are always

This may well be ‘bash TfL’ month but in

they push a button requesting it and to get rid

going on about...

my view their actions make them deserved of

of those bike lanes that apparently even cyclists

Alan Fisher

every word...

don’t want.

callsignmag@aol.com

Call Sign January 2016

Page 4

Reflections of the Chairman

themselves. It will be the fault of just two

Chairman’s Report, I assumed his

people - Mayor Boris Johnson and his

memory was slipping even fur-

Cycling Commissioner Andrew Gilligan;

ther than usual as I confidently

the man who told Call Sign in the April 2015

issue that regardless of how much cost and

told him that he’d already had my

effort was to go into them, cyclists would not

piece for December. But no! He

have to even use them if they didn’t want to!

was already touting for a January

You sometimes have to pinch yourself to

make sure you are awake and not having a

issue that he claimed had to be

really stupid dream!

done early due to printer’s early

closing for the holiday period and

Licence saga!

If you remember, I explained last month how

that as no trade papers came out

I was endeavouring to renew my ‘Bill’ which

during the time between

expires on 19th February 2016 and how I

refused to insert my debit card details as I did

Christmas and the New Year, dri-

Assuming you could even find your way

not consider it safe to include them on the

vers would appreciate something

through the traffic on that latest TfL mess,

application form.

to read - especially those of you

you would have a job just working out

I was eventually reluctantly informed that I

where you actually were!

could make a cheque payable to London

who are, or have been, working

Taxi and Private Hire but it would mean the

One member told us of picking up a cash

during the holiday period.

processing of my application would be

trip from the Chelsea and Westminster

So I now have to give you some

delayed. After my visit to the Post Office

Hospital in Fulham Road at 9pm going to

where I produced my passport, driving

news, when in reality there is

Waterloo and then on to Hooper Street by

licence and a utility bill and my subsequent

Leman Street. Unsurprisingly, his passenger

very little because I’ve only just

conversation regarding the cheque, I

was rather shocked at the £54 cost - as

received my new ‘Bill’ exactly two weeks to

finished December! But here goes

indeed was the member who had quoted

the day after my initial visit to the Post Office!

anyway, because you wouldn’t

around £30! Fortunately his passenger didn’t

Not too bad I thought, especially as they had

blame him but had a quick curse at Boris!

like Mr Fisher when he gets

tried to frighten me at Sheffield by saying that

The Mayor’s compulsion with his cycling

my Bill would be delayed by not inserting my

upset!

superhighways is killing London and even

debit/credit card details. It just goes to show!

when the roadworks are gone, the road

Cycle Superhighways and traffic

widths will still have been hugely reduced

Happy New Year

Despite warnings from all corners, Mayor

and one day, if London isn’t to die as one of

I’d like to wish everyone associated with

Johnson has pushed ahead with his cycling

the biggest financial capitals of the world,

Dial-a-Cab a very Happy New Year.

superhighways regardless of any conse-

someone will have to pull them down and

Hopefully business will pick up with all

quences, and there have been huge numbers

throw the receipts into the rubbish bin

the effort your Sales team are putting in,

of complaints involving the taxi business and

because there isn’t room for both.

but just as importantly, I wish you all a

motorists in general, most of which have traf-

If we are to become another Amsterdam,

very healthy New Year as well...

fic hold-ups at their base.

then we’ll have to just extend the Thames

I don’t need anyone to tell me what the

and put in lots of flowers, because there will

Brian Rice

numerous roadworks have done, because

be very few financial institutions left. And

complaints from passengers have added to

Chairman

whose fault will that be? Well it won’t be

our members concerns. Journeys from the

yours or mine or that of many more members

Dial-a-Cab

City to the West End and back are taking up

to double the usual times and along with that

comes the increase in the meter fare.

We can’t expect our members to work for

nothing, but that doesn’t pacify passengers

PAUL’S TAXI SPECIALISTS LTD

who ask why the fare is so much higher than

usual.

But if we thought that was bad, we also had

Unit 10, Ford View Industrial Estate, 83 New Rd Rainham, RM13 8ET

a week of the Victoria Embankment closing

from 8pm each evening so that work on the

Tel: 01708 553037

superhighway lanes could continue without

disturbance from the “nuisance” that is ordi-

FREE AIR FILTER WITH EVERY SERVIC

WE ALSO HAVE CABS FOR RENT

nary cars and taxis!

Reports flooded into the Dial-a-Cab

TX1 servicing from £48

TX1s, TX2s, TX4s and Vitos

Contact Centre asking dispatchers to

TX2 servicing from £70

Rentals from £165 per week

inform members that with the main

TX4 servicing from £90

Embankment thoroughfare shut, that

they should also avoid Fleet Street on the

All Work Undertaken

north side of the river, along with

Servicing - Running Repairs - Overhauls - Small Fleets Welcome - Discounts Available

Stamford, Street, Southwark Street and

All TX1, TX2, TX4

The Cut on the south side. Holborn

Starters - Batteries - Alternators - All with 2 year Warranty

Viaduct? Don’t bother because that was

also solid both ways. Ok then, how about

Fax: 01708 551443

Web: www.PaulsTaxiSpecialists.co.uk

heading even further south to the

Elephant & Castle? You are surely jesting!

Call Sign January 2016

Page 5

charity for everyday walking -

Hands up if you thought things couldn’t get any worse!

Living Streets - has launched a

call for the next London Mayor

CALL FOR OXFORD STREET

to pedestrianise the 1.2 miles of

Oxford Street so that it becomes what they

describe as an iconic, safe and enjoyable

place to shop - especially at Christmas.

TO BE PEDESTRIANISED!

Sarah Williams, Living Streets’ London

along Oxford Street itself. These are not spread

Campaigns Manager told Call Sign: “The sit-

far apart. Most importantly, as London grows

uation is about to reach breaking point on

and changes we need to look for creative and

Oxford Street. As it is, it’s horrendously over-

innovative solutions to the issues of safety, over-

crowded but with Crossrail due to open in

crowding and pollution along Oxford Street.”

2018, we’re looking at a significantly bigger

2. The main alternatives to Oxford

problem. We must act now to reduce over-

Street are Wigmore Street, Cavendish

crowding, sky high pollution levels and an

Square and through to Goodge Street. This

unsafe environment. For many, the experi-

route is often very congested, so where

ence of crowds and crowds of people on

will the traffic that is banned from Oxford

Oxford Street puts them off going altogether,

Street go without pushing emissions

especially at Christmas. Oxford Street is a

through the roof and causing shop owners

Traffic free, but where will it all go to?

very uncomfortable place for pedestrians,

along that stretch of road to suffer because

leaving them feeling restricted and people

streets, public spaces, and fantastic, thriving

no one will be able to stop along there.

say the change they’d most like to see there is

town centres.

Sarah Williams replied: “We want to discuss

less traffic. Those who do take a trip along it

They add that walking offers a simple solu-

this and work with others to ensure that we cre-

end up feeling flustered, frustrated and fed

tion for the future and that by rethinking our

ate the best solution for everyone - while putting

up. What is this going to mean for future

attitude towards transport and prioritising and

people and walking first. What we need are cre-

Christmas shopping on Oxford Street if noth-

investing in walking, London can be a world-

ative and innovative solutions to the ever

ing changes?”

class city to live, visit and do business in.

increasing issues on Oxford Street. We don’t have

Living Streets have sent out a fact sheet that

all of the answers but want to work with retail-

Call Sign had two questions to ask

says Oxford Street is at the heart of London and

Sarah Williams.

ers, TfL, engineers and planners on making

should be an iconic place for tourists and resi-

Oxford Street a place which puts walking first.”

1. How will disabled people get to

dents to enjoy, but claim that current TfL pro-

It’s seems fairly safe to say that Ms

Oxford Street if the only access is by walk-

jections are that without a radically different

Williams, on behalf of Living Streets, did-

approach to our transport system, there will be

ing? Not all the stores have side street

n’t have the answers to our questions. It’s

increases in congestion of

60% in Central

entrances. Or what if they just want to see

probably just as safe to say that the

London and 25% in Inner London by 2031.

the Christmas lights but can't walk and rely

organisation has come up with an idea,

So will London be a mega city choked by

on buses or taxis?

but given very little thought to its effect

traffic, with polluted, hazardous town centres

Sarah Williams replied: “Right now, Oxford

on London’s traffic or the disabled...

and streets?

Street is dangerous and polluted and a risky

Living Streets say that it could become a

place for people walking along it. There are 38

Baghwat Singh

world-leading city with the freedom to walk,

side streets where people would be able to

Call Sign Online

breathe fresh air and experience our iconic

access taxis if no vehicles were to be allowed

Uber: “Fixed fares unfair!”

ompetition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority,

TfL say that the consultation is just floating ideas and that there are no

have taken the side of Uber in claiming that nine of the 25 propos-

definitive plans as of yet, but many outside of the licensing authority are

als put forward by TfL to regulate the private hire trade would be

concerned at the number of PH vehicles there are in London, with the num-

bad for passengers, while not serving the public interest.

ber rising by up to 2500 each month! Most of them with Uber with TfL say-

The Transport for London consultation, which closed on 23

ing they are unable to do anything about that.

December, put forward a number of requirements for London PH

With current Uber valuations giving the company a worth of anything up

vehicles - among them being suggestions such as operators need-

to $50billion, the CMA intervention is unlikely to be only one we see

ing to provide a booking confirmation to passengers at least five

between now and any final decision.

minutes before the journey commences, to offer a 7-day pre-book-

The CMA works to promote competition for the benefit of consumers,

ing facility, for TfL to no longer issue licenses for temporary events,

both within and outside the UK. They say their aim is to make markets

that operators must have a fixed landline that is always available

work well for consumers, businesses and the economy...

Jamie Corum

to the public and for operators to give a fare before the booking is

Call Sign Online

accepted. There were also requirements for drivers to have a mini-

mum English speaking ability, that they could drive for just one

operator at a time and should undergo a topographical test.

The response to the consultation from the CMA - which in theory car-

VACANCY FOR AN ARBITRATOR

ries no more or less weight that any other one - took issue with nine of

There is a vacancy for one DaC subscriber to become an Arbitrator. Should

the 25 proposals claiming that they would “impose regulations that

you wish to put your name forward and you meet the minimum criteria of

excessively and unnecessarily weakens competition, to the overall detri-

five consecutive year’s membership, then please apply in writing expressing

ment of users of taxi and private hire services in London.”

your interest to be received by me at Dial-a-Cab House no later than first

In a dig at the licensed taxi trade, CMA Chief Exec of the CMA, Alex

post on Monday 26 January 2016.

Chisholm, wrote in the FT that he was concerned proposals such as fix-

Should more than one person apply, a postal ballot would then be con-

ing fares in advance and a five-minute wait for a minicab would artificially

ducted at a later date and the candidate with the highest number of votes

restrict competition and curb developments that would otherwise benefit

will then be duly appointed.

Candidates wishing to send their CV for publication in the 1 February

passengers. He wrote: “Defenders of the status quo can often be more

issue of Call Sign should send it to the Editor, either by post or email, by

vocal and organised than the advocates of change who could struggle to

Friday 15 January 2016 keeping to a maximum of around 200 words and

make their voices heard.”

preferably attaching a photo as well.

Money-rich Uber has had around 200,000 people signing a petition

If you have any queries regarding this process, please do not hesitate to

calling on TfL to drop the proposals, with Uber’s UK General Manager, Jo

contact me.

Bartram, rather unsurprisingly claiming that many of the proposals would

Howard Pears

take away consumer choice and be bad for competition.

Company Secretary

Call Sign January 2016

Page 6

Jery’s

World

“Can you (hic) please put the (hic) heating on driver, your taxi is really (hic) cold!”

Minicab app guilty of no PH licence

Splyt Technologies fined and ordered to pay costs

TfL has taken enforcement activity against an app-based minicab company that was operating illegally

without a private hire licence. In its role as a responsible regulator of the capital’s taxi and private hire trades,

TfL has successfully prosecuted Splyt Technologies Ltd for breaching the requirement for a London private

hire operator’s licence. Splyt, which offered private hire journeys through an app, launched their service in

April this year without an operator’s licence. TfL believed this to be in breach of legislation and Splyt ceased

their operation following correspondence. At Westminster Magistrates Court, Splyt pleaded guilty to the

charge, were fined £1,750 and ordered to pay TfL’s costs of over £5000 in full.

The District Judge remarked that it had been a complex case and that there had been extensive correspondence between TfL and

Splyt to try to resolve the matter.

Garrett Emmerson, TfL’s Chief Operating Officer for Surface Transport, said: “This is a very positive result and one that shows our

commitment to tackling illegality in the private hire trade in order to protect the rights of the legitimate private hire and taxi trades in

London. We will continue to bear down on illegal activity of this kind and as this result shows, we will take action through the courts

if necessary.”

Another aspect of the work being undertaken with private hire is the current consultation into the regulations governing the

trade. The wide-ranging proposals seek to bring up-to-date the regulations governing London’s private hire sector to ensure they take

into account recent developments in technology and are fit for the future.

TfL wants to hear the views of passengers, members of both trades and all other interested parties on the proposals, so that the

regulations can be shaped in a way that benefits both drivers and passengers.

The number of private hire drivers in the capital has risen rapidly in recent years - there are now 92,049* licenced private hire dri-

vers, up from 76,249 in March 2015.

This rapid growth has given rise to a number of wider issues, including rising traffic congestion, illegal parking and impacts on air

quality. This is why the Mayor is calling for the Government to bring forward primary legislation to give TfL the power to cap minicab

numbers.

Transport for London

Press Dept

*That figure was correct at the time of the press release. It is now around 94,000 ...Ed

Call Sign January 2016

Page 7

Saturday 21st November was an unusually

quite night for the time of the year, no doubt

due to the grotesque events of the previous

weekend in Paris. Ten days earlier, I had

MARC IN WONDERLAND!

replied to an advert in TAXI newspaper; the

LTDA were looking for members to 'Join the

Marc and Mark

Fight' by marshalling on their behalf. I was

marshalling at Winter

recruited and briefed on my marshalling

Wonderland

debut by no less then Bob Oddy himself.

As instructed, I turned up at Winter

cannot tell a lie - the Editor

Wonderland’s newly appointed taxi rank on

told me to say that)! In fact,

Park Lane (opposite Brook Gate) 15 minutes

had I been a few years

early, met fellow marshal and LTDA Advan day

younger, I might've run a lap

driver, Mark Curry. We'd never met before, but

of honour around Hyde Park!

over the next four hours, we bonded nicely.

To all the 'doomers and

I'd already decided that although we were at

gloomers' out there, mar-

Wonderland, so far as Uber picking up, it

shalling enlightened me to the

might as well have been named Neverland!

fact that despite rumours of

From the moment our shift started at 7pm,

our imminent demise, Joe

there was a constant demand for London’s

Public still appreciates and

finest. In fact, quite early on I needed to

desires our services in prefer-

'tweet' for reinforcements and the cavalry

ence to any inferior imita-

duly arrived. I was heartened by the success

tions. There may presently be

been “in hell,” but as a polite driver who has

of our mission, because it also proved that

been taught manners from being on Dial-a-

a lull in the game, but it's far from dead.

the assertion of Mayfair Mob founder, Mick

In conclusion, my thanks to Mark Curry

Cab, I replied sensibly: “Anywhere but here,

Smith, was correct in that if cabs show a

this is a designated World Heritage Uber-free

for showing me the ropes and to all those

presence, the public would do the rest (Ed’s

drivers that supplied the rank, not forget-

site!” You won’t believe this, but they didn't

note: See November Call Sign, page 17), that

laugh! Only one Uber driver had the temerity

ting the LTDA for the opportunity.

I whipped out a pair of sticks and indulged in

Winter Wonderland is open until Sunday

to hang it up by the point of our Taxi king-

3rd January. Times are 10am to 10pm. The 7

some impromptu drumming on a pal’s cab -

dom. He was shown no leniency by Mark and

much to the disdain of both driver and senior

cab rank operates from 10:30am and is situ-

ushered away - minus his victims!

ated opposite Brook Gate in Park Lane.

marshal! Mark Curry, with 20 marshalling

It was the coldest night of the year by far,

years behind him, reckoned we'd loaded

Wishing all drivers and their families

yet by the shift’s end we marshals were glow-

in our great trade, a happy and healthy

close to 300 cabs in just over three hours!

ing as not one single minicab pick-up had

New Year...

In all that time, just three young PH-loving,

occurred on our watch! I felt the elation of a

Marc Turner

stereotypical couples enquired where they

goalkeeper who'd kept a clean sheet, espe-

met their Uber car? My response should have

cially if he played for QPR (sorry Mr Rice! I

Call Sign Online

Call Sign January 2016

Page 8

“I’ve been driving a taxi for over fifteen years

now, nine of which have been on Dial-a-

Cab,” Roger Leithboro (K22) told Call Sign

“and it’s funny how even over a lengthy peri-

od of time, certain trips stay in your memo-

Lost in

ry…” As the words left his mouth, a smile

spread across his face.

“I had only had my Green Badge a week or

so and remember well a hiring by three

Translation!

American travellers who stopped me in

Oxford Street and directed me to Notting

Hill Gate, where they would drop one pas-

yelps of joy from the back of the taxi as the

senger off and then go on to what sounded

passengers recognised it. With excited vocal

like Wheatbridge in Buckinghamshire.

directions and lots of arm waving, we slowly

I searched my mind for the final destination

approached The Fisheries Hotel via a small

as I hadn’t come across it in the Suburbs sec-

suspension bridge spanning the river.

tion of my Knowledge runs; so I questioned

It was there that I noticed a large sign

where the place was and they said it was close

advising that it was a weak bridge!”

to Marlow and by the river. They said that if I

Fifteen years on and recounting the tale

could get them there, they’d be able to direct

still brought a chuckle to Roger’s voice as

me as they had been there before - albeit

well as to Call Sign’s reporter, who also saw

some years earlier. So off we went in pursuit

the funny side!

of our destination, with me still breaking my

“I learned a lot from that trip,” Roger said,

head wondering exactly where this place

“mainly not to go rushing off into the coun-

could be.”

tryside without being certain as to where

Roger told us that when they finally

you’ll end up, but such is the luck and enthu-

reached Marlow, his passengers had lost

siasm of a ‘Butter Boy!”

their previous navigational confidence

Then off he went looking for anyone who

and were now not so sure!

wanted to go to Wheatbridge. Roger knew

“So I stopped to ask a pedestrian if he

where it was...!

knew Wheatbridge, but all I got was a blank

Looking for Wheatbridge!

look that I interpreted as a no! Further down

Alan Green

the road I got off the cab to ask at the counter

much help either. So we drove to the river in

of a fish and chip shop, but they were not

search of the venue and suddenly there were

Call Sign Online

Simon Scott is one of the new generation of taxi drivers whose

life is captured as a blog! His story of when he was on the

Knowledge is…

A Blogger’s Tale

moped to mop up a few points in Bethnal Green. It was a lovely sunny day as I weaved

along the backstreets without a care in the world; I think I was whistling a song as I round-

ed a bend near Barnet Grove.

It was then that our eyes met… the biggest Rottweiler I had ever seen had just

noticed me, it must have been eight stone and looked affronted that I had dared

fter I had reached the 21 days

to try to approach it on my moped.

stage, I decided to take a ‘wan-

Although my lips were in whistle mode, the tune had dried up and I let out an expletive

gle’ cab from a local garage in

beginning with S. The dog that had been sitting on a doorstep lifted its head and fixed me

Bethnal Green. I popped in to

with his gaze. I slowed down and tried to act cool just as it stood up and gave me that

see the owner and even though he put his

'I'm going to eat you alive' look!

arm over my shoulder and told me he

I tried a smooth ‘U turn’ but the front wheel wobbled, I tried to correct it and just about

would “look after me,” I suspected he was

stayed up. I looked over my shoulder as the dog began trotting towards me, I accelerated

picking my pocket with the other hand!

and gave the little moped full throttle, but nothing happened; it just chugged along at

My initial thoughts proved to be correct;

about walking pace. He was gaining on me. I didn't feel ready to die in a Bethnal Green

he was no benevolent uncle! My new wan-

back street; I hadn't even finished the Knowledge yet! The bike was in third gear and I had

gle cab was ancient, I'm sure it only missed

a dilemma, should I take time to change gear or should I hope the bike suddenly takes off?

out on the Dalek-like roof indicators by a

I could almost smell it's nasty, slobbery, dog food breath as it closed the gap, my mind

couple of weeks. The doors didn't shut

raced. I thought about calling for help, but this was Bethnal Green in the eighties, a crowd

properly and one morning the nearside

would have gathered and they would have placed bets on how quickly the hulking brute

door opened as I made my way up

could devour me!

Queensbridge Road! I only realised

Just as I gave up all hope and was about to scream, my little moped leapt into life and

because the temperature suddenly dropped.

took off. I was so relieved I could have hugged a cyclist, I looked back and tried to give the

I also had to keep looking over my shoulder

dog a little grin, but my lips were too dry to move them. I had been seen off by a dog...

because the nearside mirror kept spinning

To be continued…

around. I got out and grumpily slammed it

Simon Scott (O40)

shut so hard that it refused to open again!

Call Sign Online

I decided to park the cab up and use the

Call Sign January 2016

Page 9

From Garry White

priority by the way they have bottled up

The reason I feel that way is because I

London with the Victoria Embankment clo-

believe a big part of the rise in the private

sures over the festive period, the ongoing

hire trade via apps are card payments. Young

changes in Aldgate and the road works at

people, businessmen and women like card

Old Street! Need I go on!

payments as the cashless society is only going

The Mayor seems not to care as he looks at

to increase and we need to join the 21st cen-

pastures new, setting his sights on Dave's job

tury. Cash Only signs in taxis really doesn't

and is positioning himself to fight it out with

add to that image.

Mr Osborne and Mrs May in 4 years’ time.

That leaves TfL to do whatever they like!

MPs

Has anybody heard Mr Brown, the new

On a more positive note, myself and a fellow

head at TfL, speak about how congestion is

Terminal upgrade

non-DaC taxi driver, Andrew Hampshire,

On the week beginning 14 December, I

killing the capital, how Uber are allowed to

recently visited our MP (Jackie Doyle-Price)

operate unchallenged and now want to intro-

began testing the latest software available

at Portcullis House, Westminster. We had an

for the Dial-a-Cab terminal from our IT

duce UberPool; as I’ve said before, Totally

interesting meeting where we put forward

failing London is a slogan that really fits...

department, which, all being well, will be

points about how we feel the government

rolled out to the fleet in the New Year.

and various minsters are not putting us - as

Sales

small businessmen and women who all pay

With Uber looking to add another nail in our

tax in the UK - into the equation when back-

Gett

coffin by introducing Uber for Business and

ing disruptive technology in London.

I’ve noticed over the past few months that

with Gett trying to operate as a fourth radio

After 90 minutes of speaking with her, she

Gett have started branding themselves on

circuit, we really need to up our game, fight

firmly believes the problems are all at the

taxis and are operating more like a radio cir-

with lower starting costs to win new business

door of Boris and Transport for London.

cuit, albeit via an app. I know in the New Year

and help retain what we have, so a good Sales

it always starts off quiet, but please don't be

team has never been more important in fight-

Festive period

tempted to join/work with Gett as it is against

ing for our share in the corporate market.

I do hope you all enjoyed the small Christmas

Society rules to work with another taxi sup-

break and those that worked got lucky. I wish

plier and I'm sure that Allan Evans will be

you all a Happy New Year for 2016.

Credit Cards

checking...

As many of you will be aware, from next

October all taxis in London will have to accept

Transport for London

credit card payments. We still wait to see the

Garry White

Where do I start! Well, TfL have certainly

Conditions of Fitness to know how this is going

decided that the night time economy isn't a

to affect us; I for one welcomed this news.

DaC Board Member

an LTC Dealership,” Michael advised. “Otherwise

you will end up with a very sore hand and per-

Give the cab a slap!

haps even be nicked for cruelty to a taxi!”

M.A.M Auto Electricians can be contacted

When Mike Kennedy (M30) couldn’t re-start his cab

on: 0207 607 3915

after stopping for a short while to run an errand for his

Alan Green

wife (yes, he’s well trained), he was rather perplexed as it

Call Sign Online

had started without hesitation earlier in the day, the

engine was still warm and he’d only been away from the

cab for a few minutes.

“My TX4 was completely dead,” Mike told Call Sign,

Immaculate White

“so I had no choice but to summon the AA breakdown

service and thankfully the patrolman arrived fairly

Cab Available for

promptly.

“He tested the battery and found that to be in good

Weddings

condition and fully charged, so he scratched his head a

little before reaching into his van for an electronic diagnostic

gizmo thing and plugged it into the cab via a scart socket under the steering column. There

was a selection of car makes and models to choose from and under LTI Taxi we saw Hints & Tips

for Starting displayed on the LCD screen. I peered over his shoulder in a rather inquisitive manner

and read everything I could and to my utter amazement, it read; Slap the steering column! He did it,

turned the key again and amazingly as he did so, my cab sprang into life!”

Mike’s astonishment was still obvious as he recalled the incident.

“Who would have thought there would be such an item listed in the AA patrolman’s box of

tricks,” he said smiling, “but I’d never have known if I hadn’t looked over his shoulder and I’ll bet it’s

pretty confidential info too!”

Call us cynical, but as delighted as we were that Mike got his cab going, we found it hard to

believe that a non-starting cab could be cured by slapping the steering wheel! So to try and find the

reason why the AA have this advice - one that seems to work - on their diagnostic gizmo, Call Sign

spoke to Michael at M.A.M Auto Electricians close by our own Roman Way depot for the answer.

“Ah yes,” he told us, “a very familiar and common occurrence on TX’s due to the

transponder on the steering column failing to communicate electronically with the chip in

the ignition key. That’s the little oblong plastic insert in the top of the key; it ‘talks’ to the

Female driver

transponder and sometimes there is a lack of communication between the two that causes

10% reduction for Dial-a-Cab drivers

the non-start. Call it ‘lost in translation,’” Michael explained.

“Slapping the steering shroud or shaking the steering wheel usually activates the starting process,

Contact Debbie (W18) on

but if it happens frequently then the only solution is to replace the transponder and re-programme the

07956 317040

system to ensure secure communication with the ignition key, and that requires special software from

Call Sign January 2016

Page 10

“It was quite late at night, probably

CabCam, the driver, with more than a lit-

around 11pm,” Karen Menpes (E01)

tle persuasion from his passenger, reluc-

explained to Call Sign. “My passenger

tantly reversed back up the road and I

directed me into one of the many nar-

slowly and graciously pulled away con-

row streets in Fulham with cars parked

tentedly, smiling proudly towards my little

on both sides of the road. As I came to

electronic friend that had recorded the

a stop, I noticed a car come whizzing

entire scenario and almost certainly

around the corner from the opposite

defused the possibility of an otherwise

direction so that it was facing me before

nasty situation!”

coming to an abrupt stop at the corner

of the junction further up the road. I

” Call Sign Magazine MMXVI

Karen recorded the whole incident

could vaguely make out two occupants

in the vehicle and assumed, innocently

that the car had stopped to let me pass

once I had set my passenger down.”

Thanks... but no

But they weren’t quite that innocent

because as soon as Karen had been paid

off and the passenger walked away

thanks, Boris!

from her cab, meaning there were no

witnesses, the opposing car came briskly

down the road and stopped just inches

e’re not sure where this picture originated, but it was taken on the first day

from the front of the Dial-a-Cab driver’s

of a cycle superhighway - apparently Vauxhall - and is said to show Mayor

taxi.

Boris Johnson just what a fellow cyclist thinks of his superhighway.

Karen continued her story. “It was as

Apparently the cyclist’s views are also shared by many other two-wheelers.

if they were confronting me over who

We’re saying nothing!

had the right of way and I got the

impression that they were telling me to

back away as this was their space, but it

would have been dangerous for me to

have done so because of the lack of

room to manoeuvre and I wasn’t about

to reverse along the lengthy stretch of

road from where I had just come.”

Karen’s thought process then won-

dered if perhaps the car contained a pri-

vate hire driver trying to be awkward, or

even a less than savoury person with

other intentions bearing in mind that the

taxi contained a lone female, late at

night with cash and other personal

effects about her person.

Karen wasn’t about to take any

chances and immediately phoned

the police before deciding that she

would get off the cab to remon-

strate with the driver as to what he

thought he was doing.

“I decided that I would confront the

This cyclist must be telling the Mayor that he is number one!

driver as politely as I could as to what

he was doing. Before I actually got out,

I checked that my ‘Novus’ CabCam

was functioning and the audio facility

was active, so that everything we did

and said would be caught on camera,

just in case the other driver decided to

put in a complaint against me. Stranger

things have happened to cab drivers

and you have to be so careful nowa-

days.

“As I approached the car, I noticed

that the passenger was in fact another

female and when I quietly expressed my

concerns, as well as informing the male

driver that I had already called the

police, together with the fact that all

was being seen and recorded by my taxi

Call Sign January 2016

Page 12

The Chairman’s Report from

Brian Rice in the December issue

TfL, lost licences

of Call Sign seemed to have set

a number of alarm bells ringing

for Dial-a-Cab drivers who then

and a survey!

called this magazine, worried

about their licence renewal after

Forward to December

not hearing from TfL.

2015 and we were contacted

Firstly Brian had written that TfL were

by the distressed wife of a

unhappy with his decision that he wanted to

DaC driver who’d had prob-

pay by cheque rather than a credit or debit

lems regarding his medical

card. Brian wrote that in both instances TfL

form, which then seemed to

required you to submit your details in a writ-

go missing altogether and

ten format, including the card’s sixteen digit

which at the time of writing

number, the three security verification num-

still hadn’t turned up. But

bers from the back as well as the “to and

the driver’s wife - however

from” dates. Brian added that you were then

much annoyed she was at

expected to send it all by post to Sheffield

that - was even more upset

together with your name, address and date of

at receiving a phone call said

birth, not to mention a scanned copy of your

to have come from TfL

DVLA licence! The Chairman said that the

although it was probably an

process went against the Payment Card

agency on the licensing

Industry Data Security Standard advice.

authorities behalf, asking if

After what Brian referred to as a “frightener”

they would do a survey;

- ie TfL said that sending a cheque could

wanting to know how many

cause a delay - they finally agreed.

hours the husband did etc.

Unsurprisingly with so many drivers

They also said that if the sur-

being concerned at delays to their licence

vey was completed, they

and the Chairman also revealing that Editor

would be “rewarded” with a

Alan Fisher’s completed medical form -

£50 voucher!

also sent to Sheffield - had been lost some-

“What a waste of time,”

where in the TfL system and at the time of

the DaC driver told us, “they

writing still had not been found, drivers

should take £50 off the cost

were becoming increasingly concerned.

of the licence instead of

In the April

2015

issue of Call Sign,

Palestra: Why is so much being lost?

making phone calls asking

reporter Ron Yarborough discovered that in

for all this personal informa-

2011 TfL had lost a batch of driver’s CRB dis-

I was also extremely upset to be asked

tion when they have been shown to have

closures and that around four years later, it

via a TfL phone call to send them a pho-

such lax security. They should pull their fin-

happened again when TfL admitted that a

tocopy. Surely informing me that they

gers out and sort out taxi drivers’ licence

batch of Criminal Record Bureau forms

had lost such an important document

renewal and medicals instead of them having

sent from Palestra House in Blackfriars to

and requesting a photocopy should have

to wait months for it.”

the CRB HQ in Liverpool had been lost.

come in a recorded letter?”

In 2011 it was DaC driver Marc Turner

Michael Toomey

All three drivers eventually received letters

(R97) who alerted Call Sign after TfL had

confirming that their licence renewals had

Call Sign Online

admitted to him that his application for a new

gone through.

Bill had been lost. Call Sign then discovered

that it wasn’t just Marc’s CRB, but a whole

batch that had gone missing. Marc told us at

the time that the CRB check contained per-

Dial-a-Cab Credit Union

sonal information that you wouldn’t want to

get out. TfL blamed the postal service.

Ever needed money quickly but were anxious about

In the 2015 loss, three DaC drivers all told

us the same story - TfL had contacted them to

variable bank interest rates?

say that a batch of completed medical forms

Well wonder no more! If you are a subscriber, journeyman or

had gone missing and they were asked to

member of staff at Dial-a-Cab, then you qualify to join the

send a photocopy.

Dial-a-Cab Credit Union. Any member of your family residing

One Dial-a-Cab driver told us:

at your address also qualifies for membership!

“Fortunately I kept a copy, but I was very

concerned that they could lose such an

Then if you are over 18, have been a member of the Credit Union for

important document. After all, on the

over 3 months and have established regular savings, you can borrow

first page it actually says that the infor-

up to 3 times your total savings…

mation included in the form may be

The cost?

passed to law enforcement agencies if

Just 1% per month on the outstanding balance (or APR of 12.7%).

criminal activity is suspected or where

Loans can be paid back early AND there can be an annual dividend on your shares.

they are otherwise required to do so by

law! You don’t need to be brain of

The question is: Can you afford NOT to be in it…?

Britain to realise that is an important

Call us on 020 7729 8171 or 020 7749 0585

document. Besides anything else, call me

old fashioned but I don’t want strangers

Members of the Financial Ombudsman Service

knowing my health details including my

Member’s funds protected up to limit set by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme

name, where I live and my GP’s address.

DaC Credit Union Ltd, Peterley Business Centre, 472 Hackney Rd E2 9EQ

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority

That information could feasibly be used

Registration number 213263

against me - not to mention fraudulently.

Call Sign January 2016

Page 13

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our policies can be tailored for the individual

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01322 553313

Gary and “the finger!”

I'm surprised that we are still

So don't be careless and I have two tips for the New Year; one

waiting for the first cab driver

is to go and see the latest Bond film if you haven’t already and

to sue TfL for getting cancer

second, if your man is over forty, give him the finger for the New

due to passive smoking, since

Year!

for many years all the cab

I dedicate this to all the team who have put their finger on the

trade were allowed to do was

problem. If you have enjoyed this experience and on reading it

to have a 'thank you for not

would like to make a donation to my New Year fund because l have

smoking’ sign on the taxi parti-

had the finger already, send a donation to Prostate Cancer UK...

tion and if passengers wanted

to smoke, then we couldn’t

Gary Cox (O46)

stop them. So I think that it’s

Call Sign Online

only a matter of time that

someone is going to sue due to the fact that a relative died in

the back of an ambulance after being stuck in a single line of

traffic along Victoria Embankment. Spin a coin, passive smok-

ing or 999.

So as we wait for that, let's contemplate any Christmas

gifts you may have got. Top of any list must be the latest

present for men. I can almost see the ad now: “Girls and

boys, give your man the finger for Christmas!”

But stop! Let me explain myself before you get carried away in

shock and horror and complain to Call Sign. It's time to think

positive. Come on lad, man up, it’s not going to hurt. It all starts

with being given a bottle at the docs and if need be, a finger up

the Khyber Pass - or in medical terms, the rear passage, my dear.

The reason for my being an expert on the aforementioned

subject is that after more trips to the docs with a waterworks

infection than I care to remember, and every conversation going

from whether I had been near any strange women, followed on

one occasion by whether I was gay and would I like to talk about

it? Finally, letter in hand it was up to North Middlesex Hospital

with the resulting confirmation - I've got a big one! Yep, perhaps

I should explain it more clearly. My prostate is enlarged.

Nobody seems to know why men of a certain age find that it

starts to grow, but just between you and me, the doc prescribed

something called Finasteride, which is a female hormone. Until

the end of November, I didn’t know whether it worked or not, but

I have a feeling in my water that things are now looking good!

One of the upsides for me followed a visit to the disabled loo

at M&S. On leaving after a satisfactory splash, an elderly gentle-

man shouted at me in disgust that it was a disabled toilet! In

my very best Marilyn Monroe voice, I whispered into his ear:

“You see young man, I am on a female hormone and not sure

which one to go in, ladies or gents!” He suggested that I ought

to get out more!

Call Sign January 2016

Page 14

Dial-a-Cab drivers coming in or

going home on the A13 know

how appalling the traffic can be

A13: Worst Main

between Rainham and Canning

Town, with traffic jams often

taking up entire lengths between

Road in England?

the two points; eastbound in the

evening and westbound in the

morning peak hours.

But recent months have seen an escalation

in the number of serious crashes, at least two

of which Call Sign has heard where the east-

bound stretch was closed at Rainham, leaving

EB traffic not moving for over an hour with the

hold-ups going back to Tower Bridge and

Lower Thames Street.

One smash saw a lorry driver escape serious

injury by actually diving out of his cab onto the

A13 carriageway just before an HGV filled with

scrap metal ploughed into and crushed his

vehicle. It was around 9am and he had been

laying out cones. The HGV driver “escaped”

with three broken ribs and facial injuries.

Another was at the Movers Lane flyover,

Barking, when again two lorries collided and

the A13 was once again shut with the hold-ups

almost as bad as the previous

accident.

A third smash saw a tractor

driver killed at the Pitsea fly-

over, while an overturned van

caused havoc on both sides of

the carriageway close to the

One of the accidents that shut the A13

M25 junction when rubber-

Inset: DaC's John Ward got an award for saving lives

neckers slowed to see what

was happening. The result

Patricia Lees said that John’s

if he would park his taxi next to John’s so that

was one crash after another

actions

“almost certainly

between them they could try to completely

around the roadworks that

saved lives.” He had been on

block off the two nearside lanes. Traffic was still

were already there. A num-

the A13 going home at

speeding past in the fast lane at 70 mph. A

ber of accidents continued

around 01.15 and was in the

truck then stopped and John asked the driver

for around 20 minutes of mayhem. Many

middle lane. Suddenly a BMW

to park sideways across the entire three lanes

call the A13 the worst main road in England,

640 coupe with personalised registration num-

to block the road completely and help prevent

with blame attributed to speedsters, speed lim-

ber of P1MP R ‘undertook’ John on the inside

further accidents or loss of life. The emergency

its too slow and lorries!

lane at a very high speed before pulling into a

services arrived and the BMW driver eventually

DaC driver Alex Constantinou (N05) had

BP garage. John took little notice and contin-

ended up in court.

taken a job from Canary Wharf to Dagenham.

ued his homeward journey. As he approached

John told Call Sign at the time how

He told Call Sign: “We were on the A13 and I

Rainham Marshes, the BMW came out of

amazed he had been at the lack of any appar-

knew there had been a serious eastbound acci-

nowhere - again very fast - and disappeared

ent care the BMW driver,

25-year old

dent because drivers going westbound were

out of John’s sight within seconds. In court, the

Shehzad Munir and his girlfriend showed as

sending in reports. Our problem was that we

BMW’s speed was estimated at 155mph!

the other car driver, Sukhpreet Singh

were already on the road and because we

As John approached the M25 junction, he

Chimber - a 30-year old father of three young

weren’t moving, we couldn’t pull off. We sat

saw the same BMW badly damaged, obviously

children whose wife was expecting their

stationary for over an hour and then when traf-

having been in collision with something. It had

fourth child - lay immobile in the wreckage.

fic began moving slowly, it took another 30

come to rest between the slow and middle

Munir was found guilty by jury of dangerous

minutes to creep to the exit. But the roads all

lanes of the carriageway, the whole road was

driving and jailed for seven years. He was also

around were totally stuffed as well and in the

strewn with debris and a strong smell of petrol

banned from driving for eight years.

end my passenger got out and began walking.

hung in the air. John pulled his cab across the

John was later presented with a certifi-

At least that meant I could eventually turn

two lanes at ninety degrees to the hard shoul-

cate of bravery from the High Sheriff of

round and creep back towards town!”

der, put his hazard lights on and dialled 999.

London at the United Kingdom Supreme

MP for Rainham, Jon Cruddas has called for

The BMW driver was at the passenger door

Court in Parliament Square as well as the

action to make the A13 safe and said he would

helping the young girl passenger out. John

Hitch Award by the WCHCD.

take up the matter with the relevant council

looked around in the dark and spotted anoth-

To most drivers, an accident is an inconve-

departments.

er car tipped over at a 45 degree angle to the

nience on our way home or coming into

Many believe that it isn’t so much the speed-

road and facing up the banking and saw a man

town, but each one involves real people and

ing as the speed camera placings that make dri-

slumped in the drivers’ seat.

real lives. The question is how to make the

vers suddenly brake. With average speeds com-

With fuel spilling out everywhere, John

A13 safer. Is it to cut the speed down to

ing in, that should help but what it will never

tried to force the car door open to get the

something ridiculously low or to set a faster

stop is the young speedster with a car far too

driver out. But the door had been crushed

limit than the 40 / 50mph that is currently in

powerful for him.

into the bodywork and would not give way.

force for stretches of the three lane highway?

In 2012, Dial-a-Cab driver John Ward

John wasn’t to know, but the driver was

Or is there a better way? You tell us because

(R88) gave Call Sign first-hand experience

probably already dead.

we can’t go on as it is...

of what can happen on a day that he

John ran back to the traffic - still fast moving

Baghwat Singh

described as one of the worst of his life...

although thinning out due to the hour - and

Call Sign Online

At Snaresbrook Crown Court, Judge

waved down another cab and asked the driver

Call Sign January 2016

Page 15

DAC on GPS: It’s ready to go!

The replace-

ment for our

legacy V6 dis-

patch system is

now function-

ally complete

and is being

rolled out

across the DaC

fleet. Call Sign asked IT Director John

Bankes to bring us up to date with the

rollout and to describe how the new

system will work...

“The new GPS dispatch system for Dial-a-Cab has

been assigned the name Volante Automated

Dispatch, or VAD for short. Volante is a name we use

for our internally developed systems and we already

have Volante Mobile, Volante Web, Volante MDT and

now Volante Dispatch. We added the word

One of the new GPS screens

‘Automated’ because we didn’t think that the acronym

for Volante Dispatch would work very well!

As you all no doubt know by now, VAD is a system that is based

Board and ensures that the transition from old to new is not only safe,

upon the GPS position of a given cab. That means that the driver

but also fair.

will no longer be required to ‘Book In’ to a zone. Trips will be

Over the next few months, you will be contacted by Drivers

distributed to drivers based on the actual position of the cab.

Services to arrange for your fitting, which should take less than

30 minutes.”

How will it be different to operate?

John Bankes

From a driver’s standpoint, the operation of VAD is simpler than the

DaC IT Director

current system. You will no longer have to book into a zone; your

MDT will do that for you automatically. Your MDT will transmit its cur-

rent GPS position data to the host every 30 seconds and a driver need

only press the ‘Available’ button to tell the host that they are available

to be offered a trip (provided that driver is not currently In-Transit or

In-Service). The host will offer a driver a trip based on the proximity

to the pickup point and the length of time a driver has been available.

The concept of manually booking into a zone has gone.

You will be pleased to know that the zone query will remain and

that it will once again refresh itself automatically. You will therefore be

able to look at where the work is and how many other drivers are in

Exclusive Taxi Insurance Scheme

that zone before driving to the area.

dedicated to DAC members only

Will I need to be retrained?

Most drivers will not need retraining. We have written the sys-

tem so that it looks and behaves very much like the one you

already have. Since there is now less work for the driver to do,

you should find it easier to use. We will also issue a ‘Quick Start’

✓ 5% Discount for members

guide to the new software to help in the transition. If, however,

✓ Additional discount for existing protected Bonus policies

any driver feels that they require further training on the system,

✓ Public Liability

they can request that help from our Training Manager.

✓ Breakdown Cover

When will we start using the VAD system?

✓ Much more available

Maintaining a continuity of service to our drivers is our highest prior-

ity. For this reason we have taken a safe approach to the rollout by

Call below for quotations

building the system in such a way that both the old and new systems

will be available at the same time. When you receive your new soft-

ware, which will be VolanteMDT version 10, you will note that there

are two sign in buttons, one for V6 and one for VAD. This means that

Hillier Buchan Ltd, 18, Bourne Road, Bexley, Kent. DA5 1LU

if we do encounter teething trouble with the new system, you will

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority - Firms Ref No: 304318

always be able to sign in to the old system and carry on working.

Company Registration No: 4319231

Drivers will continue to use the V6 system until enough cabs have

been fitted to make the VAD system viable. Once we reach that thresh-

Tel: 01322 553313

old, we will assign a percentage of ALL work to the VAD system. That

percentage will be adjusted weekly and will reflect the percentage of

Fax: 01322 523315

drivers able to work on VAD. This method has been approved by the

Call Sign January 2016

Page 16

Another true story from Geoff Levene...

THE FUNNY PUBLIC!

I'm sure it's happened to you.

out of there as fast as I could! What must she have thought...

Sometimes we see ourselves as others see us. Some years ago, the

It's happened to me many

good lady wife and I spent a Bank Holiday weekend in Edinburgh. At

times and it goes something

that time you could park over the weekend in side streets around

Haverstock Hill, so we left the car in Eton Road and stood in the main

like this...

road waiting for a taxi. Soon one appeared. He didn't have his light on

I take a job to say, Greenford. On the

but I waved and he clocked the suitcase and stopped.

way back to the A40, a man stops me,

“Kings Cross, please,” I said.

gets in, closes the door, sits down and

A cloud crossed his eyes as he hesitatingly replied ok. As we

says Tavistock Terrace. That's all; no

approached Prince Of Wales Road, the driver suddenly asked if we need-

clues whatsoever. But being a licensed

ed to turn left there.

taxi driver I know exactly where it is.

I said yes as I looked for a licence plate. At that moment, an elbow hit

So off I go. Western Avenue,

me in the ribs and the wife hissed as to whether the driver knew where

Westway, Marylebone Road, Gloucester

he was going? But then we got the life story.

Place, Prince Albert Road, (the passenger just looks out of the

“You see, I've had a licence for years but worked in New Covent

window) Parkway, Camden Road, Parkhurst Road, Nags Head

Garden for a long time. I can find my way to anywhere from Waterloo!”

and left into Holloway Road. Now we pass Tufnell Park Road and

That was comforting. At the corner of St Pancras Way and Agar

Mercers Road and then at last he speaks - and of course you

Grove, he suggested turning left. I assured him going straight on would

know what he says...

be best, so we made it to the Cross and I bunged him. Then off he went,

“It's the next on the left!”

presumably to Waterloo. I was puzzled; what would a tourist have

That's right; after about 12 miles and within 25 yards of the destina-

thought? I’ve no answer.

tion, he decides to offer a bit of help! “Lucky I came this way,” says I, but

But there are other questions to which there are no answers. Firstly,

the irony is lost on him. But that's what makes this job such fun. The

what was Captain Hook’s name before the accident? Secondly, who put

public are so funny although they often don't even realise it.

the ram in the rama lama ding dong and third, when Meatloaf sings: “I

Are you familiar with the octogenarian and steadily more demented

would do anything for love but I won't do that,” what on earth is he refer-

MP Sir Gerald Kaufman. Some years ago when cigarettes were still legal

ring to?

in cabs, he got into mine, screamed that someone had been smoking in

Incidentally, I think Darryl Hall and John Oates have been seeing the

the cab and slid down all the windows. Fair enough, but what made it

same girl as Meatloaf. The reason I say that is because those two sing: “I

funny was the fact that in the 1960s, Prime Minister Harold Wilson was

would do 'most anything, but I won't go for that - no can do.”

a pipe smoker in public but a cigar chomper in private. He was said to

God knows what she was into...

be considering legislation to stop people smoking, but was dissuaded by

a young adviser who reckoned that the working classes needed their cig-

Geoff Levene (W32)

arettes. That young person was, of course, our friend Sir Gerald. Mind

you, is that funny... or just plain cynical?

Call Sign Online

How many of us can honestly say we've never said or done anything

that hasn’t caused someone to wonder if the guy was for real. Before I

started the Knowledge, I noticed a fellow down my road had got his

badge. Accompanied by his girlfriend, he proudly showed it off to the

neighbours. I didn't really know him, but strangely enough on my first

day in this game I found myself next to him in Baker Street. His name

was Eddie. A year or so later, a girl handed me a delivery in Hanover

Square. I recognised her and asked if she was Eddie's girlfriend? Her

face darkened.

THE HON. PRESIDENT, HON. CHAIRMAN AND COMMITTEE OF

“I was,” she said sharply, “but he married someone else yesterday!”

Oh God! Yesterday! What an idiot! “Sorry,” I mumbled before getting

THE LONDON TAXIDRIVERS’ FUND

FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN

Appeal following Kingston rape

Detectives investigating the rape of a woman in Kingston are trying to trace

two taxi drivers who may have information that could assist them. The victim,

Would Like To Wish You All

a 19-year-old woman, reported being raped in Kingston University accommo-

dation in the early hours of Thursday 12 November. Beforehand, she was

believed to have been travelling with a male passenger in a white coloured

A Very Happy New Year

taxi from Pryzm nightclub, Clarence Street, to Portland Road, Kingston at just

after 02:30 hrs.

The victim is described as white with ginger hair and was wearing a

black dress. The man with her at the time is described as a middle-

eastern man aged in his 20s with short black hair. He was wearing a

black jumper.

Officers would also like to locate a second taxi driver who drove a silver

coloured taxi and picked up the victim and two other women (one of whom

was white and the other Asian) outside the Metro Bank in Eden Street,

Kingston earlier on Wednesday 11 November at about 23:45hrs. They were

driven to Pryzm nightclub after making a slight detour to one of their homes

to fetch ID. Police are keen to identify both the taxi drivers. Detectives from

WITH GRATEFUL THANKS TO ALL OUR

the Sexual Offences Exploitation and Child Abuse Command are investigating.

The drivers, or anyone with any information that could assist the

DRIVERS, SPONSORS, HELPERS AND SUPPORTERS

investigation, is asked to contact Detective Constable Rob Way who is

leading the investigation on 020 8721 4106.

“None walks so Tall as he who Stoops to help a Child”

A 21-year-old man from Kingston has been arrested in connection with the

investigation. He has been bailed to return on a date in February pending fur-

ther enquiries.

www.ltfuc.org.uk

Call Sign January 2016

Page 17

A day in the

life of Uber

ith Uber constantly grabbing the headlines and people you’d assume would

know better, saying how wonderful Uber is without a thought for the poor dri-

vers who work for well below the minimum wage, we thought we’d grab a few

piccies from the internet. They were not from the same day, but did come from

the same week!

Why does it not astonish us that people you assumed had some semblance of brain power

should be happy to use a service that is cheap, while apparently not guaranteed to get you to

your destination in one piece! We could probably ask the Mayor, but we’ll keep our waffles for

Wrong way down Great Windmill St

the breakfast table!

Wrong way down Tottenham Court Rd Wrong way down Camden High St

"My satnav said turn left... so I did!"

The Dial-a-Cab Credit Union

A HAPPY NEW YEAR WITH DACCU!

Hello one and all,

We at the DaC Credit Union would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year with the

hope that you had a great Christmas and a deserved break from all the traffic, drunks

and miserable punters that we have to suffer day in and day out! So if you’re like me,

to help make things seem nicer, I go shopping and bash the old credit cards!

If you are in that position but don’t want to keep paying interest upon interest, come on down

to the Credit Union offices in downtown Hackney Road and we’ll do our best to alleviate your

financial problems; some of the drivers or members that phone in tell us that because of their cir-

cumstances, they feel a bit embarrassed about coming in. Well there really is no need for that as

we all are or have at some stage, been in the same position!

We’re all cab drivers here; some of us are retired but we still have a licence and know what’s happening out there,

so don’t be shy - come in and see us and if you want a private meeting, we have a spare office on a one-to-one basis. I

hope this article will help you make up your minds to come in...

We don’t just do loans, you can save with us and we only ask for £20 a week and these savings could provide you with money

to buy, for example, tyres from Hackney Road Taxi Tyres, which is downstairs. So a quick share withdrawal from the Credit Union

upstairs and that’s it job done - and you keep your float.

Well that’s about it from me for now; I do hope to see old and new faces alike this year. Don’t forget that this is your Credit

Union, so please use it.

That just leaves me to wish you all a Happy New year and be lucky... but be very careful out there.

John Riley

DACCU President

Call Sign January 2016

Page 18

DaC driver Sean Farrell (B39) looks at trade history from a different angle

Brethren of the Whip

The

drivers for the first time he had all applicants

was not seriously injured but suffered from

declare they were “well acquainted with the

stress due to the shooting. Any effects it had on

Beginnings of

streets in and about London.” What this

his wife and children who witnessed the shoot-

the

entailed was never explained!

ing were not recorded.

Knowledge?

In 1845, a 16 year old butterboy of two weeks

Bowes was the only son of a widowed moth-

With the recent clo-

did not know how to get to Manchester Street

er and it had been his aim to become a cab dri-

sure of Knowledge

from Paddington, whilst in 1853 an owner dri-

ver in order to look after her and after looking

Point School in

ver, “only recently in the business,” had to be

into his affairs Sir Edward took some pity on his

Caledonian Road, I

directed from Bond Street to Hanover Square.

would-be assassin.

take a quick look at

In 1853 The Standard was calling for cabmen to

At his trial at the Old Bailey, Bowes was

the history of the

“have experience” of the city in which they work

convicted of attempted murder and sen-

topographical exami-

- the trade was on strike at the time so perhaps

tenced to 15 years. Sir Edward tried to have

nations and dedicate the same to Malcom and

the papers was calling for a clean sweep with a

the sentence reduced, but to no avail. It is at

Pat Linskey and their staff - past and present -

new broom.

this point that the story took another unex-

and for introducing me to my wife at Dame

In 1867, William Charley MP published his

pected turn.

Alice Owen back in 1986... but that’s another

book on The Law of London Cabs and

Bowes’s mother had been forced to return to

story!

Omnibuses in which he stated that “Lieutenant

work now that her only child was imprisoned,

Colonel Paschal, on whom the duty of examin-

but according to newsreader, actor, writer and

There is a popular misconception that

ing candidates devolves, subjects them to a

Dial-a-Cab client, the late Gordon

The Knowledge came out of complaints aris-

searching examination in the topography of

Honeycombe, every now and then whilst her

ing from the influx of visitors to the Great

London, selecting various points of taking up

son was in jail Sir Edward would get his chauf-

Exhibition of 1851. There were indeed a

and setting down.” This is an ‘appearance’ in all

feur to drive him to Mrs Bowes home in Acton;

large number of complaints that year, but

but name; how searching the examination was

he would then dismiss his driver and walk the

the vast majority were either against cab-

and how many “appearances” were made by a

remaining distance where “he gave her enough

men for overcharging - or trying to - or for

candidate is not recorded, but it does go to

money to satisfy her needs and keep herself

the abuse they gave when unsuccessful in

show that The Knowledge was up and running

comfortable and warm.”

obtaining more than the legal fare!

by 1867. However, what excuse a cabman going

Sir Edward’s wife had no knowledge of his

For the cab driver and trade, the main conse-

north over Waterloo Bridge in 1881 had when

affair and it is not known if it continued after

quence of the Great Exhibition was the imple-

he asked a pedestrian: “Am I OK for the Strand?”

Alfred was released from prison in 1922, but the

mentation of the Fares Book issued by Scotland

is anybody’s guess!

ever generous Sir Edward paid for Bowes’s pas-

Yard in 1853. Distances were measured by the

When Herbert Hodge applied for a cabman’s

sage to Canada so he could start a new life...

shortest route between two points and this dis-

licence in 1928, he had to declare all his previ-

tance dictated how much the fare was to be. If a

“The Knowledge of London serves no use-

cabman went by a longer route, the passenger

ous convictions to a Carriage Officer before he

ful purpose and should be abolished.”

would only have to look at the Fares Book -

would be allowed on The Knowledge (he actu-

Department of Transport 1970

ally calls it such in his 1939 book, Cab Sir?).

either their own or the one all cabmen were now

“The Knowledge is the corner-stone of the

obliged by law to carry and which stated the fare

Hodge was warned that any undeclared

taxi trade in London. It underpins every-

for the minimum distance. So it was in the dri-

infringement of the law would result in his

thing we do.”

ver’s interest to go the shortest route - possibly

being refused a cab licence. Fortunately for

Malcolm Linskey 1990

the genesis for the Knowledge.

Hodge, the only conviction he ever had was for

Sean Farrell (B39)

In his History of The London Cab Trade,

defective lights on a cycle and after feeling like

Phil Warren believed an early form of

a “human post office directory” he completed

Call Sign Online

Knowledge was “implemented in 1851 by Sir

The Knowledge in six months.

A computer glitch that removed all question

Richard Mayne,” (Commissioner of Police,

If there had been discrepancies with his char-

marks in last month's issue causing an ultra-

although Phil was quoting a secondary source

acter, then Hodge would have received a letter

hasty re-proof, then changed the street names in

from several years later). He also quoted from a

from the Commissioner of the Metropolitan

Sean's article! It should have read

“The

well-known London cabman of the time, John

Police stating that he did not meet the ‘fit and

Haymarket (now Cumberland Market)” [as is in

Cockram, who in 1869 thought the examina-

proper’ requirements and as such his applica-

NW1] and our rush proof changed it to

“Cumberland Market (now Haymarket)” [as in

tion “was hard enough already.”

tion would be refused.

SW1]. Apologies to Sean...

When Phil came to write his History of

One person who did receive such a letter

The London Taxi Knowledge, he found the

was Alfred Bowes, who felt his life had been

beginnings had proved to be “very elusive”

ruined by the epistle from Scotland Yard,

Call Sign

but definitive accounts begun in 1884 when

and in his anger he awaited outside the

January 2016

1214 candidates passed and 717 failed. So

Commissioner’s Campden Hill Road home

Editor: Alan Fisher

just how ‘knowledgeable’ were cab drivers

to confront him about it!

Address: 39 - 47 East Rd, London N1 6AH

of the 19th century?

The Commissioner was Sir Edward Henry,

Tel: 0207 251 0581 Fax: 0207 553 7293

1823 the un-named driver of hackney

who whilst serving in India had first recognised

Email: callsignmag@aol.com

coach 620 dropped his fare off in Moor Street

that fingerprints were unique to the individual;

Website: www.22-callsign.co.uk

instead of Little St Andrews Street (now

but now as he climbed out of his chauffeur dri-

Printers: Premier Print Group

Monmouth Street), telling his passenger that

ven car on the night of November 27th 1912,

E6 6 LP

he did not know where Moor Street was and

Alfred Bowes lay in wait and he was armed with

Design: Aldan Publications

that he “was not expected to know every street

a gun. He approached Sir Henry and pleaded

Tel: 07958 300 428

in London.” For his insolence, the coachman

his case, but the Commissioner was dismissive

Email: debbiefresco@googlemail.com

was fined 20s (£1) and locked up until he could

and told him to contact the office. With that,

Views and opinion expressed in Call Sign must

raise the money.

Bowes pulled out his gun and began shooting.

not be assumed to represent those of the Editor or

In 1838, Daniel Whittle Harvey was first the

After firing three shots, two of which missed

Board.No part of Call Sign may be reproduced

either manually or electronically without the express

Commissioner of the Metropolitan Public

their target, Bowes was overpowered by the

permission of the Editor.

Carriage Office; when he licensed and badged

chauffeur and a passing decorator. Sir Henry

Call Sign January 2016

Page 19

BRAZIL CALLING

The thoughts of Joe Brazil...

nage at this junction. Yes, one death is too

roundabout will close the northwest arm of

many as all right minded people would

the newly formed junction and become a

agree; injuries are not to be wished on any-

peninsula. You will be forced anticlockwise

one but a cycle traffic light properly observed

around the junction from the west with no

would be of considerable effect, or just

right turn into City Road southbound, just in

Old Street and

directing cycles through the heavily

case you are foolhardy enough to try to escape

armoured side streets would alleviate dan-

from the inevitable traffic hold-up that strings

redevelopment...

gers. But then again, TfL do not have control

back for Old Street east of the roundabout...

When Islington Council first muted changes

over the side streets, so even though these

err sorry, I meant junction.

at Old Street roundabout back in April 2006,

streets are virtually empty, local councils

Job done then; traffic halted, no acci-

I’m sure all taxi drivers - like myself - let out a

seem to be only too happy to watch all means

dents, your journey time is

“changed

groan of disbelief. Let’s face it, the last time

of transport being shoved off their patch of

slightly!” Top job, you say. Without doubt,

they redeveloped it from a crossroads, back

side streets and onto main routes instead of

data of collisions between pedestrians or

in the 60’s, they hardly created a monument

standing up to their responsibility to protect

cyclists will be much harder to find then.

that would ever trouble the pages of English

the travelling public.

So let’s face it, we must all stand up for the

Heritage, although I’m sure Grand Designs

It can be hard to find information

forgotten 35.2 who err….may have suf-

presenter Kevin McCloud turning up and

regarding accidents, not always, but some-

fered, although we can’t be sure as we

expounding the beauties of brutalist concrete

times. They are shrouded in misinforma-

can’t find the data!

structures, would do it the world of good!

tion. I remember Jeremy Clarkson pulling

This will allow gentrification of the junction,

It remains not much more than a creation

up previous Minister of State for Transport,

a new peninsula, coffee shops, new public

of form and function, unadmired and slowly

Stephen Ladyman, for counting a suicide

spaces, new retail units, temporary food stalls.

being dissolved into the ground with little

from a bridge as being a motorway death

Pound to a penny cyclists will hurtle through

hope of any real money or design genius ever

and so allowing speed cameras to be

un-impinged by law enforcement or road reg-

troubling its façade. So the time is nigh for a

installed on the basis of hitting some terri-

ulations. Try finding data then... no chance!

new frock and bit of a spruce up...well, a

ble target to achieve financial gain. The

This gentrification does have an upside

£25million pound facelift anyway.

truth of the matter (that has been dis-

though, Old Street will become a slightly more

As you can imagine, this will involve

closed) is that between February 2010 and

pleasant place for the pedestrian and tube

considerable upheaval; TfL in its Citizen

January 2013 there were 44 “collisions” in

traveller; Dial-a-Cab House - being in the

Space document tells us that “journey

the “vicinity.” Vague enough for you? How

vicinity - will become a nicer place to work.

times through the junction for motorists

big is the vicinity? Define collision?

Our new neighbours at the Atlas Building

and bus, coach and taxi passengers are

Collisions between whom?

with their

350 bicycle spaces that Boris

likely to change slightly.”

Well, what I can tell you is that 80 per-

Johnson described as being within the area he

Never has the term slightly been more mis-

cent involved a pedestrian or cyclist…

is going full speed ahead to change is achieved.

used, although it is interesting that we are the

that’s err…35.2 I think, over almost 3

The Atlas with its 302 apartments, ranging

only ones with passengers; I presume buses

years! How many involved vehicles and

from studios to three bedroom apartments

will be empty and no-one will be inconve-

cyclists? Vehicles and pedestrians? Cycles

starting at £580,000; if only we had a stake in

nienced, although that may just be me being

and pedestrians? Hardly carnage, but then

this improvement, if only we were in this ever-

pedantic!

again one is too many. Deaths? Not men-

changing tech valley vicinity, if only, if only, oh

Well, I thought, I wonder why so many

tioned, but let’s hope not.

we have! Well you can’t stop progress, can

£millions are being spent? There must be car-

So how is this to be addressed? Old Street

you; every cloud etc... You know the rest.

Let’s hope there is a benefit, after all I

do like a new peninsula every now and

then, who in their right mind wouldn’t...

Susan gets the KoL at 60!

Joe Brazil

Dial-a-Cab driver Brian

DaC Board Member

Marcantonio (R73) recently told

Call Sign about the wife of a

friend of his. Brian has known

TAXI AIR

fellow taxi driver Frank

Harrington for many years, but

the story is about Frank’s wife,

CONDITIONING

Susan Harrington, who at the

young age of 60 was about to

All makes and models

get her Green badge after

serviced and repaired

passing the Knowledge of

Mobile service - we

London.

come to you!

Brian told us: “Susan had

got her Rec but failed her first drive on the Highway

Call Mick Wheeler on

Code! She worked really hard at the Knowledge, which is really quite amazing when

you consider that she will be 61 in March! She finally got her green badge on 9th

020 8715 0079

December, so I wonder if she is she the oldest woman to ever pass the KoL.”

Call Sign isn’t too sure about who the oldest person was, but in this month’s

Covering London

‘Brethren of the Whip’on page 18, Sean Farrell (B39) writes about how the

and the Home Counties

Knowledge of London probably came into existence.

Call Sign January 2016

Page 20

London Taxidrivers’ Fund for Underprivileged Children

LTFUC HON CHAIR’S REPORT

Welcome to the 87th

The event literally involves a whole army of

In September, we had the pleasure of being

LTFUC Chairman's

volunteers who give up their time to make this

invited to the traditional annual London Pearly

Report; yes 87 glori-

such a wonderful day and we are so grateful to

Kings & Queens Costermongers Harvest Festival

ous years of serving

them all, including the hotel staff, management,

Parade at the Guildhall and we thank all the won-

'special needs' chil-

celebrities, entertainers, face painters, baloon-

derful Pearlies for their continued support of our

dren! The children

ists, the Household Cavalry, Police, British army,

charity.

are from all walks of

sponsors and many others. The list is endless. I

As well as outings and the functions we

life

within

the

am also pleased to say that Sainsbury's (Low

arrange, we’re also very pleased to help very

L o n d o n

Hall) Chingford are supporting our charity in a

needy and worthwhile causes. The charity

Metropolitan area and have physical and social-

very big way and as well as raising funds for us

receives on average 100 appeals a year and

ly impaired needs. I started my second year as

all year round, they were involved at the tea

the committee investigates each claim on its

Chairman at London's Burlington Arcade in

party in so many ways, supplying and making

merits and we help as many of those appeals

December, where we were fundraising as well

hundreds of sandwiches for the guests and

that we can. Some of our donations include

as promoting the charity. Our London taxi

entertainers and allowed us to fund raise at

hospital equipment such as baby incubators,

dressed up as a reindeer was a great attraction

their store over Easter and Christmas.

sensory rooms for children, speciality equip-

with many photo opportunities to be had. In

Our next outing took place in June; that was

ment for children recovering from cancer,

addition to the trustees that were there, we

our legendary fabulous annual trip to the sea-

sailing boats specifically built for physically

were also pleased to be joined by London's

side! For almost 80 of our 87 years the charity

impaired children and even specially adapted

Pearly King & Queens and the Fulham &

has been taking children to Southend-on-

wheelchairs for individual children.

Hammersmith Choral Society.

Sea. In its modern format, this involves over

The charity is very proud to say that under 2%

January commenced with our now famous

120 vehicles in convoy including over 100 bal-

of the money raised goes towards administrative

Mad Hatter's Tea Party in the Great Room of

loon decorated taxis, with support from St

expenses. The voluntary committee on the Fund

the JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel,

John's and Red Cross Ambulances, Green Flag

are 14 working taxi drivers and with the help and

where we entertained over 600 deserving chil-

recovery and the Essex and Met Police. Previous

assistance from our wives and partners, we con-

dren from many London boroughs. On arrival,

meeting points have always been Beaumont

tinue to do this work because we love trying to

the children were greeted by characters such as

Square and Victoria Park in the East End, but in

bring something special into the children's lives.

the Honey Monster, the Furry Tail Folk, Star

2015 we started the outing from the Sainsbury's

The committee would like to thank Larry

Wars characters and many others. The venue is

(Low Hall) car park in Chingford. This proved

Abrahams, who has now retired from the fund

festooned with balloons, decorations and tables

to be more convenient than Victoria Park and

and wish him good luck for the future. Along

full of food; afterwards the children are enter-

meant the journey was quicker by 30 minutes,

with his lovely wife Sue, they have both con-

tained by a variety of acts and shows culminat-

so the children had even more time to enjoy

tributed many years of hard work and dedication

ing in a huge disco. To top it all, on departure

themselves! The outing was once again a won-

helping to brighten up the lives of many deserv-

the children go through a toy grotto where they

derful event enjoyed by both the children and

ing children. Thank you both very much. I would

leave laden with various toys and goodies, plus

the drivers, even though it was on the hottest

also like to thank the trustees and their partners

some fruit for the journey home.

day for nine years!

for all their hard work throughout the year and

send best wishes to our Hon. Life President, Bill

Tyzack BEM and his wife Grace for a speedy

London Taxidrivers’ Fund for Underprivileged Children

recovery and continuing good health.

LTFUC HON TREASURER’S REPORT

Sim Yiannikaris

It is my privilege to present the Treasurer's Report for the LTFUC year

LTFUC Honorary Chairman

ending 31st October, 2015.

I am very grateful to the Fund's Trustees for taking time to provide me

with their ongoing support in respect of my role as Hon Treasurer. Last

year's Treasurer's Report mentioned two new members to the fund, who

have since stepped into their roles with relentless dedication alongside all

the other trustees, continuing to make their respective contributions to

the charity.

With the help of many donations, sponsors old and new and public

generosity, the fund has maintained reserves to enable continued sup-

port for many disadvantaged children of Greater London. General administration expenses have

been kept down again to less than 2p in the pound, allowing nearly every penny of income to be

spent on improving the quality of life for those in need. During the past year, the charity has

granted £1,200 by supplying specialised equipment for a desperately needed mobility wheelchair

and a large donation to the Haven House Children's Hospice, plus other donations large and

small to many different organisations. The cost of the annual Grosvenor House children's

Christmas party at £6,883 against the previous year figure of £11,227, shows a saving, this being

due to the previous two year's hire charges for the Great Room. The annual outing to Southend-

on-Sea cost £16,038.77, which showed a saving of £1,081.11 against the previous year's figures.

In such challenging times, the fund has been successful with street collections at events such as

the Burlington Arcade, Sainsbury's (Low Hall) Chingford and Victoria Station. Having collect-

ing boxes placed around town has helped to raise money to meet an ever increasing demand for

our help.

Because of the tremendous generosity of people's donations and sponsoring, the fund has

been able to recover all of our outlays and more, giving hundreds of disadvantaged children many

great memories to cherish.

Thank you to everyone that has supported the London Taxidrivers' Fund for

Underprivileged Children and we look forward to helping many more disadvantaged

children in the forthcoming year.

Lilian Julier

LTFUC Honorary Treasurer

Call Sign January 2016

Page 21

Some people are on the pitch, they think it’s all over!

Bob Woodford looks at London’s long lost sporting venues

Last month in my

Another full house at

New Cross Rangers and

look at London’s lost

(inset) a 1949 New Cross

sporting heritage, I

programme

featured those long

old stands.

lost Greyhound

Speedway down the Old

Stadiums, but over

Kent Road had originally

the next couple of

come about when South

London Promoter Fred

articles in the series, I

Mockford relocated his

would like to men-

Crystal Palace Glaziers

tion some ‘teams’

back in 1934 - and next

month I will give you the

from a different

heads-up on all of the other

sporting background

London sides, their exotic

that would have

nicknames and track venues.

It was nice to read in last

entertained thou-

month’s Mailshot where Bernie Silver (F13J) reminisced about the

sands of Londoners, but

taxi rank at Clapton Pond where punters shared the fare when head-

these were not football

ing to the old Clapton Greyhound Stadium - it’s not a straightfor-

ward journey these days, with the barrier halfway down Millfields

teams...

Road, but I would have imagined that by putting five punters in (we

Speedway provided a perfect

don’t talk about 4 seaters here!) for half a crown, it would have been

partner for Greyhound Racing

like ‘whacky races’ speeding back for the next fare!

with many Stadiums holding both

Happy New Year to ALL!

sports on separate evenings - often

Bob Woodford

to packed houses, especially in the

immediate post-war period.

Call Sign Online

If you want some idea of the enthusiasm for this once popular form

of entertainment, you would only need to watch the 1948 British clas-

sic film Once a Jolly Swagman - which starred Dirk Bogarde, Bill

‘Compo’ Owen, Thora Hurd and Sid James. It is now available on

DVD.

New Cross Stadium, which was in Hornshay Street just off

Ilderton Road, was the film set for all the action, a gem that captures

genuine speedway history and highlights the popularity of the sport

at the time. Bogarde plays an up and coming young speedway star

and the movie charts his meteoric rise to the top and all of the trou-

bles as well as the inevitable romance it brings. Maybe it was a pre-

dictable plot - but the sight and sound of those old bikes (pre-

silencers) makes this a great listen, as well as a watch. It is well acted

and the action scenes from the New Cross Stadium are legendary!

WINTER PRO-AM GOLF TOURNAMENT

The venue, which became nicknamed the The Frying Pan

because of its steep sides and the New Cross Rangers (1937 -

Friday 29 January 2016

1963) thrilled racing fans here, with former World Champion,

Friday 26 February 2016

New Zealand superstar Barry Briggs a former rider.

Friday March 18 2016

The New Cross team were originally the New Cross Lambs (1934

- 1935) before taking the name of the New Cross Tamers (in 1936)

09.30 Coffee & bacon roll on arrival***

- before the heyday of the New Cross Rangers when the Orange

10.30 Shot gun start***

and Black leathers would be crowned National League Champions

15.30 Presentation of Professional & Team prizes

twice in 1938 and 1948.

£45 per person in a team of 2 amateurs

The stadium had been around in the early 1900’s and was original-

going out with a golf professional

ly used as an athletics track, and then by Millwall Football Club as a

Maximum full handicap 24 Men, 30 Ladies

training ground (who had to move their training to Deptford Park

Format: Stableford 3/4 handicap. Best two scores count.

once the stadium closed).

Tragedy struck in 1935 when local star, Tommy Farndon, was

Please telephone if you would like an

involved in a fatal crash when colliding with a team mate during

entry form or any further information.

a meeting.

Call Elaine Cochrane on 01992 466666 Ext. 249.

The ‘Frying Pan’ was also the birthplace of oval track Stock Car

Racing and the first ever Formula One Stock Car meeting took place

The Hertfordshire was designed by Jack Nicklaus II. It is a par 70 spread over 6266

yards of beautiful Hertfordshire countryside, making full use of the natural

on Good Friday 1954.

surroundings. The lakes and forests in the area, for example, make for wonderfully

When this 26,000 capacity stadium closed for good in 1969, it was

challenging natural hazards. With full irrigation cover of tees, fairways and greens,

left derelict for many years, before being demolished to create a local

the course is in fantastic condition all year round. Read more about the course at

park (Bridge House Meadows). The bowl of the stadium is still visi-

http://www.thehertfordshiregolf.co.uk/

ble and lumps of concrete in the undergrowth are fragments from the

Call Sign January 2016

Page 22

LOOKING AT (TAXI) LIFE

With Tom Quigley (Y33)

CV or first impression...

required, otherwise why would someone get

When I grew up, if someone had asked me

in your cab and claim to be a Head-hunter if

who or what is a Curriculum Vitae my reply

the best CVs go to the best CV-er! (Man,

would probably have been the name of a

that’s heavy!...Ed)

Roman soldier in Ben Hur!

I never knew - and even today I’m not

Sam Stoller’s smoked salmon...

exactly sure - what a Portfolio is should I ever

I was with a niece who was looking for a

be asked to submit one. It would be so men-

Saturday job in our local High Street; a lead-

dacious or similar to a Frankie Howard

ing baker’s shop had an advert for a Saturday

sketch, that it just would not be taken seri-

person (of course, we can’t say Saturday girl)

ously. And that is my point...

although unless my eyes have deceived me,

On the long running TV show The

I’ve never noticed a Saturday boy serving in a

Apprentice, the candidates would all have a

bakers! She enquired about the job and was

CV and a Portfolio, plus of course a Business

told to submit a CV. My niece happens to have

Plan! I’m an ardent fan of the show, it fact I

8 O Levels plus 18 months as a junior Police

have to admit watching it and reading Sir

cadet. She never got a reply, obviously not the

Alan Sugar’s autobiography; it has taught

The name on the application could easily

skills required at a local High Street baker!

me much about business opportunities and

be used for and against the employee,

The job had probably gone to an employee’s

strategies as well as helping the Knowledge

depending on the strategy of the employer.

relative already; I have no problem with

of London students at my KoL school to

The presentation and facts on the CV are

nepotism, just don’t waste people’s time!

search out possible points.

probably not worth the paper they are writ-

In past times, if the job was advertised

However, what are CVs actually worth,

ten on. Maybe for some jobs, a CV is a neces-

you were generally given a chance - not

plus how do the different organisations use

sity but there are many other jobs at the low-

always a fair one, but a chance nonethe-

them for their own means or objectives?

est and highest paid end where a CV is not

less. But my own mum must have broken

all records of what a CV was worth...

When we were very young, the story was,

as told by mum but with quite possibly a

touch of Irish Romancing the Tale. It went

like this; as we walked home one day many

Step by Step...

years back with a pram full of shopping and

more than enough children carrying bags,

“I’ve had this MB Vito taxi for about a

mum saw a lady struggling with bags loaded

year now,” Daniel Heaven (O01) told

up with various stuff. My mother offered her

Call Sign, “and in all that time I’ve never

the chance to put the bags onto the pram to

needed to use the steps on the side of the

help the lady on her way. Thankful for the

cab that allow easier access for those less

assistance and despite different backgrounds,

mobile. It’s not that I’m picky, that’s just

there was - and still is - a certain amount of

the way it’s been!

trust. That was despite my mum’s strong

“Anyway, when I did finally need the

Northern Irish accent and the lady, who hap-

pened to be Jewish, at a time when there

step facility recently, I just couldn’t oper-

ate it and it took some effort to load my

were strong anti-Semitic feelings following

the six day war together with an anti-Irish

passenger. I’m pretty sure I was not

stance due to IRA bombings. The lady put her

shown or told the procedure to activate

bags on the pram and off they went probably

the steps when I bought the cab. Advice

not even listening to each other, but both

like looking in the owner’s manual does-

talking non-stop! This encounter led to a

n’t really wash when you’ve got a pas-

great source of income for my mum, to us as

senger waiting at the kerbside,” he

a family and to a great friendship for all of us.

chortled.

Due to the first impression and equal

“I now know it is necessary to put

respect for each other, my mum became the

the gearbox into the Park position and

cleaner, driver, childminder and many other

apply the handbrake firmly before the steps will slide out

occupations to the family. The lady was Tilly

and function as intended. I’ve also done some research that suggests the step mecha-

Stoller, wife of Sam Stoller and if you have

nisms should be serviced every six months due to their being exposed to the elements

ever eaten smoked salmon on Ridley Road,

and I was quoted a cost of £120 + VAT! I now frequently spray mine myself with

you’ll have made an indirect contact with Sam!

WD40, carefully following the line of the runners to lubricate the operating mecha-

My mum’s meeting with Tilly also led to

nisms. I’m also very careful not to get the solution onto the steps themselves, as I

employment for my late sister Mary in the Egg

expect this would cause a slipping hazard, which is exactly what you do not want!

Stores of Stamford Hill, with me turning the

“I have been told that there is a YouTube instructional video showing how it’s done,

gas on and off in most of the houses in

Clapton for a shilling a time! My sisters still

and I’ve also heard of the steps being removed completely to allow the mechanisms to

look after the grandchildren of the families!

be jet-washed. I believe the steps are held into place with just three bolts, one either

A small snapshot of East End history

side and one at the back; that’s all that holds them into place, so I have to wonder if

showing that sometimes first impressions

that should best be left to the dealerships to do because if it all goes pear-shaped

are better than CVs! Can I wish everyone

through a DIY mess-up, it could be a lot more grief than drivers bargain for!”

out there a very happy, healthy and pros-

Daniel’s advice about urging caution at such an undertaking sounds sensible to us...

perous 2016...

Tom Quigley

Call Sign Online

Call Sign January 2016

Page 23

Ask any regular user of London’s road network

what they think and a large majority will say

that long-term roadworks have turned our cap-

THE FACE OF A MAN

ital into a third world city. A huge part of those

roadworks are due to Transport for London’s

plans to turn it into a cycling haven.

WITH NO SHAME...

Last June in a speech in east London, Mayor

Boris Johnson’s Cycling Commissioner,

whether cyclists will have the choice of not using

Andrew Gilligan, praised campaigners for win-

the superhighway lanes and instead use the main

ning the PR battle against the ‘old men in limos’

section of the road reserved for cars, taxis and

- a quote he took from Olympic cyclist Chris

buses etc if they feel the cycle lane isn't moving fast

Boardman - but said that London was only in

enough?

the “foothills of becoming a great cycling city”

Andrew Gilligan: We're not going to ban

and that pressure needed to be sustained ahead

cyclists from using the road, but our experi-

of the 2016 mayoral election (due this May) “to

ence on the existing segregated track we've

ensure that the work continues.” That sounds

installed (on Stratford High Street) is that

like an early election push for him to keep his

the vast majority (97% +) use the track. The

job!

tracks we're installing will be

4m wide

However, Mr Gilligan - a respected writer

(mostly) - enough for fast cyclists to pass and

who now seems to prefer bringing London to a

overtake slower ones within the track itself.

standstill - has now brought the word “lie” into

Call Sign: I can't really understand why, if the

the public domain, when live on LBC radio he

lanes are that wide, that 3 percent of cyclists need

accused one of their reporters of telling

to leave them (other than for an emergency).

porkies. Political Editor, Theo Usherwood had

Surely that detracts from the whole purpose -

been assigned to watch the opening of the

which is to keep them safe. Why cannot it be made

Vauxhall cycle superhighway and told Nick

compulsory for cyclists to stay within the lane?

Ferrari that 40% of cyclists weren't using it and

That would also pacify those against the lanes due

riding on the road instead. Several Dial-a-Cab

Superhighway that links The Oval to Pimlico

to the extra time some journeys will now take.

drivers phoned and emailed Call Sign to give

cost £5million when in reality it cost double

Andrew Gilligan: I don't think 3 percent

us similar results. Nick Ferrari then put

that amount.

makes much difference either way, to be

Usherwood’s figures to Andrew Gilligan.

In the April 2015 Call Sign, we questioned

honest. We're talking maybe 15 cyclists an

The Commissioner’s response was: “That

Andrew Gilligan on his plans, which at that

hour, tops.

report I've just heard is a complete lie. I

time hadn’t really started to cause the huge

Call Sign: I still fail to understand why any

think he is quite clearly lying.”

amount of congestion that they have now

cyclist that has a lane specially designated for

In response, Theo Usherwood insisted that

and we asked him the question that everyone

their use should use a section of the road desig-

his numbers had just been a conservative esti-

knows the answer to now, but caused shock

nated for motorists etc. Neither do I believe for a

mate and that he believed that in fact they were

waves back then.

single second that just 15 cyclists an hour will use

probably higher. He also returned Gilligan’s

Call Sign: It appears the plan is for the cycle

the main section of road, especially during busy

‘lie’ taunt when claiming online that the

lanes to be protected from the rest of the road and

periods. But accepting that they can do so if they

Commissioner had said the Cycling

traffic using it, by pavements. So my question is

wish, can motorists then drive in the cycle lanes?

Andrew Gilligan: Taxis have their own

special lanes, and a lot more of them than

cyclists! Are you saying that should mean

taxis shouldn't be allowed to use the rest of

GRIND AND

the road?

The interview faded at that point with Mr

Gilligan and myself obviously miles apart in our

thinking. But even then, the Commissioner was

SQUEAK!

sticking to his view that only a tiny minority of

“I heard this terrible grinding noise as I drove along in my

cyclists would leave the lanes to use the main

TX1 and was convinced it came from the rear axle,” Michael Gurry

section of road.

(N38) told Call Sign recently, adding rather philosophically that his cab had covered over 300,000

However, unlike Mr Gilligan’s shameful treat-

miles so he was expecting the worst!

ment of Theo Usherwood, we do not call him a

“I booked the cab in to the Diff Doctor in Lammas Road, Leyton and they said they would

liar because we think that what he told Call Sign

investigate and do only what was necessary with a view to keeping costs to a minimum, which

nine months ago, he probably believed at the

sounded very fair to me,” Michael added.

time. Needless to say however, I didn’t believe

“When I got my cab back, I had a very pleasant and welcome surprise because it hadn’t been the

for a single moment that unless it was made ille-

rear axle grinding away as I thought, it turned out to be a front wheel bearing that was causing all

gal for cyclists to use the main road when a CSH

the grinding and squeaking sounds that had been echoing through the cab and doing my head in,

was available, that huge numbers of them would-

not to mention the embarrassment regarding passengers. It’s much quieter now!”

n’t leave them to join the motor vehicle section.

Mike’s obvious relief showed in his smile and the happy tone of his voice! When Call Sign

Had Mr Gilligan accepted the LBC

spoke to Jagger at Diff Doctor, he recalled Michael’s problems, suggesting that it was usually a lit-

reporter’s figures and said they would do

tle difficult to self-diagnose motion related noises as it requires the cab to be moving for accurate

something about it, then we would have to

analysis - and listening while driving is not easy.

accept that; but by calling Theo Usherwood a

“With worn or pitted wheel / axle bearings, the noise tends to vibrate throughout the cab

liar when anyone with a pair of eyes could

when it is on the move and this can be very confusing to pinpoint to the untrained ear. Obviously,

see that his report was true and regardless of

when the cab is stationary, there is no noise,” he said with a laugh!

whether it was more or less than 40%, it cer-

“As the wheel rotates when the cab is moving, uneven road surfaces tend to amplify the noise

of the worn bearing, which then transmits through the cab suspension, the steering system,

tainly was far, far more than Gilligan’s 5%

through the body panels and can echo throughout the cab in some examples of extreme wear.

(and the ridiculous 3% given to Call Sign).

However, drivers should never ignore rumbling or groaning noises because it could lead to failure

His statement to Nick Ferrari makes Andrew

of that component and leave drivers stranded and immobile, with possibly additional expense to

Gilligan a man with no shame and if he had

replace parts that may have been damaged as a ‘knock-on’ effect.

even an ounce of any, he would tender his

“Additionally, in extreme cases a bearing/s could seize up completely, with possibly catastrophic

resignation.

effects if you’re moving at speed,” Jagger warned.

The photo shows a taxi wheel bearing assembly which allows the wheels to rotate

Alan Fisher

smoothly and minimises friction of the moving parts.

Diff Doctor can be contacted on: 0208 556 3134

Alan Green, Call Sign Online

Call Sign Online

Call Sign January 2016

Page 24

TfL in London or TLC in New York...

THE DIFFERENCE IS THE SAME!

Mike Higgins drives a cab

whine that

“...we need moh

DROYvahhs!”

in New York, runs a radio

We already have 53,000 licensed

phone-in for cab drivers

Yellow cab drivers for only 14,000

and edits New York City’s

Yellow cabs! WTF! Incentivise them

to come back! Get them back... first!

Taxinews. Somehow he

Raise the taxi fare or a decent

also finds time to pen the

group-ride plan...maybe even put in

occasional piece for Call

two-way radio dispatch - and real

taxi Apps - into the Yellow cabs. Why

Sign! So try changing TLC

are we the only taxi service in the

for TfL and see if you can

world without two-way radio dis-

spot any difference as

patch? Otherwise you'll be turning

the Yellow cabs into a freggin sh*t

regards Uber...

show. Is that what you want?

“Hey you London guys at Dial-a-

Or is that really what 'Uber'

Cab; I know about your Uber prob-

wants???!!! Maybe the Yellow cab

lems with Transport for London, but

service has gotten too good and

believe it or not, our Taxi & Limousine Commission aren’t that differ-

lowering licensing standards could be another trap orchestrated

ent! So if you don’t mind and knowing how big Call Sign’s online read-

by Uber?

ership is, I’d like to address our TLC through you, in addition to our

Please, don't frack-up this business by diluting the existing pool of

own NYC Taxinews...

great Yellow cab drivers with a dangerous flood of rookies and reject-

So hey TLC! Please do not lower the NYC Yellow cab driver

ed Uber drivers!”

licensing standards. Raise the standards for the other TLC regu-

Happy holidays to all at DaC. You can catch up on New York

lated segments to meet OUR standards!

taxi news at www.nyctaxinews.com.

Passengers are finally going back to Yellow cabs because they actu-

Michael Higgins

ally think we are better now. Do not listen to the idiots who constantly

Call Sign Online

Loughborough Junction experiment fails!

Traffic ignores the signs!

ot on the heels of complaints by Dial-a-Cab drivers about the

Tavistock Place one-way scheme came those moaning about

closures in Brixton involving Loughborough, Barrington and

Traffic took up to 40 minutes longer to complete their

Lilford Roads, together with Gordon Grove. The scheme was

journeys!

supposed to make the area a nicer place to live, as well as helping

cyclists to stay safe, but the result - which had been obvious to most

even when being proposed - was increased traffic everywhere else and

that meant increased emissions.

Keith Reading

Worsening traffic conditions added up to 40 minutes to journeys and

meant that many motorists were disregarding the closures and driving

Professional Toastmaster

through anyway. The council threatened to put barriers across the roads

Master of Ceremonies

and then said they were contemplating narrowing the streets and putting

flower beds in! Emergency services were naturally unhappy about that.

Tele: 01279 465 938

Even the locals, who claimed they were never consulted about it, were

Mobile: 07774 860 374

against the scheme and the council has finally abandoned it - albeit with

Email: kgr.2@virgin.net

two streets (Calais Street and Padfield Road) staying shut as yet another

Lambeth experimental scheme opens. Some years back, Lambeth’s council

earned the prefix of “loony.” Perhaps they were trying to regain the title?

10% discount for DaC drivers and staff

Fellow of the Guild of

Ron Yarborough

Professional Toastmasters

Call Sign Online

Call Sign January 2016

Page 25

Guess who I picked up in my taxi!

It was just another night at the

Former Addison Lee

Chairman, John Griffin,

Arsenal - lots of Dial-a-Cab dri-

gets out of a DaC taxi!

vers there to watch the game,

knowing that there was a good

when he confirmed it, I asked

chance of getting a nice job

why he hadn’t phoned for one

after the final whistle blew. But

of his own cars, even though I

knew that he was no longer

one driver picked up someone

really involved with the com-

he never really expected to. The

pany other than in name. He

shy driver told us:

surprised me

- albeit very

“There were two of them and I thought I

pleasantly - when he said that

recognised one of them but couldn’t think

he always used ‘black cabs’

where from. Then I heard one say to the

former Chairman of Addison Lee, John

because they were so much better!

other that these were better than his own

Griffin!

“And contrary to reports I’ve seen over the

cabs and suddenly I realised who it was - the

“I asked him if he was John Griffin and years, he was a real gentleman!”

TfL launch congestion crackdown!

A new team of Road and Transport Enforcement Officers is being deployed to key traffic routes

across London to crack down on illegal or inconsiderate behaviour and other problems that cause

congestion.

The new 40-strong Transport for London (TfL) team - rising

The team will be alerted to congestion build ups both

to 80 by Spring - will help deal with problems such as illegal

through TfL’s network of traffic cameras and through utilising

stopping or unloading of deliveries, which can cause delays to

the ‘eyes and ears’ of the almost 25,000 bus drivers, who are

drivers and bus passengers. It will work closely with the TfL-

calling in any issues to the TfL control room so that they can be

funded Metropolitan Police Roads and Transport Policing

reacted to swiftly and intelligence can be analysed to prevent

Command, which was launched by the Mayor in January and

problems from recurring.

with 2,300 officers, is the largest policing command anywhere

In addition, they will work with businesses along the routes

in the country. The team will help to move unlawfully stopped

to help improve the way they receive and manage deliveries,

vehicles, issue PCN’s to illegally parked vehicles and clear

giving advice on re-timing or consolidation to reduce the

unnecessary or poorly set-up roadworks.

impact of deliveries during peak times.

It is the first time that TfL will have its own officers who will

The new team is complemented by up-to-the-minute real-

have the power to direct traffic around congestion on London's

time journey information that TfL provides to advise road users

roads. This includes issues such as breakdowns and collisions.

of congestion and to suggest alternative routes. The

They will also access real time information and data and send

@TfLTrafficNews Twitter feed, which in November gained its

intelligence back from the street to TfL’s control room. Mayor

500,000th follower, is an immediate source of information on

of London, Boris Johnson MP, said:

traffic conditions across London. The TfL website continues to

“This is one of a number of targeted actions we’re tak-

be updated regularly with month-by-month breakdowns of the

ing to tackle congestion and reduce delays on the roads.

build programmes for all TfL schemes, showing the locations of

different phases of the builds and the areas where traffic may

In January we launched the Met’s Roads and Transport

be affected.

Policing Command and this new team will work closely

TfL is already taking a similar zero tolerance approach to

with them to help keep London moving. They will play a

issues that cause congestion at Blackwall Tunnel. In 2010,

key role in tackling problems that lead to tailbacks and

alongside the Metropolitan Police and Driver and Vehicle

take a zero-tolerance approach towards inconsiderate or

Standards Agency (DVSA), a dedicated enforcement presence

illegal behaviour that can cause unnecessary gridlock.”

was established as well as additional over-height vehicle detec-

The ten key locations the team will be deployed are on roads

tion equipment and penalties for drivers running out of fuel

that between them carry 110 different bus routes and are used

and causing unnecessary delays. Since starting the initiative,

by half a million bus passengers, in addition to 300,000 car

there has been a 32% reduction in collisions, incidents and

and taxi passenger journeys every day.

events causing congestion at Blackwall Tunnel.

They are Gracechurch Street to Bank, Eastcheap to

TfL open data policy also enables app developers to access

Leadenhall Street, Kensington High Street to Notting Hill

real time data feeds on current disruptions and planned works,

Gate, Gosport Street to Hoe Street (Walthamstow),

as well as traffic cameras across the road network, to produce

Hackney Road to Balls Pond Road, Ladywell to Loampit

travel information apps to help road users be able to plan their

Vale, Highshore Road to Heaton Road (Peckham), Manor

journeys and avoid disruption.

Park Road / Craven Park to Manor Park Road / High

See Editor’s comment (page three)...

Street (Harlesden), Columbia Avenue to Balmoral Road

Transport for London

(Worcester Park) and Gatton Road to Trevelyn Road

(Tooting).

Press Dept

Call Sign January 2016

Page 26

Courtesy of the Metropolitan Police Service to an FOIA request, this is...

THE MOST RIDICULOUS RESPONSE EVER!

nformation sought under the guise of the

(CRIS), the MPS are not required to record the

complexity of the investigation), this would

Freedom of Information Act can be very

operator that the cab driver works for, only the

still take in excess of 30 hours.

interesting. After all, Uber is a problem that

occupation. This detail might be included in

Your request is further complicated by the

links us all - Licensed Taxis and the major-

the free text fields, but extracting reports relat-

fact that some of the information that you are

ity of Private Hire companies. In all fairness,

ing specifically to Uber by searching for the

requesting, such as Uber cars found to be dri-

you have to allow the organisation you are

company name is therefore far more difficult.

ving without insurance etc, may also be record-

requesting the info from a reasonable amount

Furthermore, as the MPS does not hold a com-

ed on different MPS systems, which would fur-

of time to respond, but the answer received

prehensive list of named drivers and the com-

ther extend the time that it would take to carry

from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

panies that they work for, we also cannot

out the searches and comply with your

following a request about crime reports in

search by named individuals. Even if this was

request. I have been informed that to get this

respect of Uber cabs takes some beating. The

possible, searches would no doubt be further

type of information an individual would be

request didn’t come from Call Sign, but

complicated by the fact that drivers can work

required to manually search of all the process

unsurprisingly the organisation that did put it

for more than one company. In addition, vic-

books / summonses and collision accident

in doesn’t want to be linked with it and per-

tims are not obliged to provide their occu-

books that were filled in by officers during the

haps didn’t want to irritate the MPS! I don’t

pation and so would not be required to

year in question in order to establish the infor-

blame them but thank them for allowing us to

inform us if they worked for Uber, for

mation that you have requested. This is

use it. Any bold print is ours. We have also had

example. Therefore, data cannot be extract-

because Uber, if mentioned at all, would be

to edit out some of the response or it would

ed on this point.

included within these paper forms as part of

have taken up half of the issue! It also shows

Given the complexities within your request

the details of the incident. There would be no

how little we are valued...

and all of the different variations on why Uber

way in ascertaining which ones might be rele-

The FOIA requested info on how many

may be mentioned, it is therefore very difficult

vant without reading them all.

crime reports were made to the Met over

to explain how such data could be extracted

As the majority of the information that you

the past 12 months in respect of Uber,

using our traditional searching methods. It

have requested would be held on CRIS, it is this

including reported incidents such as

must be remembered that our CRIS system is a

system which I have based my cost estimate on.

assaults and thefts etc, in addition to

live crime management system, as opposed to

Please

note that the Information

reported incidents such as driving without

a statistical reporting tool and there are often

Commissioner's guidance states that 'Section 12

insurance and failure to stop at the scene

limitations on how we are able to run reports

makes it clear that a public authority does not

to extract certain data. Therefore, the only way

have to make a precise calculation of the costs

of a collision etc. It asked how many had

in which the MPS may be able to extract any

of complying with a request. Only an estimate

resulted in arrests, charges and convictions

relevant data from the CRIS system, where

is required ... what amounts to a reasonable

or in penalties being issued. It also asked

Uber had been used by either the victim or per-

estimate can only be considered on a case by

for dates and locations for each incident...

petrator of a crime in any capacity during the

case basis.' Although it is hard to arrive at a pre-

time period specified, would be to conduct a

cise calculation, especially in relation to the sec-

The reply

key word search for the exact term on the IIP,

ond half of your request, I do hope the above

“This email is to inform you that unfortu-

which is the only way in which such specula-

explanation has highlighted the extensive work

nately it will not be possible to respond to

tive searches can be conducted. This way the

which would be required to extract any perti-

your request within the cost threshold.

MPS would essentially be searching the free

nent information that is held by the MPS.

We estimate that the cost of complying with

text that is recorded on the 'details' pages of

(Eds note: Well it does show how highly our

this request would exceed the appropriate

each CRIS report that has been created during

trade is valued - obviously not very much).

limit. The appropriate limit has been specified

this period. Searching this way would result in

Therefore I am content that it would far

in regulations and for agencies outside central

a number of 'hits' where the word Uber fea-

exceed the cost threshold to locate, retrieve

Government; this is set at £450 and repre-

tured somewhere on a CRIS report. This num-

and extract any relevant information that the

sents the estimated cost of one person

ber would reflect the number of CRIS records

MPS might hold that is pertinent to your spe-

spending 18 hours (at a rate of £25 per

which mentioned the word Uber.

cific request.”

hour) in determining whether the MPS holds

I can confirm that our search of IIP has

So the MPS would have agreed to spend

the information and locating, retrieving and

revealed that in the time period you specified the

£450 but not an extra £300 taking the total

extracting the information. In accordance with

word Uber featured in excess of 600 CRIS

up to £750. Three years ago, The Daily

the Freedom of Information Act 2000, this

reports. Again, I must stress that this does not

Mail published a list of MPS spending over

email therefore acts as a Refusal Notice.

mean that Uber was used in the way in which

a 10 year period. It included £1billion on a

Upon allocation of your request to me,

you have requested information about in over

‘core’ IT contract with Capgemini plus

enquiries were made with the Performance

600 cases. For example, it could be an individ-

£millions on software and upgrades.

and Assurance Unit (PAU), who are responsible

ual's surname was Uber (Eds note: Really?) or that

£10.9million on animals including £7mil-

for corporate data collation and a colleague

they lived on a street which featured the word

lion to keep dangerous seized dogs in ken-

with access to the Met Integrated Information

Uber (Eds note: Really?) or that a victim simply

nels and £500,000 a year to clear horse

Platform (IIP), which enables different search

stated that earlier in their evening they had used

manure from stables. Then there was

methods to be applied to various Met IT sys-

Uber to book a cab - not that any offence has

£21million on weapons and armour,

tems. In addition, I made contact with the Met

occurred in relation to that company itself.

including £50,000 on several of the world’s

Prosecutions Unit for data on the second half

Therefore, without opening each one of these

first throwable robots that can reconnoitre

of your request about incidents concerning

'hits' and reading the associated report, the MPS

hostile environments, even in darkness.

failure to stop and driving without insurance

is unable to definitively answer your question.

How about £9.4million on food and

involving Uber. Unfortunately, all of these units

It is estimated that a trained analyst can

drink for canteens including almost £3mil-

and colleagues have confirmed that they

read 10 records an hour. If this was the

lion on sandwiches and milk or £4.6mil-

would be unable to extrapolate the data

case, to read through all of the reports

lion on market research to find out what

that you have requested from our systems

associated with the hits and extract any of

the public thought about their services! As

within the 18 hour threshold.

the additional information that you

a reminder, we were talking about an extra

In relation to the first half of your request

required, if the reports were even relevant,

300 quid!

about crime reports relating to offences occur-

would take in excess of 60 hours. Even if

We could ask how many hours were spent

ring in Uber cabs, I can provide the following

we were to say that was a high estimate and

writing the above response, because it was

explanation that was provided by the PAU.

estimated that it would take only half that

around twice as long as the parts we have pub-

Uber is a licensed Cab Operator whose

time to read the report that the hit was

lished but we were afraid it could send our

licence is issued by TfL. Although any crimes

associated with (which is extremely unlike-

readers to sleep!

committed by cab drivers would be recorded

ly given that CRIS reports can range from 1

It ends by suggesting that a FOIA request be sent

on the Crime Reporting Information system

to in excess of 10 pages depending on the

to TfL at Windsor House! TfL would love that!!!

Call Sign January 2016

Page 27

here's heather and there’s Walton

An occasional review from a struggling 14 handicapper at some of

Heath heather! I've been lucky

the marque golf courses I've had the privilege to play in my golf

enough to have played the Old

days away from the taxi…

Course at Walton Heath a few times

via a good friend with serious connections.

That might be because he always beats me,

though it’s a price well worth paying!

SIMON’S GOLF COURSES

There are two courses at Walton Heath -

done on WH greens).

the Old and the New course. I have never

Lastly and to show how highly

played the New course, although they do

it is rated, Walton Heath hosted

intertwine with each other and it looks

the 1981 Ryder Cup and is used

just as magnificent as the Old one.

as a European qualifying venue

The club was open for play in 1904 and

for the US Open.

amazingly, James Braid was the resident pro-

It’s a course that is well worth

fessional from then until

1950! Herbert

playing. Now that I think about

Fowler was the course architect and it is golf

it, I’ve not heard from my pal for

on a grand scale.

a while - I’ll have to give him a

Many may find it quite stark as there aren’t

call!

a multitude of trees; but there is heather and

Happy golfing and a Happy

the heather here is a bit like 'barbed wire'; go

New Year...

in it and it’s at the least one dropped shot -

in two, I've done it on more than one occa-

sion. But you have to be brave on the 16th to

The photo shows the Par3 17th at the

always assuming you can find the ball again!

If you bring your ‘A game’ then you can

take on the cunning fairway bunker on your

Walton Heath old course...

score fairly well, but over-confidence here

drive and then the cavernous green side

Simon Wallis (M11)

is a cruel mistress... it will bite back!

bunker on your second (I've three-putted

Two par 5s on the back nine are reachable twice after hitting that green in two, easily

Call Sign Online

Handel & Hendrix in London

Handel & Hendrix in London celebrates the London lives and musical legacies of two of

the most important figures in musical history, who lived, wrote and played in neighbour-

ing buildings - but 240 years apart!

The top floor Mayfair flat that Jimi Hendrix called home during a pivotal period of his life will open permanently

to the public on 10 February 2016. Following a £2.4million, 2-year period of restoration, building and develop-

ment, the upper floor rooms of 23 Brook Street will open as part of a genuinely unique new heritage site, cele-

brating the lives of two great musical figures.

Handel House at 25 Brook Street is the elegant Georgian townhouse where George Frideric Handel lived

and worked for 36 years. He wrote many of his greatest works there - including Messiah - held rehearsals and first

performances of his music and died there in his second-floor bedroom in 1759.

Handel & Hendrix in London, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and other generous donors,

will present the London homes of these two remarkable men revered for their musical talent, but sep-

arated by 240 years. Tickets for the Hendrix Flat are on sale at www.handelhendrix.org.

At the heart of the Hendrix Flat will be the main living room, painstakingly restored to how it would have been

when Hendrix was in residence and giving an insight into the domestic life of an American superstar musician at

the height of his creative powers. When Jimi Hendrix moved in on 4 July 1968, he was entering a period of his

life when the musical foundations that had led him to public acclaim were no longer stable; he was considering

the next phase of his career with the release of his LP Electric Ladyland due later that summer.

His musical life thrived inside the flat; it was the scene of many hours of writing, visits from fellow musicians,

hours of playing records at high volume, countless jam sessions and the place he returned to after his sensation-

al February 1969 Albert Hall concerts.

Handel & Hendrix in London will include a new permanent exhibition tracing Hendrix’s life in London in 1968

and 1969. It will feature original exhibits, including the Epiphone FT79 acoustic guitar that he bought in New

York at the end of his first US tour with the Experience and brought back to London. His girlfriend, Kathy Etchingham, recalled

that Jimi had used it for everything he composed in this country, while Brook Street visitors remembered that the guitar was always within arm’s reach, usually

beside the bed and invariably played at raucous parties!

The exhibition will add new colour and detail to this time in Jimi Hendrix’s life, drawing on new interviews with some of the many visitors to

the flat, as well as people who lived and worked in the boutiques and offices in the immediate area around 23 Brook Street. Exhibits include

previously unseen or rarely-seen images of Hendrix taken at the flat and in the local area.

Visitors will enter via Brook Street, before making their way to the third floor flat and the new set of permanent exhibition spaces. The main room of the flat,

the scene of almost everything that happened there, has been designed to give the impression that Jimi and Kathy had just stepped out. The result of examina-

tion of surviving stills and film of the room, along with Kathy’s recollections and as many visitors to the flat that it had been possible to find, the room will give

a palpable sense of the everyday life of a great musical figure.

The Studio, a new, 40-seat, state-of-the-art space with climate control, interactive screen and special acoustic detail, will be a place for teaching by day and a

light and luxurious concert venue by night. Both baroque and contemporary concerts will be held there and it will include a Bruce Kennedy harpsichord made in

1998 to match an instrument that Handel owned. Full details of the learning programme will be confirmed soon, but there will be elements of musical time

travel between the work of Handel and Hendrix, as well as a series of oral history projects.

Among the most played records in Hendrix’s collection was a copy of Handel’s Messiah performed by the English Chamber Orchestra. Hendrix’s interest

in Handel clearly went well beyond the curiosity of living in the next door flat! In a gig at the Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco in October 1968, he can

be heard playing a loose version of the Hallelujah Chorus, evidence of the hours he spent listening to Messiah in the building where it was composed.

Jimi and Kathy’s days didn’t start until the afternoon and the curtains stayed closed most of the time, earning Jimi the nickname The Bat! The ground floor

of 23 Brook Street was taken up by Mr Love, a restaurant where Jimi and Kathy would often start the evening before heading off to the Speakeasy Club -

which older Dial-a-Cab drivers may remember was at 48 Margaret Street - for a jam session.

Visitor Information

Handel & Hendrix in London is at 25 Brook Street W1. Opening hours from 10 February are Mon-Sat 11am-6pm; Sunday 12noon-6pm; Last

admission at 5pm.

Admission: Handel House; Adult £7.50; Child £3. Hendrix Flat: Adult £7.50; Child £3 OR Handel & Hendrix; Adult £10; Child £5.

Tickets on sale at See Tickets: www.seetickets.com.

More info: www.handelhendrix.org 020 7495 1685 mail@handelhendrix.org

Call Sign January 2016

Page 28

Every issue of Call Sign takes a look back at ODRTS history through the pages

of the magazines of the time with a Flashback…

DIAL-A-CAB FLASHBACK

This month’s Flashback is from the December 1998 Call Sign…

Driver, please hurry up - my waters have just broken!

Be honest. Haven’t you always had a secret fear that whenever a heavily pregnant woman gets into the

cab, she will suddenly go into labour? Frank Danna (F75) had no such fears - but perhaps he should

have!

Frank had picked up an account ride from J O Hambro in Park Place, St James to St Thomas’

Hospital SE1. His two female passengers said nothing specific other than they would like to

get there as soon as possible.

So off went Frank into Piccadilly where the traffic was at an absolute standstill. Suddenly came the

words that you just don’t want to hear in heavy traffic: “Driver, please hurry up! My waters have just

broken!”

It was 11th November - Armistice Day - and traffic everywhere was crawling along at a

snail’s pace. Frank tried to chop and change and eventually found himself in Pall Mall -

where things looked even worse! But the Cavalry weren’t too far away. There, just a matter of

meters away, was a policeman on his motorbike.

Both Frank and his non-pregnant passenger shouted out in unison that there was a lady in the taxi whose water had broken and that

they were desperate to get to the hospital quickly - she to have her baby and Frank to avoid too much mess!!!

The policeman picked up the situation immediately and told Frank to put his headlights on and to follow him. With his hel-

met tightened and siren blaring, the policeman led Frank and co on a high speed, non-stop trip via Buckingham Palace and

Vauxhall Bridge.

Frank told Call Sign afterwards that he had never driven so fast through London during daylight hours and for the first time as a taxi

driver, he actually had to put his seat-belt on! Needless to say, they arrived in record time.

The next morning, Frank was told that his passenger had given birth to a seven week premature, but otherwise healthy 5lb baby boy

named Max!

Frank’s only comment afterwards? “I will never again say I’m feeling bored whilst working... boring is good!!!”

Everyone at Dial-a-Cab sends their best wishes to mum and baby - and well done Frank…

GLA TORY

LTFUC and the Duchess!

GROUP:

ecoming a Christmas tradition, the London Taxidrivers Fund for Underprivileged

Children committee, together with a group of special needs children, were all invited

“SCRAP

to Clarence House to help Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall decorate the Christmas tree

KNOWLEDGE!”

of the royal residence. This was the fourth such visit for the LTFUC and as always, they

arrived in a fleet of taxis!

report from deputy leader of

Although Prince Charles was busy and unable to attend, Camilla made the children feel

the Tory group in the GLA,

very welcome and as one Committee member told Call Sign, that is how Camilla always is

Richard Tracey, has

and that the children all take to her very quickly.

described the Knowledge of

Also there again were children from Helen & Douglas House, which was at one time the

London as “archaic” and suggested that

world’s first children’s hospice. It now takes in young adults aged 16 to 35.

it was a “major barrier” to recruiting

more taxi drivers! The report, Saving an

Icon, also suggested that we needed to

make fundamental changes in order to

keep up with app-based private hire

companies in an expanding city. He said

that the KoL was outdated in a world of

GPS navigation, that it was too expen-

sive to achieve and could take people an

average of three years to complete.

He added: “The examinations imposed

are overly comprehensive in a time of

GPS navigation and the cost of purchas-

ing the designated Hackney Carriage is a

barrier to entry in an industry which is

also rapidly ageing.”

Other suggestions were that there

should be a review of the industry's

competition and that drivers should be

helped financially to purchase taxis.

Mr Tracey is stepping down from the

London Assembly in May.

Call Sign January 2016

Page 29

harles Walker OBE is the con-

stituent MP for Call Sign’s Gary

CHARLES WALKER MP,

Cox (O46). He has been MP for

Broxbourne since 2005 and was the

stepson of the former Tory MP and leader of

GARY COX AND TAXIS

the-then Inner London Education Authority,

the late Chris Chataway who who was pos-

lied by any individual company. He added

sibly best remembered for his athletics

that the qualities of the taxi and PH sectors

exploits, which involved running at the 1952

and what they had delivered over many years

and 1956 Olympic Games, 1954 European

for London - in the case of Taxis, over cen-

Championships and probably most famous-

turies - should be remembered. He said both

ly for his involvement in Roger Bannister

were strong, important players and needed a

being the first athlete to ever run a mile in

protected future.

under four minutes in that magical day at

In October 2015, Mr Walker spoke follow-

Oxford University's Iffley Road track on 6

ing the High Court ruling that Uber drivers'

May 1954.

smart phones were not taxi meters and

In July 2015 in the House of Commons,

which, in reality, made their London opera-

Mr Walker said that London had to choose

tions legal. The MP said that Uber was trying

between the “chaotic” Uber or “heavily-regu-

to drive black-cab drivers out of London and

lated but safe black cabs” because the two

asked a pertinent question: “The bigger issue

could not operate side by side. He added that

is if you want a licensed black-cab trade in

while taxi drivers had to pass the

London?”

Knowledge, as well as undergoing back-

ground and financial checks, technology

Call Sign writer, Gary Cox (O46 recently

start-up company Uber was “brazenly ignor-

wrote to his Broxbourne MP...

ing rules and flooding the capital with mini-

cab drivers.”

ferred, then there should be a genuine free

Dear Mr Walker,

He warned that TfL officials at City Hall

for all, releasing taxi drivers from their cur-

I am a constituent of yours. Labour leader

was having to deal with as many as 1,200 new

rent regulations regarding the vehicles they

Jeremy Corbyn has asked his fellow political

minicab registrations each month, while Uber

drive and allow them to put “...any old piece

travellers in life to inform him of what ques-

straightforwardly ignored most of the regula-

of rubbish” onto the road!

tions they would like him to ask the Prime

tions. Mr Walker said that if Uber was pre-

He was speaking in a late-night Commons

Minister at the despatch box, so I was hoping

adjournment debate and said that for 400

you would be so kind as to ask the PM a ques-

years, London had recognised the need to

tion on my behalf.

have a properly-regulated and licensed taxi

The question is: Should companies like Uber

service.

start paying taxes to help defend our country

“I suggest,” he said, “that our illustrious

against the ongoing terrorist threat, while at

predecessors were not fools in this matter.

the same time allow the taxi trade to start mak-

London cannot have it both ways; it can try,

ing some money so that it can keep donating to

but it will end in tears.”

the worthy causes that they have been doing

He ended by saying that without enforce-

for many years. I await your reply with a great

ment of the regulations, fares would rocket,

deal of interest.

cars would be unsafe, disability access would

Yours, G J Cox

AGM

be hit and people would be less safe.

Two months later, in September 2015, Mr

Charles Walker quickly replied to Gary:

Walker was again speaking in favour of

Dear Mr Cox,

REMINDER

London’s taxi service by claiming that there

I think it must be clear to you that I have

All members should have received

was something slightly sinister about Uber’s

done more to support Black Cab drivers than

the Notice of Annual General

business practices and pointed out to the

any other MP in the House of Commons, per-

Meeting 2015 advising that the

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for

haps with the exception of Zac Goldsmith.

meeting will again be held at The

Transport, Andrew Jones, that in the USA,

Of course I want Uber and its drivers to pay

HAC, Armoury House, City Road on

Uber’s board had met to discuss how to dis-

tax and I make this clear to anyone who is

Sunday 7th February 2016 at 11am.

credit and destroy the career of an IT jour-

willing to listen to me, including the Prime

There is no election of officers at

nalist concerned about Uber’s business prac-

Minister...

this year’s meeting and any Rule

tices. The Broxbourne MP said he hoped Mr

Charles Walker OBE MP

Changes or Propositions would

Jones was aware of such conduct by Uber and

have had to have been received at

would take it into consideration when devel-

Gary told Call Sign afterwards: “I thanked

Dial-a-Cab House on or before

oping his thoughts on them.

Mr Walker for his swift reply and told him that

09:00hrs on Friday 27th November

Andrew Jones replied that he had

if his thoughts were as powerful as his words,

2015 as per the Notice of Annual

“...absolutely no sympathy for any company

then I welcomed his sentiments and standing

that behaves in such a way as to discredit oth-

on the matter.”

General Meeting 2015 letter. There

ers. Other colleagues in the House have high-

Call Sign has asked Zac Goldsmith to

were none received by that date.

lighted poor practice, such as on taxes. I have

explain his LBC comments regarding his

Please remember that if you do not

no sympathy for any company that dodges its

closing bus lanes within three years

vote by post then you should attend.

responsibilities, including on taxes.”

because of the new electric cars. He has

If you do not attend or vote by post,

Mr Walker responded that Uber bullies

yet to respond...

you will be liable for a £50 fine.

local authorities and national Governments

Howard Pears

and said that it should not be allowed to bully

Michael Toomey

Company Secretary

the UK Government. Andrew Jones agreed

Call Sign Online

and concurred that HMG would not be bul-

Call Sign January 2016

Page 30

Mailshot

Either write to Call Sign at Dial-

Uber and other minicabs aren't the danger to

our trade, it’s TfL and local councils like

a-Cab House

Camden. We need to fight for open access to

or email us at

London’s roads, not get shoved around the

callsignmag@aol.com

block in a slow moving traffic queue while the

bus goes straight through. Euston Road out-

‘Cheque’ this out...

side UCL Hospital is a prime example. Ever

Alan

since we lost our case to Islington Council

The only way to stay in the game is to

I noted Brian Rice’s comments in the

with the bus lane at Angel, we have been

offer regular journeys at fixed rates that

December Call Sign regarding the danger

pushed aside and lumped into the same

will be below the meter, together with

of sending credit card details to TfL when

group with all the cowboys. We need to stand

extremely low administration charges.

renewing licences and it also occurred to

up and demand access to all bus gates and

As much as it pains all of us to do that,

me how irresponsible the instruction was.

lanes. There won’t be any point in hiring a

it is the only thing we can do to stay in

So I wrote to Helen Chapman at TfL. This

taxicab soon because the journey times are

the race with the hope that things will

is what I wrote...

too long. TfL is an unelected body that

change for the better. But we also need

Philip Benjamin (K20)

answers to no one other than the mayor, who

your help in covering all account trips...

Dear Ms Chapman,

is lied to and told untruths. Anyone who com-

plains is brushed aside.

Having just received my Licence renewal

Re lost and delayed paperwork such as

Signals, mergers

pack, I note you wish me to send by post

licences and medical reports (December Call

a copy of my driving licence, counterpart

and new BMs...

licence and account details. For obvious

Sign), the trade needs to sue for loss of

Dear Alan

income for drivers that can't work due to

security reasons, that would be totally irre-

It is now, as I write this, 10 months since the

sponsible and puts me in a vulnerable posi-

incompetence...

last AGM. One of the main issues of concern

Jon Robinson (E88)

tion.

was the poor radio signals. Do you know

Keith Cain, DaC’s Sales Manager replies:

I have no intention of paying a fee to the

what steps have been taken to improve the

You’re right Jon; the next few months are

post office for what is a simple procedure.

situation and what enhancements should

going to be a Kipper Season for sure. That

Please advise of an alternative method of

we notice?

was a phrase that up until a few years ago

payment which is totally secure.

In the October issue of Call Sign, you

was rarely used to describe the quieter

Philip Benjamin

published a letter from me suggesting that

months, but I fear it will be the talking

At publication time, Philip told Call Sign

negotiations with the Radio Taxis Group

point amongst many. Within Sales we are

that he was yet to receive a reply ...Ed

may be stalling because they could be in

often dealing with enquiries from clients

talks with other parties, or they could dis-

who were once described as the ‘bread

cover legal or financial reasons not to pro-

Special offers for

and butter’ work of our business. Their

ceed and we should have a Plan B ready. I

usage was not huge, but they paid stan-

taxi trips...

realise that negotiations cannot take place

dard charges. These types of customers

Hi Alan

in the public arena, but there has been a

are now talking about comparing admin-

It’s currently very difficult to make a living

silence for so long, I sometimes wonder if

istration charges and journey costs. In

out there and I dread the kipper this year.

we have a Plan A?

order to try and win their business, we

So I think Dial-a-Cab should have a ‘kipper

Most of the Board have been in place for

have reduced administration charges to a

special’: Accounts with no run-ins or book-

many years, but Garry White and Joe Brazil

minimum and now offer fixed rates for

ing fees, just a dead clock for all trips to and

are relative new comers. Each arrived with

journeys that are not necessarily longer

from central London to outer postcodes

enthusiasm and many promises, but now I

trips. These customers rarely have long

and all airports. It could be based on TfL

wonder what they have brought to the table

trips, but trips for example from the south

‘Fare Zones’ and perhaps go on for

(excuse the cliché). Can you please inform

west areas to the west end or city are very

3months. I for one would be happy doing

us of any practical suggestions that these

common. The argument put to us is that

that kind of work. Trips like Croydon can

board members have proposed.

the journey cost in a ‘black cab’ even if

go £50 so it’s far better than sitting around

Wishing you and all Dial-a-Cab members a

the meter starts when the passenger

doing nothing. The only coverage problem

prosperous new year and thanks to all staff

enters the taxi, is still more than prices

would probably be Canary Wharf to

who are keeping the office running efficiently.

offered by PH companies. There are some

London City Airport.

Laurence Kelvin (W88)

customers who have backed this up by

I'm currently sitting on the Waldorf rank,

Laurence, Call Sign is usually happy to

showing us invoices with the car firm’s

fingers crossed for a flyer. It’s no different

ask driver questions to Board Members

name deleted, no administration, but

than sitting on Lincolns Inn Fields rank

and publish the responses, but all your

showing the journey costs. It is obvious

(WC3) except that it moves quicker! So

questions will involve fairly lengthy

that the driver is not receiving the amount

would I do an account trip at Lincolns Inn

answers and as we are almost at the

charged and with all the expense of oper-

to LCA for a dead clock? Of course I would.

AGM, it surely makes more sense to ask

ating the vehicle etc, their earnings

Once drivers adjust to working this way, we

them there because the answers will

that’s the money they take home - is small

could maybe slowly shrink the zone. I

then go into the following issue’s AGM

for the total number of hours they work.

would prefer this to fixed price work. These

But it is the journey costs clients look at

report anyway. As for signals, there is an

cut price trips may help because it’s better

article by DaC’s IT Director, John

and look at us to match. I was recently

than doing nothing for the full price! Some

asked to price a small account having

Bankes, in this issue regarding our soon-

may say we can’t afford to do it. I say, can we

to be move to a GPS dispatch system

been given three months’ worth of jour-

afford not to.

neys. I was told that my pricing structure

...Ed

Moving on, can I also comment on TfL

was 10% more expensive than they were

themselves and their new policy to compel

currently paying. I offered no run-ins and

Tavistock Place and

every taxi driver to accept cards. Why could-

no gratuity and asked to review the jour-

n't they just give every cab driver a hand

ney costs, but was informed that it would

the disability laws

held card reader? Now it will be more

be a waste of time because they now had

Hello Alan

expense and holes all over for non-radio

quotes from two car companies of 20%

“They get into this trap in Tavistock

taxis and yet another tatty TfL sticker!

less than they were already paying!

Place, but they could not possibly get out

Call Sign January 2016

Page 31

Mailshot

west, north or south, and that was where

TfL and Lower

they experienced difficulty.”

That wasn’t somebody musing on the

Thames Street...

effects of yet another cycle lane, but a

Hi Alan

retired newsagent in 1890. The obstruc-

Interestingly in the December Call Sign, you

tion at that time were the frequent bars and

wrote about delays to emergency services

chains put across roads - particularly at

caused by construction of BoJo's cycling

night - and it took an Act of Parliament to

superhighways. To add fuel to the fire, I have

have these hindrances removed. It's only

heard from a reliable source, a fireman, that

I wonder...

the cyclists who do not consider these lanes

Upper / Lower Thames Street is a major

Dear Al

to be an obstruction.

problem to London Fire Brigade emergency

I wonder who it was that waved Uber

I see that the cab rank outside the

vehicles departing Dowgate fire station.

through on the nod? I wonder how Boris

Tavistock Hotel has not been changed. Cabs

Makes you wonder that the clowns at TfL

got one & half billion plus to put in bike

have to face west in a street where traffic

couldn’t foresee a problem with response

lanes when George is screwing everybody

must be travelling east. The fact that the

times increasing by over 50% for some shouts.

else? I wonder if sleeping in your car

cycle lane actually goes round the rank

The recent fire station closures have made

overnight is legal? I wonder how long it

matters worse...

must indicate that Camden Council have no

takes an Uber driver (who lives in Holland)

David Cohen (E94)

provision for removing it, which does make

to get home after a day's work? I wonder

It always sounds as though we have a pop

me wonder. And I see from the December

what happened to Mr Johnson's Euro emis-

at TfL because we have nothing better to

Call Sign that anybody in a wheelchair has

sion targets after issuing over 100,000 Uber

do. If only that were true because their

to be set down in Bedford Way. So now

licences? I wonder who owns the roads, as I

decisions leave most sensible people

Camden Council has exemption from the

always thought they were public highways

scratching their heads and wandering if

disability laws. It is illegal to treat disabled

and not just bike lanes?

what they are actually seeing is real! ...Ed

people any different from able bodied peo-

The only thing that I do not wonder

ple. If abled bodied people can be set down

about is that the bike lanes will eventually

at the front entrance, then, by law, so

be dug up!

Traffic and emergency

should disabled people. And finally, I

Happy new year to all...

watched an ambulance take nearly ten min-

vehicles

David Hughes (A73)

utes to get from Kings Cross to the British

Hi Alan

Hi David, I’m just wondering why you

Library, if someone dies because the emer-

I never thought that TfL policies would actu-

wonder so much, cos we all know the

ally cause me to retire, but I’m not sure I can

answers! ...Ed

gency services cannot get their quickly, will

stand the horrendous traffic conditions

the idiots who dreamt up this scheme be

caused by TfL any more. I have just had three

charged with corporate manslaughter?

consecutive jobs where the passengers have

Air pollution

Sean Farrell (B39)

exited the cab before getting to their destina-

Yes, Alan you were right (December

Makes me wonder whether we are

tion because the traffic has been so awful; so

Editorial, Call Sign). London’s air quality

telling the wrong people and perhaps a

I agree with your Editorial (December Call

pollution level of nitrogen dioxide has

word in the ear of an anti-disability

Sign) where you write that the emergency

remained pretty static in recent years,

group could have more influence than a

services are complaining about the traffic con-

despite greener engines, congestion zones

bunch of cab drivers who just moan to

ditions caused by the Mayor’s Cycling

and cycle hire. More diesel engines has

each other? ...Ed

Superhighways. I am now contemplating

given rise to fine particle pollutant pm25 -

early retirement in July purely because of the

but when you look at the bigger picture,

traffic. Yes, TfL may say that the roadworks

then London has not done too badly. The

Tavistock Place:

could be finished by then, but they will be

World Health Organisation has a list of

The answer?

replaced by the lanes that cyclists don’t even

pm2.5 levels - the worst being Delhi with a

Hi Alan

have to use, so the traffic will be the same. Do

concentration level of

153, next comes

I sound totally fed up? That’s because I am...

Beijing with 56, Los Angeles is at 20, Paris

There is a very simple solution to

Bernie Silver (F13J - formerly G08)

is on 17 with London on 16. Melbourne

Bloomsbury - Torrington Place - Tavistock

I think most drivers will sympathise with

has an ultra-low 5 - they tried super cycle

Place traffic problem. Well half of it! Reopen

your view Bernie. There are two reasons

highways ‘down under’ but dug them up

Montague Place behind the British

why the traffic is so appalling; as you

after a few years because they just were not

Museum to westbound traffic - either one

point out, the cycling superhighways are

used enough!

way or two way...

certainly one, but the other is also thanks

Like you, I just can't see the Lycra brigade

Eddie Lambert (V37)

to the Mayor and his TfL - that is the num-

being relegated to a cycle lane stuck behind

Of course Camden could just admit they

ber of PH vehicles they have licensed. So

some knob on a Boris bike admiring Big

were wrong and that the huge tailbacks

for all those who keep asking me for fig-

Ben!

and increased emissions that council

ures, the current number of licensed PH

Dave Heath (Ex W27)

has caused by the stupidity of a one-way

drivers is around the 92,000 mark with

Brighton, East Sussex

system that doesn’t work make them to

around 25,300 licensed taxi drivers. In

The way the traffic is in London, you

revert to the status quo. Or they could

2005, there were 24,700 licensed taxi dri-

have to wonder whether we have all

follow your suggestion and at the same

vers and 19,000 licensed PH drivers. So in

been living under the fairy tree, because

time also reopen Thornhaugh Street at

just over 10 years, the number of licensed

suddenly, when we’ve all started to

the northwest corner of Russell Square -

minicabs has shot up in ‘real’ numbers by

accept that emission levels were getting

one that I bet most drivers don’t even

an astronomical 73,000! In case anyone

worse thanks to more and more cars,

remember ever being open.

thinks that is a typo, let me write it again.

we’re told that things aren’t really that

Read Joe Brazil’s article on cyclists in

In just over 10 years, TfL have licensed an

bad anymore - yet London is at a stand-

this issue, because it shows the stupidi-

additional 73,000 minicab drivers. Does

still. Has someone been telling porkies

ty of the current situation where every-

that tell you anything about TfL? Well they

just to get bikes in and cars out??? Stay

thing is aimed at the two-wheeled vari-

certainly think they are good, whereas we

in Brighton David, you wouldn’t like it

ety of transport ...Ed

consider them to be abject failures??? ...Ed

here ...Ed

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