LONDON
Black cab drivers have blocked Tottenham Court Road in the ninth day of a protest over plans to close the road to cars, lorries and taxis.
Under the £35m West End project, taxis and other general traffic will be stopped from travelling along Tottenham Court Road.
Protesters are arguing against the plans.
The demonstrations are now in their ninth day with protesters vowing to continue until there is a resolution.
Images from Tottenham Court Road show taxis lining the street for as far as the eye can see.
According to TfL Traffic News, the protests have closed off Tottenham Court Road, Charing Cross Road north of Cambridge Circus and St Giles High Street.
Buses have been diverted due to the demonstration.
Under the plans, only buses and bikes will be allowed between 8am and 7pm, Monday to Saturday, when it is converted from one-way to two-way traffic from March.
Camden council says the changes will improve road safety and air quality and lead to a change in fortunes for an “unloved” street. Drivers who breach the restrictions face a £130 fine.
But the taxi industry, which lost a High Court challenge against the way the draft plans were consulted upon in 2015, fears the move will worsen congestion and increase pollution in surrounding streets.
The council is midway into a two-year project that, by March 2020, will also switch nearby Gower Street to two-way traffic, with segregated cycle lanes along its length. All buses will move from Gower Street/Bloomsbury Street to Tottenham Court Road in March while Alfred Place, which runs parallel, will be closed to create a “linear” park.
Tottenham Court Road’s pavements are also being widened and a piazza has been created between the Tube station and Centre Point, ahead of the delayed opening of Crossrail.
https://bit.ly/2Bfxwf1
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BOLTON
A TAXI driver accused of grooming a 15-year-old girl and assaulting his wife has lost his licence.
He allegedly sent a number of Facebook messages to the young girl in an attempt to groom her for sex in 2015 and was arrested following a police investigation.
He was also arrested for an assault on his wife in 2010 but no subsequent action was taken by the Crown Prosecution Service.
The driver, described as a “sexual predator”, wanted to renew his private hire driver’s licence but was turned down by Bolton Council.
He tried to use his children’s disability and his wife’s depression in his defence but this was given limited weight.
The licensing sub-committee considered the application following a series of complaints against him for inappropriate behaviour.
A complaint was received in June claimed that he was abusive towards his wife who was aware he had been “messing about with kids”.
This incident resulted in an argument and the police were called but they let him go.
The complainant further added that the wife did not feel she could report him for domestic violence as he would hit her more.
The man denied the grooming offence even though photos of the 15-year-old girl were found in his phone showing contact had been made – although messages had been deleted.
He denied contacting her more than three years ago, but the committee did not find this credible.
He also denied using Facebook altogether, claiming he may have been hacked, even though he had previously indicated that he used Facebook on route with the police to the Bolton Custody Suite.
Police suspect that he deliberately discarded his phone in the bathroom of a private address following arrest but lied by saying he had lost it the day before.
The phone number was checked against documentation from the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children and confirmed it was the same number.
The decision not to renew the licence was made at a licensing sub-committee meeting on October 26 which the man, his wife and his solicitor attended.
His wife admitted ringing the police but denied feeling threatened which the sub-committee did not find credible.
The sub-committee also heard verbal evidence from the licensing officer.
It was established that he failed to declare the arrests in three previous declaration forms in accordance with the conditions of his licence.
The meeting, which was chaired by Cllr Madeline Murray, lasted four hours.
Councillors Hilary Fairclough, David Greenhalgh, Susan Haworth and Debbie Newall also attended the meeting.
The sub-committee noted: "Members of the public and in particular, the elderly, infirm and children or vulnerable adults entrust their personal safety and wellbeing to private hire drivers whenever they take a journey. Passengers often travel alone and are vulnerable to inappropriate behaviour.
"The Sub- Committee’s primary duty is of concern for the safety and well-being of the public.
"There is therefore reasonable cause to refuse to renew the private hire driver’s licence."
https://bit.ly/2Bgh522
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LICENCE WARNING: Durham County Council urged tax drivers and operators to ensure they meet licensing requirements
TAXI drivers and operators are being urged to ensure “paperwork” is in place to meet licensing requirements.
It follows a Durham County Council prosecution of a private hire vehicle driver and his boss.
Driver Dean Smith, from Seaham, was using a private hire vehicle to pick up a pupil from a school in Murton.
Although he had a hackney carriage licence, he was not licensed or insured to drive a private hire car.
Checks showed the Seat Toledo he was driving was licensed to taxi operator Michael Crumbie, who later told licensing officers not all of his 15 employees held private hire licences.
Crumbie said he asked Smith to make the pick-up using one of his three private hire vehicles, but confirmed he has since taken steps to ensure the situation is not repeated, encouraging drivers to have licences for both hackney carriage and private hire vehicles.
Smith said he only drove that car, on his day off, at short notice at Crumbie’s request, as other vehicles were being valeted.
Seeing the inspector, he decided not to collect the child.
Crumbie, 47, of James Street, was fined £440 with £244 costs and victim surcharge. Smith, 51, of Windermere Road, was fined £87, with £130 overall costs.
The council said drivers must they have the right licences to comply with insurance requirements.
https://goo.gl/Fo8xi2
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BARCELONA
Ride-hailing companies Uber and Cabify are to suspend their services in Barcelona in response to the regional government’s imposition of limits on how they operate in the city.
The Catalan government ruled that ride-hailing services could only pick up passengers after a 15-minute delay from the time they were booked.
The decision followed mass protests by Barcelona taxi drivers who complained that their business was being undermined and the services did not operate on a level playing field.
Barcelona is Spain’s second-largest city and one of its main tourist destinations. The suspension of the services was announced just a few weeks before it hosts the annual Mobile World Congress, one of the world’s largest meetings of the mobile tech industry.
“The new restrictions approved by the Catalan government leave us with no choice but to suspend UberX while we assess our future in Barcelona,” an Uber spokesman said.
Spain’s Cabify, which has one million users in Barcelona, said in a statement it regretted that the city had “given in to the demands of the taxi sector, seriously hurting citizen’s interests”.
Cabify said the new regulation, which took effect on Thursday, had the specific objective of “the direct expulsion of the Cabify application” from Barcelona and the region Catalonia.
Uber said it remained committed to operating in the long-term in Spanish cities and hoped “to work with the Catalan government and the City Council on fair regulation for all”.
Uber began offering its UberX service last March. The new regulations were imposed under pressure from taxi drivers, who held strikes that blocked roads in Barcelona and remain on strike in the Spanish capital, Madrid.
The drivers in Madrid escalated their protest this week by blocking one of the city’s main arteries. But Uber licences in Spain are granted by local authorities, and so far Madrid authorities have said they would not adopt the same restriction as in Barcelona.
Cabify and Unauto VTC, an association of transport companies in Spain, said Barcelona’s decision to adopt the new regulation could put 3,000 jobs at risk in Barcelona.
Uber declined to say how many drivers work for it in Barcelona.
https://reut.rs/2ShOa7t
Thursday, 31 January 2019
Wednesday, 30 January 2019
Bexhill restaurateur accused of “inappropriate and troubling” behaviour towards 15-year old girl loses taxi licence appeals following revocation of premises licence.
In a rare case, an operator has had both his appeals against the revocation of his taxi licences and alcohol licence dismissed following allegations that he employed illegal and underage workers and exhibited “inappropriate and troubling” behaviour towards a 15-year old girl. The case highlights the interaction between two distinct licensing regimes and their common objective in safeguarding vulnerable people and promoting the public interest.
Facts
Mr Saleh Uddin works as a taxi driver by day but at night operates the Chilli Tree restaurant in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex. To enable him to do the former he is the holder of dual hackney carriage/private hire driver licence as well as operator and vehicle licences. All three of these taxi licences were issued by Rother District Council under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976. His restaurant operated under a premises licence permitting the sale of alcohol under the distinct regime provided by the Licensing Act 2003.
Mr Uddin’s restaurant was twice inspected by Sussex Police and Home Office Immigration Officers in October 2017 and January 2018. In the first visit, three workers without the right to work in the UK were discovered. On the second visit, two illegal workers were found, including the same individual found working at the restaurant on the previous visit. Some staff were being paid little or no wages but instead had their visa application fees or other expenses paid by the restaurant owner. Additionally, a 15 year old girl was found working behind the bar without the necessary Child Employment Licence in place.
Premises Licence revocation and appeal
Given these allegations Rother District Council revoked the restaurant’s premises licence at a review hearing. Mr Uddin’s earlier appeal against the revocation of his restaurant’s premises licence was dismissed by District Judge Szagun at Hastings Magistrates’ Court on 26 September 2018 following his non-compliance with the Court’s directions in relation to that appeal.
Taxi licences revoked
The day after the Court dismissed Mr Uddin’s premises licence appeal, Rother District Council’s taxi licensing sub-committee considered an application to revoke his operator and vehicle licences. Mr Uddin failed to attend that hearing and his licences were revoked. Three weeks earlier Mr Uddin’s dual driver’s licence was also revoked under delegated authority without the need for a hearing on the grounds that he was not a fit and proper person. The driver’s licence decision was ordered to have immediate effect in the interests of public safety (pursuant to s.61(2B) of the 1976 Act).
In addition to the earlier concerns around Mr Uddin’s employment of illegal workers and underage workers, which called into question Mr Uddin’s ability and/or willingness to comply with the taxi licensing (or any other relevant regulatory regime), a further troubling allegation came to light concerning Mr Uddin’s conduct towards a 15-year old girl he had employed at his restaurant.
The girl provided two witness statements alleging that Mr Uddin:
1) Had sent her text messages very late into the night including one suggesting she dress “like a beauty queen” (screenshots from her mobile phone provided corroboration);
2) Discussed his youthful sexual prowess and frequently told her how pretty she was;
3) Invited her into his bedroom above the restaurant and suggested they could “take naps” together;
4) Took her out in his car on errands and offered to take her to London to look at Ferraris;
5) Offered her alcohol;
6) “Playfully” pushed her to the ground and then held her down on the floor so she couldn’t get up.
Taxi licences appeal
As he had previously done in relation to the premises licence appeal, Mr Uddin appealed the revocation of his taxi licences to Hastings Magistrates’ Court. He subsequently abandoned his complaint about the revocation of his operator’s licence but pursued appeals against the revocation of both his dual driver’s and vehicle licences.
The conjoined appeals were heard before District Judge Szagun on 21 January 2019. This time Mr Uddin attended Court and gave live evidence. The formal witness statements of the 15 year old girl were before the Court but she was not called to give live evidence by Rother District Council as Respondent to the appeal. Mr Uddin denied all the allegations relating to the 15 year old girl. He suggested that she had made them up and that he would never behave in that manner. He denied the girl had ever been into his bedroom and alleged there was a local conspiracy against him being organised through social media and the girl’s family. Mr Uddin placed weight on the fact that the police had specifically reached a decision not to prosecute him in regards to these allegations.
Under cross-examination Mr Uddin was unable to explain how the girl was able to accurately describe his bedroom if she had never been inside. Nor could he provide any motive for the girl to have made up these lies about him. His request for her to dress “like a beauty queen”, take her out on trips in his vehicle and text her late at night were, he claimed, simply designed to “support her” and give her confidence.
Counsel for Rother District Council reminded the Judge of the re-formulated test proposed in the leading text “Button on Taxis” where its highly-respected eponymous author states:
“Would you (as a member of the licensing committee or other person charged with the ability to grant a hackney carriage driver’s licence) allow your son or daughter, spouse or partner, mother or father, grandson or granddaughter, or any other person for whom you care, to get into a vehicle with this person alone?
The District Judge did not accept Mr Uddin’s evidence, dismissed his appeals and upheld the earlier decision of Rother District Council to revoke all three of his taxi licences.
In the course of her oral judgement the District Judge observed:
1) In line with the decision in Hope and Glory [2011] EWCA Civ 31, the burden was on Mr Uddin, as the appellant, to establish the decision below “is wrong” and the Court will not lightly reverse that decision.
2) Where there is a factual dispute, then the standard of proof in taxi licensing cases is the balance of probabilities or “more likely than not” and not the higher criminal threshold of “being satisfied so you are sure” or “beyond reasonable doubt”. This explains why the decision of the police not to prosecute Mr Uddin for his behaviour towards the girl does not bind the Court in the licensing context.
3) The District Judge took into account that the girl complainant was not in Court and so could not be cross-examined. But, having also assessed Mr Uddin’s evidence and performance under cross-examination, she was satisfied that the contents of the girl’s statement were more likely than not to be true.
4) Indeed even the conduct Mr Uddin admitted to was “inappropriate and troubling” given that the girl was vulnerable and Mr Uddin was in a position of trust. He was either “extremely naïve or very manipulative”
5) Rother District Council’s decision to revoke his taxi licences was lawful and proportionate even given the impact this would have on Mr Uddin’s ability to earn a living. The protection of the public is the primary objective of taxi licensing and not concerns over Mr Uddin’s livelihood.
6) Therefore Mr Uddin:
a. Was not a fit and proper person to hold a dual driver’s licence
b. It was reasonable to revoke his vehicle licence.
Mr Uddin was ordered to pay the Council’s costs in full.
Gary Grant, Barrister of Francis Taylor Building, acted for Rother District Council instructed by Andy Eaton (FIOL), Deputy Legal Services Manager for Wealden and Rother District Councils.
https://bit.ly/2S0GneW
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The new policy, which is expected to go into effect on Feb. 1, would set the minimum wage for all drivers at just over $17 an hour.
In a rare case, an operator has had both his appeals against the revocation of his taxi licences and alcohol licence dismissed following allegations that he employed illegal and underage workers and exhibited “inappropriate and troubling” behaviour towards a 15-year old girl. The case highlights the interaction between two distinct licensing regimes and their common objective in safeguarding vulnerable people and promoting the public interest.
Facts
Mr Saleh Uddin works as a taxi driver by day but at night operates the Chilli Tree restaurant in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex. To enable him to do the former he is the holder of dual hackney carriage/private hire driver licence as well as operator and vehicle licences. All three of these taxi licences were issued by Rother District Council under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976. His restaurant operated under a premises licence permitting the sale of alcohol under the distinct regime provided by the Licensing Act 2003.
Mr Uddin’s restaurant was twice inspected by Sussex Police and Home Office Immigration Officers in October 2017 and January 2018. In the first visit, three workers without the right to work in the UK were discovered. On the second visit, two illegal workers were found, including the same individual found working at the restaurant on the previous visit. Some staff were being paid little or no wages but instead had their visa application fees or other expenses paid by the restaurant owner. Additionally, a 15 year old girl was found working behind the bar without the necessary Child Employment Licence in place.
Premises Licence revocation and appeal
Given these allegations Rother District Council revoked the restaurant’s premises licence at a review hearing. Mr Uddin’s earlier appeal against the revocation of his restaurant’s premises licence was dismissed by District Judge Szagun at Hastings Magistrates’ Court on 26 September 2018 following his non-compliance with the Court’s directions in relation to that appeal.
Taxi licences revoked
The day after the Court dismissed Mr Uddin’s premises licence appeal, Rother District Council’s taxi licensing sub-committee considered an application to revoke his operator and vehicle licences. Mr Uddin failed to attend that hearing and his licences were revoked. Three weeks earlier Mr Uddin’s dual driver’s licence was also revoked under delegated authority without the need for a hearing on the grounds that he was not a fit and proper person. The driver’s licence decision was ordered to have immediate effect in the interests of public safety (pursuant to s.61(2B) of the 1976 Act).
In addition to the earlier concerns around Mr Uddin’s employment of illegal workers and underage workers, which called into question Mr Uddin’s ability and/or willingness to comply with the taxi licensing (or any other relevant regulatory regime), a further troubling allegation came to light concerning Mr Uddin’s conduct towards a 15-year old girl he had employed at his restaurant.
The girl provided two witness statements alleging that Mr Uddin:
1) Had sent her text messages very late into the night including one suggesting she dress “like a beauty queen” (screenshots from her mobile phone provided corroboration);
2) Discussed his youthful sexual prowess and frequently told her how pretty she was;
3) Invited her into his bedroom above the restaurant and suggested they could “take naps” together;
4) Took her out in his car on errands and offered to take her to London to look at Ferraris;
5) Offered her alcohol;
6) “Playfully” pushed her to the ground and then held her down on the floor so she couldn’t get up.
Taxi licences appeal
As he had previously done in relation to the premises licence appeal, Mr Uddin appealed the revocation of his taxi licences to Hastings Magistrates’ Court. He subsequently abandoned his complaint about the revocation of his operator’s licence but pursued appeals against the revocation of both his dual driver’s and vehicle licences.
The conjoined appeals were heard before District Judge Szagun on 21 January 2019. This time Mr Uddin attended Court and gave live evidence. The formal witness statements of the 15 year old girl were before the Court but she was not called to give live evidence by Rother District Council as Respondent to the appeal. Mr Uddin denied all the allegations relating to the 15 year old girl. He suggested that she had made them up and that he would never behave in that manner. He denied the girl had ever been into his bedroom and alleged there was a local conspiracy against him being organised through social media and the girl’s family. Mr Uddin placed weight on the fact that the police had specifically reached a decision not to prosecute him in regards to these allegations.
Under cross-examination Mr Uddin was unable to explain how the girl was able to accurately describe his bedroom if she had never been inside. Nor could he provide any motive for the girl to have made up these lies about him. His request for her to dress “like a beauty queen”, take her out on trips in his vehicle and text her late at night were, he claimed, simply designed to “support her” and give her confidence.
Counsel for Rother District Council reminded the Judge of the re-formulated test proposed in the leading text “Button on Taxis” where its highly-respected eponymous author states:
“Would you (as a member of the licensing committee or other person charged with the ability to grant a hackney carriage driver’s licence) allow your son or daughter, spouse or partner, mother or father, grandson or granddaughter, or any other person for whom you care, to get into a vehicle with this person alone?
The District Judge did not accept Mr Uddin’s evidence, dismissed his appeals and upheld the earlier decision of Rother District Council to revoke all three of his taxi licences.
In the course of her oral judgement the District Judge observed:
1) In line with the decision in Hope and Glory [2011] EWCA Civ 31, the burden was on Mr Uddin, as the appellant, to establish the decision below “is wrong” and the Court will not lightly reverse that decision.
2) Where there is a factual dispute, then the standard of proof in taxi licensing cases is the balance of probabilities or “more likely than not” and not the higher criminal threshold of “being satisfied so you are sure” or “beyond reasonable doubt”. This explains why the decision of the police not to prosecute Mr Uddin for his behaviour towards the girl does not bind the Court in the licensing context.
3) The District Judge took into account that the girl complainant was not in Court and so could not be cross-examined. But, having also assessed Mr Uddin’s evidence and performance under cross-examination, she was satisfied that the contents of the girl’s statement were more likely than not to be true.
4) Indeed even the conduct Mr Uddin admitted to was “inappropriate and troubling” given that the girl was vulnerable and Mr Uddin was in a position of trust. He was either “extremely naïve or very manipulative”
5) Rother District Council’s decision to revoke his taxi licences was lawful and proportionate even given the impact this would have on Mr Uddin’s ability to earn a living. The protection of the public is the primary objective of taxi licensing and not concerns over Mr Uddin’s livelihood.
6) Therefore Mr Uddin:
a. Was not a fit and proper person to hold a dual driver’s licence
b. It was reasonable to revoke his vehicle licence.
Mr Uddin was ordered to pay the Council’s costs in full.
Gary Grant, Barrister of Francis Taylor Building, acted for Rother District Council instructed by Andy Eaton (FIOL), Deputy Legal Services Manager for Wealden and Rother District Councils.
https://bit.ly/2S0GneW
--------------------------------------------
Lyft Files Suit Over New York Taxi Commission's Minimum Wage Policy
The new policy, which is expected to go into effect on Feb. 1, would set the minimum wage for all drivers at just over $17 an hour.
Lyft says the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission's new minimum wage rules could hurt its business — and the ride-sharing company is suing.
The new policy, which is expected to go into effect on Feb. 1, would set the minimum take-home wage for drivers at $17.22.
Lyft's biggest issue was that the new minimum wage was calculated using a set "utilization rate."
The utilization rate is the ratio of customers in a company's cars to the number of cars on the road. To make sure drivers are actually making the new minimum wage, companies will have to pay some drivers extra on top of what they earn from passengers. Companies with a higher ratio of customers per car, like Uber, will have to pay drivers less. Companies with fewer customers per car will have to shell out more, hurting their bottom lines.
In the petition, Lyft argues that "instead of setting an industry-wide utilization rate ... the rule allows any company to use its own company specific utilization rate."
Due to this, Lyft has asked the court to "vacate" the law.
https://bit.ly/2CSQ7xI
Tuesday, 29 January 2019
Shock as Coventry taxi firm announces 70 job losses
The announcement came just 24 hours after Prince Charles visited the new factory in Ansty
Workers at the London Electric Vehicle Company, which builds world famous black cabs, have been told today to expect job losses.
Managers called production staff together this afternoon to inform them of plans to reduce the workforce by 70 - around a fifth of the total headcount.
It comes just 24 hours after Prince Charles was given a guided tour of the plant in Ansty, on the edge of the city.
One production worker, who did not wish to be named, said: "We all knew this was coming, but we didn't know the amount.
"There will be another meeting tomorrow where we will find out the criteria - who is going.
"We knew that this would be announced as soon as Prince Charles had left.
"We have put our heart and soul into that new building for Coventry, to do Coventry proud again.
"There are some brilliant workers there, the management are not fit to run a factory in Coventry.
"The production manager called us all together today and said there were 70 to go.
"They are looking at five weeks until we don't have a job.
"Because it is a new company, 80 per cent of the workers are new.
"The workers from Holyhead Road can carry their service on, but it will all be new workers that go.
"Our prospects are bleak now in Coventry."
A spokesman for the London Electric Vehicle Company said: “2019 will be a challenging year for UK automotive.
"To prepare the business we are reducing the number of agency staff and making productivity improvements.
"We still expect demand for our premium electric taxi to continue to grow over the coming years.”
Black cabs are built by the company, formerly the London Taxi Company based in Holyhead Road, Coundon.
Two years ago, the firm - owned by Chinese car manufacturer Geely, moved production to a brand new factory at Ansty Park.
It was the site of a Royal visit by the Prince of Wales yesterday, who looked around tracks building new zero-emission cabs.
https://bit.ly/2CQNbBt
The announcement came just 24 hours after Prince Charles visited the new factory in Ansty
Workers at the London Electric Vehicle Company, which builds world famous black cabs, have been told today to expect job losses.
Managers called production staff together this afternoon to inform them of plans to reduce the workforce by 70 - around a fifth of the total headcount.
It comes just 24 hours after Prince Charles was given a guided tour of the plant in Ansty, on the edge of the city.
One production worker, who did not wish to be named, said: "We all knew this was coming, but we didn't know the amount.
"There will be another meeting tomorrow where we will find out the criteria - who is going.
"We knew that this would be announced as soon as Prince Charles had left.
"We have put our heart and soul into that new building for Coventry, to do Coventry proud again.
"There are some brilliant workers there, the management are not fit to run a factory in Coventry.
"The production manager called us all together today and said there were 70 to go.
"They are looking at five weeks until we don't have a job.
"Because it is a new company, 80 per cent of the workers are new.
"The workers from Holyhead Road can carry their service on, but it will all be new workers that go.
"Our prospects are bleak now in Coventry."
A spokesman for the London Electric Vehicle Company said: “2019 will be a challenging year for UK automotive.
"To prepare the business we are reducing the number of agency staff and making productivity improvements.
"We still expect demand for our premium electric taxi to continue to grow over the coming years.”
Black cabs are built by the company, formerly the London Taxi Company based in Holyhead Road, Coundon.
Two years ago, the firm - owned by Chinese car manufacturer Geely, moved production to a brand new factory at Ansty Park.
It was the site of a Royal visit by the Prince of Wales yesterday, who looked around tracks building new zero-emission cabs.
https://bit.ly/2CQNbBt
Monday, 28 January 2019
London private hire firm Addison Lee has bought 1,200 Volkswagen Sharans – a deal so large, it instantly means more than 1 in 5 of the firm’s taxis will now be a Sharan.
The first deliveries will begin this week; they’re all Sharan SE 2.0 TDI Bluemotion 150 models, with traffic-friendly DSG automatic gearboxes.
They’re also all painted in Addison Lee’s trademark black, joining the firm’s thousands of black Ford Galaxy people carriers.
Bosses at the firm are impressed by the Sharan’s electric sliding rear doors, which they reckon will boost safety for passengers. The full-size MPV is a seven-seater, ticking the practicality box.
As for Volkswagen UK, its head of fleet Michael O’Shea said it was “very pleased to be working with such a prominent name as Addison Lee Group”. He also stressed the significance of the “multi-million pound deal”.
Addison Lee has bought the Sharans now ahead of Transport for London’s new Ultra-Low Emission Zone, which goes live on 8 April.
Although the VW people carriers are diesels, rather than plug-in hybrids, they meet the latest Euro 6 emissions standards, so will comply with the new rules (although still be banned from Tottenham Court Road from March).
Lisa Burger, Addison Lee Group’s COO, said the deal “will make our entire fleet compliant with TfL’s low emission standards and start the process of moving towards a zero-emissions capable fleet”.
It remains to be seen if, in the future, future deals could involve Addison Lee-branded versions of the new all-electric Volkswagen ID Buzz…
https://bit.ly/2B9AyRY
The first deliveries will begin this week; they’re all Sharan SE 2.0 TDI Bluemotion 150 models, with traffic-friendly DSG automatic gearboxes.
They’re also all painted in Addison Lee’s trademark black, joining the firm’s thousands of black Ford Galaxy people carriers.
Bosses at the firm are impressed by the Sharan’s electric sliding rear doors, which they reckon will boost safety for passengers. The full-size MPV is a seven-seater, ticking the practicality box.
As for Volkswagen UK, its head of fleet Michael O’Shea said it was “very pleased to be working with such a prominent name as Addison Lee Group”. He also stressed the significance of the “multi-million pound deal”.
Addison Lee has bought the Sharans now ahead of Transport for London’s new Ultra-Low Emission Zone, which goes live on 8 April.
Although the VW people carriers are diesels, rather than plug-in hybrids, they meet the latest Euro 6 emissions standards, so will comply with the new rules (although still be banned from Tottenham Court Road from March).
Lisa Burger, Addison Lee Group’s COO, said the deal “will make our entire fleet compliant with TfL’s low emission standards and start the process of moving towards a zero-emissions capable fleet”.
It remains to be seen if, in the future, future deals could involve Addison Lee-branded versions of the new all-electric Volkswagen ID Buzz…
https://bit.ly/2B9AyRY
Sunday, 27 January 2019
A Teesside taxi driver has called for a cap on private hire vehicles - saying he has to work a 40-hour a week before earning a single penny.
Private hire firms are flooding Teesside's roads with cars, sending drivers "spiralling into debt as they struggle to make ends meet", he has claimed.
The driver from Middlesbrough, who did not want to be named for fear of losing his job, said he's had a black eye and been beaten by passengers over the years, battling depression as he feels stuck in a job that pays a pittance.
He's calling for a limit on the number of licences issued - but Middlesbrough Council says there is no current legislation to enforce such a cap.
'I pay £70 before getting into the car'
The driver said: "I have to do a 70-odd hour shift just to make a couple of hundred pounds.
"The first 41 hours, you give it to the company. I pay £65 to £70 a day before I even get in the car.
"The car costs £260 in rent. The licence is £300 every three years.
"It's £120 in diesel a week. You're out doing six to 12 hour shifts and still not covering your money."
But the driver said there's "no unity", and although others are angry "nobody sticks together".
He added: "So what can you do? You just have to plod on.
"It stresses me out, there's no other job out there where you have to work 40 hours for them rather than yourself.
"We don't get sick pay, holidays, I could quit the job but what would I do.
"The council gets money for every car on the road, they should stop issuing badges but it's business for them.
"Middlesbrough doesn't need any more drivers."
https://bit.ly/2UnHCSo
----------------------------------------------
PLYMOUTH
Hundreds of taxi drivers have taken to the streets of Plymouth to protest against a planned hike in licence costs.
Cabbies are holding a drive slow protest through the city centre from Milehouse Park and Ride.
The planned changes, unveiled by the council's licensing department, would cover holes in the authority's budget.
For hackney drivers, it's proposed that a one-year black cab licence jumps from £210 to £324 and a one-year driver’s licence - which they also need to apply for - goes from £112 to £165.
A one year private hire cab licence for private hire drivers - those employed by a private firm - is proposed to jump from £117 to £170 with a one-year driver’s licence going from £82 to £120.
But cabbies are uniting this weekend to stage a 'peaceful protest' over the proposed increases - although Plymouth City Council say the fee hike is still at the consultation phase.
Jason says his licence is set to increase by 95 per cent if it goes ahead.
The private hire taxi driver said: "We are all protesting this extreme rise. It's more outage than we're getting innage.
"It's hard to make a living as it is . We want them [the council] to know we are sticking together. we are being forced to make a stand. A 95 per cent rise is unfathomable.
"There have been quite a few taxi drivers who have said they aren't going to renew [their licences]."
https://bit.ly/2TjH2EU
Private hire firms are flooding Teesside's roads with cars, sending drivers "spiralling into debt as they struggle to make ends meet", he has claimed.
The driver from Middlesbrough, who did not want to be named for fear of losing his job, said he's had a black eye and been beaten by passengers over the years, battling depression as he feels stuck in a job that pays a pittance.
He's calling for a limit on the number of licences issued - but Middlesbrough Council says there is no current legislation to enforce such a cap.
'I pay £70 before getting into the car'
The driver said: "I have to do a 70-odd hour shift just to make a couple of hundred pounds.
"The first 41 hours, you give it to the company. I pay £65 to £70 a day before I even get in the car.
"The car costs £260 in rent. The licence is £300 every three years.
"It's £120 in diesel a week. You're out doing six to 12 hour shifts and still not covering your money."
But the driver said there's "no unity", and although others are angry "nobody sticks together".
He added: "So what can you do? You just have to plod on.
"It stresses me out, there's no other job out there where you have to work 40 hours for them rather than yourself.
"We don't get sick pay, holidays, I could quit the job but what would I do.
"The council gets money for every car on the road, they should stop issuing badges but it's business for them.
"Middlesbrough doesn't need any more drivers."
https://bit.ly/2UnHCSo
----------------------------------------------
PLYMOUTH
Hundreds of taxi drivers have taken to the streets of Plymouth to protest against a planned hike in licence costs.
Cabbies are holding a drive slow protest through the city centre from Milehouse Park and Ride.
The planned changes, unveiled by the council's licensing department, would cover holes in the authority's budget.
For hackney drivers, it's proposed that a one-year black cab licence jumps from £210 to £324 and a one-year driver’s licence - which they also need to apply for - goes from £112 to £165.
A one year private hire cab licence for private hire drivers - those employed by a private firm - is proposed to jump from £117 to £170 with a one-year driver’s licence going from £82 to £120.
But cabbies are uniting this weekend to stage a 'peaceful protest' over the proposed increases - although Plymouth City Council say the fee hike is still at the consultation phase.
Jason says his licence is set to increase by 95 per cent if it goes ahead.
The private hire taxi driver said: "We are all protesting this extreme rise. It's more outage than we're getting innage.
"It's hard to make a living as it is . We want them [the council] to know we are sticking together. we are being forced to make a stand. A 95 per cent rise is unfathomable.
"There have been quite a few taxi drivers who have said they aren't going to renew [their licences]."
https://bit.ly/2TjH2EU
Friday, 25 January 2019
Transpennine Express to offer Onboard Taxi
Share Booking
Transport infotainment platform provider Gomedia has partnered with shared travel specialist Moses Mobility to provide rail passengers with an onboard tool to book taxis whilst on the train.
By integrating Moses Mobility’s on-demand taxi sharing service into Gomedia’s onboard Passenger Information System, passengers can book their ride during their train journey.
The companies say the solution realises the Mobility-as-a-Service concept for the last mile of a passenger’s journey.
In addition to the passenger booking capability, taxi drivers will receive updates about the train’s expected arrival time.
Moses Mobility has partnered with a number of ride-hailing services, including Uber and Gett, to offer a journey-matching service that identifies passengers who are travelling to similar destinations and offers them “just in time” shared taxi rides from the station to their end destination.
The company says the same technology can be used during rail disruptions to help move passengers more simply, reliably and cost-effectively.
Gomedia currently works with a number of rail operators, such as Transpennine Express, c2c, Eurostar and Virgin Trains, as well as Greyhound Buses in the US.
Roger Matthews, MD of Gomedia, said: “Giving passengers the option to book shared taxi travel at any time during their journey, safe in the knowledge that their driver will be updated with the latest arrival information, reducing wait times and additional charges, is a major step in delivering the first truly connected rail journey. Shared rides will soon become the norm and we’re excited to be partnering with Moses to be at the fore as this technology evolves and transport planning becomes smarter.
“The rail operators we’re working with have been impressed by how seamlessly the process helps passengers complete their onward journeys and we’re looking forward to seeing how this evolves.”
Terry Yoell, director of Moses, added: “Moses wants to break the perception that taxis are a luxury and make them part of everyday travel. Tomorrow’s trains will form the backbone of a larger Mobility-as-a-Service transport system that relies on fleets of autonomous vehicles for the first and last mile. Sharing these journeys will be essential if we want to reduce travel costs and tackle congestion.”
Moses will be available through Gomedia’s Passenger Information System in 2019.
https://bit.ly/2sOHWhi
Share Booking
Transport infotainment platform provider Gomedia has partnered with shared travel specialist Moses Mobility to provide rail passengers with an onboard tool to book taxis whilst on the train.
By integrating Moses Mobility’s on-demand taxi sharing service into Gomedia’s onboard Passenger Information System, passengers can book their ride during their train journey.
The companies say the solution realises the Mobility-as-a-Service concept for the last mile of a passenger’s journey.
In addition to the passenger booking capability, taxi drivers will receive updates about the train’s expected arrival time.
Moses Mobility has partnered with a number of ride-hailing services, including Uber and Gett, to offer a journey-matching service that identifies passengers who are travelling to similar destinations and offers them “just in time” shared taxi rides from the station to their end destination.
The company says the same technology can be used during rail disruptions to help move passengers more simply, reliably and cost-effectively.
Gomedia currently works with a number of rail operators, such as Transpennine Express, c2c, Eurostar and Virgin Trains, as well as Greyhound Buses in the US.
Roger Matthews, MD of Gomedia, said: “Giving passengers the option to book shared taxi travel at any time during their journey, safe in the knowledge that their driver will be updated with the latest arrival information, reducing wait times and additional charges, is a major step in delivering the first truly connected rail journey. Shared rides will soon become the norm and we’re excited to be partnering with Moses to be at the fore as this technology evolves and transport planning becomes smarter.
“The rail operators we’re working with have been impressed by how seamlessly the process helps passengers complete their onward journeys and we’re looking forward to seeing how this evolves.”
Terry Yoell, director of Moses, added: “Moses wants to break the perception that taxis are a luxury and make them part of everyday travel. Tomorrow’s trains will form the backbone of a larger Mobility-as-a-Service transport system that relies on fleets of autonomous vehicles for the first and last mile. Sharing these journeys will be essential if we want to reduce travel costs and tackle congestion.”
Moses will be available through Gomedia’s Passenger Information System in 2019.
https://bit.ly/2sOHWhi
Wednesday, 23 January 2019
A Birmingham taxi driver who was a "trusted courier" in a drug smuggling racket has been jailed - after £400,000-worth of cocaine was found behind the passenger seat.
Tanzeel Rehman was returning from a trip to Luton with a consignment of high-purity cocaine when he was stopped as he left the M6 at Castle Bromwich.
National Crime Agency officers who had been monitoring his journey found four one-kilo blocks of cocaine, with a purity of 98 per cent, behind the passenger seat.
No figure was given during Rehman’s hearing but other recent cases suggest the drug could have been worth at least £400,000 once it had been divided into street deals.
Rehman, 24, of Kemp Road, Stechford, was jailed for four-and-a-half years after pleading guilty at Warwick Crown Court to possessing cocaine with intent to supply it.
Simon Burch, prosecuting, said four individual wraps of cocaine, for Rehman's use, were also found in a tin in the driver's door.
Warwick Crown Court heard traffic cameras showed Rehman had driven to Luton and meet someone in another car, which was "clearly where an exchange took place".
Simon Burch, prosecuting, said Rehman, who had no previous convictions, then immediately set off to drive back to the Midlands.
He added: “We are unable to prove anything other than that the defendant was a courier.”
Rehman's taxi was stopped at junction 5 of the M6.
https://bit.ly/2WeAYiX
Tanzeel Rehman was returning from a trip to Luton with a consignment of high-purity cocaine when he was stopped as he left the M6 at Castle Bromwich.
National Crime Agency officers who had been monitoring his journey found four one-kilo blocks of cocaine, with a purity of 98 per cent, behind the passenger seat.
No figure was given during Rehman’s hearing but other recent cases suggest the drug could have been worth at least £400,000 once it had been divided into street deals.
Rehman, 24, of Kemp Road, Stechford, was jailed for four-and-a-half years after pleading guilty at Warwick Crown Court to possessing cocaine with intent to supply it.
Simon Burch, prosecuting, said four individual wraps of cocaine, for Rehman's use, were also found in a tin in the driver's door.
Warwick Crown Court heard traffic cameras showed Rehman had driven to Luton and meet someone in another car, which was "clearly where an exchange took place".
Simon Burch, prosecuting, said Rehman, who had no previous convictions, then immediately set off to drive back to the Midlands.
He added: “We are unable to prove anything other than that the defendant was a courier.”
Rehman's taxi was stopped at junction 5 of the M6.
https://bit.ly/2WeAYiX
Around 200 Edinburgh taxi drivers met to discuss controversial proposals which would force firms replace all black cabs which are more than 10-years-old.
Union Unite Scotland say that a "crisis" is facing the trade in Edinburgh as an estimated £28.3 million investment would be required to meet this demand.
The measure is being introduced by the City of Edinburgh Council as part of their Taxi and Private Hire Cars Age Limitation and Emission Standards policy.
The aim is to improve emissions standards in the city.
However Unite say that firms are being forced to fork out up to £60,000 or face being "forced off the road".
And it is one of a number of reasons cab drivers are looking to create a new union branch in the capital – the first time this has happened.
Mark Lyon, the union's regional industrial officer, also said that drivers in the city were growing frustrated at growing instances of 'pirate' taxi drivers.
He said: "There is a crisis facing the taxi trade in Edinburgh. The meeting involving Unite Scotland was very positive and attended by hundreds across the different sectors in the trade.
"A number of key issues were discussed such as illegal plying for hire, no dedicated inspectors to deter pirating, and the massive costs associated with the city council's emissions policy.
"As such the drivers present resolved to work together by creating a new Unite branch, to initiate an organising campaign to put pressure on the relevant authorities and to drive up standards."
Mr Lyon was present at last night's meeting at the taxi drivers' club in Bonnington, told Edinburgh Live: "It was an emotional meeting. The room was packed out and there was standing room only.
"All the major taxi companies in the city were involved, and people are really upset over what is going on"
A spokesperson for the City of Edinburgh Council said: "Licensing Sub-Committee Convener, Councillor Catherine Fullerton, said: “Air pollution is a real concern in Edinburgh and in cities around the country, and this is something the council is working to address through a range of measures, including plans to introduce a Low Emission Zone.
“In March 2018 Regulatory Committee agreed to introduce an age limit and emission standards for all taxis and private hire cars, with a view to reducing the number of polluting vehicles on our roads and bringing Edinburgh in line with most other cities in the UK, where age limits have been introduced to licensed taxi fleets.
“There has been extensive public consultation and detailed dialogue with the taxi trade going back to June 2016, during which time representatives of taxi businesses raised a number of concerns.
"These were reflected in changes made by the Licensing Sub-Committee and include setting out a 10 year instead of five year age limit originally proposed as well as extending the life of taxis which are converted to less polluting engines.”
https://bit.ly/2FL6O1H
-------------------------------------------
BARCELONA AND MADRID
A taxi drivers’ strike has caused major disruption in Madrid and Barcelona and cast doubt on the efforts of ride-sharing firms like Uber to consolidate their business in Spain.
Taxi drivers in Barcelona went on strike on Friday, in protest at what they claimed was a failure by authorities to regulate the activities of digital ride-sharing companies. On Monday, Madrid taxi drivers joined the action, calling for a similar clampdown.
With Madrid’s annual international tourism fair beginning on Wednesday, the protest caused substantial logistical problems. Hundreds of taxi drivers parked their cars outside the conference centre in northern Madrid where the event was taking place, hampering the arrival of participants and forcing King Felipe to enter through a side door.
There were some clashes as police attempted to clear the ring road around Madrid, which had been blocked by taxi drivers.
Existing Spanish legislation allows only one licence to be issued for so-called private driven vehicles (VTCs), such as those operated by Uber and its competitor Cabify, for every 30 taxis in circulation. The Spanish government has delegated the implementation of this rule to regional administrations.
However, taxi associations claim the ratio is not respected and that many more VTCs are in circulation. They also complain that the ride-sharing vehicles skirt the law in other ways, for example by fishing for customers in the street without being formally hailed.
‘Unsustainable situation’
“This country is facing an unsustainable situation, particularly so in Madrid due to the excess of VTC licences being used by Uber and Cabify,” taxi federation spokesman José Miguel Fúnez told The Irish Times. “We won’t give way on this.”
In an effort to defuse the situation in Barcelona, the Catalan regional government has proposed new regulations, which include ensuring customers have to request the services of ride-sharing firms at least an hour before travelling. Taxi drivers in Barcelona were considering whether to accept the offer on Wednesday. Mr Fúnez said Madrid drivers would accept a similar offer if it available for them.
However, Uber and Cabify, which operates in Spain, Portugal and Latin America, have criticised the Catalan government’s proposal. They have suggested that they would feel forced to withdraw their business from Barcelona if it were implemented, putting 3,500 drivers out of work.
“If [the plan] we have seen so far is approved, that would be tantamount to expelling our company from that territory,” said the chief executive of Cabify, Juan de Antonio.
https://bit.ly/2U5PGXE
Union Unite Scotland say that a "crisis" is facing the trade in Edinburgh as an estimated £28.3 million investment would be required to meet this demand.
The measure is being introduced by the City of Edinburgh Council as part of their Taxi and Private Hire Cars Age Limitation and Emission Standards policy.
The aim is to improve emissions standards in the city.
However Unite say that firms are being forced to fork out up to £60,000 or face being "forced off the road".
And it is one of a number of reasons cab drivers are looking to create a new union branch in the capital – the first time this has happened.
Mark Lyon, the union's regional industrial officer, also said that drivers in the city were growing frustrated at growing instances of 'pirate' taxi drivers.
He said: "There is a crisis facing the taxi trade in Edinburgh. The meeting involving Unite Scotland was very positive and attended by hundreds across the different sectors in the trade.
"A number of key issues were discussed such as illegal plying for hire, no dedicated inspectors to deter pirating, and the massive costs associated with the city council's emissions policy.
"As such the drivers present resolved to work together by creating a new Unite branch, to initiate an organising campaign to put pressure on the relevant authorities and to drive up standards."
Mr Lyon was present at last night's meeting at the taxi drivers' club in Bonnington, told Edinburgh Live: "It was an emotional meeting. The room was packed out and there was standing room only.
"All the major taxi companies in the city were involved, and people are really upset over what is going on"
A spokesperson for the City of Edinburgh Council said: "Licensing Sub-Committee Convener, Councillor Catherine Fullerton, said: “Air pollution is a real concern in Edinburgh and in cities around the country, and this is something the council is working to address through a range of measures, including plans to introduce a Low Emission Zone.
“In March 2018 Regulatory Committee agreed to introduce an age limit and emission standards for all taxis and private hire cars, with a view to reducing the number of polluting vehicles on our roads and bringing Edinburgh in line with most other cities in the UK, where age limits have been introduced to licensed taxi fleets.
“There has been extensive public consultation and detailed dialogue with the taxi trade going back to June 2016, during which time representatives of taxi businesses raised a number of concerns.
"These were reflected in changes made by the Licensing Sub-Committee and include setting out a 10 year instead of five year age limit originally proposed as well as extending the life of taxis which are converted to less polluting engines.”
https://bit.ly/2FL6O1H
-------------------------------------------
BARCELONA AND MADRID
A taxi drivers’ strike has caused major disruption in Madrid and Barcelona and cast doubt on the efforts of ride-sharing firms like Uber to consolidate their business in Spain.
Taxi drivers in Barcelona went on strike on Friday, in protest at what they claimed was a failure by authorities to regulate the activities of digital ride-sharing companies. On Monday, Madrid taxi drivers joined the action, calling for a similar clampdown.
With Madrid’s annual international tourism fair beginning on Wednesday, the protest caused substantial logistical problems. Hundreds of taxi drivers parked their cars outside the conference centre in northern Madrid where the event was taking place, hampering the arrival of participants and forcing King Felipe to enter through a side door.
There were some clashes as police attempted to clear the ring road around Madrid, which had been blocked by taxi drivers.
Existing Spanish legislation allows only one licence to be issued for so-called private driven vehicles (VTCs), such as those operated by Uber and its competitor Cabify, for every 30 taxis in circulation. The Spanish government has delegated the implementation of this rule to regional administrations.
However, taxi associations claim the ratio is not respected and that many more VTCs are in circulation. They also complain that the ride-sharing vehicles skirt the law in other ways, for example by fishing for customers in the street without being formally hailed.
‘Unsustainable situation’
“This country is facing an unsustainable situation, particularly so in Madrid due to the excess of VTC licences being used by Uber and Cabify,” taxi federation spokesman José Miguel Fúnez told The Irish Times. “We won’t give way on this.”
In an effort to defuse the situation in Barcelona, the Catalan regional government has proposed new regulations, which include ensuring customers have to request the services of ride-sharing firms at least an hour before travelling. Taxi drivers in Barcelona were considering whether to accept the offer on Wednesday. Mr Fúnez said Madrid drivers would accept a similar offer if it available for them.
However, Uber and Cabify, which operates in Spain, Portugal and Latin America, have criticised the Catalan government’s proposal. They have suggested that they would feel forced to withdraw their business from Barcelona if it were implemented, putting 3,500 drivers out of work.
“If [the plan] we have seen so far is approved, that would be tantamount to expelling our company from that territory,” said the chief executive of Cabify, Juan de Antonio.
https://bit.ly/2U5PGXE
Tuesday, 22 January 2019
LONDON DEMO : Day 2
A black cab protest on Tottenham Court Road has angered commuters inconvenienced by the blockade while some said the action damages the taxi drivers’ cause.
On Tuesday evening people spoke of “chaos” in the area, some called for punishment for those taking part and another described it as "eerie".
An ambulance was even held up amid the delays, an onlooker claimed, while Transport for London warned of congestion around the diversion routes.
Footage also emerged of one man debating the issue with a taxi driver, before leaving as the disagreement became more animated.
Some people responded more positively to the protestors though, with a staff member from a nearby shop taking tea to some of those involved.
One person, writing on Twitter, said: “All the black cab protest on Tottenham Court Road has done is highlight how nice it is to be able to cross at any time.”
While another wrote: “Passed Tottenham Court Road with the black cab protests and it’s so peaceful. Close the road off to vehicles all together.”
Only buses and bikes will be allowed on Tottenham Court Road from Monday to Saturday between 8am and 7pm, when it is converted from one-way to two-way traffic from March.
Camden Council says the changes will improve road safety and air quality, which it feels will lead to a change in fortunes for an “unloved” street.
Drivers who breach the restrictions face a £130 fine.
In a statement on Monday, the ITA called on the council to lift the restriction on cabs and said: “The local authority could reasonably conclude that taxi access to bus lanes is liable to enhance the efficiency of the London road transport system”.
https://bit.ly/2OYB5uS
---------------------------------------------------------
HERTFORDSHIRE
Taxi drivers across Herts were invited to a training session in Letchworth to raise awareness of modern slavery and human trafficking.
Representatives from all 10 taxi licencing authorities in the county attended the workshop last week which was about recognising people who are being trafficked or controlled by other people.
This includes within drug trafficking networks, known as county lines, as well as child sexual exploitation and extremism.
Sue Darker, operations director in adult care service for Herts County Council, said: “Hertfordshire is generally a safe place to live and work but exploitation, trafficking and slavery does exist here.
“Taxi drivers are often unwittingly used by criminals to move exploited people from location to location.
“They also see a broad cross-section of society through their work. “As a result of this event, licencing officers will better train and support taxi drivers in recognising the signs of exploitation.
“They, in turn, will be able to report their concerns to authorities, so that those exploited people can be saved from a life of abuse and mistreatment.”
Also speaking at the event were Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Operation Tropic, Watford Borough Council’s licensing department and the charity Unseen.
Unseen discussed how the national Modern Slavery Helpline that it runs can provide information and support to victims and witnesses.
The charity works to support victims of modern slavery with medical care, counselling, legal advice, education and more.
Anyone with concerns or who would like advice about modern slavery or human trafficking should call police via 101 or the national Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700. In an emergency call 999.
https://www.thecomet.net/news/herts-police-tackle-modern-slavery-1-5861990
------------------------------------------------
MADRID
A man is reported to be in critical condition after being hit by a car as he was participating in a Madrid road block organized by taxi drivers.
The accident took place at around 2pm on Tuesday, as an open-ended taxi strike in Madrid entered its second day after the main industry associations and regional authorities failed to reach an agreement on more stringent regulation for online ride-hailing services like Uber and Cabify.
And in Barcelona, taxi drivers continued a stoppage that began last Friday over new regulations covering VTC (vehicle for hire) licenses, which ride-hailing apps in Spain use to operate.
Several violent incidents have been reported during the protests, including vandalized vehicles and police charges in Barcelona against protesters who hurled objects at the officers. Economy Minister Nadia Calviño has called the acts of violence “deplorable.” More than 26,000 taxi drivers are participating in the stoppages in Madrid and Barcelona.
Taxi drivers blocked access roads leading to Madrid’s Adolfo Suárez- Barajas airport, including parts of the A-2, but lifted the roadblock after a colleague got hit by a passing car. Earlier, drivers had cut off sections of Avenida de la Hispanidad, M-14 and M-11 roads.
Regional premier Ángel Garrido said he would not yield to the taxi drivers’ pressure or pass laws “to eliminate a sector.” He added that the taxi industry on Monday “missed a great opportunity to reach a consensus.”
https://bit.ly/2T8sJmN
----------------------------------------------
Cork TD proposes Uber-style taxi service in 'isolated' rural areas
Locals in towns and villages across the country could soon be allowed to act as taxi drivers to plug a public transport gap.
The idea for an Uber-style system is being put forward by Junior Minister Jim Daly.
It would see people in small towns allowed to use their own car to pick up people within 15km of where they live.
The drivers would be able to use a mobile phone app to find passengers and set cheaper fares.
"This would be for areas with a population of less than 5,000 so it won't impinge on existing taxis and taxi services because they're non-existant in most of the areas that I represent," Minister Daly told C103.
With recent changes to drink-driving laws and public transport Minister Daly said he hopes the measure could help tackle rural isolation.
"The more isolated people, are the less social interaction they have," he said.
The TD also said legislation may need to change to deal with the issue of insurance.
"At the moment the legislation doesn't allow that to happen and I'm trying to get the law changed in Ireland," he said.
"I wrote to Shane Ross on this back in October and proposed it to him. I met him to tease it out further. He had a look at it but he has asked me to put it all in writing again to him to outline it so he can pass it on to the National Transport Authority, which I have done."
"I'm meeting with the CEO of the National Transport Authority on February 6 in my offices in Dublin to see how we can progress this proposal."
"The insurance companies should be offering a reduction to people who do this.
"This has the potential to make our roads so safe. It takes drink-drivers off the roads and it takes those pedestrians, who are the most vulnerable people on rural roads that are not lit up [off the roads].
https://bit.ly/2HEN41R
A black cab protest on Tottenham Court Road has angered commuters inconvenienced by the blockade while some said the action damages the taxi drivers’ cause.
It is the second day cabbies brought the busy area to a standstill in protest over plans to restrict daytime access to the route as part of a £35 million project.
In response a week-long demonstration has been called by the Independent Taxi Alliance (ITA) against the proposals.
One disgruntled person said they thought the drivers even deserved “points on their licences” due to the situation.
Footage also emerged of one man debating the issue with a taxi driver, before leaving as the disagreement became more animated.
Some people responded more positively to the protestors though, with a staff member from a nearby shop taking tea to some of those involved.
However, it was suggested by others the protest may have backfired to an extent.
While another wrote: “Passed Tottenham Court Road with the black cab protests and it’s so peaceful. Close the road off to vehicles all together.”
Only buses and bikes will be allowed on Tottenham Court Road from Monday to Saturday between 8am and 7pm, when it is converted from one-way to two-way traffic from March.
Camden Council says the changes will improve road safety and air quality, which it feels will lead to a change in fortunes for an “unloved” street.
Drivers who breach the restrictions face a £130 fine.
In a statement on Monday, the ITA called on the council to lift the restriction on cabs and said: “The local authority could reasonably conclude that taxi access to bus lanes is liable to enhance the efficiency of the London road transport system”.
https://bit.ly/2OYB5uS
---------------------------------------------------------
HERTFORDSHIRE
Taxi drivers across Herts were invited to a training session in Letchworth to raise awareness of modern slavery and human trafficking.
Representatives from all 10 taxi licencing authorities in the county attended the workshop last week which was about recognising people who are being trafficked or controlled by other people.
This includes within drug trafficking networks, known as county lines, as well as child sexual exploitation and extremism.
Sue Darker, operations director in adult care service for Herts County Council, said: “Hertfordshire is generally a safe place to live and work but exploitation, trafficking and slavery does exist here.
“Taxi drivers are often unwittingly used by criminals to move exploited people from location to location.
“They also see a broad cross-section of society through their work. “As a result of this event, licencing officers will better train and support taxi drivers in recognising the signs of exploitation.
“They, in turn, will be able to report their concerns to authorities, so that those exploited people can be saved from a life of abuse and mistreatment.”
Also speaking at the event were Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Operation Tropic, Watford Borough Council’s licensing department and the charity Unseen.
Unseen discussed how the national Modern Slavery Helpline that it runs can provide information and support to victims and witnesses.
The charity works to support victims of modern slavery with medical care, counselling, legal advice, education and more.
Anyone with concerns or who would like advice about modern slavery or human trafficking should call police via 101 or the national Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700. In an emergency call 999.
https://www.thecomet.net/news/herts-police-tackle-modern-slavery-1-5861990
------------------------------------------------
MADRID
A man is reported to be in critical condition after being hit by a car as he was participating in a Madrid road block organized by taxi drivers.
The accident took place at around 2pm on Tuesday, as an open-ended taxi strike in Madrid entered its second day after the main industry associations and regional authorities failed to reach an agreement on more stringent regulation for online ride-hailing services like Uber and Cabify.
And in Barcelona, taxi drivers continued a stoppage that began last Friday over new regulations covering VTC (vehicle for hire) licenses, which ride-hailing apps in Spain use to operate.
Several violent incidents have been reported during the protests, including vandalized vehicles and police charges in Barcelona against protesters who hurled objects at the officers. Economy Minister Nadia Calviño has called the acts of violence “deplorable.” More than 26,000 taxi drivers are participating in the stoppages in Madrid and Barcelona.
Taxi drivers blocked access roads leading to Madrid’s Adolfo Suárez- Barajas airport, including parts of the A-2, but lifted the roadblock after a colleague got hit by a passing car. Earlier, drivers had cut off sections of Avenida de la Hispanidad, M-14 and M-11 roads.
Regional premier Ángel Garrido said he would not yield to the taxi drivers’ pressure or pass laws “to eliminate a sector.” He added that the taxi industry on Monday “missed a great opportunity to reach a consensus.”
https://bit.ly/2T8sJmN
----------------------------------------------
Cork TD proposes Uber-style taxi service in 'isolated' rural areas
Locals in towns and villages across the country could soon be allowed to act as taxi drivers to plug a public transport gap.
The idea for an Uber-style system is being put forward by Junior Minister Jim Daly.
It would see people in small towns allowed to use their own car to pick up people within 15km of where they live.
The drivers would be able to use a mobile phone app to find passengers and set cheaper fares.
"This would be for areas with a population of less than 5,000 so it won't impinge on existing taxis and taxi services because they're non-existant in most of the areas that I represent," Minister Daly told C103.
With recent changes to drink-driving laws and public transport Minister Daly said he hopes the measure could help tackle rural isolation.
"The more isolated people, are the less social interaction they have," he said.
The TD also said legislation may need to change to deal with the issue of insurance.
"At the moment the legislation doesn't allow that to happen and I'm trying to get the law changed in Ireland," he said.
"I wrote to Shane Ross on this back in October and proposed it to him. I met him to tease it out further. He had a look at it but he has asked me to put it all in writing again to him to outline it so he can pass it on to the National Transport Authority, which I have done."
"I'm meeting with the CEO of the National Transport Authority on February 6 in my offices in Dublin to see how we can progress this proposal."
"The insurance companies should be offering a reduction to people who do this.
"This has the potential to make our roads so safe. It takes drink-drivers off the roads and it takes those pedestrians, who are the most vulnerable people on rural roads that are not lit up [off the roads].
https://bit.ly/2HEN41R
Monday, 21 January 2019
Black cab drivers have blocked Tottenham Court Road in protest over plans to restrict daytime access to the route.
Car, lorries and taxis are to be banned from the landmark central London street as part of a £35 million project.
On Monday, taxis parked along the road as drivers began a week-long demonstration called by the Independent Taxi Alliance (ITA) against the proposals.
Black cabs are set to protest from 4pm every day this week.
It came as minicab drivers staged a protest on Blackfriars Road against changes to the congestion charge in London.
Only buses and bikes will be allowed on Tottenham Court Road between 8am and 7pm, Monday to Saturday, when it is converted from one-way to two-way traffic from March.
Camden Council says the changes will improve road safety and air quality and lead to a change in fortunes for an “unloved” street. Drivers who breach the restrictions face a £130 fine.
But the taxi industry fears the move will worsen congestion and increase pollution in surrounding areas.
It has also argued that taxis and buses should be afforded the same access in the capital as they are both "publicly hired".
In a statement today, the ITA called on the council to lift the restriction on cabs.
It said "the local authority could reasonably conclude that taxi access to bus lanes is liable to enhance the efficiency of the London road transport system".
The United Cabbies group tweeted: "Both Taxis and Buses are publicly hired and as the posters say Where buses go, We go."
Meanwhile minicab drivers were staging another protest against a congestion charge they claim will cut their take-home pay by up to 25 per cent.
Minicabs blocked Blackfriars Road in central London on Monday (Unite the Resistance)
The demonstration in central London on Monday has been called by the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), which claims the charge is a "tax on the poor" and will do little to reduce congestion in the capital.
The daily charge of £11.50 will have to be paid by private hire drivers, such as those working for Uber, from April.
Roads outside Transport for London's (TfL) offices were blocked by a protest earlier this month, which the union has vowed to repeat every Monday.
Drivers were protesting changes to the congestion charge (Unite the Resistance)
Spokesman Yaseen Aslam said: "We desperately need effective solutions to congestion and air pollution, but this policy is nothing of the sort.
"All the Mayor's plans will do is drive minicab drivers further into poverty, leaving them unable to feed their families and struggling to put a roof over their heads.
"Hundreds of drivers are coming out today to stand united against this unjust tax on the poor and we will keep on coming back until we are heard."
Alex Williams, TfL's director of city planning, said: "Bold action is required to tackle London's public health crisis. More than 9,000 deaths are linked to air quality every year.
"The private hire trade, along with all road users, have a central role in reducing the filthy fumes circulating in our city.
"The changes to the congestion charge will contribute to fewer vehicles driving where pollution is most concentrated while ensuring the cleanest minicabs, or those that are wheelchair accessible, continue to enter the zone without paying a charge.
"The changes to the congestion charge and the introduction of the Ultra Low Emission Zone in April will significantly benefit the health of all Londoners, including drivers."
https://bit.ly/2T1d092
Car, lorries and taxis are to be banned from the landmark central London street as part of a £35 million project.
On Monday, taxis parked along the road as drivers began a week-long demonstration called by the Independent Taxi Alliance (ITA) against the proposals.
Black cabs are set to protest from 4pm every day this week.
It came as minicab drivers staged a protest on Blackfriars Road against changes to the congestion charge in London.
Only buses and bikes will be allowed on Tottenham Court Road between 8am and 7pm, Monday to Saturday, when it is converted from one-way to two-way traffic from March.
Camden Council says the changes will improve road safety and air quality and lead to a change in fortunes for an “unloved” street. Drivers who breach the restrictions face a £130 fine.
But the taxi industry fears the move will worsen congestion and increase pollution in surrounding areas.
It has also argued that taxis and buses should be afforded the same access in the capital as they are both "publicly hired".
In a statement today, the ITA called on the council to lift the restriction on cabs.
It said "the local authority could reasonably conclude that taxi access to bus lanes is liable to enhance the efficiency of the London road transport system".
The United Cabbies group tweeted: "Both Taxis and Buses are publicly hired and as the posters say Where buses go, We go."
Meanwhile minicab drivers were staging another protest against a congestion charge they claim will cut their take-home pay by up to 25 per cent.
Minicabs blocked Blackfriars Road in central London on Monday (Unite the Resistance)
The demonstration in central London on Monday has been called by the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), which claims the charge is a "tax on the poor" and will do little to reduce congestion in the capital.
The daily charge of £11.50 will have to be paid by private hire drivers, such as those working for Uber, from April.
Roads outside Transport for London's (TfL) offices were blocked by a protest earlier this month, which the union has vowed to repeat every Monday.
Drivers were protesting changes to the congestion charge (Unite the Resistance)
Spokesman Yaseen Aslam said: "We desperately need effective solutions to congestion and air pollution, but this policy is nothing of the sort.
"All the Mayor's plans will do is drive minicab drivers further into poverty, leaving them unable to feed their families and struggling to put a roof over their heads.
"Hundreds of drivers are coming out today to stand united against this unjust tax on the poor and we will keep on coming back until we are heard."
Alex Williams, TfL's director of city planning, said: "Bold action is required to tackle London's public health crisis. More than 9,000 deaths are linked to air quality every year.
"The private hire trade, along with all road users, have a central role in reducing the filthy fumes circulating in our city.
"The changes to the congestion charge will contribute to fewer vehicles driving where pollution is most concentrated while ensuring the cleanest minicabs, or those that are wheelchair accessible, continue to enter the zone without paying a charge.
"The changes to the congestion charge and the introduction of the Ultra Low Emission Zone in April will significantly benefit the health of all Londoners, including drivers."
https://bit.ly/2T1d092
Sunday, 20 January 2019
Barcelona taxi drivers have blockaded areas of the city over the weekend as they take strike action into a fourth day on Monday over what they consider to be insufficient government plans to rein in competition from ride-hailing companies such as Uber.
The taxi drivers rejected proposals tabled by Catalonia’s regional government under which ride-sharing drivers would have to wait 15 minutes before attending to a passenger request.
As taxi drivers blocked off Barcelona’s central Gran Via avenue on Friday, tension flared with one ride-sharing driver requiring medical assistance for an anxiety attack after a group of striking taxi drivers or sympathisers smashed his car’s windows and mirrors while he was in the vehicle.
Ride-sharing drivers parked their cars along another of Barcelona’s main thoroughfares, Diagonal, in protest at what their representatives described as taxi drivers’ “mafia-like behaviour”.
Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz tweeted a video allegedly showing the aftermath of an attack against an Uber vehicle that his sister was using in Madrid, its interior showered with shattered glass after a stone was thrown at the car.
Madrid’s taxi drivers plan to strike on Monday as they also seek stricter controls on how and when ride-hailing companies can operate.
Under the plan unveiled by Catalonia’s infrastructure minister, Damià Calvet, ride-sharing drivers would be obliged to return to their designated base after each service and customers would not be able to track the car they hire via GPS on the company app.
But taxi drivers voted to reject the plan, mainly on the basis that the 15-minute delay between the contracting of a private service and the start of the ride would be too short to make any noticeable difference.
Taxi driver unions have asked for a built-in delay of 12 or even 24 hours, effectively meaning that traditional taxis would have a monopoly on immediate services.
On Sunday Mr Calvet unsuccessfully offered to negotiate a new minimum waiting time for ride-hailing services if the taxi drivers agreed to call off their strike.
Tito Álvarez, leader of the Élite Taxi association, said Barcelona’s city taxi drivers wanted to end the conflict, adding that violence was unacceptable and that he would step aside if any more attacks against ride-sharing drivers took place.
“We want the politicians to hold a crisis cabinet meeting. Otherwise they will find us here on the street because we are not going to give up.”
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/01/20/barcelona-taxi-drivers-blockade-roads-uber-protest/
----------------------------------
Glasgow Taxis and Defib Machines have pledged to roll out more of the devices if the initiative is successful.
Scotland’s biggest taxi firm has installed defibrillators in 15 of their Glasgow cabs and trained drivers how to help people having heart attacks.
Drivers for Glasgow Taxis will be able to use the devices to assist with any incidents of cardiac arrest in or near to their cabs as they travel around the city.
Working in partnership with Defib Machines, the company said it will roll out more defibrillators to further vehicles if the initiative is successful.
It’s a modest outlay which we have committed to over a three-year period and if even one machine helps one person in that time, it will have been worth it many times over
https://bit.ly/2MkMHYS
-----------------------------------
BRISTOL
A free drop off and taxi waiting area is to be introduced at Bristol Airport following calls for action from residents.
Locals had raised concerns about the volume of cars waiting in nearby roads, lanes and lay-bys in order to avoid paying for parking.
In response, an on-site waiting area for taxis will be opened alongside a drop off zone for private vehicles.
The latter will replace the Express Drop Off, which currently charges £1 for 10 minutes.
The move is part of the airport's plans to increased the number of passengers that pass through the Lulsgate Bottom site annually.
The figure is currently capped at 10 million, although North Somerset Council is consulting a planning application for facilities required to handle 12 million passengers a year by the mid-2020s.
Simon Earles, Planning & Sustainability Director at Bristol Airport, said: “We have listened to feedback from our neighbours and this commitment to introduce an on-site waiting area for taxis and a free drop-off facility for private vehicles shows we are taking the issues they have raised seriously.
“By accommodating waiting taxis on site and providing a free alternative for private vehicles dropping off passengers, we aim to reduce the impact of growth on local villages.
"Work is now underway to find the right location for the proposed facility and set appropriate time limits in consultation with private hire operators.”
The council's consultation on the planning application to increase capacity of the airport closes on 26 January.
https://bit.ly/2RU7iZ8
----------------------------------
WARRINGTON
A TAXI driver acquitted of sexual assault is battling to get his licence back after his life was ‘turned upside down’.
The driver, who wishes to remain anonymous, was found not guilty of sexual assault on a female at Chester Crown Court in November.
Since June 2016, cabbies across the town have been required to have cameras fitted in their vehicles to improve the safety of passengers and drivers.
Vehicle CCTV footage is kept for 14 days before being automatically overwritten.
The alleged sexual assault incident took place in 2017 but police, based in another local authority, failed to analyse the CCTV footage as they were unaware taxis in Warrington were fitted with cameras.
The driver, who had his licence revoked by Warrington Borough Council in March last year, has criticised the authority for not reinstating it following the acquittal.
He says: “I have not been working for more than nine months now and I have got a family to support.
“I have lost my livelihood. It has turned my life upside down.
“I want to get back to working as soon as possible.
“I have had a lot of support from the community and, in particular, our taxi trade representative through this ordeal – they have provided crucial emotional and financial support.”
Police insist there was enough evidence to charge the driver but have admitted that they have ‘learned’ from the incident.
Det Sgt John Lyons said: “A full case file of evidence was presented to the Crown Prosecution Service, which determined there was sufficient evidence to charge the suspect with sexual assault even with the missed CCTV opportunity.
“The investigating officers were based in another local authority and were unaware that taxis in Warrington are all fitted with CCTV cameras.
“By the time they became aware of its existence, the footage had been deleted.
“However, we have learned from this case and will ensure that officers across the county will be made aware that Warrington taxis are fitted with cameras, which could assist future investigations.”
DS Lyons, who says all reports of sexual assault are treated extremely seriously, has reassured victims that they should feel confident of receiving the help and support needed from specialist officers and support agencies.
He added: “Rape and sexual assault are two of the most serious of all criminal offences, which can inflict lasting trauma on victims and have a devastating effect on their families.
“All victims will be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve and any allegations will be thoroughly investigated, with the wishes and the needs of the victim as our main priority.”
Afthkar Quayyum, a spokesman for Warrington’s hackney carriage and private hire drivers, labelled the council’s decision to revoke the driver’s licence as ‘premature’.
Furthermore, he issued a plea to the police force.
He said: “The council must adopt a flexible approach to this matter to ensure an innocent man can get his licence back.
“This can’t happen again. This is a dangerous precedent to have.
“The council have to realise what they have actually done.
“From the police, I want assurances that the communication around CCTV in Warrington taxis is clear within Cheshire Police and neighbouring police forces.
“It is really important that we get assurances from the council and police.”
The council says it has made arrangements for its licensing sub-committee to determine the licence application at the ‘earliest opportunity’.
A spokesman said: “We are unable to comment on specific ongoing cases but we are mindful of justice and the right of individuals to earn a living.
“We also acknowledge the important contribution of the taxi trade across the borough.
“As the licensing authority, we have a duty to protect the public, to detect crime and to keep children and vulnerable adults safe.
“We are determined to work closely with our partners and the trade to achieve this. CCTV continues to form part of this policy.”
The spokesman also insists the authority will continue to work with the trade to ensure procedures are of a high standard to protect drivers and the public.
He added: “Any decision to revoke a licence is made having regard to the evidence available at the time.
“Any person can apply for a licence but it is not possible to simply reinstate a licence that has been formally revoked.
“We are governed by a statutory process and must act in a fair and consistent way to all applicants, in accordance with our policy.”
https://bit.ly/2Dij8nM
---------------------------------
DERBY
Taxi drivers have been given more time to introduce clean air proposals which could see them have to fork out thousands of pounds.
Up to 300 drivers from across the city held a mass protest over the proposals on Thursday night.
They stood holding placards and banners urging the council to rethink how it plans to cut pollution and give them more time to "go green".
The rally took place just before member of the authority's licencing committee met to discuss some of the biggest changes to Derby's taxis since "horse-drawn carriages".
But after seeing the protest, members of the committee agreed to lengthen the consultation process on the proposals.
Committee chairman Mick Barker said more time would be given for the issue to be debated, with nothing concrete decided until at least June.
https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/derby-news/mass-protest-derby-taxi-drivers-2441204
The taxi drivers rejected proposals tabled by Catalonia’s regional government under which ride-sharing drivers would have to wait 15 minutes before attending to a passenger request.
As taxi drivers blocked off Barcelona’s central Gran Via avenue on Friday, tension flared with one ride-sharing driver requiring medical assistance for an anxiety attack after a group of striking taxi drivers or sympathisers smashed his car’s windows and mirrors while he was in the vehicle.
Ride-sharing drivers parked their cars along another of Barcelona’s main thoroughfares, Diagonal, in protest at what their representatives described as taxi drivers’ “mafia-like behaviour”.
Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz tweeted a video allegedly showing the aftermath of an attack against an Uber vehicle that his sister was using in Madrid, its interior showered with shattered glass after a stone was thrown at the car.
Madrid’s taxi drivers plan to strike on Monday as they also seek stricter controls on how and when ride-hailing companies can operate.
Under the plan unveiled by Catalonia’s infrastructure minister, Damià Calvet, ride-sharing drivers would be obliged to return to their designated base after each service and customers would not be able to track the car they hire via GPS on the company app.
But taxi drivers voted to reject the plan, mainly on the basis that the 15-minute delay between the contracting of a private service and the start of the ride would be too short to make any noticeable difference.
Taxi driver unions have asked for a built-in delay of 12 or even 24 hours, effectively meaning that traditional taxis would have a monopoly on immediate services.
On Sunday Mr Calvet unsuccessfully offered to negotiate a new minimum waiting time for ride-hailing services if the taxi drivers agreed to call off their strike.
Tito Álvarez, leader of the Élite Taxi association, said Barcelona’s city taxi drivers wanted to end the conflict, adding that violence was unacceptable and that he would step aside if any more attacks against ride-sharing drivers took place.
“We want the politicians to hold a crisis cabinet meeting. Otherwise they will find us here on the street because we are not going to give up.”
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/01/20/barcelona-taxi-drivers-blockade-roads-uber-protest/
----------------------------------
Glasgow Taxis and Defib Machines have pledged to roll out more of the devices if the initiative is successful.
Scotland’s biggest taxi firm has installed defibrillators in 15 of their Glasgow cabs and trained drivers how to help people having heart attacks.
Drivers for Glasgow Taxis will be able to use the devices to assist with any incidents of cardiac arrest in or near to their cabs as they travel around the city.
Working in partnership with Defib Machines, the company said it will roll out more defibrillators to further vehicles if the initiative is successful.
It’s a modest outlay which we have committed to over a three-year period and if even one machine helps one person in that time, it will have been worth it many times over
https://bit.ly/2MkMHYS
-----------------------------------
BRISTOL
A free drop off and taxi waiting area is to be introduced at Bristol Airport following calls for action from residents.
Locals had raised concerns about the volume of cars waiting in nearby roads, lanes and lay-bys in order to avoid paying for parking.
In response, an on-site waiting area for taxis will be opened alongside a drop off zone for private vehicles.
The latter will replace the Express Drop Off, which currently charges £1 for 10 minutes.
The move is part of the airport's plans to increased the number of passengers that pass through the Lulsgate Bottom site annually.
The figure is currently capped at 10 million, although North Somerset Council is consulting a planning application for facilities required to handle 12 million passengers a year by the mid-2020s.
Simon Earles, Planning & Sustainability Director at Bristol Airport, said: “We have listened to feedback from our neighbours and this commitment to introduce an on-site waiting area for taxis and a free drop-off facility for private vehicles shows we are taking the issues they have raised seriously.
“By accommodating waiting taxis on site and providing a free alternative for private vehicles dropping off passengers, we aim to reduce the impact of growth on local villages.
"Work is now underway to find the right location for the proposed facility and set appropriate time limits in consultation with private hire operators.”
The council's consultation on the planning application to increase capacity of the airport closes on 26 January.
https://bit.ly/2RU7iZ8
----------------------------------
WARRINGTON
A TAXI driver acquitted of sexual assault is battling to get his licence back after his life was ‘turned upside down’.
The driver, who wishes to remain anonymous, was found not guilty of sexual assault on a female at Chester Crown Court in November.
Since June 2016, cabbies across the town have been required to have cameras fitted in their vehicles to improve the safety of passengers and drivers.
Vehicle CCTV footage is kept for 14 days before being automatically overwritten.
The alleged sexual assault incident took place in 2017 but police, based in another local authority, failed to analyse the CCTV footage as they were unaware taxis in Warrington were fitted with cameras.
The driver, who had his licence revoked by Warrington Borough Council in March last year, has criticised the authority for not reinstating it following the acquittal.
He says: “I have not been working for more than nine months now and I have got a family to support.
“I have lost my livelihood. It has turned my life upside down.
“I want to get back to working as soon as possible.
“I have had a lot of support from the community and, in particular, our taxi trade representative through this ordeal – they have provided crucial emotional and financial support.”
Police insist there was enough evidence to charge the driver but have admitted that they have ‘learned’ from the incident.
Det Sgt John Lyons said: “A full case file of evidence was presented to the Crown Prosecution Service, which determined there was sufficient evidence to charge the suspect with sexual assault even with the missed CCTV opportunity.
“The investigating officers were based in another local authority and were unaware that taxis in Warrington are all fitted with CCTV cameras.
“By the time they became aware of its existence, the footage had been deleted.
“However, we have learned from this case and will ensure that officers across the county will be made aware that Warrington taxis are fitted with cameras, which could assist future investigations.”
DS Lyons, who says all reports of sexual assault are treated extremely seriously, has reassured victims that they should feel confident of receiving the help and support needed from specialist officers and support agencies.
He added: “Rape and sexual assault are two of the most serious of all criminal offences, which can inflict lasting trauma on victims and have a devastating effect on their families.
“All victims will be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve and any allegations will be thoroughly investigated, with the wishes and the needs of the victim as our main priority.”
Afthkar Quayyum, a spokesman for Warrington’s hackney carriage and private hire drivers, labelled the council’s decision to revoke the driver’s licence as ‘premature’.
Furthermore, he issued a plea to the police force.
He said: “The council must adopt a flexible approach to this matter to ensure an innocent man can get his licence back.
“This can’t happen again. This is a dangerous precedent to have.
“The council have to realise what they have actually done.
“From the police, I want assurances that the communication around CCTV in Warrington taxis is clear within Cheshire Police and neighbouring police forces.
“It is really important that we get assurances from the council and police.”
The council says it has made arrangements for its licensing sub-committee to determine the licence application at the ‘earliest opportunity’.
A spokesman said: “We are unable to comment on specific ongoing cases but we are mindful of justice and the right of individuals to earn a living.
“We also acknowledge the important contribution of the taxi trade across the borough.
“As the licensing authority, we have a duty to protect the public, to detect crime and to keep children and vulnerable adults safe.
“We are determined to work closely with our partners and the trade to achieve this. CCTV continues to form part of this policy.”
The spokesman also insists the authority will continue to work with the trade to ensure procedures are of a high standard to protect drivers and the public.
He added: “Any decision to revoke a licence is made having regard to the evidence available at the time.
“Any person can apply for a licence but it is not possible to simply reinstate a licence that has been formally revoked.
“We are governed by a statutory process and must act in a fair and consistent way to all applicants, in accordance with our policy.”
https://bit.ly/2Dij8nM
---------------------------------
DERBY
Taxi drivers have been given more time to introduce clean air proposals which could see them have to fork out thousands of pounds.
Up to 300 drivers from across the city held a mass protest over the proposals on Thursday night.
They stood holding placards and banners urging the council to rethink how it plans to cut pollution and give them more time to "go green".
The rally took place just before member of the authority's licencing committee met to discuss some of the biggest changes to Derby's taxis since "horse-drawn carriages".
But after seeing the protest, members of the committee agreed to lengthen the consultation process on the proposals.
Committee chairman Mick Barker said more time would be given for the issue to be debated, with nothing concrete decided until at least June.
https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/derby-news/mass-protest-derby-taxi-drivers-2441204
Thursday, 17 January 2019
FORD CHARIOTS ABANDON LONDON
Ford is shutting down its e-shuttle service as the US motoring giant begins a shake-up of its business in an attempt to cut costs.
Chariot, a commuter shuttle startup acquired by Ford in 2016 for $65m (£51m), has been available in London as well as 10 US cities, but will see UK operations cease on January 25. All operations of the service will come to an end in March.
The San Francisco-headquartered company, which was founded in 2014, emerged as a player in the increasingly expanding tech-transport sector led by Uber.
It offers a microtransit service through an app that allows users to book a seat in one of Chariot’s turquoise and white transit vans for a cheaper trip during rush hour. The company also operates an enterprise service tailored to business clients.
Chariot has carried out just over 3 million rides since its inception but has said that going forward its service “was not sustainable”.
https://bit.ly/2AQRpsV
Ford is shutting down its e-shuttle service as the US motoring giant begins a shake-up of its business in an attempt to cut costs.
Chariot, a commuter shuttle startup acquired by Ford in 2016 for $65m (£51m), has been available in London as well as 10 US cities, but will see UK operations cease on January 25. All operations of the service will come to an end in March.
The San Francisco-headquartered company, which was founded in 2014, emerged as a player in the increasingly expanding tech-transport sector led by Uber.
It offers a microtransit service through an app that allows users to book a seat in one of Chariot’s turquoise and white transit vans for a cheaper trip during rush hour. The company also operates an enterprise service tailored to business clients.
Chariot has carried out just over 3 million rides since its inception but has said that going forward its service “was not sustainable”.
https://bit.ly/2AQRpsV
Wednesday, 16 January 2019
LONDON
A mother has told of the terrifying moment an out-of-control taxi smashed into her home.
Suzan Hassan, 36, was in the ground-floor kitchen of her two-storey home in south-east London when the car careered into the building as she washed her dishes.
The terraced house in Bellingham was left “uninhabitable” three days before Christmas.
Ms Hassan said she was forced to move out on December 22 after the minicab hit her home shortly before 8pm.
“I thought it was an earthquake,” she said. “Suddenly this entire car was in my kitchen. I was in total shock. Luckily the kids weren’t home.
“There were cracks going up the ceiling. I was so scared that I jumped on to the work surface and held up the kitchen ceiling.
“My neighbours rushed out and were yelling ‘get out, get out’. I hurt my back when I was thrown into the fridge.” She said the driver was breathalysed by police at the scene and found to be sober. It is believed he accidentally lost control of the vehicle.
Ms Hassan — a personal trainer and carer — stayed with relatives before being given a room in a nearby hotel by housing association London and Quadrant, which owns the home.
But the single mother said conditions in the hotel were “terrifying” because of alleged antisocial behaviour there.
She said she was so scared she took her 11-year-old daughter Yasemin to sleep in the car with her while her son Tyla, six, stayed at his grandmother’s house in Sidcup. The family have now been placed in a three-bedroom property while a new permanent home is found for them.
https://bit.ly/2stRLAW
----------------------------------
WAKEFIELD
Taxi drivers who are accused of a serious offence will have their licence immediately revoked, under new rules.
Wakefield Council had previously suspended drivers' permits if an allegation was made against them, but the High Court has now ruled that the policy, which was also enforced by other authorities, is unlawful.
The verdict came in a landmark recent case against Cardiff City Council.
While drivers who are later cleared of wrongdoing have to apply to get their licence back, they will not be charged for doing so.
The ruling also applies to cabbies who have lost their licence for medical reasons, if they can provide a doctor's note which declares them fit to driver again.
Speaking at a council licensing committee meeting on Tuesday, licensing officer Kevin Straw said: "For a long time if it came to the council's attention that a driver had been subject to an allegation for, say violence or indecency, the licence would not be revoked with immediate effect. It would be suspended.
"Once the matter came to court and was dealt with then the council would consider the position again.
"Now that that's been ruled unlawful, we can't suspend a licence now.
"If there's a serious allegation, the only way forward we can go to protect public safety is to revoke it with immediate effect."
Mr Straw said that the council had been confronted with two recent cases where the practice would be used, including one where a driver was wrongly accused.
He added: "It may be that revoking the licence is not a sustainable position if new information later comes to light.
"There might be a malicious complaint or there's a medical condition that clears up - those are two examples we've had recently that I can think of.
"If that's the case it doesn't seem fair to make them go through the application process again.
"That said, I don't think it's going to be a process that will be used very often."
https://bit.ly/2TWn4Qr
--------------------------------
(Reuters) - The London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC), which makes the city’s popular black taxis, named former Audi executive Joerg Hofmann as its new chief executive, succeeding Chris Gubbey who will step down next month.
Hofmann, 51, who previously worked with General Motors (GM.N) and Audi AG (NSUG.DE) for 17 years, will take over the role on Feb. 4.
LEVC, formerly known as the London Taxi Company, was bought out of bankruptcy by Chinese automaker Geely Automobile Holdings (0175.HK) in 2013.
https://reut.rs/2W1v3gW
A mother has told of the terrifying moment an out-of-control taxi smashed into her home.
Suzan Hassan, 36, was in the ground-floor kitchen of her two-storey home in south-east London when the car careered into the building as she washed her dishes.
The terraced house in Bellingham was left “uninhabitable” three days before Christmas.
Ms Hassan said she was forced to move out on December 22 after the minicab hit her home shortly before 8pm.
“I thought it was an earthquake,” she said. “Suddenly this entire car was in my kitchen. I was in total shock. Luckily the kids weren’t home.
“There were cracks going up the ceiling. I was so scared that I jumped on to the work surface and held up the kitchen ceiling.
“My neighbours rushed out and were yelling ‘get out, get out’. I hurt my back when I was thrown into the fridge.” She said the driver was breathalysed by police at the scene and found to be sober. It is believed he accidentally lost control of the vehicle.
Ms Hassan — a personal trainer and carer — stayed with relatives before being given a room in a nearby hotel by housing association London and Quadrant, which owns the home.
But the single mother said conditions in the hotel were “terrifying” because of alleged antisocial behaviour there.
She said she was so scared she took her 11-year-old daughter Yasemin to sleep in the car with her while her son Tyla, six, stayed at his grandmother’s house in Sidcup. The family have now been placed in a three-bedroom property while a new permanent home is found for them.
https://bit.ly/2stRLAW
----------------------------------
WAKEFIELD
Taxi drivers who are accused of a serious offence will have their licence immediately revoked, under new rules.
Wakefield Council had previously suspended drivers' permits if an allegation was made against them, but the High Court has now ruled that the policy, which was also enforced by other authorities, is unlawful.
The verdict came in a landmark recent case against Cardiff City Council.
While drivers who are later cleared of wrongdoing have to apply to get their licence back, they will not be charged for doing so.
The ruling also applies to cabbies who have lost their licence for medical reasons, if they can provide a doctor's note which declares them fit to driver again.
Speaking at a council licensing committee meeting on Tuesday, licensing officer Kevin Straw said: "For a long time if it came to the council's attention that a driver had been subject to an allegation for, say violence or indecency, the licence would not be revoked with immediate effect. It would be suspended.
"Once the matter came to court and was dealt with then the council would consider the position again.
"Now that that's been ruled unlawful, we can't suspend a licence now.
"If there's a serious allegation, the only way forward we can go to protect public safety is to revoke it with immediate effect."
Mr Straw said that the council had been confronted with two recent cases where the practice would be used, including one where a driver was wrongly accused.
He added: "It may be that revoking the licence is not a sustainable position if new information later comes to light.
"There might be a malicious complaint or there's a medical condition that clears up - those are two examples we've had recently that I can think of.
"If that's the case it doesn't seem fair to make them go through the application process again.
"That said, I don't think it's going to be a process that will be used very often."
https://bit.ly/2TWn4Qr
--------------------------------
(Reuters) - The London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC), which makes the city’s popular black taxis, named former Audi executive Joerg Hofmann as its new chief executive, succeeding Chris Gubbey who will step down next month.
Hofmann, 51, who previously worked with General Motors (GM.N) and Audi AG (NSUG.DE) for 17 years, will take over the role on Feb. 4.
LEVC, formerly known as the London Taxi Company, was bought out of bankruptcy by Chinese automaker Geely Automobile Holdings (0175.HK) in 2013.
https://reut.rs/2W1v3gW
Tuesday, 15 January 2019
LIVERPOOL
More than 300 taxi and private hire drivers in Liverpool have been hit in a council and police safety crackdown over the past year.
Some of the most serious rule breaking included 18 instances of 'cherry picking' - when black cab drivers choose which fares they pick up rather than taking the nearest passengers.
It came as the council revealed the numbers of drivers who have been slapped with fines, prosecutions or other enforcement action throughout 2018 on the city's roads.
Thirty-three private hire drivers were caught plying for hire - something they are banned from doing as they are legally only allowed to take pre-booked journeys.
The council said most of these private hire drivers were prosecuted.
Cabinet member for transport, councillor James Noakes said the authority wanted to make transport in Liverpool as safe as possible.
He said: “People who live or work in Liverpool or come to the city for entertainment should have the reassurance that they can rely on taxi and private hire trade to provide a fair service that abides by the rules.
“In Liverpool, the vast majority of our taxi and private hire drivers are responsible, play by the rules and share our concerns for public safety.
“As these figures show, where we find evidence of wrongdoing we will not hesitate in taking action.
https://bit.ly/2RS5wrt
[-----------------------------
BURY ST EDMUNDS
A taxi driver caught more than four times the legal alcohol limit with an ice-cold drink in his car while doing the school run has been jailed for more than four years.
Promise Moyo, 46, was caught with the drink nestled in the centre console of his car when stopped by police after worried members of the public reported a Hyundai i40 car being driven erratically in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.
Moyo appeared before Ipswich Magistrates' Court where he pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.
He was sentenced to 18 weeks' prison and banned from driving for three years.
The court heard after his arrest Moyo taken to Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre where he provided a further breath test four times the legal limit of 35mg.
Inspector Chris Hinitt, of the Serious Collision Investigation Team, said: 'I am completely shocked by the level of alcohol that Promise Moyo, had in his system.
The court heard after his arrest Moyo taken to Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre where he provided a further breath test four times the legal limit of 35mg
+3
The court heard after his arrest Moyo taken to Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre where he provided a further breath test four times the legal limit of 35mg
'To get behind the wheel of a car when more than four-times the legal alcohol limit is absolutely astounding. Driving a licensed taxi cab in such circumstances clearly and directly imperils the lives of others.
'We in the Serious Collision Investigation Team - along with many other police colleagues - have seen too often the devastation caused by drink-driving and in my opinion it is completely reckless for anyone to take that risk.'
Prosecutor Wayne Ablett said Moyo’s taxi was swerving across the road before being stopped and found to contain an iced alcoholic drink within the driver’s reach.
A police report suggested the Mayo had been on the school run, but the cabbie disputed the account, insisting he travelled to Asda for groceries after drinking heavily at home in Suffolk.
https://dailym.ai/2SWVym1
--------------------------------------------
SOUTH WALES
The mother of a severely autistic boy claims her son was dropped off more than a mile away from their house because he couldn't do up his seatbelt in a taxi on the way to school.
Janette Williams, 45, from Ferndale in the Rhondda, says the incident happened when her son Owen was on his way to Maesgwyn Special School in Aberdare on Monday morning.
Owen, who suffers from a number of sensory issues, such as sensitive hearing and problems with touch, was allegedly dropped off in Maerdy - more than a mile away from his home.
The 14-year-old then had to cross five junctions to make his way home alone, despite having no danger awareness or road safety experience.
Ms Williams says she was left "livid" and "shaken up and shocked" by the ordeal, while Owen was left "rocking and flapping" in fright.
Where Owen was dropped off and where he walked to - alone
The owner of the taxi firm denies that Owen was asked to leave the taxi, and says the youngster got out on his own accord and wouldn't get back in.
He said he was unaware that Owen was not outside his own address, and described the incident as a "miscommunication" and said it should never have happened.
He's also apologised to the family.
https://bit.ly/2RNfyKC
------------------------------------
Taxi drivers in Woking are to undergo a trial to see how much money they would save if they switched to an electric vehicle instead.
The move would also be aimed at cutting down on air pollution in the area.
Around 15 per cent of Hackney Vehicles licensed with Woking Borough Council, around 25 cabbies, will be asked to take part in the experiment.
It will assess how many trips they could make with an e-taxi, where the most appropriate places for charging points would be and create business cases for the drivers to show how much money and fuel they will save.
Woking has engaged a company called Electric Blue to carry out the three-month trial to collect the data and evidence to then be assessed by officers from the council’s licensing department.
Called the Evolve Taxi Evaluation Project, it will involve a small device being fitted to the group of Hackney Vehicles taking part.
Information collected will include trip time and date, length plus locations as well as driver efficiency by recording harsh braking, accelerating and cornering.
The data will not identify the driver but will help map out where the council could put charging points based on areas mostly covered by the taxis.
A report entitled Electric Taxi Viability Project will be presented to members of the council’s licensing committee on Tuesday, January 22.
The report says:
“Woking Borough Council wishes to move towards a more professional looking and environmentally friendly fleet of Hackney Vehicles.
"The Evolve evaluation programme delivered by Electric Blue will provide the information needed in order for the council to make an informed step towards this goal.”
A start date for the trial has not yet been set.
High pollution levels have been identified in Woking with two AQMAs (Air Quality Management Areas) being applied in the borough.
One at the junction at the top of Anchor Hill, declared in 2014, and the second for a section in Guildford Road declared in 2017.
https://bit.ly/2McJQB4
------------------------------------
BURTON
Seventy taxi drivers have today staged a protest in Burton in a row over new safety measures, claiming they have not been given enough time to implement changes.
Mohammed Ikhlaq, a spokesman for the Burton Taxi Association, said the drivers protested outside the East Staffordshire Borough Council licensing offices in Millers Lane to make their voices heard about the introduction of the new Individual Vehicle Appraisal (IVA) for hackney carriages which carry disabled passengers.
After the protest when cabbies stood in unity outside the council offices, the authority's chief executive Andy O'Brien met with them outside the building and spoke to drivers.
The authority has now agreed to extend the January 21 deadline on an individual basis.
Cabbies across Burton had been warned in letters from the borough council sent out in November that they would need to get the new appraisal, which is carried out by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) and costs £260.
It can then cost them between £2,000 and £5,000 to make any modifications that are needed to make sure they can continue to work. Modifications include installing specialist seats for disabled passengers.
Drivers had been given a deadline of January 21 to have made the changes, but Mr Ikhlaq said cabbies staged the protest as they felt this was too shorter time.
He said: "Today we have discussed with the council the need for an extension for this IVA as the date of January 21 is not possible when they only started sending letters out in November.
"With the holidays and weekend it has only left us about 10 days to get it sorted.
"This has left a bitter taste in our mouths."
Mr Ikhlaq said that for the last 10 to 15 years drivers had worked with a garage in Burton which has made any modifications that are needed to vehicles.
These have all been carried out to the council's specifications, he said. The council will then check the vehicles were up to the correct standard before they are allowed out on the roads.
https://bit.ly/2QRrKFv
More than 300 taxi and private hire drivers in Liverpool have been hit in a council and police safety crackdown over the past year.
Some of the most serious rule breaking included 18 instances of 'cherry picking' - when black cab drivers choose which fares they pick up rather than taking the nearest passengers.
It came as the council revealed the numbers of drivers who have been slapped with fines, prosecutions or other enforcement action throughout 2018 on the city's roads.
Thirty-three private hire drivers were caught plying for hire - something they are banned from doing as they are legally only allowed to take pre-booked journeys.
The council said most of these private hire drivers were prosecuted.
Cabinet member for transport, councillor James Noakes said the authority wanted to make transport in Liverpool as safe as possible.
He said: “People who live or work in Liverpool or come to the city for entertainment should have the reassurance that they can rely on taxi and private hire trade to provide a fair service that abides by the rules.
“In Liverpool, the vast majority of our taxi and private hire drivers are responsible, play by the rules and share our concerns for public safety.
“As these figures show, where we find evidence of wrongdoing we will not hesitate in taking action.
https://bit.ly/2RS5wrt
[-----------------------------
BURY ST EDMUNDS
A taxi driver caught more than four times the legal alcohol limit with an ice-cold drink in his car while doing the school run has been jailed for more than four years.
Promise Moyo, 46, was caught with the drink nestled in the centre console of his car when stopped by police after worried members of the public reported a Hyundai i40 car being driven erratically in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.
Moyo appeared before Ipswich Magistrates' Court where he pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.
He was sentenced to 18 weeks' prison and banned from driving for three years.
The court heard after his arrest Moyo taken to Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre where he provided a further breath test four times the legal limit of 35mg.
Inspector Chris Hinitt, of the Serious Collision Investigation Team, said: 'I am completely shocked by the level of alcohol that Promise Moyo, had in his system.
The court heard after his arrest Moyo taken to Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre where he provided a further breath test four times the legal limit of 35mg
+3
The court heard after his arrest Moyo taken to Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre where he provided a further breath test four times the legal limit of 35mg
'To get behind the wheel of a car when more than four-times the legal alcohol limit is absolutely astounding. Driving a licensed taxi cab in such circumstances clearly and directly imperils the lives of others.
'We in the Serious Collision Investigation Team - along with many other police colleagues - have seen too often the devastation caused by drink-driving and in my opinion it is completely reckless for anyone to take that risk.'
Prosecutor Wayne Ablett said Moyo’s taxi was swerving across the road before being stopped and found to contain an iced alcoholic drink within the driver’s reach.
A police report suggested the Mayo had been on the school run, but the cabbie disputed the account, insisting he travelled to Asda for groceries after drinking heavily at home in Suffolk.
https://dailym.ai/2SWVym1
--------------------------------------------
SOUTH WALES
The mother of a severely autistic boy claims her son was dropped off more than a mile away from their house because he couldn't do up his seatbelt in a taxi on the way to school.
Janette Williams, 45, from Ferndale in the Rhondda, says the incident happened when her son Owen was on his way to Maesgwyn Special School in Aberdare on Monday morning.
Owen, who suffers from a number of sensory issues, such as sensitive hearing and problems with touch, was allegedly dropped off in Maerdy - more than a mile away from his home.
The 14-year-old then had to cross five junctions to make his way home alone, despite having no danger awareness or road safety experience.
Ms Williams says she was left "livid" and "shaken up and shocked" by the ordeal, while Owen was left "rocking and flapping" in fright.
Where Owen was dropped off and where he walked to - alone
The owner of the taxi firm denies that Owen was asked to leave the taxi, and says the youngster got out on his own accord and wouldn't get back in.
He said he was unaware that Owen was not outside his own address, and described the incident as a "miscommunication" and said it should never have happened.
He's also apologised to the family.
https://bit.ly/2RNfyKC
------------------------------------
Taxi drivers in Woking are to undergo a trial to see how much money they would save if they switched to an electric vehicle instead.
The move would also be aimed at cutting down on air pollution in the area.
Around 15 per cent of Hackney Vehicles licensed with Woking Borough Council, around 25 cabbies, will be asked to take part in the experiment.
It will assess how many trips they could make with an e-taxi, where the most appropriate places for charging points would be and create business cases for the drivers to show how much money and fuel they will save.
Woking has engaged a company called Electric Blue to carry out the three-month trial to collect the data and evidence to then be assessed by officers from the council’s licensing department.
Called the Evolve Taxi Evaluation Project, it will involve a small device being fitted to the group of Hackney Vehicles taking part.
Information collected will include trip time and date, length plus locations as well as driver efficiency by recording harsh braking, accelerating and cornering.
The data will not identify the driver but will help map out where the council could put charging points based on areas mostly covered by the taxis.
A report entitled Electric Taxi Viability Project will be presented to members of the council’s licensing committee on Tuesday, January 22.
The report says:
“Woking Borough Council wishes to move towards a more professional looking and environmentally friendly fleet of Hackney Vehicles.
"The Evolve evaluation programme delivered by Electric Blue will provide the information needed in order for the council to make an informed step towards this goal.”
A start date for the trial has not yet been set.
High pollution levels have been identified in Woking with two AQMAs (Air Quality Management Areas) being applied in the borough.
One at the junction at the top of Anchor Hill, declared in 2014, and the second for a section in Guildford Road declared in 2017.
https://bit.ly/2McJQB4
------------------------------------
BURTON
Seventy taxi drivers have today staged a protest in Burton in a row over new safety measures, claiming they have not been given enough time to implement changes.
Mohammed Ikhlaq, a spokesman for the Burton Taxi Association, said the drivers protested outside the East Staffordshire Borough Council licensing offices in Millers Lane to make their voices heard about the introduction of the new Individual Vehicle Appraisal (IVA) for hackney carriages which carry disabled passengers.
After the protest when cabbies stood in unity outside the council offices, the authority's chief executive Andy O'Brien met with them outside the building and spoke to drivers.
The authority has now agreed to extend the January 21 deadline on an individual basis.
Cabbies across Burton had been warned in letters from the borough council sent out in November that they would need to get the new appraisal, which is carried out by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) and costs £260.
It can then cost them between £2,000 and £5,000 to make any modifications that are needed to make sure they can continue to work. Modifications include installing specialist seats for disabled passengers.
Drivers had been given a deadline of January 21 to have made the changes, but Mr Ikhlaq said cabbies staged the protest as they felt this was too shorter time.
He said: "Today we have discussed with the council the need for an extension for this IVA as the date of January 21 is not possible when they only started sending letters out in November.
"With the holidays and weekend it has only left us about 10 days to get it sorted.
"This has left a bitter taste in our mouths."
Mr Ikhlaq said that for the last 10 to 15 years drivers had worked with a garage in Burton which has made any modifications that are needed to vehicles.
These have all been carried out to the council's specifications, he said. The council will then check the vehicles were up to the correct standard before they are allowed out on the roads.
https://bit.ly/2QRrKFv
Monday, 14 January 2019
GLASGOW
A FEMALE taxi driver was punched, threatened and robbed in a 'terrifying' attack.
The 34-year-old was in her blue private hire vehicle on Burnside Avenue in Bellshill when two men approached the vehicle.
They then punched, threatened her and made off with a three figure sum of money.
The woman did not require medical treatment following the assault, yesterday at around 4.24pm.
The first man is described as white, of slim build and was under 6ft tall.
He was wearing a red and blue bubble jacket with a hood pulled tight round his face and black tracksuit bottoms.
The second man was white, of slim build, clean shaven, was shorter than the first man and was wearing a grey tracksuit with a silver logo on the breast, white trainers and a navy blue bobble hat.
Detective Sergeant Gary Crossan, of Wishaw CID, said: “This was a terrifying incident for a woman who was only going about her work.
"Our officers will do everything they can to trace the two men responsible.
“We are appealing for anyone who was in the area last night who may have information that can help us.
"Do you remember seeing these two men?
“You may also have dash-cam footage if you were driving in Bellshill yesterday, please check back as this could hold vital information.”
Anyone with any information regarding this incident should contact Police via 101, quoting incident number 2551 of Sunday, January 13 2019.
Alternatively you can contact CRIMESTOPPERS on 0800 555 11 where information can be given in confidence.
https://bit.ly/2TPR9RP
---------------------------------------
BURY ST EDMUNDS
A taxi driver was stopped on a school run by police in Bury St Edmunds today - allegedly four times over the drink drive limit with an drink on the centre console.
The Norfolk and Suffolk Roads and Armed Policing Team posted on social media today that a taxi had been stopped after being spotted driving dangerously in the west Suffolk town.
They say he has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving.
The tweet reads: “Taxi stopped on the way to a school run after being seen driving dangerously in #burystedmunds today, alcohol found in centre console.
“Arrested for #drinkdriving & has provided evidential reading of 158ugs in custody, legal limit is 35ugs.
“#fatal4 @BuryStEdsPolice #1320 #1787”
https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/suffolk-police-arrest-taxi-driver-allegedly-found-with-drink-on-centre-console-1-5851508
--------------------------------------
BELFAST
A customer who kicked a taxi driver out of his car and said “it’s my turn to drive” has been jailed for nine months.
Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard Michael Mallon, 27, carried out the assault after refusing to pay a fare. Imposing the maximum available sentence, District Judge Mark Hamill said: “This man soars over the custody threshold.”
Mallon, of Summerhill Drive in the Twinbrook area of West Belfast, was convicted of common assault, disorderly behaviour, criminal damage, and obtaining services dishonestly. Prosecutors said he got into the taxi last August and asked to be taken to a location in the city.
He then changed his mind and requested a different destination, but became abusive when told the cost of the fare. Amid concerns his passenger was not going to pay, the driver headed towards a police station in the Stewartstown Road area.
The court was told that after the car came to a stop Mallon used his foot to push him out. “He said ‘It’s my turn to drive’,” a Crown lawyer added.
Police were alerted and removed Mallon from the vehicle while he swore incoherently. He was searched and a small bag of herbal cannabis seized from him. Defence barrister Luke Curran stressed there was no allegation of Mallon attempting to take the taxi.
Counsel said his client accepted there had been a “heated” exchange with the driver, and that he had thought it would be more secure for him to remain in the car. But Mr Hamill emphasised the seriousness of assaulting anyone providing a public service.
“This man was trying to do an honest day’s work and (Mallon) declined to pay a fare, climbed in the front and kicks him out of his own taxi,” the judge pointed out.
Imposing six months imprisonment, he ordered the defendant to serve a further three months of a previously suspended term. Mallon was also fined £75 for the possession of cannabis.
https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/belfast-taxi-driver-kicked-out-15676809
---------------------------------------
BRADFORD
Every time taxis and their drivers are inspected in roadside checks this disgraceful state of affairs is repeated, instead of a slap on the wrist the cars and drivers should be banned for a number of years, permanently for the most serious offences. Many of the defects are for tyre and lighting faults which any competent driver can surely identify and have rectified immediately. No doubt the drivers would claim that the lights and tyres had failed seconds before being stopped .
If a truck or bus operator displayed such a complete disregard for safety they would lose their operators licence for good.
It will be too late once someone is badly maimed or killed.
Bryan Hanson, Busy Lane, Shipley
https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/opinion/17356198.letter-of-the-day-disgraceful-taxi-drivers-show-a-complete-disregard-for-safety/
--------------------------------
UBERK LONDON
Uber has announced that it is adding 15p/mile onto every trip taken through the app in London.
This new fee is part of the Mayor’s Clean Air Plan, and will be added from Wednesday 16 January.
In an email to customers, Uber said: “From Wednesday 16 January, a Clean Air Fee of 15p per mile will be included on every trip taken through the app in London.
SEE ALSO :Ride-hailer targets tenfold growth in African market
“This will only apply to miles travelled on a trip, and will not include miles travelled to your pick up location.
“The 15p per mile will not be affected by dynamic pricing.”
While the new fees are bound to cause controversy amongst customers, Uber reassures that they’re being put to good use.
The email added: “The money will go towards helping drivers to upgrade and maintain an electric vehicle as well as other clean air initiatives.”
Uber has also set itself the aim of making every car on the app in London fully electric by 2025.
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001309474/uber-prices-set-to-increase-this-week-london
------------------------------------
BOURNEMOUTH
INDIAN taxi-hailing firm Ola has been granted a licence to operate across Bournemouth – as long as it improves its wheelchair accessibility options.
Members of Bournemouth council’s licensing board agreed to award an operator’s licence to the company on Thursday, praising the safety features it has in place.
The app-based service will now be able to offer its service across the borough while discussions are also being held to expand it into Poole.
Unlike its competitors, including Uber and Lyft, Ola has a pool of drivers using licensed Hackney carriages as well as private hire vehicles.
A series of licences have been awarded to the firm by councils across the South West and south Wales since it began its expansion into the UK at the beginning of 2017.
Its app can already be used in cities including Bristol, Exeter and Cardiff while the company’s senior operations manager, Wouter Merkestein said that “positive discussions” had been held with Poole and Portsmouth council officers.
The firm has said that it is its intention to recruit about 150 drivers in Bournemouth as well as to appoint a “day-to-day operations manager” to oversee its work in the borough.
Its request for a licence was considered at Thursday’s meeting of the council’s licensing board.
At the meeting, Mr Merkestein said that the UK was the first step of its expansion into Europe.
“For the UK, we have communicated our plans to be in every place where a competitor is, so we have applied for a large number of licences and have been granted several as well,” he said.
“Our focus is on this area but we have several [licence applications] across the country which are in hand and have been applied for or are being prepared as we speak.
“In this area, we have the one licence in Southampton and have had positive feedback in Portsmouth and positive discussions in Poole so far as well.”
Councillors questioned how well the app catered to people with disabilities and, despite agreeing to grant the licence, requested that this be improved as a condition of the approval.
Committee chairman, Cllr Andrew Morgan, said: “We have decided that we are prepared to grant an operator’s licence for Ola to operate in Bournemouth.
“We would, however, condition you to have an option to choose wheelchair accessible vehicles and see their availability.
“We feel customers should have that choice – it’s one of our key objectives to help people of all abilities get around comfortably and safely.”
A FEMALE taxi driver was punched, threatened and robbed in a 'terrifying' attack.
The 34-year-old was in her blue private hire vehicle on Burnside Avenue in Bellshill when two men approached the vehicle.
They then punched, threatened her and made off with a three figure sum of money.
The woman did not require medical treatment following the assault, yesterday at around 4.24pm.
The first man is described as white, of slim build and was under 6ft tall.
He was wearing a red and blue bubble jacket with a hood pulled tight round his face and black tracksuit bottoms.
The second man was white, of slim build, clean shaven, was shorter than the first man and was wearing a grey tracksuit with a silver logo on the breast, white trainers and a navy blue bobble hat.
Detective Sergeant Gary Crossan, of Wishaw CID, said: “This was a terrifying incident for a woman who was only going about her work.
"Our officers will do everything they can to trace the two men responsible.
“We are appealing for anyone who was in the area last night who may have information that can help us.
"Do you remember seeing these two men?
“You may also have dash-cam footage if you were driving in Bellshill yesterday, please check back as this could hold vital information.”
Anyone with any information regarding this incident should contact Police via 101, quoting incident number 2551 of Sunday, January 13 2019.
Alternatively you can contact CRIMESTOPPERS on 0800 555 11 where information can be given in confidence.
https://bit.ly/2TPR9RP
---------------------------------------
BURY ST EDMUNDS
A taxi driver was stopped on a school run by police in Bury St Edmunds today - allegedly four times over the drink drive limit with an drink on the centre console.
The Norfolk and Suffolk Roads and Armed Policing Team posted on social media today that a taxi had been stopped after being spotted driving dangerously in the west Suffolk town.
They say he has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving.
The tweet reads: “Taxi stopped on the way to a school run after being seen driving dangerously in #burystedmunds today, alcohol found in centre console.
“Arrested for #drinkdriving & has provided evidential reading of 158ugs in custody, legal limit is 35ugs.
“#fatal4 @BuryStEdsPolice #1320 #1787”
https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/suffolk-police-arrest-taxi-driver-allegedly-found-with-drink-on-centre-console-1-5851508
--------------------------------------
BELFAST
A customer who kicked a taxi driver out of his car and said “it’s my turn to drive” has been jailed for nine months.
Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard Michael Mallon, 27, carried out the assault after refusing to pay a fare. Imposing the maximum available sentence, District Judge Mark Hamill said: “This man soars over the custody threshold.”
Mallon, of Summerhill Drive in the Twinbrook area of West Belfast, was convicted of common assault, disorderly behaviour, criminal damage, and obtaining services dishonestly. Prosecutors said he got into the taxi last August and asked to be taken to a location in the city.
He then changed his mind and requested a different destination, but became abusive when told the cost of the fare. Amid concerns his passenger was not going to pay, the driver headed towards a police station in the Stewartstown Road area.
The court was told that after the car came to a stop Mallon used his foot to push him out. “He said ‘It’s my turn to drive’,” a Crown lawyer added.
Police were alerted and removed Mallon from the vehicle while he swore incoherently. He was searched and a small bag of herbal cannabis seized from him. Defence barrister Luke Curran stressed there was no allegation of Mallon attempting to take the taxi.
Counsel said his client accepted there had been a “heated” exchange with the driver, and that he had thought it would be more secure for him to remain in the car. But Mr Hamill emphasised the seriousness of assaulting anyone providing a public service.
“This man was trying to do an honest day’s work and (Mallon) declined to pay a fare, climbed in the front and kicks him out of his own taxi,” the judge pointed out.
Imposing six months imprisonment, he ordered the defendant to serve a further three months of a previously suspended term. Mallon was also fined £75 for the possession of cannabis.
https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/belfast-taxi-driver-kicked-out-15676809
---------------------------------------
BRADFORD
Every time taxis and their drivers are inspected in roadside checks this disgraceful state of affairs is repeated, instead of a slap on the wrist the cars and drivers should be banned for a number of years, permanently for the most serious offences. Many of the defects are for tyre and lighting faults which any competent driver can surely identify and have rectified immediately. No doubt the drivers would claim that the lights and tyres had failed seconds before being stopped .
If a truck or bus operator displayed such a complete disregard for safety they would lose their operators licence for good.
It will be too late once someone is badly maimed or killed.
Bryan Hanson, Busy Lane, Shipley
https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/opinion/17356198.letter-of-the-day-disgraceful-taxi-drivers-show-a-complete-disregard-for-safety/
--------------------------------
UBERK LONDON
Uber has announced that it is adding 15p/mile onto every trip taken through the app in London.
This new fee is part of the Mayor’s Clean Air Plan, and will be added from Wednesday 16 January.
In an email to customers, Uber said: “From Wednesday 16 January, a Clean Air Fee of 15p per mile will be included on every trip taken through the app in London.
SEE ALSO :Ride-hailer targets tenfold growth in African market
“This will only apply to miles travelled on a trip, and will not include miles travelled to your pick up location.
“The 15p per mile will not be affected by dynamic pricing.”
While the new fees are bound to cause controversy amongst customers, Uber reassures that they’re being put to good use.
The email added: “The money will go towards helping drivers to upgrade and maintain an electric vehicle as well as other clean air initiatives.”
Uber has also set itself the aim of making every car on the app in London fully electric by 2025.
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001309474/uber-prices-set-to-increase-this-week-london
------------------------------------
BOURNEMOUTH
INDIAN taxi-hailing firm Ola has been granted a licence to operate across Bournemouth – as long as it improves its wheelchair accessibility options.
Members of Bournemouth council’s licensing board agreed to award an operator’s licence to the company on Thursday, praising the safety features it has in place.
The app-based service will now be able to offer its service across the borough while discussions are also being held to expand it into Poole.
Unlike its competitors, including Uber and Lyft, Ola has a pool of drivers using licensed Hackney carriages as well as private hire vehicles.
A series of licences have been awarded to the firm by councils across the South West and south Wales since it began its expansion into the UK at the beginning of 2017.
Its app can already be used in cities including Bristol, Exeter and Cardiff while the company’s senior operations manager, Wouter Merkestein said that “positive discussions” had been held with Poole and Portsmouth council officers.
The firm has said that it is its intention to recruit about 150 drivers in Bournemouth as well as to appoint a “day-to-day operations manager” to oversee its work in the borough.
Its request for a licence was considered at Thursday’s meeting of the council’s licensing board.
At the meeting, Mr Merkestein said that the UK was the first step of its expansion into Europe.
“For the UK, we have communicated our plans to be in every place where a competitor is, so we have applied for a large number of licences and have been granted several as well,” he said.
“Our focus is on this area but we have several [licence applications] across the country which are in hand and have been applied for or are being prepared as we speak.
“In this area, we have the one licence in Southampton and have had positive feedback in Portsmouth and positive discussions in Poole so far as well.”
Councillors questioned how well the app catered to people with disabilities and, despite agreeing to grant the licence, requested that this be improved as a condition of the approval.
Committee chairman, Cllr Andrew Morgan, said: “We have decided that we are prepared to grant an operator’s licence for Ola to operate in Bournemouth.
“We would, however, condition you to have an option to choose wheelchair accessible vehicles and see their availability.
“We feel customers should have that choice – it’s one of our key objectives to help people of all abilities get around comfortably and safely.”
Sunday, 13 January 2019
LONDON ADDISON LEE
The Government has given the go-ahead for three new trials of self-driving vehicles, which are expected to reach UK roads by 2021.
Luxury taxi firm Addison Lee will lead one of them, called Project Apollo, to introduce an app-based, on demand ride-sharing service in London.
The consortium includes Oxbotica, the self-driving vehicle software company with which Addison Lee is already working to create a 3D map of Canary Wharf, in preparation for autonomous vehicles.
Paul McCabe, Addison Lee Group corporate development director said the project in the capital would deliver “better mobility for its people, enhanced public transport, cleaner air and safer streets.”
The taxi firm is also a participant in a second consortium, called ServCity, led by Jaguar Land Rover. This will build a premium mobility service across four London boroughs, using six autonomous Land Rover Discoverys.
The third autonomous vehicle trial – Project CAV Forth – will take place in Edinburgh, where five autonomous full-size single decker buses will run a 14-mile service from Ferrytoll Park and Ride in Fife across the Forth Bridge to the Scottish capital’s Train and Tram Interchange.
The project aims to run buses every 20 minutes, accumulating 20,000 weekly journeys as a test bed for future autonomous bus services.
The bus will be Level 4 autonomous, which means that a driver will have to be on board at all times.
https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/fleet-management/london-taxi-fleet-to-lead-autonomous-vehicle-trials
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GARDAÍ IN WEST Dublin are urging drivers to report suspicious activity following a number of robberies from taxi drivers and delivery drivers over the Christmas period.
TheJournal.ie understands that there have been three such incidents in the week in the Tyrellstown and Clonee areas of west Dublin – however just two have been reported to gardaí.
Most of these incidents have occurred when the taxi has been hailed using a phone app. Gardaí believe that the gang picks its target by constantly hailing cab, thereby allowing them to get an older driver.
A driver’s photograph is typically displayed on the phone app when they are en route to pick up the fare.
Taxi drivers have been targeted a number of times in the last two years in this area. One of the drivers was using a dashcam and was able to upload the footage of the robbery and send it to gardaí.
The footage shows three young men in the car. The last frame of the incident shows the alleged thief in the front seat removing the camera. What the man did not know was that the footage was already uploaded to a cloud server and the driver was able to retrieve it.
During this incident, the thieves made off with the dashcam itself and the driver’s phone as well as his cash takings for the night.
https://www.thejournal.ie/west-dublin-taxi-robbery-4420178-Jan2019/
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Taxi drivers in Madrid will go on strike this month to insist on more regulations for ride-sharing car services such as Uber, ABC reports, citing union leaders.
Driver will stop working on Jan. 21, two days before Madrid hosts an international tourism fair. Some unions are still deciding whether to join the strike and will hold votes Tuesday and Wednesday, ABC reports.
In July, taxi drivers in Barcelona and Madrid blockaded highways in an attempt to block the award of new licences to companies such as Uber Technologies Inc. and Maxi Mobility Spain SL’s Cabify.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-13/madrid-taxi-drivers-to-strike-in-bid-for-tighter-uber-rules-abc
--------------------------------------
https://insideevs.com/london-taxi-based-electric-van-delayed/
The Government has given the go-ahead for three new trials of self-driving vehicles, which are expected to reach UK roads by 2021.
Luxury taxi firm Addison Lee will lead one of them, called Project Apollo, to introduce an app-based, on demand ride-sharing service in London.
The consortium includes Oxbotica, the self-driving vehicle software company with which Addison Lee is already working to create a 3D map of Canary Wharf, in preparation for autonomous vehicles.
Paul McCabe, Addison Lee Group corporate development director said the project in the capital would deliver “better mobility for its people, enhanced public transport, cleaner air and safer streets.”
The taxi firm is also a participant in a second consortium, called ServCity, led by Jaguar Land Rover. This will build a premium mobility service across four London boroughs, using six autonomous Land Rover Discoverys.
The third autonomous vehicle trial – Project CAV Forth – will take place in Edinburgh, where five autonomous full-size single decker buses will run a 14-mile service from Ferrytoll Park and Ride in Fife across the Forth Bridge to the Scottish capital’s Train and Tram Interchange.
The project aims to run buses every 20 minutes, accumulating 20,000 weekly journeys as a test bed for future autonomous bus services.
The bus will be Level 4 autonomous, which means that a driver will have to be on board at all times.
https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/fleet-management/london-taxi-fleet-to-lead-autonomous-vehicle-trials
------------------------------------
GARDAÍ IN WEST Dublin are urging drivers to report suspicious activity following a number of robberies from taxi drivers and delivery drivers over the Christmas period.
TheJournal.ie understands that there have been three such incidents in the week in the Tyrellstown and Clonee areas of west Dublin – however just two have been reported to gardaí.
Most of these incidents have occurred when the taxi has been hailed using a phone app. Gardaí believe that the gang picks its target by constantly hailing cab, thereby allowing them to get an older driver.
A driver’s photograph is typically displayed on the phone app when they are en route to pick up the fare.
Taxi drivers have been targeted a number of times in the last two years in this area. One of the drivers was using a dashcam and was able to upload the footage of the robbery and send it to gardaí.
The footage shows three young men in the car. The last frame of the incident shows the alleged thief in the front seat removing the camera. What the man did not know was that the footage was already uploaded to a cloud server and the driver was able to retrieve it.
During this incident, the thieves made off with the dashcam itself and the driver’s phone as well as his cash takings for the night.
https://www.thejournal.ie/west-dublin-taxi-robbery-4420178-Jan2019/
-------------------------------
Taxi drivers in Madrid will go on strike this month to insist on more regulations for ride-sharing car services such as Uber, ABC reports, citing union leaders.
Driver will stop working on Jan. 21, two days before Madrid hosts an international tourism fair. Some unions are still deciding whether to join the strike and will hold votes Tuesday and Wednesday, ABC reports.
In July, taxi drivers in Barcelona and Madrid blockaded highways in an attempt to block the award of new licences to companies such as Uber Technologies Inc. and Maxi Mobility Spain SL’s Cabify.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-13/madrid-taxi-drivers-to-strike-in-bid-for-tighter-uber-rules-abc
--------------------------------------
https://insideevs.com/london-taxi-based-electric-van-delayed/
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