LIVERPOOL

A new black cab app has launched in Merseyside - hoping to improve the reputation of the trade and stop customers from being ripped off.

Yesterday the ECHO published shocking footage of young hairdresser Kayleigh Dixon being dragged along Dale Street by a taxi after its driver drove away with the door still open.

It followed an argument in which Kayleigh alleges that she and her friends were being quoted an extortionate fare by the driver, who she said would not engage his meter for the journey.

There have been frequent complaints made about a minority of drivers in Liverpool who are said to be over-charging and “cherry picking” fares - and now a group of cabbies have come together to launch the new Merseyride app, which they hope will improve the trade.

In a revolutionary move, customers who download the Merseyride app will be able to plot their cab’s route beforehand and be given estimated fares up front.

Similarly to the Uber app - users will be able to pay by debit card - as well as the traditional cash method.

But in contrast to Uber, Merseyride will not use a crowd-surging policy in which customers are asked to pay more during busy periods.

The app - which has been endorsed by Liverpool council - will actually offer three different routes for customers, prices and estimated distances for customers to choose from.

It is also hoped that the app will be more convenient than flagging down a cab.

The app will give customers estimated fares before journeys and bring hackney cabs to their doors

A statement from the company said: “By asking the customer to put their destination into the app before they can proceed with the booking we can plan where drivers will be in time.

“So if a driver is heading to Garston and another customer is looking for a taxi from Allerton we can tell them that a taxi is available within 8 minutes, for example.

“If the passenger then goes onto complete the booking we can inform the driver that there is an upcoming job 3 minutes from the current drop off.”

The app - which has been endorsed by Liverpool council - will actually offer three different routes for customers, prices and estimated distances for customers to choose from.

The app will use live traffic information to estimate waiting times.

Kevin Melvin is a cabbie with 28 years experience and is the secretary of the new app committee.  
He said: “The perception that people have at the moment is that they get in a Hackney cab and it’s already three times the price of a private hire - and that is not true.

“We hope this app will change people’s views - we are trying to do something good for the trade.
“Unlike apps like Uber there will be no surge charges - and also unlike them the money we make will go back into the local economy.”

On the drivers who are currently over-charging and cherry picking, he added: “They might not think they are breaking the law but I do - they are killing the trade.

“Everyone will be welcome to use the app and drivers can become shareholders or not - in the future we would like to expand into other boroughs as well.”

Speaking about the Dale Street incident, Merseyride chairman Kevin Lawrence said: “Public safety is paramount to us as a trade and these incidents show us as a trade in a bad light, we are doing everything in our power to invest and improve the trade and raise the standard.”

The app can be downloaded using Apple Store or Google Play store.

http://bit.ly/2GSETgA

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Most drivers at Derby taxi firm stay away from work on sick 'Punish a Muslim' day

A Derby taxi firm lost 70% of its drivers today because they were too scared to work due to sick "Punish a Muslim" hate campaign.

The phrase was coined in an anonymous letter sent to homes and businesses across the country last month which suggested people could win "points" for a range of abuse aimed at Muslims on April 3.
Muddasser Ahmed, the owner of PJ Cars in Derby, said around 35 drivers were too worried to work, the equivalent of 70% of his work force.

Mr Ahmed said: "Seventy per cent of our fleet is off and they are saying they don’t want to risk going into work.

"We don’t know what to do. Our phones are switched off because we have no cars to offer.
"Nothing is going to happen. My message to my drivers is come to work, please.

"We are absolutely struggling. I have never seen anything like this before. Two or three days ago drivers were saying to us 'make sure you close the office'.

"This is the impact it’s having. I am very annoyed because it’s definitely affecting us."

Mr Ahmed said he was worried his customers were being left "stranded" because of the issue.
He added: "The customers are losing out. I’m trying to encourage the drivers and tell them nothing will happen. At least pick up the regular customers who they know."

Bosses at Albatross Cars, in Midland Road, Derby, said drivers were being offered safety advice because of the letter.

Faz Manfha, operations manager at the firm, said the letter was "absolutely disgusting".
He added: "For them to target Muslim people is vile."

http://bit.ly/2ItE3E9
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BOLTON


 Surgeons tried 15 times to save biker's leg after this sickening collision with a taxi

Taxi driver Mohammad Bhatti, 58, has now been banned from driving for six months following the collision which happened in Bolton

This sickening collision led to a biker having part of his leg amputated.

The crash was captured on CCTV and shows the victim flung from his motorcycle after a taxi turned into his path.

Almost five months on, police said the 42-year-old’s life has ‘completely changed’.

He continues to attend physiotherapy and rehabilitation sessions and has been forced to live in supported accommodation while special adaptations are made to his home.

Police said surgeons tried 15 times to save his leg, but were eventually forced to partially amputate.
Taxi driver Mohammad Bhatti, 58, of Gilnow Road, Bolton, pleaded guilty at Bolton magistrates’ court to a charge of driving without due care and attention and was sentenced on Tuesday.

Police said he was handed the maximum sentence the court could impose for the offence, a six-month driving ban.

PC Michael Cartwright, of GMP’s Road Policing Unit, said: “As you will see from the footage, this was an awful collision that has left the victim with life-changing injuries.

“Since this collision, he has had to live in supported accommodation while special adaptations are made to his home because of his disability. He also continues to attend physiotherapy and rehabilitation sessions.

http://bit.ly/2GRxKgx