Minicab operators have called on Transport for London to immediately suspend upstart US rival Uber from operating in the capital, after a Guardian investigation raised questions about the robustness of its approval procedures for driver documents.

Lawyers representing the Licensed Private Hire Car Association (LPHCA), representing companies that employ 15,000 drivers, argued that Uber’s checks on drivers’ insurance papers are “seriously flawed” and put the public at risk at a meeting with officials from TfL. Uber strongly denied the claims.

 Global taxi firm’s computerised system approves fake insurance papers amid fears such exploitation by drivers may risk passenger safety

The battle between Uber and the rest of the taxi trade in London is intensifying. The mayor, Boris Johnson, was embroiled in a foul-mouthed row with a black-cab driver over the issue of whether he properly regulated the minicab booking firm that connects registered drivers and customers through a mobile app.

When a driver heckled Johnson over his perceived lack of support for black-cab drivers in their battle against Uber, the mayor replied: “Why don’t you fuck off and die – and not in that order.”

Black-cab drivers are also calling for TfL to suspend Uber’s licence. Lawyers for both groups met TfL’s legal counsel, Howard Carter, on Thursday afternoon to make their case.

The LPHCA has told TfL its members have “real concerns that Uber ... appears to be accorded differing treatment under TfL’s regulatory regime with real consequences for public safety”.

This was strongly denied by Garrett Emmerson, TfL’s chief operating officer for surface transport. He said: “We have not treated, and do not treat, Uber any differently to any other London operator, and we are satisfied that Uber currently comply with legislation and regulations‎ governing private hire operators in London.”

Uber admitted last week that it approved a fake insurance document when the Guardian tested its system. Working with the Guardian a whistleblower uploaded an entirely fabricated insurance policy under the logo of a made-up insurance company, “Freecover”, and Uber approved him to pick up customers.

TfL launched an investigation in the apparent loophole. Uber suspended the driver from its system for carrying out the test and reported him to TfL and the police, a move the driver described as “shooting the messenger”. He said he was acting in the public interest.

The chairman of the LPHCA, Steve Wright, also sits on TfL’s board, and said: “They should be suspending Uber’s licence. They have already been prosecuted for no insurance. If TfL don’t deal with this it has serious implications for our position on the board. There have now been two serious breaches.”

Sadiq Khan, one of Labour’s candidates for London mayor, said he would suspend Uber immediately if it emerged just a single driver did not hold genuine paperwork.

“The findings of this Guardian investigation are shocking,” he said. “You can’t take short cuts with Londoners safety. I’m putting private-hire companies like Uber on notice; if I’m elected as mayor it will be one strike and you’re out – even if just one of your drivers is found not have gone through the right checks or not to hold legitimate documentation – then your licence to operate in the capital will be suspended instantly.”

Caroline Pidgeon, the deputy chair of the London Assembly’s transport committee, wrote to Johnson on Wednesday asking “whether or not Uber drivers have recently been found to be operating without insurance” and warned “public confidence in the safety of private-hire vehicles is undermined by rogue operators whose business practices facilitate or enable the flouting of the law.”

The LPCHA’s submission alleges that Uber’s system of checking insurance documents only when the driver registers and when they renew the policy allows drivers to cancel their policies after registration to get a refund knowing that they will face no further checks. It says Uber drivers are “highly likely to be taking advantage of this loophole given the financial pressures they face under Uber’s operating model.”

Asked to comment on their claims, Jo Bertram, Uber’s regional general manager, said: “Uber complies with the exactly the same laws as all other private hire operators. All partner-drivers are fully licensed and insured to carry passengers and go through enhanced disclosure and barring service checks before they can drive.

“Our operation has been scrutinised by the regulators in every city we operate in and has been praised for the economic opportunities it brings to drivers. TfL has done multiple inspections of our documentation systems over recent weeks and have found no issues.” 

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jun/18/suspend-uber-london-black-cab-drivers-claims-flawed-checks

Boris Johnson’s relationship with the capital’s black cab trade has become further troubled after the Sun and Daily Mail newspapers released a video showing the mayor of London on his bicycle telling a taxi driver “to fuck off and die – and not in that order”.

The exchange in Islington, north London, was caught on camera by a passerby.

The driver, one of many black cab operators furious at the way Transport for London, overseen by the mayor, has allowed Uber drivers to undermine their trade shouted at Johnson: “You’re one of them mate. That’s what you are. One of them.”

The footage shows Johnson replying: “Why don’t you fuck off and die, why don’t you fuck off and die – and not in that order.”

The cabbie then drives away yelling: “Yeah bollocks, I hope you die.”

Johnson is easily identifiable wearing a distinctive yellow helmet with his trademark blonde hair poking out at the sides and a charcoal suit.

A source close to the mayor said: “Boris has dozens of chance conversations with Londoners every week. Many are productive and friendly, some are colourful, I know most end happily. I believe this particular cabbie however is a serial heckler.”

It is difficult to know if the exchange will confirm Johnson’s admired status as someone apart from mainstream politics or instead the sight of him hurling abuse in public will make voters think he lacks the gravitas and restraint to be prime minister.

Johnson, now an MP, is clearly waiting to challenge for the leadership against the chancellor, George Osborne, when David Cameron resigns.

The general secretary of LTDA (Licenced Taxi Drivers Association) laughed off news of the heated exchange that took place as Johnson was cycling down St John Street in Islington, north London, at just after 12.20am on Friday 5 June.

Behind the row is a serious dispute between the black cabs and the Conservative party over the extent to which they are willing to let Uber take over the business of black cabs by undercutting their fares.

The black cab trade claims Uber does not pay taxes and uses unlicensed drivers who come to London from outside the capital for three days and lack any knowledge of London’s streets, relying instead on satnavs to get them around the city.

By contrast the black cab drivers say they have learned the knowledge over four years and provide a superior service. The black cab trade also says that the strategy of Uber is to undercut the prices of the licensed trade and then after destroying that trade raise its prices, with a monopoly and a lower level of service.

The mayor was told last month that London’s black cab trade would die “on his watch” if he didn’t change the laws to block the smartphone app.

At recent industry meeting he was accused of lacking “the guts” to stand up to Uber, which is blamed for putting hundreds of cabbies out of work in recent months.


http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jun/18/boris-johnson-filmed-swearing-taxi-driver-london-uber

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North Wales.

A woman who was found dead days after being raped by a fake taxi driver killed herself, a coroner has ruled.

Ceri Linden, 20, from Mochdre, Conwy county, took an overdose of tablets one week after she was attacked.

Coroner Nicola Jones recorded a verdict of suicide at an inquest in Llandudno on Wednesday.

In April, police said Miss Linden's powerful video interview with officers helped convict attacker Masood Mansouri "from beyond the grave".

Miss Linden flagged down a car she thought was a taxi after a night out in Chester on 10 August 2014 but Mansouri took her back to his home and attacked her.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-33172273
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Facing increasing pressure from the taxi industry, authorities in New York have begun to crack down on Uber — issuing tickets and seizing cars of Uber drivers who participate in illegal pickups in the city. 

Between April 29 and June 15, the New York Post reports that NYC authorities seized 496 cars from Uber drivers taking illegal street hails, mostly at the three airports in the region.  

Uber spokesman Matt Wing said that “street hails are not permitted on the Uber platform — period. This is a small group of bad actors and the violations add up to less than one hundredth of one percent of our rides over the same time period.” 

Airports are the last domestic frontier for Uber, and even in cities where the service is well-ingrained, it faces constant scrutiny. The seizures of Uber cars were part of a larger operation that confiscated a total of 938 for-hire vehicles operating illegally, according to Taxi and Limousine Commission spokesman Allan Fromberg.

“Our officers noted an uptick in illegal activity attributable to licensed for-hire vehicles acting outside their authority,” Fromberg told the Post. “And seizures have a greater deterrent value than summonses alone.” 

These small setbacks just don’t seem to add up for the five-year-old ride sharing company. The New York Times Magazine reported that the company is reimbursing its drivers who incur fines and tickets in Paris. And in China, it relies on huge driver subsidies to ensure customers are only billed at cost. 

Uber will soon face a major test in New York. Mayor Bill de Blasio will appear in court on June 22 to face allegations from four of the city’s largest taxi financiers that the city should not have permitted any passenger pick-ups through an app. They allege that an "e-hail" is synonymous with a traditional street hail, the exclusive domain of yellow cabs.

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/york-city-seized-496-uber-150119443.html

Rossendale taxi drivers in peaceful protest

CABBIES will be protesting outside the council offices in Bacup at noon today (THURS) over planned changes to their licences.

The taxi drivers say if Rossendale Borough Council won't halt the ongoing consultation and agree to discuss the changes with them they will go on strike.

They are particularly concerned over new wording which says that if the council ‘presume’ the taxi driver isn’t working in Rossendale their licence can be revoked.

Up to 150 Hackney Carriage drivers are expected to attend the protest between 12pm and 1pm. The Rossendale drivers claim the planned changes 'threaten their livelihoods'.

"We voted unanimously to protest outside Futures Park. If we do not start to get some answers and the council opens a general line of communication we will go on strike," said David Lawrie, chair of Rossendale Taxi Association, who called a crisis meeting in Stacksteads on Tuesday night. He said they will protest between noon and 1pm today; if the council aren't forthcoming they will then hold another meeting to discuss strike dates.

"We hope the council see sense," said David. "This is all about communication between the council and the taxi drivers failing and this protest has nothing to do with safety checks and inspections. I just want to make that clear," he said.

Rossendale Council’s consultation document also wants drivers to carry first aid kits again and outlines plans for an undisclosed fee for the recovery of a suspended taxi.

They are particularly concerned over new wording which says if the council 'presume' the driver isn't working in Rossendale their licence can be revoked.

In 2010 most of Rossendale's 320 Hackney Carriage taxi drivers went on strike for four days; now there are more than 2,628 licensed drivers from as far afield as Manchester to Birmingham.

The Rossendale Taxi Association say the changes being consulted on, some of which could start from July 15, are being brought in to reduce the number of taxi licences as the council doesn't currently cap them.

A spokesman for the council said: "These are early proposals and are subject to change. We encourage taxi drivers, taxi users and other interested parties to talk to us and give us their views."

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/13338165.Rossendale_taxi_drivers_in_peaceful_protest/?ref=rss

Almost 500 Uber cars seized in New York City in illegal pickup crackdown

Nearly 500 Uber vehicles were seized by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission amid a city-wide crackdown on illegal pickups by black and livery cars.The NY Post reported that the commission seized 496 cars affiliated with Uber between 29 April and 15 June for illegally picking up passengers through street hails.


Drivers of black and livery cars are only permitted to conduct pre-arranged pickups, through a dispatcher or a smartphone app."Street hails are not permitted on the Uber platform — period," company spokesman Matt Wing told the NY Post. "This is a small group of bad actors and the violations add up to less than one hundredth of one period of our rides over the same time period."

Many of the Uber vehicles seized were discovered doing illegal pick-ups at John F Kennedy International Airport. In April alone, the Taxi and Limousine Commission issued 431 tickets to unlicensed operations throughout New York City."The law is increasingly being violated by services such as Uber and non-licensed hustlers," Tweeps Phillips-Woods, the executive director of the Committee for Taxi Safety, said.

Taxi and Limousine Commission Chairwoman Meera Joshi said it was increasing law-enforcement at airports.

“"Street hails are not permitted on the Uber platform — period."”

- Uber spokesman Matt Wing

"We've been beefing up our presence at the airports for over a year now, and the numbers tell the tale," Joshi told the Post. "Our airports are the gateway for tens of millions of visitors to our city each year, and ensuring their safe transportation and that they aren't ripped off is an important part of the TLC's core mission."

Data reveals that there are nearly 19,000 drivers affiliated with Uber bases, according to the Post.
"The fact that the Tlc has seized such a staggering amount of Uber cars in such a short period of time only shows that more oversight is needed," Phillips-Woods said.

According to NYC Tlc spokesman Allan Fromberg, 938 black, livery and luxury vehicles have been taken off the streets after a change in policy. Drivers previously were given a summons and did not have their vehicles seized.

"Our officers noted an uptick in illegal activity attributed to licensed for-hire vehicles acting outside their authority," Fromberg told reporters. "And seizures have a greater deterrent value than summonses alone."

According to the NY Daily News, Uber said it would "deactivate" drivers who were found to violate Tlc policy regarding street hails.

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/496-uber-cars-seized-new-york-city-illegal-pickup-crackdown-1506532

Gett, the global on-demand app that works exclusively with licensed black cabs and Hackney Carriages across the UK, has become Britain’s biggest taxi app, overtaking Uber.

Gett is now available in 25 cities across the country, the only app of its kind with true nationwide coverage.

Recent launches in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and Birmingham drove a 950% increase in monthly downloads, and Gett brought forward its expansion plans to go live in 18 new cities, including Cambridge, Brighton, Bristol, Nottingham and Newcastle.

Today, Gett is launching £5 rides for customers in all the new cities.

Gett is on track to have 10,000 licensed cab drivers on the app this summer, and is leading the market by onboarding more than 1500 new drivers per month. To date Gett has signed up nearly 15% of all full time Hackney Carriage drivers across 18 new cities in just 4 weeks. The inbound demand has been so great Gett has had to create a waiting list for drivers wishing to come on board.


http://www.clickliverpool.com/news/liverpool-news/1222589-liverpools-new-taxi-app-gett-overtakes-uber-in-uk-taxi-wars.html

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A TAXI driver caught with more than a tonne and a half of illicit tobacco in his van as he drove from Bournemouth to his Lincolnshire home has been been spared jail.

Alan Clater was sentenced to 18 months behind bars, suspended for 24 months, more than two years after he was stopped by Wiltshire Police on the M4 near Swindon.

Officers pulled the 62-year-old over before HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) officers conducted a search in the rear of the hire van and found boxes and bin liners containing 404kg of hand-rolling tobacco and 1.199 tonnes of raw tobacco, worth an estimated £260,000 in lost excise duty.

Colin Spinks, assistant director of criminal investigation at HMRC, said: “We will not stand by and let crooks rip off the law-abiding public, stealing money that should be being spent on vital public services.

"HMRC takes robust action to detect, disrupt and bring those who break the law before the courts.

“These offences have a devastating impact on honest retailers who have to compete with the black market and on the nation’s finances, with around £2 billion lost in excise revenue each year.

“Anyone who suspects cigarettes or tobacco is being illegally produced, smuggled or sold can help us by calling the Customs hotline on 0800 59 5000.”

http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/crime/13334164.Taxi_driver_caught_with_tonne_and_a_half_of_illicit_tobacco_spared_jail/
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EIRE

A taxi driver who had his car stolen and burnt out could face legal action if he fails to pay a bill from the fire service in the Republic of Ireland.

Michael Carr, originally from Londonderry, had his vehicle taken from outside his house in May last year.

It was found two days later in Buncrana, County Donegal, having been set on fire and abandoned.

Mr Carr was then sent a bill for over 1,400 euros (£1,008) for the fire service attending the incident.

The letter, from Donegal County Council, warned the taxi driver that it "will resort to legal enforcement where necessary in order to secure payment".

Penalised

Mr Carr said he is "worried about the consequences" of not paying as he could not afford the amount being asked of him.

"I'm paying for someone else to come into my house, steal things from me, steal my vehicle - I feel I'm getting penalised for it," he told BBC Radio Foyle.

The car was stolen by thieves who had broken into Mr Carr's house in Muff, County Donegal, as he was asleep.

Police found the car burnt out two days later.

He later received the letter billing him a total of 1,443.21 euro (£1,039) for "fire charges".

Mr Carr is now receiving final reminders regarding the bill but says he does not see why he should have to pay it.

Blatant

"It does hang over me - it's a lot of money and I can't really afford to pay it.

"Everybody at the minute struggles, and 1,400 euro is a lot of money to be handing anyone."

But the fire service at Donegal County Council said its authority to charge for vehicle fires is set out in Ireland's Fire Services Act.

It said the charge is normally the "full cost of the incident plus 30% to cover equipment, consumables and administration".

It added: "Where a person is on social welfare and also working part-time and no contribution has been received from the insurance company, the invoice may be reduced by 75%."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-33145327

BOLTON

Is Bolton Council taking the P***

They have decided to train Licensed drivers to spot child grooming.

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HOTEL staff and taxi drivers are being trained to spot child groomers as efforts to tackle the issue in Bolton gather pace.

Police are going into some of the town's biggest hotels and delivering training packages to staff, ranging from receptionists to cleaners.

Meanwhile Bolton Council has said taxi drivers can be its "eyes and ears" in rooting out grooming in the town.

Up to 600 drivers have been educated since the child sexual exploitation (CSE) elements were added to the training given to new drivers.

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/13331177.Hotel_staff_and_taxi_drivers_being_trained_to_spot_child_grooming_in_Bolton/?ref=rss
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The same Journo, for this article, announced in April that 71 Bolton Licensed driver's were under investigation for sex assaults.

To put these figures into context. London had 101 licensed drivers accused in the year 2014.

London has a Population of 3,232,000

Bolton has a Population of 277,000

It must be noted that dozens of Bolton Licensed driver's work for Uber in Manchester.

1. What does that say for public safety here in Manchester.

2. What is the purpose of CSE training for any single authority, when most of the driver's in the Town or City concerned are Licensed elsewhere.

3. Manchester are considering CSE training for driver's. Tell them where to stick it, we have had driver's working here, for 3 years, from 19 other area's including Cornwall, London, Wales and everywhere in between.

Why should we have another restrictive burden placed upon us, when Manchester offer no enforcement action in support.

Returning back to Bolton, it would seem that training Bolton driver's in CSE would be akin to asking Farmers to train Foxes to look after the welfare of Chickens.

Police arrested two men and issued 50 fixed penalty notices in a crackdown on unlicensed taxi drivers in Sheffield and Doncaster.

As part of the operation taxis were also inspected to assess their roadworthiness.

A number of drivers were given prohibition notices to make sure defects on their vehicles are repaired.

They were warned that if they fail to carry out the repairs their taxis could be seized.

Police said the two men arrested in the crackdown were quizzed on suspicion of drink driving and failing to appear at court.

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/crime/police-crackdown-on-unlicensed-taxi-drivers-in-sheffield-and-doncaster-1-7269238
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Cars are set to be banned from key streets in Dublin city in a radical new plan to make the capital more cycle and pedestrian friendly.

Some €150m is to be spent over the next eight years on shutting areas such as College Green, Westmoreland Street, Suffolk Street and Bachelors Walk to motorists.

But fuming taxi drivers yesterday blasted the plan — saying it could threaten their livelihoods.

All the taxi unions contacted by The Star said they were against the move — which they said would mean longer journeys and higher fares.

And they vowed to block the city streets as “a last option” to protest against the move.

Dave McGuinness of the TTNH taxi union said: “If they implement it there will be protests. We are totally against it.”
Project

The plans have been drawn up to cope with the expected 42,000 extra morning car journeys into the city by 2023 — and at the same time take advantage of the new Luas Cross City project.

The most significant proposal is to shut College Green to cars, vans and taxis — so just tram passengers, buses, cyclists and pedestrians can pass the front of Trinity.

A similar plan has been made for Westmoreland Street, while from nearby Suffolk Street up to St Stephen’s Green will be fully pedestrianised.

Meanwhile, Bachelors Walk will be off limits to private cars only — as will an area of the quays on the south of the Liffey.

Transport bosses are also looking to redesign D’Olier Street by building a central median for bus stops, creating segregated cycle lanes and making access to Tara St Dart station easier.
Aim

The aim of the plan from Dublin City Council and the National Transport Authority is to re-route general through-traffic away from the city’s central area.

It has been released to allow for public consultation and give interested parties their say until mid-July.

Dublin City Council chief executive Owen Keegan said the plan was drawn up because the expected growth in commuter numbers over the next decade cannot be met by allowing more cars in the city.

“The city centre can only continue to function effectively if we offer those working and living in Dublin, as well as visitors, more choices in how they access and move around the capital,” he said.

“The proposals would also provide a better living and working environment for business, residents and visitors.”

http://www.thestar.ie/star/taxi-drivers-slam-new-transport-plan-for-dublin-63920/