Call Sign September 2016

Page 3

from the editor’s desk

The Mayor’s extra

character was hatching! Sad or what!!!

No brainer?

Compliance Officers

A DaC driver recently sent me a copy of the Kent

I’ve seen some of the anti-comments regarding

Messenger letters page where someone was writ-

the Mayor’s recent announcement that he is qua-

ing about the merits of Uber. They obviously

drupling the number of Compliance Officers out

knew a bit about London taxi/private hire prices

and about in town. These are the officers whose

and methods of operation, because after going

job it is to tackle touting and any illegal activity

into some detail about Medway cabs, they then

affecting the taxi and private hire trades. Mayor

aimed their ire at London before looking at TfL’s

Khan said that by this time next year, the total of

court case on smartphone/meters and the private

CO’s will increase from 82 and go up to 332 - an

prosecutions by the LTDA against individual Uber

extra 250 officers.

drivers using the smartphone app.

That is something we have been asking for over

He then said that he had used Uber cars twice in

many years and indeed, even the Evening

London and found them to be “cheap, efficient

Standard approved of the additional Officers

and punctual,” before adding how delighted he

with both mainstream TV channels reporting on

was that there was no “quandary” about needing

the decision. We should welcome it and indeed,

to tip drivers - obviously painting himself as the last

the LTDA’s Steve McNamara was on TV within

come it is and for our trade organisations to

of the big spenders! But of course, that’s his

hours saying that it was a step in the right direc-

have a meeting with him to explain the situa-

choice.

tion... and indeed it is.

tion. He appears to be a man of integrity and

But he then wrote about his daughter-in-law

The Mayor promised that he would protect this

if the e-hailing situation is explained careful-

who he said sometimes worked unsociable hours

trade when he was electioneering and for once,

ly, he should agree with us as well...

at her central London office. She, the writer said,

someone in that position has kept his word and I

had used Uber several times when there was no

applaud that. How can anyone disagree with him

Jump start

other way of getting to her home in south London

when he says that he wants Londoners to feel safe

I know that you will probably call me nasty after

and added that the prices for the trip were £50 in

when they take a taxi or minicab and that’s why

reading this, but hey-ho... if you dish it out etc!

a taxi, £30 in a minicab and £18 with Uber. He said:

he is targeting touts and illegal activities. Of

So, I was just going to pick up an account ride

“I think that's what's called a no-brainer.”

course, not all PH companies are delighted

from Savoy Place close to the Savoy Hotel, when

Almost right, Mr Whoever U Are, except that I

because it is they who are funding it via increased

a familiar call hit my ears: “Taxi!” I looked around

don’t call it a no-brainer - more like no brains. Why?

licence fees.

and suddenly a foreign sounding gentleman

Well your daughter-in-law is travelling with a com-

Mayor Khan then added that extra COs is

jumped in front of my cab.

pany that had 32 rapes allegedly carried out by its

the first part of a wider programme that

“Please, you give my minicab a jump start and I

drivers in the 12 months ending in February 2016;

would drive up standards in the industry

pay you. I have people in back and they wait to go

or how about the 154 sex assaults by PH drivers

“...and help our world famous cabbies contin-

but battery is flat.” I looked at him and then at his

with very few of the reported attacks seemingly car-

ue to thrive.”

car.

ried out by the more reputable PH companies.

But there is one thing that hasn’t been men-

“Ok,” says I, “I have 10 minutes before I’m

Or what about the article in the Evening

tioned and that is the problem of e-hailing. Only

scheduled to pick up my job. It will be £50,” said

Standard on Frances Carbines, the British

taxis can ply for hire and that is why we spend so

this DaC driver. Suddenly the minicab driver’s

Council worker who had a nightmare trip with

long doing the Knowledge. Yes, technology is

English improved greatly.

an Uber driver who dumped her on a dual car-

moving at lightning speed, but just because we

“Fifty quid? Are you ‘effinwell joking?”

riageway after she feared he would attack her?

can control our bank accounts via a smartphone

“Yes,” says I, “I really was joking...” And with that

If your daughter-in-law has problems getting a

doesn’t mean it’s ok to go into someone else’s

I drove off to my pick-up, preferring to glance

taxi or minicab and that’s why she uses Uber, then

account. It doesn’t mean you can use someone

through the Evening Standard!!!

I’d be really sorry to hear that; but if saving money

else’s debit card because it has a contactless facil-

is the prime objective then surely that saving needs

ity. But it seems that even though private hire are

Pokemon Go tours???

to be put against any possible danger.

not allowed to ply for hire because it’s against all

Some weeks ago, two of my grandchildren,

I don’t think that Mr Whoever U Are is quite the

regulations connected to this trade, that so-called

Samuel and Imogen, dragged me out of the

expert he purports to be and I would suggest his

e-hailing is ok because according to Leon

house and took me to streets that I had never

daughter-in-law, who probably has far more com-

Daniels, technology has moved on. Yes, that’s the

been down in six years at my current residence.

mon sense than her dad-in-law if her problem is a

same Leon Daniels who is still apparently TfL's

Why? I thought they just wanted a walk, but no,

lack of availability rather than price, should get in

Managing Director of Surface Transport, even

they had seen some Pokemon Go characters

touch with Keith Cain at Dial-a-Cab, open an

though he seemed to vanish from the scene fol-

nearby on their smartphones and “needed” to

account and get a fixed price for her occasional

lowing a Freedom of Information request that

catch them.

trips to home. In fact - and I don’t say this very

purportedly showed him making 24 calls to

The following day I went to work and it was

often - I’d rather she used a reputable PH company

Uber’s Jo Bertram between June 2014 and April

stone dead! Yes, school holiday time hadn’t let us

if she doesn’t want a taxi company... anything but

2015.

down again! But whilst I was roasting on the

Uber. Now that is a no-brainer... especially when

Technology may well have moved on, but if

Kings Cross rank, I saw this little character in my

you look at the possible alternatives.

I look at my phone to see where empty Uber

head and wondered whether anyone had thought

cars are and then call one, that is plying for

of advertising Pokemon Go tours where you could

Sad Uber tale

hire. Technology doesn’t come into the equa-

hire yourself out at an hourly rate and just follow

Uber has apparently complained that the new

tion.

instructions as to where your passengers need to

English language requirement rule is harder to get

Incidentally, the FoI request also pointed to

go to catch these little Pokemons.

through than the test for British Citizenship and

another 31 calls made from TfL mobile phones

It turns out that it already happens! Taxi and PH

that it’s also easier to become a tube driver! I don’t

between December 2014 and April

2015.

firms around the country offer tours - some at £10

use the Underground very often but I know who I

Perhaps the total of 55 calls were just to enquire

an hour per person with a minimum of three per

would feel safer with should I ever need to call an

how Ms Bertram was, I really don’t care if they

cab, while others offer an all-in rate. Edinburgh

Uber car or use the tube. The ‘appers’ also moan

called 8000 times, plying for hire does not come

Taxis will take players at a low rate of £15 per

that it’s wrong that part-time drivers should need

into the realm of technology - unless it also

hour, whilst a Middlesbrough cab company do it

full-time commercial insurance regardless of

becomes legal to rob a bank provided that you do

for £20 per hour. Apparently these Pokeys turn up

whether they are working as an Uber driver. They

it via your phone.

at regular places and the tours tend to follow sim-

want drivers to insure themselves only on the days

So, yes, I think the increase in Compliance

ilar routes.

they work... but they promise to do it... honest!!!

Officers is excellent news and I thank the

I must be getting old because I remember a

Now Uber is demanding a Judicial Review.

Mayor for being the first to keep a promise.

time when people just put their hands out to get

Don’t you feel sorry for them?

What we now need is not public criticism say-

a cab from A to B and nowhere along the route did

Alan Fisher

ing what he hasn’t done, but to say how wel-

any passenger ever mention that a Pokemon Go

callsignmag@aol.com

Call Sign August 2016

Page 4

Reflections of the Chairman

ting around the table with Dial-a-Cab were our

Demutualisation Update

competition, but we knew how important it was

Although I am going to give you the latest update

for the trade to put on a united face and appear

regarding the demutualisation process, you must

united. Silly us!

bear in mind that things could change slightly

The London licensed taxi industry is in dire

over the next few weeks. However, this is the cur-

straits, yet those representatives from the var-

rent position as it stands at the time of writing.

ious driver organisations could not bring

I intend sending all “eligible Members” a

themselves to at least attempt to present a

bundle during the first week of September. It

united front to TfL. These so-called trade lead-

will contain two booklets; the first is a circu-

ers would rather splinter our trade just so

lar entitled the

“Proposed Conversion of

they can preserve their dwindling power and

ODRTS” which provides details of the propos-

respectability - there can’t be too much of

als, while the second is a

“Questions &

that left!

Answers” booklet, which will hopefully

What have these political driver orgs actually

answer some of the questions Members may

done for our trade over the past few years? The

have. There will also be a covering letter to

As some of you may be aware, any increase is

answer is absolutely nothing; they have allowed

you from me and three coloured forms.

calculated via the Cost Index, which is basically a

almost 110,000 minicab licences to come to

The Green and the Yellow forms will be Proxy

basket of items that affect you such as servicing,

fruition; they have allowed Uber to flourish; they

voting forms for eligible Members to use in

meter hire, tyres and the cost of the vehicle etc.

have allowed Cycle Superhighways to be

respect of the two Special General Meetings

Not only was the fare increase due to be dis-

brought into being and have done absolutely

required should they wish to give their vote to a

cussed, but also the actual content of the Cost

nothing about pedicabs.

colleague or give their vote to me. With both sce-

Index to see whether it is still relevant to the cur-

I have no alternative other than to assume and

narios, they will have to instruct either the col-

rent situation. In my view, that meant that it was

come to the conclusion that some of these main-

league or myself as to which way to vote on their

an important discussion and one that the whole

stream driver orgs are totally impotent and only

behalf - that will be either for or against the res-

trade should consider.

interested in their own self-preservation. Of

olution to demutualise.

As I got there, ComCab had just arrived as

course, their leaders will do well while their mem-

Also on the Green form - assuming that the

had Radio Taxis, Gett and Hailo. With

bers get constantly bombarded with schemes that

relevant Member is voting by Proxy - is the

London’s traffic often causing havoc, I

involve buying policies of various assortments

opportunity to vote for three of your current

assumed that the trade organisations were

against ill-health. Well I suppose they have to do

five Board Members who will, if the

just running late and I casually enquired if

something! There are online groups doing more

Membership agrees with the demutualisation,

anyone had heard from them and how late

that these mainline orgs are doing between them.

then go forward to become Directors (togeth-

they would be. To say I was astounded

But I’m not being fair because I should have

er with me as Chairman) of the new organisa-

would be an understatement when TfL

pointed out that there is one instance where

tion. I should point out that Members do not

informed everyone present that these very

they can really show their muscle. That is by

have to vote for three, but UP TO three.

trade orgs that so often criticise each other

refusing to sit around the table with col-

Should the Society demutualise, the Pink form

for disrupting any hope of trade unity, were

leagues from their own industry!

then becomes extremely important as eligible

not coming as they all refused to sit around

This failure to attend not only shows how impo-

Members need to complete that form in order to

the table with the Radio Circuits and Apps.

tent they are, but how downright rude and that

receive their shares in the new organisation. If

As I write this, I still find it hard to believe

any concern they have for their own industry

they do not complete that form, they will not

that it actually happened!

involves just them. It’s just a case of my dad is big-

receive any shares and will only receive their orig-

Who do these people representing the driver

ger than your dad!

inal £50 back. So as you can see, it is absolutely

orgs think they are? Well, they obviously consider

Trade unity? What trade unity... they are just

imperative that they complete and return the

that they are far too important to sit down with

absolutely pathetic...

form if they want to receive shares.

the rest of us in a joint uniformed approach to

I have used the phrase “eligible Members”

Brian Rice

TfL! As a result, TfL had to have two meetings with

above. This is because as per the waiver, which

the trade - one with the driver orgs and one with

Chairman

new joiners have been asked to sign since the

the rest of us ie radio circuits and apps. Those sit-

arrangement was introduced in 2008, Members

Dial-a-Cab

who have been fully paid-up Members for less

than two years on the date of the notice to con-

vene the first meeting will not be entitled to par-

ticipate in the meetings or receive shares on the

demutualisation. Instead, should demutualisa-

PAUL’S TAXI SPECIALISTS LTD

tion proceed, those Members will cease to be

Members and will receive back their £50 member-

ship fee. They will, however, remain drivers on

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

the circuit.

As I wrote at the beginning, the above scenario

will hopefully be the order of events, but because

Tel: 01708 553037

I am compiling it approximately one month

before the first meeting is scheduled, events

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I have purposely not included the proposed

dates of the two meetings as they could be

TX4 servicing from £90

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the purpose of the meeting was to discuss

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Web: www.PaulsTaxiSpecialists.co.uk

any fare increase that will come into effect

next April.

Call Sign September 2016

Page 5

ast month’s Call Sign published

details of the proposal put to

Oxford Street: Residents

London Assembly members by Val

Shawcross, London’s Deputy Mayor

for Transport, to pedestrianise Oxford Street

view of proposed closure...

by closing it to all traffic.

This followed a meeting in June when

the

London Assembly’s Transport

improve Oxford Street... but without

Committee heard from West End businesses, as

adding to the already high levels of pol-

well as TfL and Westminster City Council. All

lution and congestion in nearby streets.

three considered that the aim should be to

They suggested that Mayor Khan

reduce the traffic flow rather than banning it alto-

should look at reducing motor traffic in

gether because that would just move the prob-

the neighbouring areas and not just

lem to the surrounding streets such as Welbeck

Oxford Street. But they feared that Val

and Goodge Streets - a point that this magazine

Shawcross’ pedestrianisation sugges-

had emphasised when speaking to the walking

tion - pencilled in to take place piece-

charity that first proposed pedestrianisation of

meal over the next four years - would

Oxford Street, Living Streets. Quite astonishing-

push buses and taxis into diverting

ly they told us they hadn’t thought that far ahead!

along Wigmore Street, Mortimer

According to Val Shawcross, she doesn’t want

Street and Goodge Street.

to lose any resources overall for buses.

Wendy Shillam of the Fitzrovia

“But I can tell you,” she told the LA meeting,

West Neighbourhood Forum wrote to

“there is plenty of demand for more buses and

Val Shawcross saying that if pedestrian-

frequencies further out and so we have been

isation of Oxford Street resulted in a

looking at doing a very complex job of combing

permanent diversion of taxis and bus

the buses out. That would mean, basically, not

routes along neighbouring streets,

going to Westminster and saying that all those

1890 Oxford Circus and still solid with traffic!

then it would be devastating to the area

buses that are running this way are going to run

whereas Jace Tyrell of the New West

much more substantially - certainly in advance of

End Company which represents traders in

down Wigmore Street! What we are doing is

the opening of the Crossrail station in 2018

Oxford Street was cautious about the plans:

going back and saying that if we look at a heat

because there will be massive pedestrian conges-

“We look forward to seeing and discussing

map around Oxford Street for some distance, we

tion - but then to deliver on Oxford Street. That

detailed proposals for Oxford Street following

need to reduce the bus movements in that area

means more interchanges, turn-backs and

Ms Shawcross’s statements, but feel very strongly

changes to the routes, but it is a complex prob-

that any form of vehicle free zones must lead to a

lem because we also have to deliver people to

genuine reduction of traffic, rather than large

Taxi

work and to shop at Oxford Street. As soon as

scale re-routing down smaller residential or com-

you start trying to plan buses in central London

mercial streets. In addition, it must be accompa-

around a smarter approach, it does liberate quite

nied by a full economic assessment to measure

insurance

a lot of thinking about giving ground back to

the impact on businesses and the shoppers and

pedestrians - not just in Oxford Street but in adja-

workers that travel to the West End every day via

cent areas and improving the public realm.”

public transport.”

for DaC

Since then, local residents have put their

Unsurprisingly, campaigners for a traffic-free

points of view to the Assembly, but also spoke to

Oxford Street have welcomed the plan

drivers

the area’s local paper, Fitzrovia News. The view

but Westminster City Council claimed that the

of most was that they welcome the Mayor’s

plans as described by Ms Shawcross were current-

desire to reduce congestion and pollution and

ly unachievable without significant impact on

want to work together to realise his aim to

those who live, visit or run a business in the area...

On behalf of Dial-a-Cab, Hillier Buchan Ltd

in Bexley have negotiated exclusive rates

for DaC members. We believe our rates are

competitive in today’s market for experi-

BUS LANES

enced licensed Black Cab drivers.

At Hillier Buchan, we understand every driver’s

circumstances are different; therefore our policies

can be tailored for the individual driver. We offer

TAXI HOPE

a 5% discount for DaC members, with additional

discounts for existing protected Bonus policies.

Hillier Buchan was established in 2002 by

t a meeting with TfL at City Hall on 28 July, the licensing authority led on

David Hillier and myself with in excess of 50

Bus Lane access, particularly on London Bridge northbound and some

years experience as high level Brokers working in

others they control including Tooley Street (westbound), Newington

the City of London for major broking houses. We

Butts, Bishopsgate and Westminster Bridge Road.

have established a reputation for professionalism

and service in our chosen fields.

TfL said they were prepared to actively support the taxi trade if we approached the

We have extensive London Market contacts;

Boroughs for access to the Bus Lanes they control, including the City of London. They

consequently we are able to offer our clients a

were extremely positive about increasing Taxi access to Bus Lanes. The London Bridge

quality of security from companies that are all

lane would be on a 3 month trial basis initially and possibly with some times of use,

available in the world’s pre-eminent insurance

but as with some others the trade are currently banned from, TfL are now of a mind to

market. As a result, our clients achieve quality of

security and service upon which we pride our-

increase access. This was undoubtedly the most positive meeting on a range of issues

selves and a competitiveness of premium that

for many years and there really seems to be a change in attitude at City Hall!

our clients find particularly attractive in today's

So it looks like a done-deal on some of their own Bus Lanes, although a deal

climate.

would insinuate a compromise. But this was an announcement by TfL after

Our philosophy is to build long-term relation-

years of our demanding access, however, only the recent change of regime

ships using balanced service teams providing

continuity and expertise. Compare our prices

and personnel allowed this change of attitude.

and give us a call. See our ad inside this issue of

Together with a promised substantial increase in Compliance Officers, this could be a

Call Sign on page 15.

lead-in to a new era because Bus Lane access is a huge advantage to this trade and

Phil Buchan,

the more of them we are allowed to get into, the better. Let’s hope so..

Hillier Buchan, 01322 553313

Call Sign September 2016

Page 6

Jery’s

World

“Yeah, a few blokes have asked me to be their proxy!”

TAXI MASSACRE IN QUEENSLAND AS UBER CELEBRATES

Uber legalised as Premier offers A$100m assistance package to taxi industry

Former Dial-a-Cab driver and Data Dispatch trainer, Howard Sales (ex-A11), left the UK

many years ago to settle in Australia but still has the blood of a London taxi driver flow-

ing through his veins and often keeps Call Sign in touch with events down under.

But this latest item brought a feeling of sadness to this office when the Queensland

State Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk along with Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe

announced that Uber and similar ride-booking services would be legalised from

September 5. Almost as a sop to any feelings of guilt, the duo then came up with an

A$100 million assistance package for the taxi industry.

The offer consists of a one-off payment of $20,000 per taxi licence (capped at two).

Taxis will also continue to have exclusive access to street hails and ranks with the maxi-

mum age limit for taxis to be removed and annual renewal fees being waived for 12

months. A hardship fund of A$26.7million was also announced, which possibly shows

how the QLD government think the situation will end up!

Ms Palaszczuk said it was time the Government created a level playing field

for taxis, limousines and Uber. However, some things don’t change and it was

also announced that State Government will regulate to allow Uber to operate from this

month without a special licence, with a new licence system coming in next year.

Mr Hinchliffe said the reforms would deliver an estimated A$474 million benefit to the State when it “opens up the market and create opportu-

nities for new and existing participants to respond to market changes, which will ultimately drive competition.”

He could also have added that it means the end of the taxi trade in Queensland. The Taxi Council’s CEO, Ben Wash, referring to a review into

personalised transport last year, called it a waste of millions of dollars.

“It appears as though the Government has deceived Queenslanders by pretending to establish an independent review, when the results were

clearly predetermined!”

Meanwhile, in a celebratory mood, Uber thanked everyone concerned with the review, saying it would provide more choice...

Ron Yarborough

Call Sign Online

Call Sign September 2016

Page 7

But who are MyTaxi?

London taxi app Hailo has agreed to a “merg-

er” with Mercedes Benz Daimler ride-sharing

Hailo Swallowed

app MyTaxi, which has been part of Daimler

Mobility Services since 2014 when MBD were

said to have paid around £100million!

The new deal is said to be cashless and sees

By MyTaxi

Daimler take a 60% stake in Hailo and con-

trolling seats on the Board. Within

months, the Hailo name will vanish and be

MyTaxi use licensed taxis

re-branded as MyTaxi. Hailo have had finan-

cial problems since being forced to pull out

only... but at 50% of the

of North America in 2014 following a price

fare???

war and battle for market share.

Poland etc. Yes, they do

Hailo will now be run from the MyTaxi

claim to only work with

office in Hamburg, Germany with

licensed taxis, but since

Daimler Financial Services Chairman,

they have a huge market-

Klaus Entenmann, claiming the merger

will make MyTaxi a “leader of mobility

ing budget, they often try

“bend” the law

solutions and platforms.”

Call Sign spoke to an experienced com-

although they can’t any-

petitor of MyTaxi in Germany. We agreed

more in Germany.

not to publish any names. He told us:

Incidentally, MyTaxi and

“MyTaxi was originally a startup, claiming a

Hailo are claiming they will

niche - one of the first to do so in the German

now have the largest taxi app

taxi sector. Its founder and former CEO,

MyTaxi has tried its best in many European

network in Europe, but I believe that to be

Niclaus Mewes, grew up in a family dealing

cities such as Paris and Switzerland, but has

incorrect since the Berlin and Vienna based

with a special kind of fleet management -

yet to make a success in most of them. The

taxi network, taxi.eu, is already active in 13

shipping! But the new company grew quite

only strong market besides Germany is in

countries with well over

170.000 drivers

fast, relying on taxis only with Deutsche

Spain. So coupling with Hailo makes some

throughout Europe.”

Telekom and Car2Go being some of the first

sense there.

Hailo never really recovered after applying for

investors.

They have had some problems in

a PH license but not telling its subscribers. That

The MyTaxi setup is actually pretty much

Germany where they went around aggres-

was later discovered by a trade organisation and

the same as you’ll find with Hailo, Gett and

sively “buying” customers at half fare. You

within hours spread through social networks

others. They bypass the traditional taxi dis-

should prepare yourselves for that in

and led to a mass departure by drivers…

patchers and build direct contact between

London as well, since a 50 percent price

Ron Yarborough

the drivers and customer.

tag on all trips is still active in Spain and

Call Sign Online

Call Sign September 2016

Page 8

Known throughout the trade as Drumslayer, Call Sign’s Marc Turner

(R97) writes of something you don’t hear too often...

How to make

God laugh!

trooper I am, I continued the task and it was

my colleague behind who drew my attention

to my leg bleeding profusely.

I’d brushed the bottom of the door and cut

a long gash in a previously unblemished, val-

ued leg, ironically after spending the last 26

he evening of Monday 8th August

years avoiding being head-butted by cab

was one I won’t forget in hurry. I

doors! He with another driver convinced me

had just exchanged my soon-to-be

that a visit to an A&E department was in

overhauled cab for a pristine cour-

order; so with due haste I drove to St

tesy 06 TX2.

Thomas’s where I knew there was parking.

As soon as I looked at the cab, I was

I was there for just under three hours in all,

impressed. It was clean, as I turned the key

apparently that’s a result! The wait was made

the engine sounded great and it really drove

easier by the company of fellow cabbie (Scot)

well. Everything looked good!

who’d heard of my plight on social media

Its regular driver was on holiday and

and decided to join me.

unusually, had left an old testament Bible and

The NHS staff were splendid and Nurse

Rosary beads with the image of Jesus Christ

Sarah, who eventually treated me, warmed

hanging from the rear view mirror. The radio

the cockles of my heart with her anti-cyclists

was tuned in to a Gospel station...Hallelujah!

rants but suggested that even if they were tai-

Coincidentally, the cab had been supplied

lored, I shouldn’t go to work with shorts.

by Stable Taxis and wasn't the Son of God

Someone wasn't watching over Marc!

Nurses always know best!

born in a stable! So far so good, everything

So back to the question; how do you make

was sounding great. What could go wrong???

Drumslayer. Looking in the rear view mirror

God laugh? The answer... Make plans!!!

So I made for the Bermondsey (recently

through the Rosary beads, I noticed a familiar

relocated Tooley Street) rank ready to start a

face in the cab behind, so I sprightly alighted

Marc Turner

new week with my usual ardour, having no

my new home and immediately felt a razor

inkling of the imminent fate awaiting this

sharp sensation in my left leg. Being the

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Call Sign September 2016

Page 9

recent piece from Bloomberg

about London’s taxi fleet makes

interesting reading in that the rea-

Electric taxis:

son no one has revealed a price on

any of the three expected versions - LTC, Vito

and Metro - is because around a third of the

The battery is one

cost will actually be the battery and prices are

expected to fall sharply over the next few years.

The article points out that Walter Bersey

ran a fleet of 80 battery-powered cabs that he

third of the cost!

actually designed and which began operating

in December 1897. Sadly for Walter, they last-

ed only around two years. They had been

Brian Rice: "If battery

prices fall, it could make

only be recharged at Bersey's Lambeth garage

electric taxis more

where a hydraulic lifting system allowed for

affordable to younger

quick battery exchange. The taxi had a range

drivers..."

of about 35 miles, which was more than the

average horse-powered cab could reasonably

cover. It also had a top speed of 14mph -

which some would say it isn’t much different

today with all the extra traffic! They became

known as Hummingbirds because of the low

noise sent out by the Bersey electric engine

Now, around 120 years later, the London

Taxi Company is investing $400 million to

build electric cabs in Coventry. It has been

claimed that the transition away from all

Could the TX5 be

diesel vehicles driving in London - not

cheaper than envisaged?

just taxis - could help eliminate almost

10,000 early deaths a year caused by the

emissions they give out. Although diesel

vehicles emit less carbon dioxide than

those running on petrol, they spew out

more nitrogen dioxide, which the

would all be academic.

European Environment Agency claims

According to Bloomberg

increases respiratory conditions and car-

New Energy Finance, which

diovascular disease.

predicts that by 2040 35 per-

LTC President, Peter Johansen, has said

cent of new car sales globally

that there is a general recognition of the

will be electric, by 2025 bat-

need to improve air quality and that elec-

tery storage could fall by as

tric vehicles were the way of the future for

much as 52 percent to under

urban situations.

chase vehicles that they had mandated for

£140 per kilowatt hour.

Anyone buying a new taxi from 2018 will

us.

With London having just 3 percent of the

have to buy one that is zero-emissions capable

“So far as the future is concerned, if the

25,000 charging points former Mayor Boris

using either pure electric or hybrid motors.

price of batteries for electric vehicle were

Johnson promised would be in place by 2015

That won’t affect old cabs at present but the

to fall substantially, that could just about

(according to Bollore SA which operates the

world's first Ultra Low Emission Zone will be

make electric taxis affordable to younger

network), Mr Johansen said they were looking

launched in central London on 7 September

drivers, assuming Mayor Khan means

at how they could provide more on a com-

2020 and will mean a congestion charge type

what he says insofar as his looking after

mercial basis along with other business part-

fee paid by any vehicle whose emissions break

London’s taxis goes.”

ners. They want to get a number of hubs in

the regulations. At this moment, we believe

The London Mayor says he wants to tighten

and around London that are for rapid charg-

that taxis will be exempt from that charge, but

up pollution regulations and has refreshed

ing, so that taxi drivers typically can top up

it could change depending on circumstances.

the City’s 60-year-old Clean Air Act, which

while having a tea break.

Dial-a-Cab are trying to give drivers with

was passed in the 1950s when London suf-

The next year or so will be interesting, to

older cabs a temporary 5-year get-out when

fered badly with smog. His office has pointed

put it mildly...

they recently organised - via Call Sign - an

out that if London’s 23,000 diesel taxis were

event at DaC House that allowed drivers to

to not eventually change to electric power,

test out an LPG gas cab. After conversion of

they would have been expected to spew

Call Sign

their old cabs, that would give drivers an extra

around one fifth of central London’s nitrogen

September 2016

five years of licensing in addition to having a

oxide emissions in 2020.

Editor: Alan Fisher

Euro 6 taxi that runs like a car and a fuel sav-

But the part of the equation most inter-

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

ing estimated at around 20 percent.

esting to London taxi drivers is how much

Tel: 0207 251 0581 Fax: 0207 553 7293

DaC Chairman Brian Rice told Call Sign:

an electric taxi will cost. Rumours abound

Email: callsignmag@aol.com

“If the conversion scheme takes off, it

of somewhere between

£47,000 and

Website: www.22-callsign.co.uk

would make DaC the cleanest taxi compa-

£55,000 and possibly even more. But Peter

Printers: Premier Print Group

ny in London. However, this is a problem

Johansen now says that the reason they

E6 6 LP

for the trade as a whole and not just us; so

Design: Aldan Publications

have not given out even any approximate

we take the situation regarding emissions

Tel: 07958 300 428

cost is because LTC expects falling battery

very seriously and there is an obvious

Email: debbiefresco@googlemail.com

prices over the next 18 months to make

Views and opinion expressed in Call Sign must

need to clean up our trade. But the prob-

the electric TX5 more attractive and added

not be assumed to represent those of the Editor or

lem has not been through the fault of dri-

that with the battery currently about one-

Board.No part of Call Sign may be reproduced

vers, more the authorities that insisted

third of the cost of a vehicle, there is no

either manually or electronically without the express

and regulated the fact that we had to pur-

permission of the Editor.

point in announcing a price because it

Call Sign September 2016

Page 10

Steve Shaller was on Dial-a-Cab for many years, as well as being a regular columnist in Call Sign. On

his retirement, he moved to Spain where he still lives. So as an ex-pat, we asked him whether he felt

the Brexit result was likely to affect him...

AM I BOVVERED???

There are many things that I do not know, but one thing I do know for

That figure does not take

a fact that I am one of many taxi drivers who have chosen to live

into account the 400,000

abroad. As an ex-pat, I was invited by Alan Fisher to give my thoughts

retirees who, like myself,

on living abroad since the result of the Brexit vote came out as leave.

spend their state pensions

Was this curiosity or was he thinking about joining me and building

here. What country would

sand castles on the Spanish beaches!

cut their nose to spite their

It can be a difficult task to write or discuss about living abroad without get-

face and discourage we

ting involved in Brexit politics, especially when I am surrounded by neigh-

Brits to come to holiday or

bours who have come from all around Europe. My personal political views

live in the EU?

and the way I actually voted may not be of any interest to the Call Sign read-

There has been a recip-

Steve enjoys his retirement in Spain

ership, so I’ll keep those opinions to myself. But this referendum has been

rocal health arrangement for

very divisive and as a consequence I have tried to avoid speaking to my

fully paid-up pensioners between Britain and Spain for many years, so I have

friends on the subject. I prefer my warmth to come from the Spanish sun

no fear of being denied this service. Last year Ian Duncan Smith stopped

and not from a heated debate!

ex-pats from getting their Winter Fuel Allowance. Not just in Spain, but in

But in speaking to other ex-pats prior to the referendum, I found

many other countries within the EU. So you think it doesn't get cold out here

them equally split on their views regarding staying in or leaving the

in winter? Think again! If I have any concerns, it’s that our state pensions

EU. Some wanted to stay in because they feared that leaving would

could be frozen as it is for other ex-pats who live outside the EU.

affect their security, their lifestyle and with it the possibility of having

Spain can be quite a bureaucratic country, so I also would not be

to return to the UK. Others voted to leave because they felt that the

surprised if legislation were to be introduced whereby foreign resi-

sovereignty of their country came first before their own personal inter-

dents, such as myself, would have to update our residential status on

ests.

a yearly or half yearly basis. There could be a marginal increase in

There were many lies bandied about by politicians and the media from

property tax for those who have holiday homes and who are not resi-

both sides of the argument to frighten us into voting the way they would

dent or fiscal residents. Again, these are all assumptions and only time

have liked. When reading our local English speaking newspaper, I also found

will tell us if Brexit was good for those living at home and abroad.

there were many concerned ex-pats who were worried about losing their

So, even with the drop in the GBP against the Euro, people will still

entitlement to the Spanish health service. They also worried about being

travel around Europe spending their money. And what country would

asked to leave the country - even worried that their houses could be confis-

discourage tourism?

cated.

As the Catherine Tate incarnation of Lauren Cooper, might ask: “Am

I have lived on the Orihuela Costa (Costa Blanca) for 14 years and

I bovvered? Do I look bovvered? Does this face look bovvered?”

have enjoyed the lifestyle very much. Nevertheless, I shall return

Does that answer Alan’s question???

home to the UK at a later date irrespective of how Brexit will or will

not affect life out here for we ex-pats.

Steve Shaller (ex-F34J)

During these past 14 years, I have watched an enormous growth within

my area in construction of both commercial and residential property. The

general area is flourishing; the Brits, the Russians and the Scandinavians are

all here. I came here in the boom. I've seen the bust and now the reconstruc-

tion cranes adorn the horizon and the boom has returned. We have an amaz-

ing recently built hospital, a new shopping mall that can accommodate 4500

parked cars, there are restaurants and bars - both big and small, with these

businesses being built and surviving on British money from both British

retirees and holidaymakers.

Last year, British tourists spent nearly €11billion on holidays in Spain.

EVERY SATURDAY AT WEST THURROCK BOXING &

Addy Lee profits drop

FITNESS GYMNASIUM

10am - 11.15am & 11.30am - 12.45pm

by £20million!

£7.00 per class

he UK’s biggest minicab firm, Addison Lee, which is

Minimum age of 16

owned by equity firm The Carlyle Group, have

Suitable for all skill levels, from beginners to

announced a sharp drop in profits from the £32.9 they

accomplished boxers

posted up till August 2015, down to £11.6million this

past August. Like taxi companies, they have blamed Uber and

Female ONLY classes subject to demand

other similar e-hail companies.

They recently battled an uprising by their drivers, who had

demonstrated outside Carlyle Group’s London HQ at Lansdowne

House in Berkeley Square, against the reduction in fares

charged and finally winning a new contract that gave drivers an

extra 7%. The fare reduction was an attempt to compete with

Uber.

It was John Griffin who started the company in South London

in 1975. It is now run by his son Liam. Two years ago, Carlyle tried

to sell Addy Lee but couldn’t find anyone bidding enough money

to compensate for the £300million they valued the minicab com-

pany at in 2013.

Call Sign September 2016

Page 12

The DaC driver and the wobbly cyclist!

“If I’m honest,” Michael Fitzgerald (W85) told Call

Sign,“ like many other road users, I have no great

love of pedal cyclists.

“I work nights, and recently in the early hours while travelling north

along Upper Woburn Place, I spied a very wobbly cyclist ahead of me

and decided to give him a wide birth as I closed the gap between us.

I came to the rapid conclusion that he was as drunk as a skunk and

passed him very carefully and slowly, taking great care not to spook

him as I overtook.

“But then a little further along the road, I was forced to stop behind

a bus as the traffic ahead was stationary. Sure enough, the drunk

cyclist who had previously been staggering from the sidewalk to the

roadway and back again, managed to navigate his way between the

kerbside and the nearside rear door of my cab. Suddenly there was an

almighty bang as the cab rocked sideways, scaring my female passen-

ger and making me jump with fright,” Michael continued. “So instead

of me worrying about spooking him, it turned out to be the other way

around - although there was no concern on his part of course!

“I went around to see what had happened and sure enough, this

drunken idiot had fallen off the bike, forcing the cycles’ handlebars

into my nearside passenger door, swiftly followed by the rest of his

shoulders and body as he collided sideways into my cab, causing con-

siderable damage to the bodywork with dents and scratches along the

door panel. My passenger had been reading a book and so was unable

to bear witness as to what exactly had occurred, confirming only that

she had heard the noise. But it was fairly obvious the guy could barely

had the entire incident recorded on it and replaced it with a fresh

stand up, let alone keep his balance on a bike,” Michael said.

memory card. This whole unfortunate experience just proves to me

“Then as if by magic, several other cyclists in the immediate

the benefits of having a little piece of camera technology sitting in the

area started remonstrating with me that I had collided with the

cab, witnessing the antics of others and protecting my own integrity

cyclist and even a couple of pedestrians nearby also alleged I

and the utter nuisance these selfish, undisciplined ******** can be!”

had crashed into the cyclist. Although I was boiling up inside, I

politely explained the facts and when the pedestrians took note

Jamie Corum

of the state of the errant cyclist, they decided to walk away clear-

Call Sign Online

ly embarrassed by their unwanted interjection. Not so the cycle

fraternity who continued their tirade.

“By this time, the wobbly cyclist had managed to gather his senses

sufficiently to pick up his cycle from the ground, take a deep breath

and walk away towards Endsleigh Gardens. At this point, the other

cyclists lost interest too and pedalled away leaving me with an unset-

tled passenger and a damaged cab. In the end I decided that as no

accusations had been made against me and the consoling factor that

my CabCam had recorded the entire scenario, I carried on to deliver

the passenger safely to her door.

“I then called my insurers at the earliest opportunity to report the

matter to cover myself and them, and they in turn sent an Autoglass

technician to remove the original SD memory card from my cab which

ENTERPRISE INSURANCE

COMPANY INSOLVENT

IC may not mean much to most drivers, but if your taxi is

insured with Cabsurance, Emrose or Quotax then you will

need to speak to the company because they all use the

Enterprise Insurance Company and it was recently declared

to be insolvent. Sutherland Insurance is unaffected.

A provisional liquidator is now managing the company’s affairs and

has said that all third party claims will still be paid out whether by EIC or

the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. But the FSCS will only pay

claims once insolvency by EIC has been confirmed and the liquidator

says that the company can no longer pay any money out.

Drivers with any of the above companies should contact their brokers

and while third party claims are safe, there can be no guarantee that

other payments will be made until EIC assets have been examined.

Currently, drivers with EIC policies can still legally drive with them, but

if you are in that position you should contact your broker immediately to

take advice. The liquidator will contact all drivers once investigations into

the Gibraltar-based company have been completed and the situation

becomes clearer.

Call Sign September 2016

Page 13

Won’t tell you? No... Can’t tell you!

Information supplied to Members with regard

to work being carried out in the Sales depart-

DaC Sales Report

ment is not always as informative as I would it

like to be. With the changes looming ahead for

With Keith Cain

the Society, I know it’s important for Dial-a-

Cab Members to know what we are doing, but

number of question fields before they can

for fear of giving just one of our competitors

make the booking. If a question filed is in what

the slightest advantage over us means that

we call a compulsory field and not completed

whilst I always try to inform you, it has to be

correctly, the booking has to be refused until

the very least that I can. You would be sur-

the correct information is filled in. The types of

prised at who is eagerly waiting to read the

instructions we receive from the client have to

next Call Sign publication and it is purely for

be programmed into the booking platform and

this reason that Members are just informed of

is part of the account security we offer. I have

the minimum and not because there is a lack of

simplified this a great deal, but if you imagine a

activity to report.

client having just four compulsory question

fields to complete, the booking process can

Fixed prices

take some time.

You are now becoming more familiar with

Where we win over our competitors - and I

the fixed rate journeys we are offering. On

a daily basis, the team receive quotes for

The functionality of Encompass allows

have no qualms about them reading this

because they already know it is a fact - our

taxi journeys and with the longer trips, we

for clients to use just a taxi account or a

are offering competitive - if not the best -

mixed fleet service. Recently we have spo-

Encompass system is the best booking platform

out there in the market today. Many knocked

journey prices. Against that, longer trips

ken with many companies, including the

numbers are going up.

two companies whom we are currently ten-

Concierge in the beginning, but that booking

tool has been the backbone to the success of

We have a core client base and having

dering for, and the total service of

had regular conversations with them, we

Encompass is meeting their requirements

the Society over recent years and is why our

clients - including some very large ones - con-

know they are totally satisfied with the ser-

and raising eyebrows. Platforms, booking

vice. So when we ask why usage has

tools - call them what you wish - provide

tinue to use us.

We use three words to describe ourselves

dropped, it is an all too common response

clients with so much more than just putting

to be told that the policy of their company

a vehicle outside the door. Believe it or not,

to clients: Agile, Attentive and Adaptable.

We are able to be flexible; we listen to their

is for staff to use public transport.

that is now the simple part of the service!

Account management, management infor-

requirements and can tailor our total ser-

vice to meet their needs in a timely fashion.

Encompass

mation and security of data - I’d go as far as to

We are in the middle of two tender processes

say in a strange way - is even more at the fore-

The Sales team at Dial-a-Cab, including our

Account Managers, may be a fairly small group

that require a taxi service and which is some-

front of having an account facility with a trans-

what different from others we have participat-

port provider than the actual transport!

compared to some, but is undoubtedly also the

most proactive. With the management, our cus-

ed in recently where they are really just looking

Individuals want speed and we can provide

for a private hire service. To those we have

that, but when you are the one paying the bill

tomer service staff and our IT team in place,

the experience we have built up for over many

offered our platform, which has recently been

for everyone else, then security becomes more

renamed Encompass.

important.

years is invaluable to take this Society for-

ward... and be reassured, it can.

Encompass, despite rumours, is a rebrand-

ing of Concierge and not a separately owned

Change!

Customer loyalty can come into question on

occasion, but client confidence and trust

company. Again, contrary to rumours, neither

Years ago, an account customer would just

does anyone within the Society have a financial

quote an account number and give a password.

means more. But not as much as COST! Get

that right and we are halfway there...

interest in it! It is the name we chose to call our

That service has totally changed to the point

booking facility, which offers clients a one-stop

where an individual has to have a specific I/D to

Keith Cain

shop service and more.

access the system, then they have to answer a

DaC Head of Sales

An occasional review from a struggling 14 handicapper at some of the marque golf courses I've

had the privilege to play in my golf days away from the taxi…

My favourite

West Hill Golf Club

hole - and it

You may have heard, if you’re a keen golfer, of Surrey’s famous

was a difficult

three 'W's - but if perchance you haven’t, then let me explain...

choice - is the

In fairly close proximity to each other, the three outstanding courses all

par 4 18th. At

beginning with letter 'W' are Woking, Worplesdon and West Hill - the

420 yards, it

latter of which I was fortunate enough to play at this past May.

plays its full dis-

West Hill golf course was laid out by the little known, but wonderfully

tance on a gen-

named Cuthbert Butchart in 1910. It was originally a ladies only course,

tle uphill slope

which suggests that there must have been some very high standard lady

to a 3 tier

golfers back at the turn of the last century because out of the 3 'W's,

green. A long

West Hill is judged by many to be the most challenging.

The 149 yard par 3 13th at West Hill

iron to the final

If they let you, as they did us on their reasonable Twilight offer (3pm),

green with the clubhouse patio a mere yard or so off the back of the

then play off the white tees. It’s not a particularly long course, indeed I

green is a real test of character!

played without my driver because my son had taken it and forgot to put

Rolling Surrey turf, heather and Scots pine... plus excellent golfing;

it back in my bag! So a well struck 3 wood is probably the best option

West Hill is highly recommended.

here anyway.

Happy golfing

The course is a series of challenges that really test your whole game;

rarely do you find a course without a weak hole, but at West Hill every

Simon Wallis (M11)

hole is interesting.

Call Sign Online

Call Sign September 2016

Page 14

If you are a day man and used

Mystery driver gets “done”

to seeing the Victoria Station

feed rank wind up Tachbrook

at Tachbrook Street!

Street from Vauxhall Bridge

Road, you will probably know

about this as warning messages

have been going out on Dial-a-

Cab terminals for some time.

Drivers used to bear right into Tachbrook

and do a u-turn to join the end of the rank.

Well you can still go into Tachbook Street -

but halfway along it becomes one-way and

our friends in blue often have their tea break

there... and if they should catch a few drivers

at the same time, then all the better!

We promised to keep the identity of the

DaC driver that got “nicked” a secret and we

will honour that promise. Just a few small

clues perhaps; he is a Board Member, recent-

ly awarded the Queen’s British Empire

Medal. The reason we are keeping it secret is

because he is also a former Magistrate who

should have known better! So our lips will

remain sealed...!!!

Halfway up are no entry signs. Inset: The mystery driver in trouble!

New exhibition at the Bank of England

THE STORY OF THE BANKNOTE

he world’s earliest paper money will take its

place alongside the newest, most technologi-

cally sophisticated Bank of England note in a

new permanent gallery at the Bank of

England Museum opening on 7 September 2016.

The Banknote Gallery at the Museum will present the

story of the banknote from its earliest days, when

paper money was largely mistrusted, to the new £5

note that is packed with security features, historically

significant designs and printed on polymer rather

than paper and which launches on 13 September

with its 1943 portrait of Winston Churchill.

The exhibition is filled with original drawings, artwork, designs, notes and

sketches from the Bank’s collection. The new gallery will build a clear picture of how banknotes have changed

since the Bank was established in 1694. Among the highlights are the earliest paper notes from the Chinese Ming dynasty and the ‘run-

ning cash’ notes - as old as the Bank of England itself - accepted as payment in place of a pile of gold!

The gallery will also include the earliest Bank of England notes from the end of the 17th century and classic designs such as the white

fiver which lasted for 100 years. But as soon as banknotes appeared, so did forgeries; the story of banknote design is paralleled by an

alternative history of counterfeit development. Since its foundation, the Bank of England has been in a constant battle to stay several steps

ahead of forgers; even the simple black and white notes of the 18th century contained a whole battery of subtle security features including

complex watermarks and minute secret marks that helped Bank clerks identify genuine notes from forgeries. Many forgeries ended up at

the Bank of England.

Among those forgeries on display are brilliantly plausible notes which are surviving evidence of Operation Bernhard, the

Nazi plan to flood and ruin the economy of the British Empire in WW2. Created by prisoners at Sachsenhausen concentration

camp, the notes were intended to be dropped by plane over Britain, picked up and used by members of the public. While this

never really worked, the Bank was forced to withdraw all notes over £5 and re-design the £5 note after the forgeries began

to appear in circulation in Britain.

Also on display are earlier forgeries, many of whose creators were punished by hanging! Among these is a £5 note altered to a £50 that

was discovered when used to buy a cow at a country fair in 1850! During the Bank Restriction Period in the early 18th century, hundreds

of forgers received the death penalty for counterfeits of BoE notes.

Alongside designs that became Bank of England banknotes will be all sorts of designs submitted to the Bank in the early 19th century

after it announced a competition to make the Inimitable Note - a banknote that could not be copied. Elsewhere, the gallery will follow

the journey of a banknote from creation to destruction and eventual recycling.

The new £5 will be followed in summer 2017 by a polymer £10 note featuring Jane Austen and, by 2020, a polymer £20

note featuring JMW Turner. The pairing of notes from the 1690s with the new polymer note shows how far we have come!

This exhibition is worth bringing the family to and also to recommend to passengers looking for an interesting few hours...

There is no charge for admission to the Museum or for any event at the Bank. Opening hours are Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm

(last entry 4.30pm). Closed public, bank hols and weekends.

More info at www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum, 020 7601 5545.

Described tours led by a Museum Guide are available for visually impaired visitors. Booking is essential. Museum entrance

via Bartholomew Lane...

Call Sign September 2016

Page 15

o you sometimes wonder if perhaps

you’re actually asleep having a night-

UBER AND DBS CHECKS

mare and that when you awake, life will

revert to normality for we London taxi

The figures were

drivers and our biggest battle will once again be

obtained by The

against PH companies such as Addison Lee,

Sun

Brunel plus any minicabs seemingly named after

vegetables! Then you awake, Uber is still there

numbers in a list.

and you’re left wondering if your sanity is going?

Of course, when The

Call Sign took a look at some figures we’ve

Sun published a story

acquired through Freedom of Information

following an FoI request

requests made to Transport for London

about the number of

between August 2013 and August 2016. And

rapes and sex attacks car-

for anyone wondering why we’re bothering,

ried out, they claimed,

just a reminder that ten years ago (2006)

by Uber drivers and

there were 31,100 licensed PH drivers. In

picked up by every UK

August 2016 that had reached 109,000!

newspaper, TfL said...

Firstly, there is a list of ‘convictions’ that would

well they said nothing

prohibit any prospective Taxi or PH driver appli-

that we could find!

That leads us onto another FoI request we

cant getting a licence. A TfL answer following

So back to Uber and yet another Call Sign FoI

put to TfL. This one asked for the number of

another FoI request adds that convictions not dis-

request which asked this time if there was any dif-

sex offences carried out by PH drivers. Quite

closed will show up with the enhanced

ference between the DBS checks needed for

astonishingly (or not if you believe in conspir-

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Licensed London Taxi Drivers and drivers work-

acy theories), although a list was provided giv-

They say:

ing for London Private Hire companies and Uber

ing a ten year total of 1318 under the heading

“Every applicant for a taxi or private hire

specifically?

of Cab Related Sexual Offences- an average

The answer we were given was that both taxi

driver licence in London is subject to

of over 130 each and every year of the ten -

and private hire drivers licensed by TfL undertake

enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service

the Metropolitan Police Service told us they

the same enhanced DBS check and the character

checks (previously known as enhanced CRB

did not differentiate between private hire and

requirements to obtain a taxi or PHV licence are

checks), which are repeated every three years

taxis when it came to sex offences.

the same.

upon renewal. It is also a condition of licens-

It isn’t too often that we agree with a minicab

But the response went on to add that appli-

ing that if a driver is arrested or charged with

union, but we agree with the United Private

cants who have lived in a country outside the

a criminal or driving offence, they should

Hire Drivers union who claim that TfL is with-

UK for one or more continuous periods of 12

immediately inform the licensing authority.”

holding information on the number of women

months in the three years prior to their appli-

On TfL’s website it says that if applicants have

who are sexually assaulted when they get into

cation, would instead be required to provide

any of the following convictions it is unlikely their

licensed taxis. Where we differ is that they obvi-

a Certificate of Good Conduct from the rele-

application will be successful. The list begins

ously believe black cab drivers are involved in far

vant country of residence that must have

with any conviction for a major violent offence

more sex attacks than are published, whereas we

been issued by a competent judicial or admin-

(murder, manslaughter etc) and goes on to add

know they aren’t and would like to see the figures

istrative authority. They further add that if a

that if they have had more than one conviction of

published separately to prove how dangerous an

certificate couldn’t be obtained, a Certificate

any type of violent offence in the last 10 years, if

Uber trip really is.

of Registration or a letter from the Borders

they are currently serving a custodial sentence or

I’d be astonished to find that more than 1% of

and Immigration Authority would be

even if they have been released early on licence or

the 1318 were taxi drivers. In fact I’d be aston-

required. TfL also said that they have “robust

the sentence was suspended, they won’t get a

ished it the number even reached 1 percent. But

measures in place to make certain that the

licence.

the MPS won’t tell us and the question is why.

evidence provided is legitimate and correct.”

Then, if the applicant has been convicted, cau-

Forgive us if the evidence on the streets seems

Could it be that TfL and the MPS know there

tioned or subjected to any other penalty for a seri-

to disprove that last statement.

would be panic if passengers thought that virtual-

ous sexual offence (rape, indecent assault, traf-

Their answer signs off with this statement: “The

ly 100% of attacks came in minicabs?

ficking, possession of indecent images etc), that

safety of our customers is of paramount impor-

Let’s be honest, we had John Worboys in

will prohibit them getting a licence and added to

tance to us and we hope this reassures you that

2009 and Edward Chapman three years later.

that list is if they have been convicted, cautioned

we take every possible precaution to ensure that

Both went to prison for rape and both were

or subjected to any other penalty for more than

all of our drivers are fit to hold a licence.”

licensed taxi drivers, so we are not immune.

one sexual offence of any type, irrespective of age.

Well sorry TfL; it doesn’t do that in the slightest...

However, so rare are events such as those that

So we must assume that one sex offence is prob-

reports were in every newspaper and made

ably ok. That also explains a lot when you look at

headlines on TV news channels. Even the

Alan Fisher

the number of sex attacks in what we assume

Washington Post carried a Worboys story! Sex

were minicabs last year.

Call Sign Online

attacks in private hire vehicles just end up as

RMT: “Mayor hasn’t

gone far enough!”

RMT General Secretary, Mick Cash, has criticised Mayor Sadiq Khan’s new plans to increase the

number of Compliance Officers by a further 250 because neither the Mayor or City Hall were will-

ing to look at the role of “e-hailing” smartphone minicab services such as Uber.

Mr Cash said: “This practice circumvents the current regulation regime which is there to

protect the travelling public. Neither TfL nor the Mayor appears to have the will to tack-

le this blatant flouting of the regulations by the likes of Uber.

“In addition, proposals laid out in a recent consultation review of Private Hire regula-

tions are to be revisited under Mayor Khan's administration. The union is deeply con-

cerned that yet again they fail to regulate the virtual plying for hire of private hire

vehicles which is now endemic on our streets.”

Call Sign September 2016

Page 16

Norman Beattie is Call Sign’s man in Canada for taxi stories and recently sent us...

THE STRANGE LIFE OF A 1957 AUSTIN FX3

Marg with two customers and (right) her red FX3

As an icon, the black cab (in all its colour varia-

tions) has become synonymous with London all

over the world, but the cab itself is often a real

and visible representative of London as it rolls

through city streets thousands of miles from

home. These are what the London Vintage Taxi

Marg and her nephew are interested in the history of the

Association calls expatriate cabs and the LVTA col-

cab before it left England, so if anyone has information,

lects information about them for its registry.

please contact Call Sign!

One of these expatriates, a red and black 1957 Austin FX3, now

lives in the town of Boissevain, Manitoba, Canada. It is still in

Norman Beattie

excellent running order and occasionally takes part in parades and

Call Sign Online

other festivities in nearby towns, such as the centennial celebra-

Manitoba, Canada

tion of Ninga a few years ago.

The cab now belongs to Boissevain businessman, Brian

Kentner, but - in Canada at least - the cab was originally owned by

his aunt, Marg Kentner, who runs The Grande Bazaar gift store

in Stonewall.

It was back in 1975; Marg had just started her business

career in Winnipeg with a gift store and gift delivery service

called ‘A Touch of Class’ and was looking for a hook that

would distinguish her from competitors. Then she hit on the

idea of using a London taxi to make deliveries.

Her friend Peter McCuaig was going on a trip to England, so

Exclusive Taxi Insurance Scheme

she asked him to see if he could find an original London cab. In

due course she received a (rather drunken) phone call from a

dedicated to DAC members only

London pub. It was Peter and in a slightly slurred voice, he told

Marg that he had found her cab! He had picked up a second-hand

one from LTI’s batch of part-exchanged cabs.

Marg had the cab shipped to Canada, but it took some time

before she actually saw it. The FX3 arrived over here by way of

Antwerp and was delayed in Montreal. Marg was afraid the cab

✓ 5% Discount for members

would be stripped by souvenir hunters before it even got to

✓ Additional discount for existing protected Bonus policies

Winnipeg, but it was in near-perfect condition. Even the original

Argos meter still worked!

✓ Public Liability

Marg drove the cab around Winnipeg for around 12 years until

✓ Breakdown Cover

she sold A Touch of Class. Later she ran the Tin Lizzie auto-muse-

um in Headingley, just west of Winnipeg. The Museum stored

✓ Much more available

antique cars for local collectors and showed them off with Marg’s

FX3 being used to give people rides around the museum grounds.

Call below for quotations

The only real problem with the FX3 was its reluctance to

start in Winnipeg winters, but Marg had no trouble getting

neighbours or passers-by to give her a push start. Another

slight inconvenience was that local owners of Morgans,

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

Bentleys, Jaguars and other British makes would flag her

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

down to have a chat and compare notes!

Company Registration No: 4319231

The distinctive licence plate number of TXV 111 was original

with the cab. In Manitoba, it is illegal to drive without a valid front

Tel: 01322 553313

plate but when she registered the cab, the licence inspector

allowed her to drive with the London plate on the front and a

Manitoba plate on the rear. Nevertheless, on one occasion she was

Fax: 01322 523315

once ticketed for a license violation by a particularly zealous

female police officer!

Call Sign September 2016

Page 17

Looking to the future

With Mike Son

Song Title

Bands/Singer

Writers

Love you too much

Tie-one-on

Joe Witherden

Another lonely day

Chris Spangol

Haunted & hunted

JCB

Keith Waterfield

She's here to stay

Peter Hallet

David Jenkins

All night blues

Badge

Chris O’Shea

Happy ending

David Waooingham

Pete Marsh

Grandpa

Ivor Stein & Bands

Ivor Stein

Demutualisation

God’s telephone

Low & behold

IanArcher/Frances Cramper

With an undoubted downturn of taxi

Cardboard city

Urban Clearway

Paul Tully

work, due in no small part to all and

Pink Cadillac

Jeff Collins

sundry jumping onto our bandwagon -

Miss America

Evans & Simpson

ColinEvans & Geoff Simpson

the latest being Daimler ride-sharing

Jeannie don’t call

La Turn Around

IanWoodcock & Chris Keltie

app, MyTaxi, which has swallowed up

Push

The raining

Billy Clark

Hailo - and with seemingly no protec-

London Children

MJK

Jeff Collins

tion for the world’s longest-serving and

undoubtedly best licensed taxi service

lowing the British Empire Medal

from our licensing authority, TfL, the

award I was honoured to have been

previous months have seen a radical

given.

change in the aspirations of Dial-a-Cab’s

However, I must add that this

membership with the vast majority

award is without doubt a recogni-

through voting procedures, deciding

tion of the hard work the Committee

that the days of a DaC friendly society are

as a whole of the London Taxidrivers

ending.

Fund for Underprivileged Children -

Through the sale of our valuable build-

both past and present - have under-

ing to - in all probability - a property

taken year in and year out and of

developer and together with other parts

course for the amazing help the

of DaC, it will give an opportunity for the

many drivers who support our

distribution of cash/shares to members.

efforts in transporting special needs

Should demutualisation and a sale of

and vulnerable children together

Dial-a-Cab be concluded sooner rather

with their parents and carers. To

than later, it is important to remember

everyone, we thank you most humbly

that your most recently elected Board

and sincerely...

Members will be the last Board of

Management to serve at the pleasure of

Mike Son

the membership. Many Members have

DaC Sales Dept

indicated that DaC should continue in a

reduced size and of this I am also in no

doubt. It is a well-known and much

respected brand.

These guys must be in a fortunate finan-

I am still optimistic in the future of the

Immaculate White

cial position to be able to turn down

taxi trade. I’m sure you will have noticed

fares. Get used to accepting Credit

that August, which is always a kipper

Cab Available for

Cards now.

month, has ticked over. Could it be that

some members of the public are getting

Weddings

wise to the antics and adverse publicity

And looking to the past!

of Uber? Accidents caused by the drivers

Way back in 1995, together with some

looking at their satnavs rather than the

talented taxi drivers who wrote and per-

road together with reported physical and

formed their original music and Capital

homophobic attacks on passengers,

Radio, the LTFUC produced an album -

could well have sent some passengers

Hire & Reward - to help raise revenue

back to using more Licenced London

for the children’s charity. The album was

taxis. I believe that a cost factor is also

produced as a cassette; however, I’m

involved and with our Sales depart-

now able to copy the music onto CD.

ment’s fixed price scheme for longer

Having listened to the tracks, they are

journeys, there has been an increase in

great songs. Where are the band mem-

work numbers at the Society.

bers now? I’d be interested in hearing

However, although radio taxi services

from you...

are still finding it difficult to attract new

corporate customers, the use of Credit

Cards is increasing and will continue,

BEM

Female driver

especially after October 3. With Credit

Dear Dial-a-Cab Members, Staff,

Cards in mind, I have noticed that some

Board of Management colleagues

10% reduction for Dial-a-Cab drivers

drivers still have a Cash Only sign in

and readers of Call Sign, I would

Contact Debbie (W18) on

their cabs, even though a Credit Card

like to take this opportunity to thank

07956 317040

reader and/or a Credit Cards Are

you all so much for the good wishes

Accepted sign is present in the cab.

and kind comments I received fol-

Call Sign September 2016

Page 18

avid Parker (N59) admitted to Call

Sign that he was pretty much at his

wits end when for some weird rea-

Frayed fan belt =

son, the big, long fan belt that drives

numerous pulleys on his TX2 kept fraying at

the edges on a regular basis, causing the Dial-

a-Cab driver to recently have to replace it fre-

frayed nerves!

quently and more recently twice in eight

weeks. These fan belts aren’t cheap and their

kicked the engine over several times on the

normal life expectancy should be many thou-

starter motor, carefully watching what was hap-

sands of miles. David told us that until recently,

pening to the fan belt. By the seventh turn of

it had never happened before and he had

the engine, he quietly turned to me and point-

280,000 miles on the clock!

ed to the steering pump pulley that was worn

“I had a new fan belt fitted when the cab

and loose, causing the fan belt itself to ‘jump’

went in for annual overhaul in May of this year

as it rotated over that pulley. It was that that

and then within weeks I broke down in

was the source of all my grief!

Northumberland Avenue - and it was the fan

“I had the steering pump and pulley

belt. Various dealerships had theories about

replaced and so confident was Richard that his

why the fan belt was fraying and what might be

diagnosis was correct, not to mention my con-

causing the problem, but after visiting several

cern that the problem really was sorted, that he

service centres and with more expense, the

gave me a 3-month warranty, which is very re-

problem continued,” David said with a sigh.

assuring. Richard also explained that all the

“A new water pump was fitted yet I still had

pulleys must be absolutely aligned as one, so

problems and within a short time the fan belt

that the fan belt does not ‘kink’ because any

would start to fray again. I was concerned

wear or free play on any pulley will have a dev-

because should the belt fail altogether, you lose

astating effect on the fan belt.”

power steering, the braking effort because

there is no servo power to the brakes and also

Dunston Taxis are at 333 Stean Street,

no charge to the battery because the alternator

Hackney E8 4ED. Phone 0207 254 1136.

Kingsland Road, whom I knew of from my

is not being driven, so that fan belt is really

earliest days of cabbing when I rented a cab

important.

Alan Green

from them some 26 years ago. I explained the

“Eventually, and by now pretty fed up, I took

problem and without further ado Richard

Call Sign Online

the cab to Dunston Taxis in Stean Street off

Simon Scott is one of the new generation of taxi drivers whose life is captured as a blog.

The continuing story of his time as a butterboy is…

A Blogger’s Tale

1993

the closer I got. I decided I would line up my mirror

Three Bobbies and a dented ego...

exactly level with the cab to my right, but there was some way to go yet. My

I loved my old FX4 but it did have many issues; number one on my list of

window was open and I wondered if he could smell my fear, I could certainly

anxieties being the lights, or to be precise, the lack of them! A night time

smell the fumes that were pumping out over his trousers!

trip into the wilds of Essex was seriously dicing with death and trying to

Finally I was there; I put the cab into park and pulled up the handbrake.

locate a left turn at 1am with something resembling the power of two

Just as I looked around for a round of applause, there was a sharp tap on the

candles on the front of the cab was embarrassing. They were also unpre-

window. My heart sank as he said those dreaded words: “Would you kindly

dictable; switches would regularly melt and they would work or fail on a

step out of the vehicle, sir.” I got out and he walked around to the back, sure

whim. Despite all that, I had begun to enjoy working nights. But that was

enough I'd done a magnificent job in reversing almost to the inch of where I

about to change…

wanted to be, but he pointed to the back of the cab and said my rear light

It was late one very dark night and I had answered a distress call for one

wasn't working! Now one thing my dear departed father used to say to me

more cab to go to St James Palace; the destination was still a mystery as

was never to admit to anything, but he was a bit of a rogue and I was

were the customers. So foot flat down on the accelerator pedal, I made my

nowhere near his league! So I said nothing and just banged it with the palm

way along Pall Mall. As I got closer, I noticed a line of neatly arranged

of my hand. Like magic, it came on!

cabs and three very straight backed policemen standing guard over them.

I turned to him and our eyes met as he said to me: “You knew that wasn't

I mentioned initial instincts usually being right in last month’s Call

working, didn't you?”

Sign, so you can probably guess what was going through my mind as,

I just turned round, got back into my old FX4 and silently said a little prayer

in unison, they spotted me and stiffened. The sergeant major stepped

of thanks… To be continued…

forward and did the finger pointing thing at me! I came to a grinding

Simon Scott (O40), Call Sign Online

halt and as he marched over, I noticed that there was one space that

had been left between two of the cabs. My heart sank as I had wanted

to position myself at the end in the chicken’s position! But he was hav-

Keith Reading

ing none of that:

“You took your time,” he barked at me and before I could say sorry, he

Professional Toastmaster

pointed to the vacant spot and instructed me to reverse in. There was

Master of Ceremonies

another ex-military cop standing on the pavement with his highly polished

boots shining under the lamplight; as he waved me into position, I noticed

that his toecap was overhanging the kerb stone exactly where I wanted to

Tele: 01279 465 938

put my rear cab bumper. I braced myself, our eyes met and an unsaid

Mobile: 07774 860 374

understanding passed through the air between us. I interpreted it a bit like

Email: kgr.2@virgin.net

this: I'm not moving and if you touch my boots with your cab, then you're

finished!

With a crunch, I selected reverse and lifted my foot off the brake pedal

10% discount for DaC drivers and staff

very slowly. It was just another manoeuvre, I told myself; but I could feel

the beads of sweat forming on my forehead. I didn't dare look at the other

Fellow of the Guild of

drivers as I knew that would put me off. Inch by inch the old cab moved

Professional Toastmasters

backwards and towards the policeman, who was getting larger and larger

Call Sign September 2016

Page 19

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

Brethren of the Whip

ishing in

9th

Judge Butler listened and said he had no

A Grand

position,

hesitation in sending Gachot to jail for 18

although he

months for the assault and a further

Prix

had actually

months, to run concurrently, for possession

I don’t know Eric

recorded the

of a CS canister. He was also ordered to pay

Court. I don’t even

fastest

lap

Eric Court £500 compensation and court

know if he is still alive;

time. In court,

costs of a further £500.

but in a small way histo-

ry was changed when

Gachot plead-

His legal team said they would appeal, not

ed not guilty

only against conviction but against the sen-

he went to work one

December day in 1990.

and

his

tence as well. There was uproar in Belgium

defence bar-

where a

“Free Gachot” campaign was

On the 10th of that month, he’d been dri-

ving around Hyde Park Corner with a pas-

rister

even

launched and over a thousand people

accused Eric

marched in protest through Brussels. Many

senger in the back of his cab when he

became involved with a red Alfa Romeo

Court

compared Gachot’s sentence to those of the

that was being driven in an aggressive man-

threatening to

Liverpool supporters arrested after the

ner. The two vehicles began jockeying for

kill the racing

Heysel stadium disaster. They argued that

position, but the taxi driver held his ground

driver once he

Gachot’s sentence was far worse but nobody

much to the chagrin of the other driver who

found out where he lived in Fulham.

had died.

“That’s amusing,” replied Court. “I am a

kept close to Court’s rear bumper.

Gachot’s sentence was eventually reduced

Eventually Court had to brake, and not giv-

licensed cab driver. Do you know what they

to nine months, six of which were suspend-

would do to me?” ‘They’ probably being a

ing himself enough space, the Alfa Romeo

ed and he was immediately released having

went into the back of Court’s taxi.

reference to police and Carriage Officers

spent two months in jail and missing four

who could be a bit pernicious when it came

Both drivers got out. Fortunately, there

grand prix races. His career as a formula one

was no real damage to either vehicle but

to erring cab drivers!

racing driver was effectively over and he

After deliberating for four hours, the jury

Court asked the other driver what he was

never won another F1 race.

playing at, which is probably a polite way of

found Gachot guilty of actual bodily harm.

His imprisonment created a problem for

Before sentencing, Gachot’s defence team

putting it. The other driver just smiled and

the Jordan team who had to find a driver at

asked the judge not to pass a custodial sen-

said nothing.

short notice. They had a young German on

tence as Gachot had recently borrowed a

With no damage done, Court went to

their books who had done well in Formula 3

large sum of money in order to join the

return to his cab and continue with his

racing, but who had never competed in

Jordan-Ford racing team. He still owed

fare, but the other driver raised a hand

Formal One. In a practice session, he drove

and squirted a substance into Court’s

£250,000, a sum he was hoping to pay back

faster in one lap than Gachot had driven all

through sponsorship but a jail sentence

eye. It was Mace, CS gas, a chemical

season. His name was Michael Schumacher

developed at Porton Down and its use

would end any sponsorship deal and ruin

and the rest, as they say, is history...

his career. In addition, he was due to race at

was illegal in this country.

At this point Court admits to being terri-

his home track in the Belgian Grand Prix

Sean Farrell

that coming weekend.

fied. He grabbed hold of the other man’s tie

Call Sign Online

but the AR driver continued to spray the

Mace into Eric Court’s face.

“My face felt like it was on fire,” reported

the taxi driver afterwards.

Dial-a-Cab Credit Union

The police soon arrived and the other dri-

ver was arrested, but there was no sign of

Ever needed money quickly but were anxious about

any canister of Mace. The driver denied the

variable bank interest rates?

assault, but police later found the canister

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

hidden in the cistern of a toilet in a nearby

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

office block.

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

It was only the following day when the

at your address also qualifies for membership!

incident was reported in the newspapers

that Court found out just who is attacker

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

was. His name was Bertrand Gachot, the

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

son of a French European Commission

up to 3 times your total savings…

official in Luxembourg, but who lived in

Belgium. He was also a leading Formula

The cost?

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

One racing driver ranked 11th in the

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

world. He had a promising career in

front of him, although due to several

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

mechanical problems he hadn’t accrued

Call us on 020 7729 8171 or 020 7749 0585

many points in the Driver’s

Championship. He did, however, win the

Members of the Financial Ombudsman Service

Le Mans 24 Hour race in 1990.

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

When the case came before a judge at

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

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority

Southwark Crown Court, Gachot had just

Registration number 213263

completed the Hungarian Grand Prix fin-

Call Sign September 2016

Page 20

“Yes, my old TX1 cab was totally

reliable, even after 385,000

miles,” Eddie Smith (Y56) recalled

A hard act to follow...

to Call Sign as we chatted at

good friend.

Roman Way while his replace-

“This TX2 I’ve bought from a friend makes

ment TX2 was being fitted out

me its third owner and with just 148,000

with Dial-a-Cab equipment.

recorded miles showing, I am hopeful of a

“I bought my TX1 from Mann & Overton

good relationship between us. Certainly I’ve

second hand with 60,000 miles showing on the

heaped a lot of TLC on it so far! In fact, it was

clock and apart from the obvious and expected

not a DaC taxi in its previous life, so I had to

items of wear and tear such as occasional

peel back many layers of assorted plastic liver-

brakes, battery and regular servicing, that faith-

ies before I could make good some of the rust

ful old bus just kept going, proving itself to be

that had appeared under the adverts before a

a good, totally reliable workhorse,” Eddie said

bodywork specialist I know re-sprayed the

displaying a true belief in the longevity

paintwork, which is why it looks almost like

of his old cab.

new now!” Eddie allowed himself another

“I replaced two coolant radiators due

smile.

to silting up over the extended period I

“I used to work in the motor trade, so I was

ran the cab and with a good battery, the

familiar in dealing with damaged body panels.

engine would start at the first click

After the repairs, I generally tidied up the cab

every time. In fact, the engine and

before the annual inspection and to re-licence

gearbox were original items and con-

it in my name. I must admit that however clean

Eddie (inset) with his "new"

tinued to run just fine.” Eddie smiled

and decent it looks now, this cab will have a

TX2 before the bodywork had

as though he were talking about a

hard act to follow to catch up with - let alone

been repaired!

surpass - the excellent record of reliability of

my old TX1. I guess time will tell!”

THE HERTFORDSHIRE

With that, Eddie drove out of Roman Way

with his terminal and door logos and allowed

SENIOR PAIRS GOLF OPEN

himself a hopeful smile for day one...

Dial-a-Cab golfers may be interested in a day’s golf on Wednesday 19th October 2016 at the

Baghwat Singh

Hertfordshire Golf and Country Club. It will be a Stableford scoring team event for two players per

team. A 75% handicap allowance is given per player with the maximum starting handicap of 24

Call Sign Online

for men and 30 for ladies. Play will be from the yellow tees for Men and red for Ladies.

The whole day will be organised for you, just turn up with your team. You will be

treated to tea, coffee and bacon rolls and following the competition, sit down to one of

our delicious two course carvery dinners, followed by the prize presentation. It’s all

Uber and

included in the cost of £64 per team.

You will need to arrive at least 1 hour before T-Time for refreshments and registration. Play will

be a shotgun start with the tee time at 10.30am and we anticipate the meal will be served at

St Pancras

around 3pm. A change of clothes is required after your 18 holes, ie jacket and tie etc.

If you are interested, please complete the entry form with full details of your team and return it to

“success...?”

us with full payment of £64 as soon as possible; confirmation of your tee time will be given at regis-

tration. Please make cheques payable to Crown Golf and return to:

f you were one of the drivers

Elaine Cochrane

The Hertfordshire Golf & Country Club, Broxbournebury Mansion

who several months ago gave

White Stubbs Lane, Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, EN10 7PY

up a part of your working day

Credit card payments can be taken over the phone if you prefer. If you need any further informa-

over a five day period by

tion, please contact Elaine on 01992 466666 ext 249.

demonstrating along Pancras Road

and surrounding streets against the

SENIOR PAIRS OPEN

proliferation of Uber cars hanging up

Wednesday 19th October 2016

for jobs, your sacrifice may just be

Please complete the form below giving full players details.

paying off.

According to Matthew Little, the

Lead Contact Name:

Quality and Training Manager at

Camden Council’s PCN department,

Please provide FULL details of both players

proposed changes to a traffic order re

parking along the stretch of road

Name (1)

opposite the Kings Cross taxi rank

Address

have now been authorised and a

redesign is about to be implemented

Contact number

E-Mail Address

and hopefully completed by the time

you read this. It will introduce a No

Name (2)

Waiting / No Loading restriction over

24 hours outside St Pancras.

Address

Picking up or setting down will still

Contact number

E-Mail Address

be allowed, but if your passenger

isn’t there, then you will not be

allowed to wait. We also look for-

Your tee will be confirmed on receipt of your entry fee for the team of £64. Please return entry by 12th October 2016.

ward to a much more visible police

Cheques made payable to Crown Golf (UK) Ltd. Please phone if you would like to pay by Credit Card or for further

information: Elaine Cochrane on 01992 466666 ext 249

presence.

This information will only be used by Crown Golf Ltd and not issued to any other third party...

Call Sign September 2016

Page 21

Charles Rathbone lives and works in San Francisco - the place where Uber began

life just 6 years ago. He has been connected to the taxi business for many years

and was the first cab driver to use a TX2 as his work vehicle. In this article he

looks back at the Uber cycle as Call Sign goes...

Six years ago Uber offered its first taxi-like

rides to passengers in San Francisco. In 2013,

the company obtained permission to use per-

sonal vehicles in its low cost “rideshare” ser-

vice. Lightly regulated and richly funded by

investors, UberX was an instant hit with the

riding public and rapidly siphoned business

away from taxicabs, as well as from transit.

By late 2014, San Francisco taxicab drivers

were abandoning traditional taxi companies.

Drivers moved in ever larger numbers to the

new services, which offered irresistible sign-up

bonuses, guaranteed earnings, car purchase

assistance and many new customers. Taxicab

August 2016 message atop a San Francisco Yellow cab directed at Uber and Lyft

companies and individual owner-operators

drivers (pic Charles Rathbone)

have since faced a chronic shortage of drivers,

resulting in many cabs sitting idle for much of

cab is idle while insurance and other expenses

tional challenge claiming unequal treat-

the time.

keep adding up. Companies and the regulator

ment under the law will soon be heard in a

The best official estimate is that 37,000

are looking at options that can reduce the cost

San Francisco federal court.

rideshare drivers ply for hire in San

of operating a taxi.

San Francisco taxis have been six years now

Francisco, many of them part-time. By

Meanwhile the number of customers

in the eye of the storm. London taxi drivers

comparison, there are fewer than 2,000

using one form or another of taxi-like ser-

can take some consolation from the fact that

we are very definitely still here! Uber and Lyft

licensed taxicabs. By observation, the

vice is clearly much larger than it was even

copied their apps from the excellent

rideshare services appear to have reached

a few years ago. How much of the market

TaxiMagic and Cabulous apps that were used

a saturation point within the last year.

traditional taxicabs will ultimately claim

in San Francisco as early as 2008. Those taxi

Riders have many new options to choose

remains to be seen. App-based shared taxi

ehail companies are still doing well, now re-

from as the transportation sector contin-

service, which makes taxis more competi-

branded as Curb and Flywheel. Expect more

ues its rapid growth. Now fleets of private

tive with rideshare service, will be opera-

re-branding and re-positioning of taxis as we

shuttles and buses target the rideshare

tional in San Francisco this year. Permits

leverage our advantages while adapting to an

demographics and neighbourhoods, offer-

for drivers are easier to obtain now and the

ever larger market with its host of innovative

ing fares as low as $3.

process may be streamlined further. New

partners and competitors.

Traditional licensed taxicabs continue to

per-mile insurance products offer the

enjoy many advantages over the lightly regu-

prospect of reduced costs for single-shift

Charles Rathbone

lated ride services. Trust in taxis remains high

taxi operators. And an important constitu- San Francisco for Call Sign Online

because taxi driver background checks are

recognised as superior to the informal checks

performed by the new entrants. Wheelchair

accessible service and service to seniors

remain largely markets for taxis.

Licensed taxicabs are regarded as transit in

San Francisco and are accorded many transit

privileges. Special red-painted transit lanes for

buses and taxis stretch for miles along the

busiest streets. Dozens of key intersections

EARLY TREATMENT MEANS SPEEDY RECOVERY

allow turns only by buses and taxis. Unlike any

Treatment for pain & discomfort doesn’t have to be expensive

other cars, taxicabs can pick up and drop off in

bus zones and can even stop in bike-only

lanes.

The Centre offers fully qualified therapists in Physiotherapy,

Almost every high-volume pick-up point in

Osteopathy, Sports Massage, Reflexology, Shiatsu, Remedial

the downtown area has a designated taxi

Massage, Indian Head Massage, Hydrotherm, Massage

stand, while no curb spaces are reserved for

the informal ride services. At SFO dozens of

Therapy, Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.

prime curb spaces at the arrivals terminal are

exclusively for waiting taxicabs.

Call us on 020 8507 8169

Police and taxi regulators are overwhelmed

or mobile 07973 639 473 for an early appointment

by the tens of thousands of rideshare vehicles.

Email: andy@bptconline.co.uk or fax: 020 8507 9650

Taxi inspectors are nonetheless regular visitors

Out of hours enquiries welcome

to nightlife districts. They issue many citations

for illegal operation with fines up to $5,000.

Barking Physical Therapy Centre

Taxi companies are making a transition away

90 Longbridge Road, Barking, Essex, IG11 8SF

from their previous high-efficiency mode in

Opening Hours: Monday - Friday 9am till 8pm and Saturday 9am till 2pm

which almost every cab was in service day and

www.bptconline.co.uk

night. Now there are many hours when the

Call Sign September 2016

Page 22

he London Taxi! Board Game was

London, New York, Edinburgh and Glasgow

launched in 2015 and initial sales

considerably exceeded expectations.

On the back of this success, the team

at Taxi Game Ltd have now created three more

NEW VERSIONS OF THE

City versions of Taxi! and these will be avail-

able to buy in late September 2016.

The existing London Taxi board game

TAXI! BOARD GAME

will now be joined by New York, Edinburgh

and Glasgow versions of the game.

And you can win a copy of the brand new New York version...

About Taxi!

Where to buy Taxi!

Taxi! is a new game full of fun and knowl-

Board Game

edge for all the family (12 years +). Created

Visit

www.taxi-

by an Edinburgh black cab driver, the game

boardgame.co.uk or

was first piloted in central Scotland, out-

contact gordon@taxi-

selling Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit in

boardgame.co.uk for

major stores. Now, with new features and a

more information about

further redesign, three new versions of the

Taxi! The London game

Taxi! Board Game are about to be launched.

is currently available

Taxi! Board Game contains 600 local histo-

from selected London

ry and general knowledge questions about

retailers, Amazon UK,

the city and just like driving a taxi, the better

Buuy.co.uk, eBay and

your knowledge, the better the tips because

Gumtree etc.

All 4 versions, including

the 3 new versions of the

Taxi! Board Game will be

Is more

available to buy from the

previously

mentioned

when the fare ends, you must answer a ques-

online stores AND the new Taxi! Game online

better???

tion to gain a tip.

shop, which launches in late August at

With news that yet

Dial-a-Cab drivers, like most taxi drivers,

www.taxiboardgame.co.uk /shop.

another taxi app

have an opinion on every subject; land on

Call Sign has three copies of the brand

one of the ‘Sound-Off’ squares and it’s your

“run by cab drivers

new, New York Taxi! board game up for

for cab drivers” is

turn to sound-off like a cabbie! The Sound-

grabs! To win a free copy, simply answer

aiming to hit the

Off cards contain a hundred varied sub-

these 2 questions correctly - one taken

streets soon

jects. On being told the Sound-Off subject,

adding to

from each version of the game and you will

you have 30 seconds to mention as many of

Cab:app, Hailo

be entered into Call Sign’s prize draw.

the six key words printed on the card as

(soon to be

From the London Game: Which year saw

you can. Every key word you mention

MyTaxi), Gett

London host the Olympic Games for the

increases your takings.

and several others

second time?

Driving a shift in a taxi is a combination of

not including

luck and knowledge; turn left you may get a £5

From the New York Game: Which fashion

those currently

fare but turn right and you could get a £90

chain was created by New York born Donna

offered by both

tour! This is reflected in the Taxi! Board Game

Karan in 1984?

Dial-a-Cab and

by the ‘Give or Take’ squares. Keep the card

Send your entries to Call Sign by post,

ComCab, you

have to wonder where it will all lead,

for yourself or pass it to a fellow player. Is your

email to callsignmag@aol.com or drop it

because the first thought has to be that

luck in?

into the reception for the attention of Call

they are all fighting for the same pot of

The winner is the player who has earned the

Sign. The closing date is Monday 12

work and that pot is being diluted at a

most money at the end of the agreed shift.

September 2016...

rapid rate.

It was reported in the American TLC

magazine - that’s Taxi, Limousine and

Car and not the UK’s tender loving care -

Can you afford not to get a copy!!!

that there are at least ten new ride share

app services starting up around the USA.

Produced by Dial-a-Cabs PCN expert, John Vigus,

The article by Don McCurdy goes on to

this book is all you need to know about moving

add that “...like any successful enterprise,

Uber has numerous copycats doing

traffic and parking regulations in one easy to

things a little differently but essentially

read guide!

the same. You know, kind of like Uber

does with taxicabs.”

Then just like London, Don says:

“Regulators have strapped so many regu-

The Motorists Guide to Moving

lations on taxicabs that it's a wonder

Traffic And Parking Regulations

anyone still wants to drive one when dri-

vers can drive any other number of app

Hard copies £8. Electronic versions to

driven for hire services.”

So that means fighting back, but more

Dial-a-Cab drivers are £5 per copy. Orders

to the point for London, in this tiny city

via Driver Services with payment deducted

compared to the parts of the US Don is

writing about, how many mini-Ubers can

from your DaC account.

we take - even if they are taxi based?

Michael Toomey

Call Sign Online

Can you really afford not to get a copy!!!

Call Sign September 2016

Page 23

Another true story from Geoff Levene...

sound as though I knew what I was talking about.

what to do,” she said. I kept quiet. When I got to

With that she began to cry, leaving me wander-

the set-down, she was still banging on about it.

ing just what was going on.

Under my breath I said: “For God's sake, just go!”

In a recent issue of Call Sign, Simon Scott wrote

“I've come a long way,” she said still with tears

To which she asked if I had just called her a bitch!

amusingly in his blog about an embarrassing

flooding her eyes. “Just tell me, was he a big guy?”

She’d had her say, so then it was mine: “No, I

experience with Agony Aunt Anna Raeburn.

“Not really,” said I even though I knew that he

didn't call you a bitch, I would never do that. You

Well, that sounds rather bad doesn't it; perhaps

was.

might consider yourself one but it didn't come

that should read ‘concerning’ rather than ‘with’!

“Did he have an unusual name,” she asked still

from me.” That shut her up!

Anyway, I spent about 35 minutes with her,

searching for something.

And finally there was Marcia who ran a film

after which I needed to lie down in a darkened

“I wouldn't say so,” I replied, even though I

company in Soho making commercials. She

room with a cold compress applied to my fevered

knew that he did. “What's all this about?”

later became a confidante of Cherie Blair

brow! I'd picked her up from her pretty terraced

Then it came... “I think my husband is buying it

before starting up a fashionable restaurant in

house in West Hampstead at 6.30 one morning

with another woman!”

Great Portland Street. It wasn't what she said

to take her to Waterloo and at no point in that

I asked why she thought that and she blurted

that would make me uncomfortable, it was

journey did she stop talking - and I don't mean

out that the surveyor's report came through her

what she didn't say. She would sit, looking

chatting about the weather or politics. This was a

letterbox!

straight ahead watching the traffic.

full frontal

90mph assault! She wasn’t being

What a wally! He had given his home address!

One afternoon I got a job from her office going

nasty... just unstoppable, with some of it being

Needless to say the sale collapsed the next day.

to the airport. Out came a young chap, the com-

rather personal.

You'll note that women feature here in a big

pany runner. He screamed out that he was in

I think it’s pretty well-known now so it can be

way. And why not? At the moment they are domi-

trouble! They had two Company Mercedes and

repeated, but she told me - a complete stranger -

nating politics. In a few months a woman will

his boss told me him to take her case down and

that she had been in a relationship with Agony

(hopefully) be the most powerful person in the

put it in the boot, but he had put it into the wrong

Uncle Philip Hodson and that he’d dumped her

world. The glass ceiling has been well and truly

one! She was waiting at the terminal for us!

for another Agony Aunt, Ann Hooper. It was all

smashed. But I do find American businesswomen

He made it sound like he was going to his exe-

beginning to sound a bit incestuous! But perhaps

a little scary.

cution. We got to the airport and there she was.

it’s easier to tell these things to someone you can't

Like the one who got in, gave me the destina-

She walked towards him to collect the case. Her

really see - perhaps like a confessional or radio

tion and announced that she was going to lay

mouth widened into a huge smile... but it was the

phone-in programme. So in fact I had become her

down!

smile of a python before it strikes!

Agony Uncle...

Oh dear, I thought, she's not well. But that was

And I thought the good lady wife gave me a

She wasn't the first woman to open up like

the way she liked to travel. Knees drawn up, iPad

hard time...

that. One day in Fulham, I noticed a 20-some-

balanced against them and mobile clamped to her

thing girl sobbing in the arms of an older

ear. She didn't like the route and let me know it.

Geoff Levene (W32)

woman, who in turn was flagging me down.

“I don't suppose you like women telling you

Call Sign Online

“Don't worry,” she said soothingly, “everything

will be all right. I'll call you in a couple of days.”

With that, they said their goodbyes and she got in.

“Waterloo please,” she said in a soft voice,

“what a day!”

THE SALIERI RESTAURANT

She seemed to want to talk, so almost as a cour-

tesy I asked her what had happened. And she told

376 Strand, WC2

me!

“Me and my husband live in Dorset. He works

up here and has a flat so I thought I’d surprise

We Invite Dial-a-Cab drivers and their guests to our

him. But I found that girl there. They’d been liv-

restaurant where you can partake of the finest food and wine

ing together for 6 months and she knew nothing

about me.”

And as a thank-you for helping our clients come

I asked if her husband had also been there but

and go over the years, we are happy to be able to

she said he wasn’t. He was away on business - or

more probably, with woman number 3! Once

offer you a genuine 25% discount on your bill

again I was the sounding board and as usual, so

I’m told, the wife is the last to know.

We are certain that you will be delighted

Selling the house...

Our house was on the market in the depths of

the recession and was a real struggle to sell.

One Saturday, a couple came to look and

immediately decided to buy it. They actually

offered £5000 more than we were asking for!

Solicitors were instructed and a surveyor gave

the place a quick once over. It was all going

swimmingly. But then, a few weeks later, the

Please bring along your badge or Bill as ID

doorbell rang and a woman stood there. I

thought she was the one that was buying the

Salieri Restaurant

place, but no...

376 Strand, WC2

“Are you selling your house,” she asked?

“It's under offer,” I replied calmly.

Reservations: 020 7836 1318

“Can you tell me who's buying it?”

“I'm afraid that's confidential,” I said trying to

Call Sign September 2016

Page 24

“I’m not sure I should be telling you this,”

Breaking and entering is an illegal offence, but what about...

Robert Stutman (T63) confided to Call Sign,

“but such information is readily available on

the internet... if you know where to look!”

Entering Without Breaking!

Robert giggled rather mischievously as he

are,” he confessed with more than a slight hint

continued: “I guess the criminal fraternity

already know how to get into vehicles without

of embarrassment.

“I phoned around a few friends and they all

a key so they won’t need my help, but for an

innocent driver who inadvertently locks him

suggested I could use a simple domestic

implement to force up against the door and

or herself out of their vehicle, it could be a real

boon.”

sure enough, when I did it the way I was told,

the door popped open much - as you can

Aware of the security aspects of the

information he was about to disclose,

imagine - to my very great relief.

“I have often thought about getting one of

Robert still continued with his story...

“I had accidentally locked myself out of my

those magnetic key boxes to hide outside the

cab somewhere, but never actually got round

cab. At first I hit panic mode as I looked and

saw my ignition key sitting comfortably in the

to buying one yet, so now this might be an

opportune time to do so because the thought

ignition switch of the cab when it should really

have been in my hand! Under normal circum-

of having to go through a repeat performance

of entering my own cab without the aid of the

stances you ‘d think it would be an easy

enough task to go back into the house, find

correct key, isn’t one I want to contemplate!”

The “rescue” involves a wedge and a rod!

the spare key and open up the cab door to

retrieve the original key, but I in my wisdom

Call Sign will not tell you anymore but

there are numerous YouTube videos on the

only have the one key, which makes life diffi-

cult,” Robert said shaking his head in acknowl-

subject. The best bet though, is to make

sure you always have a spare key!

edgement with himself!

“I have managed with just the one solitary

Alan Green

key for many years and my misfortune was

To save Robert's blushes, this isn't him!

Call Sign Online

something of a senior moment, but there we

ACTION FOR CABBIES: A STATEMENT...

n January 18th 2016, Action for

invoked. Everybody that pledged through the Crowdfunding initiative was given the opportunity to

Cabbies embarked on a

withdraw their pledge by 5pm on April 5th. Numerous announcements were made over various plat-

Crowdfunding campaign to try

forms including email, Facebook and Twitter and it was made clear that any un-cancelled pledges would

and raise an initial £600,000 so as

be used for attempting to obtain permission for the Judicial Review surrounding credit cards.

to obtain permission from the court to launch a

Certain aspects of the alternative JR had to be altered as there would have been no prospect of get-

Judicial Review against Transport for

ting a positive result, as well as aspects that were not unreasonable such as objecting to fixed payment

London for allegedly wrongly and potentially

machines, the mandated requirement to accept credit cards and the list of suppliers, to name but three.

illegally issuing Uber with a PHV Operators

An application for a Judicial Review was lodged with the court on May 3rd and some of the

License. The initial deadline for raising the

monies that had been collected were paid to Rosenblatt Solicitors as a retainer; all remaining monies

funds was set as March 18th and after several

are being dealt with via our accountants Raffingers and will be paid to Rosenblatt upon receiving a

extensions, the final deadline was April 7th. The

full and final costing.

extensions were given so as to see if we could

On July 17th we received informal notification from our solicitors that the attempt to

still make the original target and to give the

obtain a Judicial Review had failed and that we would not be given leave to challenge TfL in

LTDA time to match the £300,000 as was origi-

court. We received the official notification several days later. Naturally we are very disap-

nally agreed.

pointed with this outcome as we feel there is a strong enough case. We would like to thank

Despite our best efforts, we failed to

every single person that believed in this cause. We may have failed on this occasion, howev-

reach the £600,000 target but managed to

er the positives that have come from this are enormous - the biggest positive being that we

raise in excess of £350,000. Nobody in the

have proved that we CAN galvanise ourselves and fight back as an industry. Moving for-

history of the licensed London taxi trade

ward, we are going to continue fighting tooth and nail to help protect this industry and to

had ever managed to raise funds to this

help it flourish. We may have lost this battle, but we aim to help win the war.

level before, but sadly the original plan

Once again we wish to thank each and every one of you for your support...

was not to be.

Stronger Together

Anticipating that we might need to adopt an

Action for Cabbies

alternative plan, a Consultation was undertaken

on March 3rd by AskPOB to find out if those

who contributed to the original fund would

back an alternative plan to try and launch a judi-

cial review against TfL with regard to certain

aspects surrounding how they were implement-

ing the impending mandatory credit card initia-

tive. To that effect, we asked taxi drivers to

decide whether this would be a route they

would like us to examine and potentially under-

take. The majority voted in favour to proceed

with seeking permission for a Judicial Review in

regards to the driver paying the transaction

charge.

Upon realising that we would not reach the

£600,000 target and with a majority vote from

the Consultation, it was decided on March 31st

2 016 to switch from trying to obtain permission

for a Judicial Review in relation to Uber being

licensed, to attempting to obtain a JR in relation

to how the credit card initiative was being

Page 25

Call Sign September 2016

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 looks at a true story from Graham West (V40) that appeared in the January

2000 issue of Call Sign…

A BRIEF CASE OF PASSION

In the November 1998 issue of Call Sign, the Editor asked for driver’s unusual items-left-in-the-cab stories. That reminded me of an incident

that happened in my taxi some time ago...

I had picked up a young couple in Shaftesbury Avenue and was told to drive them to Tedworth Square in Chelsea. On the way, the young

couple were being extremely passionate with each other. I was comparing it to the joys of spring - even though it was winter! I dropped them

off and out the corner of my eye as I was pulling away, I saw them scampered up three steps at speed - no doubt wanting to catch the end

of Coronation Street!

Several minutes later, another hand shot up and this time we were off to Croydon. We hadn’t gone too far when my passenger told me

that someone had left a briefcase in the back. I assumed it had to belong to that last young couple as I remembered the female holding it

when she got in. The passenger passed it to me and I thought that I’d have a look at the end of the trip for any ID that would confirm it to

be hers. At Croydon, my passenger paid me off and I pulled round the corner to have a quick look.

Inside the briefcase I found a mobile phone, various credit cards and £2600 in cash! There was also a business card with a Cadogan Square

address. As I wasn’t sure of the exact number in Tedworth Square that I had originally dropped the couple at, I decided to phone the number

on the card. However, there was no answer, so I left a message on th e answerphone and started making my way towards Cadogan Square.

On arrival, I rang the bell and explained to the male voice answering the intercom that a young lady had left her briefcase in my taxi going

to Tedworth Square, but that there was a business card giving this address inside. I left out the part concerning the extra-curricular activities!

The male voice said that it sounded like his girlfriend’s case and that he would come straight down.

A mental picture formed in my mind during those few seconds waiting. The young lady was very attractive and I had a pic-

ture of this guy being 30-ish, tall and handsome. Wrong! The door opened and there stood a shortish, 60-plus balding man who

looked more like her father!

He looked at the case and recognised it immediately, even explaining that there was £2600 in it to pay the wages on a day’s film shoot at

the company he was associated with. He gratefully accepted the case and gave me £60 from it. But he did display a worried frown on his

face - no doubt concerned that his girlfriend should have been so careless but possibly also wondering why she had got off at Tedworth

Square! I thought to myself how worried he might have been had he realised the circumstances in which the briefcase was left! I decided not

to add to his worries and bade him goodnight…

G.G.West (V40)

Autogas trial LPG

TX1

taxis in London

TAXIS

July 20th at Dial-a-Cab House saw a successful Open

WANTED

Day by Autogas in association with Shell and Calor,

when they were invited by Call Sign to show DaC dri-

vers exactly what LPG meant. An estimated 120 drivers

turned up in the 5 available hours to look at three LPG

cabs, ask questions of the four experts there and test drive the

cabs. Overwhelmingly, the drivers thought t he cab was a huge improvement on their cur-

rent cabs. A full report was in the August issue.

Autogas is on the back leg of a trial in London with a licensed London taxi running on LPG.

Autogas, which has the largest network of automotive LPG refuelling pumps in the UK, is hopeful

that Transport for London will licence the cabs very soon for use later this year.

The vehicle, which has had its diesel engine replaced by a brand new Opal petrol engine con-

verted to run on LPG, is run by drivers at Epsom Cabs Rentataxi.co.uk 24 hours a day in order to

speed up the process of a 10,000 mile durability test.

Your old TX1 Taxi is wanted

Autogas believes the LPG re-powering solution will prove attractive to licensed taxi owners that want

to extend the working life of their cabs in London, rather than invest immediately in a brand-new one.

✓ Quick viewing and decision

Paul Oxford, the business development manager of Autogas and one of those that came to

DaC, told Call Sign: “Not everyone is going to rush out and buy a new vehicle straightaway. If

✓ Cash waiting!

someone is coming up to retirement, for example, why would they buy a new cab?

“But by converting with an approved LPG system, they can get an extra five years of service

✓ Top price paid for really clean

from the vehicle on top of their 15, as well as dramatically help to reduce air pollution and make

substantial savings on their fuel costs of around 20 percent.”

examples

This provision is important in the run-up to 2018, when all new Hackney Carriages in

London will have to be zero emission capable as part of the city’s drive to reduce air pol-

lution. Taxis which are already licensed won’t be affected.

Please ring Graham on

Initial emission testing at Millbrook has shown that LPG technology produces

80% fewer NOx emissions compared with a normal diesel powered version, as well as

07435 562759

a 99% reduction in sooty particulate matter.

or e-mail on

At around 55p a litre, LPG is also cheaper than conventional fuels. Repowering of a taxi costs

around £8,000 (+ VAT) and takes around three days, although Brexit might add a small amount on.

oldlondontaxis@yahoo.co.uk

Call Sign September 2016

Page 26

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

IT IS NOW!

Bob Woodford looks at London’s long lost sporting venues

ne of the offerings I list on my

QPR lose to

profile for a Vancouver-based

Spurs in 1901

Travel Agency is called the

London’s Sports Stadiums Tour.

You would be surprised how much North

In 1896, the club

Americans are interested in getting

moved back to

around town to check out our stadiums.

Clifford Gardens,

However, as a born and bred Londoner

but this time to

and an historian, I am of course much

actually play at the

more interested in researching the her-

Kensal Rise Athletic

itage of our sports stadiums, both existing

Ground instead of

and dearly departed.

the waste ground

The most local team to my home is

next door. The ‘R’s

Gillingham FC, who have never played their

So what part of John Welford’s 300 acres

(known as The Royalists in those days)

home games anywhere other than Priestfield

(the equivalent of about 300 football pitches)

played their first ever professional match at

and the team closest to my heart is Millwall,

did the footballers carry their four upright

the KRAG, going down 0-1 to Spurs, and this

who are now playing at their fifth home

posts and crossbar tape to? Obviously the acre

once famous venue would regularly put on

ground.

closest to the pub! The Case is Altered was

athletics, cycling and even boxing in its hey-

But this month’s chosen London team

probably a leading candidate for London’s

day - but it was all covered over by the 1960s.

however, moved home no less than 17

most peculiar pub name, but don’t get me

At the start of the 20th century, it was time

times before they finally settled on Loftus

started on that subject as I’m already research-

to move on yet again and St Mark’s Park in

Road, true nomads and worthy of featur-

ing London’s famous Coaching Inns for

St Quintin Avenue would now host home

ing over the next 2 issues of Call Sign -

another series of articles! Don’t go looking for

games - much to the disapproval of local res-

and not just because they are the love of

the pub or QPR’s second playing surface now

idents who thought football lowered the tone

DaC Chairman Brian Rice!

- it’s all gone, but would have been just to the

of North Kensington! The players had to

Queens Park Rangers began life in 1882,

south of Kensal Rise Station near Station

change in the Latimer Arms before games,

one of the capital’s oldest clubs and its

Terrace.

running down the road to the ground - much

founding fathers were all ex-pupils of Droop

When construction started to swallow up

to the excitement of the local youth who ran

Street School. now Queens Park Primary

Welford’s vast farmlands, they were eventual-

with them so that they could sneak in as they

School - now a Grade II listed building and

ly absorbed into United Dairies, but these

couldn’t afford the one penny admission fee!

one of the original London School Board

entrepreneurs still charged QPR a whacking

Those complaining residents was typical of the

schools in London, built to serve the children

£8 in rent for the full season - and there was

social upheaval that football was bringing - rugby

of a newly-built residential social housing.

no sign of Tony Fernandes in the 1880s!

was considered to be the ‘gentleman’s game’ and

With the establishment of mission halls as

Incidentally, you can still see the old

the new upstart game was considered low class.

London was spreading further out, those old

Welford’s dairy building in Shirland Road if

All that was left of QPR’s ninth home

boys got together in the evenings at St Jude’s

you keep your eyes peeled out there and

ground in their first 15 years of existence was

Hall in nearby Ilbert Street under the guid-

once you’ve found that beautiful Victorian

carved up in the 1920s when the Princess

ance of mentors Jack McDonald and Fred

red brick building, check out the old archway

Louise Hospital was built and Pangbourne

Weller. These two guys had been given per-

to what would have been its yard.

Avenue created - the only remaining tracts of

mission to coach the teenagers by the Rev

Rangers, starting to become a stronger out-

land from the ground that was also shared

Gordon Young - this clergyman would have

fit and attracting a reasonable following,

with a cricket club are today at the West

had no idea what those humble beginnings

secured the London Scottish Ground at

London Bowls Club and Kensington

were going to lead to!

Brondesbury; the £20 annual rent offset by

Memorial Park at either end of the street.

When St Jude’s merged with neighbours

the ability to charge admission to spectators

The football club in some ways were to be

Christ Church Rangers to create a much

now for the first time, sharing the space with

the victim of their own success, because when

stronger local football force, it was decided to

their more illustrious rugby playing partners.

12,000 fans turned up for a match against

go forward as Queens Park Rangers as just

The famous old rugby club had its origins

Spurs, this caused the residents to petition the

about all of the original players came from

over several wee tipples in Mackay’s Tavern

estate owner to serve notice on them - not the

around the Queen’s Park district in West

off Ludgate Hill in 1878 - and just like the

first time they had found themselves in this

London.

Rangers, the custodians of the oval shaped

pickle.

Their first playing surface can be described

ball had many home grounds before finally

That old recreation ground had been built

as rudimentary at best, a piece of waste

settling down at the Richmond Athletic

over old brickfields and piggeries, not per-

ground adjacent to the more superior Kensal

Ground.

haps ideal for sport, but it meant the club

Rise Athletic Ground in Clifford Gardens

But followers of both London Scottish and

were now homeless again, literally in big pig

off Chamberlayne Road. If that first playing

QPR would have to watch their side do battle

sh*t!

surface was very basic, their next choice (for

at new homes in 1890, because the ground

I shall pick up the story again next month,

two seasons only) was at Welford’s Fields,

sharing had caused the pitch to become

because we are still a long way off from the

farmland leased from All Souls College at

unplayable. Rugby moved out to Old Deer

legends that were Rodney Marsh, Stan

Kensal Green by Welford & Sons who were

Park while the football moved to another

Bowles and Les Ferdinand!

appointed dairymen to Queen Victoria - it

four different grounds - Home Park, Kensal

was illegal to keep cattle in the centre of

Rise Green, The Gun Club at Wormwood

Bob Woodford

town, and so this led to a rapid growth in

Scrubs and even to the Kilburn Cricket

Call Sign Online

dairy farming in the suburbs!

Ground in Harvist Road.

Call Sign September 2016

Page 27

he following letter was written

by Call Sign Editor, Alan Fisher,

but who in this instance wrote it

How important is the safety

as a driver. It was sent to the

following people: London Mayor Sadiq

Khan, Deputy Mayor for Transport Val

of London Taxi Drivers?

Shawcross, London Assembly member

Caroline Pidgeon, Minister of Transport

Chris Grayling, London’s transport

PED case in the rear. It was only at the dri-

Commissioner Mike Brown, MP for

ver’s insistence that he should have buck-

Kensington and Chelsea Lady Victoria

led up that a complaint didn't go any further.

Borwick, TfL General Manager Helen

But that isn't my complaint; I am purely

Chapman as well as TfL’s Leon Daniels,

pointing it out as a secondary reason.

Garrett Emerson and Peter Blake. A

Perhaps there have been no official reports of

copy was also sent to the Dial-a-Cab

it happening, more because our drivers are

Board and DaC driver David Lessman

excellent and unlike the competition, do not

as a former Chairman of children’s

need to look at satnavs rather than the road

charity, LTFUC...

ahead.

To whom it concerns...

But that is a million miles from unnec-

I am addressing this email to everyone

essarily insisting that drivers may have to

named above and would hope that my case is

go into the passenger compartment if the

written clearly enough to understand. If it

passenger says there is a problem with

isn't, that is due in totality to the anger I feel

the PED. As I have said, it won't be me and

towards Transport for London with regard to

if I am forced to do as TfL insist, then the

the appalling treatment given to Dial-a-Cab by

world will know how I feel via our justice

an organisation that I have always assumed

system and the newspapers - one of which

wanted all transport vehicles under its umbrel-

reported on the 154 alleged sex attacks

I’m sure I don't need to explain what that

la to work in a safe environment.

on their passengers by cab drivers and of

could mean to any driver being put into that

But apparently that doesn't apply to

whom I would stake my house on that

position. Robbery? Bruising? Stabbing? I'm

London's taxi fleet, justifiably said to be the

none were taxi drivers. However, I would

not interested in whether it has or hasn't yet

world's best. And much thanks for that must

expect the number of taxi drivers being

happened. It will somewhere down the line.

go to TfL's predecessors, the Public

attacked to go up after being lured into

But why? The PED is excellently placed in a

Carriage Office. Yes, there was a certain

the rear of the cab under the pretence of

safe position and all it needs is an approved

amount of fear attached to their presence,

the CC PED not working.

sign on the passenger side of the partition

but that was in addition to respect.

I find it so difficult to understand that our

that says the driver accepts credit cards. Why

The fact that I edit Dial-a-Cab's in-house

so-called licensing authority is happy to put

should we be put in danger every time some-

magazine, Call Sign, comes second to my

us in danger, because an excuse that it hasn't

one comes up with a problem? Most are gen-

pride at being a licensed London taxi driver

happened yet is just not good enough. It will

uine and I am usually able to sort them out

for over

45 years. However, I’m also

happen.

fairly easily, but there is no way on God's

ashamed to be connected to an organisation

I used to write to TfL whenever one of my

earth that I am going to get into the back of

like TfL who have shown beyond doubt that

Call Sign readers asked me a question that I

my taxi with people I may not even trust.

they care not a jot for this trade and that if

believed they could answer, but I cannot

I often get out to help passengers with bags

any of our number were to be attacked and

remember the last time anyone from that

or women with babies and prams. But would

hurt, then that is nothing to do with them.

organisation bothered responding to me.

In other words, TfL doesn't care if we

I get into the back of a taxi with an unaccom-

However, my views are now known and

get hurt and they are attempting to

panied female passenger and take the chance

hopefully will at least be read and the feelings

prove it because if their plans go

of being accused of an offence against her

of myself and many other drivers will be

through, then some of our number will

person? No I wouldn't in either case and I

looked at sympathetically, because I just can-

be hurt - possibly seriously.

won't. If that means going to court to explain

not believe that any organisation would do

What I'm talking about in case some on

why I don’t want to put myself in danger

what TfL are proposing.

this list don't know - and I have no doubt

when it is totally unnecessary to do so

I have sent this lengthy email to several

that not everyone does - is all to do with

because our current system caters for all

people including Deputy Chair at Transport

TfL's insistence on London taxi drivers

eventualities, then that is what I will have to

Val Shawcross, TfL, Caroline Pidgeon at the

accepting credit cards.

do. I have already upset my wife when telling

Transport Committee, the Mayor's office, two

That decision is undoubtedly correct. Like

her what TfL wants us to do.

former Chairman of the London Taxi Drivers

many on Dial-a-Cab, I have already been car-

Feel free to look at my record as a taxi

Fund for Underprivileged Children, Victoria

rying out CC rides for years via our system

driver, which actually goes back several

Borwick as a hopefully interested MP and for-

and with street CC trips for several years

years before my May 1971 taxi beginning

mer member of the Transport Committee

ever since we have had fixed CC readers

encasing my time with London Transport.

and someone who knows much about how

(PEDS) fitted into our taxis with the holster

I give you all permission. You won't

this trade operates. I have also forwarded it

placed handily by our left shoulder and eas-

find one complaint. You won’t find me

to members of the DaC Board of

ily fitting through the gap in the partition for

down as a trouble maker; I am just a taxi

Management who in all fairness should know

the passenger to put in the card and insert

driver who believes that this is the best

my views as Editor.

their pin.

taxi service in the world and who does his

Any responses would be welcomed

But astonishingly, even though it was

best to provide an excellent service to

because if I get none, then I will know

TfL that passed the DaC PED in that posi-

his passengers.

that my worst fears are not just fears but

tion some five years ago at a substantial

But apparently TfL are going to force me

TfL promises...

cost to DaC, I have now been informed

into deciding whether my safety is as impor-

that TfL want the PED to be placed in the

tant as credit card acceptance. I want to

Kind regards

passenger compartment. That would

accept CCs but not if there is the possibility of

mean that if three semi-drunk passen-

putting myself in danger.

gers at two in the morning said that the

Alan Fisher

I also know of one case where a passenger

PED wasn’t working, then the driver will

that had failed to secure their seat belt was

Taxi Driver / Editor

have to get out and check it.

catapulted forward hitting their head onto a

Call Sign Magazine

Call Sign September 2016

Page 28

Stuart Cameron (R31):

TfL want to move DaC’s credit card reader to the passenger com-

“I think it would

partment, so Call Sign asked subscribers whether they would be

be scandalous to

fit it in the back.

happy with the PED moved...

Where it is now is

more convenient

because the coiled

extension allows it

to be handed

The DaC

through the port-

hole or the win-

dow as and when the situation demands -

and it can be viewed and checked by the dri-

ver. Personally, I’m not too bothered about

PED and TfL

driver safety aspect because I work days, but

I’m sure repositioning the PED to the rear

would be of great concern to those working

open to abuse if the PED was fitted in the back.

siting into the back of the taxi. No, it really is

evenings or nights and I do feel for those it

At least in the front of the cab where the doors

not a good idea at all.”

would affect.”

are locked, the driver has complete control

over the PED’s operation and their personal

And from a female perspective...

Paul Pavlou (W11):

safety. I think it is a really bad idea to re-site the

Debbie Hope (W18):

“I’m happy with

unit in the rear.”

“Yes, I would far

the card reader

prefer it stays in

where it is and

Mickey Tarbuck Jnr: (L12)

the front. I often

prefer it to be in

“Not only am I

work early morn-

the front rather

very happy where

ings and in the

than the rear

it currently is, I

winter when it is

where I would

definitely do not

dark, I admit I do

fear for my own

want it in the

feel

vulnerable

safety. I work both

back! That would

sometimes. I can

days and nights

be unsafe for pas-

see that even the

and so would be hesitant about a rear siting

sengers as well as

male drivers might feel uncomfortable if the

for the reader. Also and importantly, I lost a

drivers. If it was

terminal was fitted in the rear and they had to

£50 fare because the trip was ‘voided’ and if

fitted in the back,

get out of the front to assist with processing

the card reader had been fitted in the back, I

in the case of an

the passengers’ card. I can imagine all sorts of

would not have been able to see that until

emergency stop a passenger could hit their

scenarios where driver safety could be com-

much later, for example, if I had pulled away

head on it, particularly in the dark or if they

promised. Yes, I want it to remain where it is

from the destination.”

had been drinking. I used to work nights, so

right now...”

what about setting down in a housing estate

Dennis Heavin (A01):

or a dodgy area somewhere in the middle of

Jackie Kott (Y88):

“The reader is

the night? It wouldn’t take long before the

“I want that card

absolutely superb

less savoury members of society catch on to

reader in front

where it is now - I

the fact that terminals are in the back of the

with me, not in

wouldn’t want it

cab and it would then be goodbye to driver

the back where I

anywhere else.

safety! Move it? No thanks...!”

can foresee all

What a ridiculous

sorts of reasons to

idea to site it in

David Lessman (D19):

tempt drivers away

the back. In its

“It is outrageous

from the security

current position,

that TfL can just

of the front of the

the PED can be

move the goal-

cab. As a woman

handed through the ‘pay hole’ or passed

posts like that

who works early

through the cab door window and anyway, it

when it can possi-

mornings, I would be very uncomfortable

cannot be fiddled with by children where it

bly affect the safe-

and suspicious if a passenger claimed to have

is! Furthermore, I would suggest there is an

ty of both passen-

a problem. Fitted in the front as at present, it

element of passenger safety if it was placed

ger and driver.

is the driver who has full control, can see

inside the passenger carriage as someone

Surely that aspect

what’s going on and if there is a hitch or tech-

could impact against it, especially if they had

should be para-

nical difficulty associated with the PED or

been drinking or were unsteady on their feet

mount. If it ain’t broke etc...!”

MDT the driver can resolve the situation

through health reasons. In addition, fitting it

speedily and safely.”

in its present position leaves the carriage free

David Burnetts (S43):

from obstruction to luggage and baby pram’s

“I am quite happy

Pat Graves (L53):

etc. Having worked nights, my concern

with the card read-

“Particularly as a

would be for driver safety, especially during

er device in the

woman, I do not

the early hours and for those drivers who do

front with me

want that reader

work unsociable

where I can conve-

in the back! In

times of the day or

niently pass it

fact, any driver,

weekends.”

through to the

male or female

passenger via the

will become vul-

Andy Closier

port hole/pay tray,

nerable because if

(A05):

or even offer it

there were several

“I far prefer it in

through the cab

burly blokes in the

the front as you

door window if the need arises. I can imagine

back, anybody would feel intimidated at hav-

could otherwise

also sorts of security issues arising from a re-

leave yourself wide

continued on page 29

Call Sign September 2016

Page 29

The DaC PED and Tfl (continued from page 28)

Uber apply

ing to leave the security of the front of their

rear of the cab with two possible drunk males

cab to have to sort out a problem - beit true

or even those just looking to start trouble.

for Judicial

or false - if the card reader was situated in the

And what happens while you’re in the

rear. I could see all sorts of ramifications

back, because you won’t be able to lock the

without going into specifics. What about a

front? Someone could just get in and take

Review

drunken/confused female passenger and a

everything! Does that explain my view???”

male driver? Or a passenger fumbling to get

Uber has launched a legal challenge

against new rules in London which

their card in the reader and needing the dri-

And finally back to males in an attempt

ver to assist? Also, I think the terminal itself

to find anyone in favour...

could require thousands of its drivers to

take an English-language test.

would be at risk of theft if sited in the rear

Paul Channing (V29):

due to its higher profile affixed to the divi-

“I’m happy with the reader in its present

According to the app’s GM, Tom

Elvidge, the legal action was a last

sion. Cab windows could be smashed to

position because I can check the fare meter

access it with all the attendant grief that can

reading and ensure everything is correct. I

resort following new rules that were

being introduced.

cause. Where it is at present is in full view

have had passenger’s void the card by press-

and in control by the driver and given the

ing the ‘cancel’ button before the transaction

“They are bad for both drivers and

tech companies like us,” Mr Elvidge

extension lead, is convenient for all con-

has gone through, so the element of fraud

cerned. We should take our hats off to Brian

possibility is something that does concern

said.

Uber’s application for a Judicial

Rice and the DaC Board for their prudent

me. I work days but it must be tougher to

foresight in placing the PED where it current-

check everything at night.”

Review focuses on four of the new

rules that TfL announced several months

ly is. It can also easily be removed for security

reasons if the driver so wishes.

John Francis (A39):

ago following a consultation of the Taxi

and PH industry. While Uber say they

Maybe we should make up a template let-

“I’m absolutely happy where the card reader

ter for all the drivers to sign and send to

is fitted at present. Get out of the front of the

support an English-speaking and

listening test, they argue that drivers

Mayor Khan and their local M.P? It’s just an

cab to sort out an alleged problem if the card

idea, but I do feel very strongly about re-posi-

reader is fitted in the back? Are you joking!

should not have to provide a certificate

showing they have an intermediate level

tioning the card reader.”

Fitted where it is, the driver has complete

control over its use, without kids sticky and

of writing and reading. Valued recently

at around $68billion, Uber called the

Janet Ramsden (G35J):

inquisitive little fingers mucking about with

I’m happy taking

it. I would also be wary regarding driver safe-

regulation “costly and unnecessary” and

have now filed official papers with the

credit cards but

ty. Incidentally, I had my cab re-licenced at

not if the reader

Staples Corner in mid-August and was asked

court. They will be using the legal

services of Blackstone Chambers.

were to be situat-

if I had a credit card-reader fitted and when I

ed in the rear

replied it was a Dial-a-Cab unit, the techni-

Uber is said to have more than a

quarter of the PH drivers in London and

compartment. I

cian simply nodded his approval. So I guess I

was always told

should be ok for the full year of my licence

estimates that thousands of them will

be affected by the change.

that you shouldn’t

until next August. Nobody there made any

leave the front of

further comment...”

TfL say they will be “robustly

defending the legal proceedings

the cab unless you

Call Sign did try to find someone in

are specifically helping someone - certainly

favour of the suggestion and even just

brought by them in relation to the

changes to PH regulations.” They will be

not because a stranger claims their credit

not bothered but we couldn’t. Following

card is stuck in the machine or some veiled

Pat Graves suggestion of a letter to the

represented in the application by Brick

Court Chambers.

excuse that could possibly be designed to get

Mayor regarding the possible PED re-sit-

me to leave my driver’s cab. I rarely have

ing, we sent a letter to several MPs and

TfL said: “These regulations have

been introduced to enhance public

problems with the PED so why should it be

members of TfL in addition to the Deputy

moved? I remember the old PCO telling us

Mayor for Transport. You can read the

safety when using private hire services

and we are determined to create a

that we shouldn’t leave the driver’s cab in the

letter on page 27 of this issue...

case of any altercation, now their successors

vibrant taxi and private hire market with

are telling us that we might have to enter the

space for all providers to flourish.”

Uber will be challenging four of

the new rules. They are; requiring

written English tests for drivers,

having to locate its customer service

call centre in London, requiring

insurance that covers drivers when

they are not working and having to

alert TfL of changes to its business

model or app.

Addison Lee chief executive Andy

Boland said that he failed to

understand why Uber had at first agreed

and are now resisting the

implementation of the new regulations.

“The whole industry was fully

involved in the consultation and there is

a strong belief that they will benefit

both passengers and drivers.”

His view was seconded by Gett’s

Europe MD Remo Gerber. He referred

to Uber’s U-turn as “baffling.”

Call Sign September 2016

Page 30

Hello Ladies & Gents,

PEDs

OPERATIONS AND COMPLIANCE

After receiving many calls regarding the pre-

sent situation with our Credit Card PEDs, it

built, are waiting to be shipped over to the

still staggers me that although TfL passed the

UK and I believe that S & B Autos will be the

DaC PED in its current position some five

suppliers. But in addition, apart from a cash

years ago, they have now informed us that we

‘on the road’ price, Mercedes will offer a sub-

must place the unit in the passenger compart-

sidy if you take up their finance, which I am

ment by 3rd October, a date that is fast

again told is highly competitive. S & B autos

approaching. What’s even worse is that after

will also offer a three or four year lease deal

two previous meetings with the Chairman at

with varying amounts of deposit.

Palestra and countless emails and telephone

conversations going back as far as March this

Decision time

year, at the time of writing we are still waiting

for a decision from TfL. Please be assured

approaches

that we will have a contingency plan in place,

Finally, with the imminent onset of meetings

especially for those of you that have over-

to decide the way forward for demutualisa-

hauls scheduled on or around the beginning

tion and the future of our Society, speaking to

premiums and any extra mileage that you

of October when this new ruling is due to

many Members since the questionnaire was

incur during a particular journey. We must

take effect.

returned, there are many who would like

make sure that all prices are workable for

We were fully compliant back in 2011 when

DaC to continue in a restructured format, a

both Members and clients alike in order to

the PEDs were first implemented and

much leaner slimmed down operation that I

encourage taxi usage, but these prices are -

although I am in no doubt that when all taxis

also believe is feasible. But the decision is

and will be - totally rejectable without penal-

are fully compatible, it will generate extra rev-

totally in your hands as to the route we take;

ty. I hope that will help reduce time spent in

enue for all of us, none of our Members

and an improved driver App could conceiv-

the feeder park for a trip. It’s getting more

should be subject to a situation late at night

ably help us achieve this. If used in a correct

and more difficult for the Sales team to

or come to that at any part of the day, when

way it would, in my opinion, increase rev-

acquire new accounts and I am optimistic

there’s a possibility you may be asked to get

enue for drivers and the Society.

that with your assistance, our new service will

out of the taxi in order to complete a card

On a personal note; if after demutualisation

see an increase in this type of work. Since the

transaction in the rear compartment that

and a decision on the sale of relevant assets and

introduction of our fixed price regime eigh-

could then put you in an unnecessarily dan-

distribution of funds to Members is finalised, it

teen months ago, trips to Heathrow and

gerous or inappropriate position for the obvi-

is my honest opinion that if the longest serving

other airports have increased by almost thirty

ous reasons.

radio circuit was to fade away into oblivion, it

percent over the period. Trips to areas on and

would be a sad day for our industry, probably

beyond the M25 have also seen a similar

More rides

something Uber would hope for. But it isn’t my

upturn and long may it continue in the same

As I mentioned in my last Call Sign article,

decision; it is up to you, the Members, to

positive vein.

we should soon be in a position to offer you

decide and for the Board of Management to

more rides back from all the airports, pre-

carry out your wishes...

dominately offering the account clients a taxi

Euro 6 Mercedes Vito

Allan Evans

for their return trips rather than just outward

I have recently been informed on good

DaC Operations /

bound journeys, The trips will be predomi-

authority that the new Euro 6 Mercedes is

nately on fixed rates including waiting time

almost ready to launch. The Vitos have been

Compliance Manager

Taxi Leaks Jim Thomas asks Call Sign readers a pertinent question...

ARE THEY TRYING TO GET RID OF THE TAXI TRADE?

London traffic chaos theory; could they really get it this wrong by accident? I totally believe there is an underlying agenda to get rid

of the London Taxi trade, going far beyond the woeful inadequacy of TfL. It’s widely believed that most of Inner London’s borough

councils are party to the conspiracy against us; you only have to look at the way we’ve been treated by Westminster, Camden

and Islington. No planning committee from any of the councils could have bought this amount of chaos to our streets by acci-

dent! The magnitude of such incompetence must surely have been mismanaged?

After witnessing the gridlocking of streets surrounding the cycle Super Highways segregated bike lanes, they are now actually set

to expand the nightmare right across the board with Cycle Super Highway 2. This man-made mayhem is to be followed by the

pedestrianisation of Oxford Street, which is likely to include a total ban on all motor vehicles (except buses and cycles) in

Tottenham Court Road and part of Baker Street. Just where are they expecting the traffic to go?

Pollution levels at present far exceed European legal limits, allegedly causing an extra 20,000 preventable deaths per annum. And it’s

about to get much worse.

Taxi drivers are gifted with a sixth sense in regard to traffic flow. We have the ability to look at proposed schemes and evaluate the likelihood of its

success. Yet neither TfL or local council planners have ever tried to seek advice from the trade. Instead they pin all their hopes on graduates, many of

whom live outside London and use computer modelling. The evidence that much of this chaos is part of an agenda, relates to the fact they generally

take no notice of consultation results and turning London into the world’s biggest building site. Virtually every street in central London has road works of

one form or another. Whose computer predicted central paving along most of the length of Oxford Street eastbound would improve the traffic flow?

Whose computer predicted that by narrowing the entrance to Regent Street from Piccadilly Circus that it would improve the chaos around

Eros? It’s just total lunacy! A ten year old child could have predicted problems from narrowing major roads, yet these planner’s computer

models missed it?

So what’s behind the chaos and mayhem?

We saw it first at the 2012 London Olympics. TfL failed to provide ranks at the Olympic Park and spectators were directed by an army of stewards from

the stadium to expanded bus assembly points and straight onto the tube. Olympic tickets came with 24 hour travel passes (the same at Lords and Excel).

Taxi ranks were moved and hidden in side streets well away from the exits, while spectators were shepherded onto public transport. Similar efforts came at

Twickenham where spectators were directed to waiting buses while Taxis were excluded from streets around the stadium. Our work has been touted by rail

staff while airside at Heathrow they used lies about Taxi fares to attract more customers onto the Heathrow Express.

continued on page 31

Call Sign September 2016

Page 31

Either write to Call Sign at

PEDs in the rear

Dial-a-Cab House

Hi Alan

Like many other drivers, I’m a bit concerned

or email us at callsign-

at the possibility of having our PED devices

mag@aol.com

placed in the passenger compartment of the

taxi. I agree with Brian Rice and yourself

ing our corner at every opportunity, but

Credit card

that moving them seems pointless when they

apparently not so. In fact it would be inter-

work perfectly well where they are, not to

esting to know if he has ever spoken in

payments and

mention the possibility - no matter how

defence of the cab trade or done anything

gratuities

remote - of putting drivers into of unneces-

for it.

Hello Alan

sary danger. Have there been any develop-

Terry Farmer (Ex-T55J, retired member)

One of the biggest disappointments with

ments from TfL bigwigs on the subject...?

The MP for Eltham has long supported

the PED for credit cards is that it doesn't

Alex Constantinou (N05)

our trade. I remember the effort he put

prompt the customer to give a gratuity; I

I have written a rather lengthy letter (see

into trying - sadly unsuccessfully as it

feel this has been a massive error as all the

page 27) to several people including the

was always destined to be - gain us

other major credit card system providers

Mayor, Val Shawcross, several at TfL,

access into the special lanes during the

offer this facility. I've lost count of the

Caroline Pidgeon and Lady Victoria

London Olympics. I also remember him

amount of people who ask if they can add

Borwick MP. It has also been passed over

being involved last year when he was

a gratuity after the payment is cleared. Are

to Wes Streeting MP. We can now but hope

one of several MPs gathered in a House

there any plans to add this to the current

that common sense prevails and we can

of Commons Committee Room to meet

system?

keep the PEDs where they are ...Ed

taxi drivers lobbying their MPs regard-

Darren Carter (K52)

ing EDM

142, an RMT initiative

Allan Evans responds: Yes Darren, plans

designed to define and enshrine in law

are in place that will enable passengers

Clive Efford

our exclusive right to ply for hire. Clive

to add a gratuity at the end of their jour-

Dear Alan

Efford was one of the first to agree to

ney should they wish to. The software

Whilst reading your piece about the group of

appear along with Ilford North MP, Wes

on the Ingenico PED (Snoopy) must be

MPs and Lords who had got together to fight

Streeting. His name has often cropped

able to read the exact cleared fare

our cause (page 5 August Call Sign), I was

up through the years but from 2011 to

including gratuities for billing purpos-

surprised to see one name missing - that of

early this year, he was the Shadow

es, consequently the supplier is work-

Labour MP Clive Efford. I understand this

Minister for Culture, Media and Sport

ing on this change at the moment and it

gentleman was once a London taxi driver so

which would have limited his chance of

will be part of the new VAD system...

one would have thought he would be fight-

speaking too often ...Ed

ARE THEY TRYING TO GET RID OF THE TAXI TRADE?

continued from page 30

The same thing recently happened at Edgbaston for the test match with Pakistan. Taxi ranks were replaced by a £5 per person bus service straight to

New Street Station - with the bus company using the Taxi rank as a bus stop! We’ll soon see a revolution in shopping trips to London with CrossRail,

which they say will bring so many people to Oxford Street; it will be the busiest shopping area in the world. So is that why we are being excluded from

major roads in these areas? If Taxis can’t get to the shops, people are not going to use us and they will take the tube. Our night work could drastically

reduce now that the weekend night tube has opened. Has anyone seen the new network of Taxi ranks outside night tube stations? Visit suburban stations

and see the new PH booking offices, many inside the station forecourts! TfL and Network Rail (oh look who’s their new Chairman - Sir Peter Hendy!)

have been getting away with touting our work for years, facilitated by piss-poor weak trade representative organisations and Unions who prefer to fight

amongst themselves rather than concentrating on who the true enemies are.

TfL Compliance officers currently harass Taxi drivers at mainline ranks, while turning a blind eye to touting from PHVs. Why is it we

don't see TfL COs regularly checking booking details of PHVs at stations, why do they only concentrate on Taxis? Compliance teams turn

up frequently at pop-up Taxi ranks, yet when did we ever see them at the entrance to the restaurant inside the BBC car park on Wood

Lane, or the side entrance to Westfield? Or what about the pop-up PH ranks at the Brewery and HaC Barracks when there are functions

on? It just doesn't happen.

Recently, we found PH company RD2.com had been given special dispensation from TfL and the City of London Corporation to form an illegal

Taxi rank on red route double red lines so as to be available for immediate hire at a function outside Old Billingsgate. The United Trade Group

engagement policy, which held us back for four years, was always going to be scrapped after Boris exited stage right while the new Mayoral adminis-

tration looked for a way to quell the unaffiliated demonstrators. But the UTG are still there and still excluding other orgs at compliance and rank com-

mittee meetings.

Their excuse is that you have to be invited by TfL. I beg to differ on this as the Joint Taxi Ranks Committee is a self-appointed group

who sometimes invite TfL to their meetings and not the other way round. It needs to be sorted out and soon. We have to make sure

every group has representatives invited. At a recent Palestra meeting, Dial-a-Cab Chairman Brian Rice was invited, as were the apps, and

because of that, the trade organisations all refused to attend. Trade unity? That's just laughable.

We have for months seen a trend for disgruntled drivers to break away from traditional subscription based representations. New driver groups such

as the Mayfair Mob, Dads Defending Daughters and Action4Cabbies have appeared and in the case of the Mayfair Mob, are beginning to achieve

impressive results. Trade representation has always mirrored football supporters’ mentality. Loyalty to a certain colour of lanyard has held back progress

and helped keep the trade divided. But drivers are now beginning to question their own organisations apparent lack of results.

Now that the engagement policy has gone, everyone is playing in the big league. Perhaps it’s time to take a leaf out of the beautiful

game and have talent scouts look for the best people from all the teams and bring them together in a united squad? ‘Taxi United’ sup-

ported across the board by every driver sounds better than a fragmented and disenchanted trade...

Jim Thomas

Taxi Leaks / Call Sign Online

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