LEEDS

SHOULD owners of taxi licences be forced to learn English, even if they will never drive the vehicle and will only rent it out for others to drive?

That question has been raised in relation to a Leeds City Council taxi policy which requires individual owners of hackney carriage licences to have a level of English.

Unions and hackney carriage companies have objected, believing this could discriminate over wives and family members who inherit licences if an owner passes away, as the weekly rent could be their only means of income.

A meeting of the council’s licencing committee heard the core issue was “responsibilty and accountability”. However it was also argued that if the person isn’t actually driving, there is no issue of public safety.

It has now been proposed that the English language requirement for widows and people inheriting licences is relaxed, with a longer lead-in time to allow them to learn English if they don’t speak it, or to appoint a representative. However it was also been suggested the English comprehension requirement be removed entirely in respect of hackney carriage proprietors.

Labour councillor Brian Selby said he would like to keep the current English requirement in place.

He said: “It has wider implications if we start changing our policy. We do need taxi firms that are well run, and that means having a command of English.”

Tory colleague Gerald Wilkinson added: “I feel certain that the English test is not like a university degree. If they sign it over, people will have time to learn English.”

The meeting was told that “we should be trying to ensure people aspire to [speak] English, not be told not to bother”.

However it was pointed out more than 50 per cent of the proprietors and drivers of Leeds’s 500-plus taxi licences are of Asian origin, and a growing number are from European countries.

Councillor Asghar Khan said it was important to differentiate between the driver and the licence owner. He said: “If it’s drivers, then yes, because they are a front line person.”

He said it could be ensured licence owners bear all costs of translating documents relating to the business. The proposals will be debated again at a future meeting before eventually being put before the council’s cabinet.

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/top-stories/row-over-english-language-proviso-for-leeds-taxi-operators-1-6833387
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Uber alles-holes, claims lawsuit: Taxi biz sued by blind passengers

No business is safe from cyber-espionage

Taxi hire biz Uber is being sued in northern California for allegedly violating the civil rights of blind people.

A complaint filed by the National Federation of the Blind alleges that blind passengers who ordered Uber X taxi rides in the US state were illegally discriminated against or mistreated by the firm's drivers.

According to the suit, filed in a US district court, three members of the federation were denied service by cabbies who did not want to transport their guide dogs. Drivers refused to allow the blind passengers in the car even after confirming rides with the service, they claim. Multiple such incidents are alleged.

The issues have also been reported by passengers in other states.

"UberX drivers across the United States are likewise refusing to transport blind individuals, including identified UberX drivers who repeatedly denied rides to one blind woman on twelve separate occasions, charged blind riders cancellation fees, and abandoned blind travelers in extreme weather, all because of guide dogs," the filing [PDF] claims.

Most disturbingly, the suit alleges that the drivers also mistreat the service animals of blind passengers. The report claims one passenger had her dog forced into the trunk of a car, and the driver refused to pull over when the passenger objected. Another claims that a guide dog was nearly run over and a passenger struck with an open car door when a driver sped off after refusing a ride.

According to the Federation, by refusing to transport passengers with service animals, Uber X drivers are violating provisions in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

"Uber is violating basic equal access requirements under both the ADA and state law by failing to implement policies and procedures that would prevent or reduce discrimination against blind riders committed by UberX drivers," the suit claims.

"Because Uber closely monitors and tightly controls interactions between UberX drivers and its customers, Uber can adopt and enforce policies and procedures that would prevent or reduce discrimination against blind individuals with service animals, including members of Plaintiff NFB of California."

Uber did not return a request for comment on the suit.

Such allegations won't win Uber any favor in its ongoing battle with governments to operate alongside conventional taxi services. The app maker is already facing a ban in Germany and a legal challenge in London over the legality of its service.

The last thing the company would appear to need right now is for its drivers to be portrayed as discriminatory and abusive to service animals. ®

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/09/11/uberx_uber_jerks_drivers_accused_of_mistreating_blind_customers/?
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MIDDLESBORO

A taxi minibus was burnt out in a suspected arson attack.

The minibus, which was used for advertising by Middlesbrough taxi firm Blueline Taxis, was torched while parked at a car park on Ormesby Road, Middlesbrough.

Fire crews from Cleveland Fire Brigade tackled the blaze a 12.20am today.

A spokeswoman for the fire brigade confirmed that they are treating the blaze as arson.

Adrees Banka, Blueline Taxis general manager, said: “We used the bus for promotional purposes, it had just been done up with the adverts on it and everything.

“Then this happened. It looks like a window has been smashed and something thrown in, the fire brigade came and put it out but it’s a complete write-off.

“The minibus is probably worth about £3,000.

“It’s heartbreaking. At the end of the day we just want to make a living by providing a service.”

Cleveland Police said that they had tried to contact the registered owner of the vehicle but had been unable to make contact.

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/taxi-boss-heartbroken-after-minibus-7750851?