Uber is experimenting with a decidedly retro service: a telephone dispatch system that would allow people without smartphones to call a hotline and order an Uber ride, according to a transit official in Pinellas County, Florida. The system is being tested as a pilot program in conjunction with the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, which plans to launch it on July 18th. The call-in feature is part of a local program that will grant publicly subsidized Uber rides to low-income residents who do not have cars or easy access to the area’s bus-based public transit system, according to Christopher Cochran, senior planner at the PSTA.

The call-in feature signals that Uber is looking not only to expand its clientele beyond its smartphone wielding, tech-savvy customer base, but also that the ride-hailing giant hopes to be taken more seriously by public transit agencies as a complement — or even alternative — to existing mass transport options.
-----------------------------------------------

UberK’s boss in the UK claims she has been forced to quit Twitter after being bombarded with sexist and abusive messages from taxi drivers.

Jo Bertram claimed the attacks have included one angry cabbie saying he hoped she would “get run over by a Toyota Prius”, while others have criticised her appearance including one who said she looked like Jimmy Savile.

The Uber executive, who is in charge of the minicab app across the UK, Ireland and Scandinavia, spoke about the abuse today at a "powerful women" conference being held in central London, Bertram told the Fortune Most Powerful Women event at Holborn's Rosewood Hotel that she now gets staff to check her Twitter account as she cannot face logging into it herself.

http://goo.gl/fW1HSe

------------------------------------------------------------------------------


After putting the finishing touches to their colourful cabs, 70 taxi drivers have made their way to the seaside for the annual Edinburgh Taxi Trade Children's Outing.

From an Eddie the Eagle-inspired float to a taxi transformed into Red Riding Hood's Grandma's house, the horns beeped through an excited crowd as more than 100 families joined them at Edinburgh Zoo. 

The city's cabbies take a day off to drive children with special needs, life-limiting conditions and terminal illnesses and their families on a trip to the seaside.

Funded by an organising committee of taxi drivers, who raise money throughout the year, the outing has become a staple in the city for the last 70 years.

http://goo.gl/dLpnCE 

-----------------------------------------------
UBERK FLORIDA

Touted for years as the company that would disrupt the taxi industry, Uber is now going old school and experimenting with a telephone dispatch system that allows those without smartphones to call in to order an Uber ride.

If that sounds familiar, it should; it’s how taxi’s have operated for more than a century.

The new program is being tested as a pilot program with the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority in Florida and launches on July 18.

 The program is part of a project to offer subsidized Uber rides to those typically reliant on the bus-based public transit system, according to Christopher Cochran, senior planner at the PSTA.
Under the new plan, “transit disadvantaged” residents can phone in a request for an Uber ride and be granted a taxpayer-subsidized trip anywhere within the service area during daytime hours.

The program covers both travel the dispatcher deems “urgent and life sustaining” as well as minor things, such as grocery shopping or routine medical visits.

What’s interesting is the possibilities the move opens up for cities to complement their existing public transportation options for “transit disadvantaged” individuals. The move would see Uber vying for new clientele not just in tech-savvy smartphone users, but as an additional option for municipal and state governments and a real alternative for the non-tech savvy to the traditional route of calling — or hailing — a taxi.

The Verge.
  

THE Government has committed to introduce extra taxi licensing guidance nationally to learn lessons from Rotherham’s CSE scandal.

MP Sarah Champion will push for more detailed background checks on drivers and training on how to spot signs of grooming included.

New Rotherham Borough Council rules mean drivers need to operate CCTV during journeys from next month and activate audio equipment when carrying an unaccompanied child or vulnerable adult.

Ms Champion said: “We have a responsibility to keep all children safe. It has been two years since the Rotherham abuse scandal, and only now the Government has listened and taken action to make the taxi profession safer for the most vulnerable children. 

“Whilst I welcome this decision, it is disgraceful that the Government has taken this long to act.”

The Jay report highlighted the prominent role of the taxi trade in CSE. A new clause in the Policing and Crime Bill will require local authorities to consider CSE when issuing taxi licences.

Barnardo’s chief executive Javed Khan said: “New measures to make taxis safer for vulnerable children at risk of exploitation are needed urgently. 

“Whilst the vast majority of taxi drivers are law abiding, taxis and private hire vehicles have been linked to many cases of child sexual exploitation.”

http://goo.gl/2AXiqh

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

YESTERDAY IN PARLIAMENT

Licensing functions under taxi and PHV legislation: protection of children and vulnerable adults

“(1) The Secretary of State may issue guidance to public authorities as to how their licensing functions under taxi and private hire vehicle legislation may be exercised so as to protect children, and vulnerable individuals who are 18 or over, from harm.

(2) The Secretary of State may revise any guidance issued under this section.

(3) The Secretary of State must arrange for any guidance issued under this section, and any revision of it, to be published.

(4) Any public authority which has licensing functions under taxi and private hire vehicle legislation must have regard to any guidance issued under this section.

(5) Before issuing guidance under this section, the Secretary of State must consult—

(a) the National Police Chiefs’ Council,

(b) persons who appear to the Secretary of State to represent the interests of public authorities who are required to have regard to the guidance,

(c) persons who appear to the Secretary of State to represent the interests of those whose livelihood is affected by the exercise of the licensing functions to which the guidance relates, and

(d) such other persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

(6) In this section, “taxi and private hire vehicle legislation” means—

(a) the London Hackney Carriages Act 1843;

(b) sections 37 to 68 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847;

(c) the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869;

(d) Part 2 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976;

(e) the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998;

(f) the Plymouth City Council Act 1975 (c.xx).”—(Karen Bradley.)

This new clause provides for the Secretary of State to issue guidance to public authorities who have licensing functions under taxi and private hire vehicle legislation about how those functions may be exercised so as to protect children and vulnerable adults from harm. It also imposes a duty on those public authorities to have regard to the guidance.

Brought up, and added to the Bill.

New Clause 57

---------------------------------------------------

An Uber driver has called on the company to stop its "dangerous" UberPool car sharing service after he was forced to call police when a woman was attacked in his cab.

James Farrar, the co-founder of driver organisation United Private Hire Drivers, said the problem arose when he picked up two passengers in Cranley Gardens, Kensington, on Saturday evening, who were unaware they had ordered an UberPool service.

Mr Farrar said the two young men then set upon the female passenger who was already in the car.

He told the Standard: "When I got there these two guys were aggressive, they'd not realised they were in a shared service, the user interface is confusing.

"I took a decision for my safety and the safety of the other passenger that I would not carry them.

"There was an argument, they kicked her in the back and dragged her up against the wall.

"I tried my best to defend her and they set upon me as well.

"The police came, but the main attacker had left the scene. The other guy attempted to leave the scene in a cab but I stopped him."

Another motorist witnessed the incident, which happened at about 9pm, and said he saw the passenger turn on Mr Farrar.

The man, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Standard: "I was driving in my car from Gloucester Road towards Fulham Road and when I got to the bend I saw a guy standing in front of a car with his arms up.

"I saw a commotion going on in the road. It was a black guy, a young boy, I couldn't tell if he was punching him, he was wrestling him from behind and threw him on the bonnet.

"I asked what's happened, and he said 'he's just assaulted a girl in my car'.

"I pulled my car up and approached the guy. I asked what was going on and the guy said 'nothing, nothing' and stormed away, but the police caught up with him."

Mr Farrar is now calling on the company to stop the service, and for TfL to impose a ban.

"It absolutely should be stopped," he said. "In fact it should never have started.

"We told TfL this is a dangerous service, it's dangerous to drivers and it's dangerous to the public, especially late at night."

Mr Farrar has also criticised the company for asking its drivers to sign a letter to Val Shawcross, London's Deputy Mayor for Transport, asking her to review taxi regulations and to support Uber's ride sharing service UberPool.

In the letter drafted by Uber, the company claims that UberPool has saved 124 metric tonnes of CO2 due a million passengers choosing to share a mini cab in the past six months.  

However, UPHD believes the figures are misleading as UberPool is drawing passengers away from public transport.

Mr Farrar said: "Uber must stop using the name of drivers to peddle corporate white and green wash. Uber doesn't bother to give a full accounting of its carbon emissions to independent bodies like the Carbon Disclosure Project and is now blatantly spinning the data to create a misleading picture.

"However, if Uber wants to work with drivers to secure worker rights, a cap on TfL licensing of private hire vehicles and to end UberPool and similar ride sharing services, then our door is wide open."

An Uber spokesperson said: “Londoners have chosen to share their journeys by choosing UberPool more than a million times, so we were extremely concerned to hear about this incident. We have been in contact with both the driver and passengers concerned and will assist the police with any investigation.  

“We make very clear to passengers at the time of booking UberPool that they are opting to share their journey. It has proved to be a popular new choice for people in London as it allows them to save money, while also helping to cut emissions and congestion compared to taking the trip alone.

"Drivers can also make more money by having two fare-paying passengers in the car at the same time. 

“Last week Uber gave its partners the option to sign a letter to the new Deputy Mayor for Transport to ensure the voices of private hire drivers in London are heard.

"This was completely optional and almost 9,000 drivers chose to sign that letter which pointed out the vital role they play in keeping London moving - especially at times of day, and in parts of London, where public transport is limited or unavailable.”

Garrett Emmerson, TfL’s chief operating officer for surface transport, said: “I am extremely concerned to hear of this incident and have launched an urgent investigation.

"We will be speaking to the police and to Uber about this particular case and we will confirm that Uber are ensuring passengers are made adequately aware that they are ride sharing with strangers when they book UberPool.”


A Metropolitan Police spokesman said officers had attended but the situation had been resolved amicably and no arrests had been made.

http://goo.gl/0vug1i  

OPERATION CONSIDERATE

Well done to GMP Traffic and all the Agencies Involved.

E.U. Commission Back UBERK

Given the sheer volume of court rulings that have gone against Uber lately, it would be no surprise to find that the world’s judiciaries have been infiltrated by a cadre of disgruntled black cab drivers.

The California-based taxi app has now fallen foul of courts in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium – and that’s just in Europe. Judges in Brazil and India have also thrown brass tacks under the wheels of the Uber juggernaut, which has been rapidly gathering speed since the company was founded in 2009.

One of the chief complaints is that its lower-cost UberPop service – now banned in a handful of countries – relies on drivers who do not have a licence to operate private hire vehicles. This angered traditional taxi drivers, whose lobby groups have found allies among the political classes.

In France, Uber was found guilty of running an illegal taxi service, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of two years for executives held responsible. They avoided jail but, in a measure of the strength of anti-Uber sentiment in France, two executives had to pay combined fines of €50,000.

But there may be hope for Uber in Europe. The European commission recently issued guidelines stating that “sharing economy” businesses such as Uber and Airbnb should be banned only as a last resort. It hinted that it could call upon these guidelines when determining whether national legislation violates EU treaties.

So far, Uber has tended to drop its UberPop service rather than fight its corner: it relies for income instead on its more upmarket chauffeur-style services, which use fully licensed drivers.

But the company has many friends in high places and the thinly veiled message of support from the European commission may well embolden chief executive Travis Kalanick. If the commission continues to lean towards backing Uber, he will at some stage feel ready to test those bans in the highest European courts. And that could lead to a head-on collision.

https://goo.gl/4BRvZF

This is what the E.U. Back. £10 a mile fares on Saturday Night, here in Manchester.

http://goo.gl/KIx3jW
---------------------------------------------
STAFFORDSHIRE

A COUNCIL licensing officer has been suspended following allegations against the staff member.

Newcastle Borough Council has taken the action while an internal investigation into the issue takes place.

It is understood that the allegations against the officer relate to the borough council's issuing of licences to taxi drivers.

A borough council spokesman said: "We can confirm that a member of staff has been suspended while an investigation takes place.

"As this is still under way it would be inappropriate for us to comment further."


http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Newcastle-council-officer-suspended-taxi/story-29388986-detail/story.html

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Mercedes-Benz Vans has launched its all-new Vito Taxi with prices started from £135 per week.

Vito Taxi offers space for the driver and up to six passengers, as well as being fully-wheelchair accessible.


Available initially in a ‘National’ specification, customers can choose from the front wheel-drive 109CDI model, with 88 bhp or the rear-wheel drive 114CDI with 114 bhp. Both come with manual gearboxes but an optional seven-speed automatic gearbox is available for the 114CDI models.

Later in 2016, a London specification version will be available, incorporating the rear steering axle that allows it to meet the famous 25ft turning circle rule as prescribed by the Public Carriage Office so it can execute a U-turn in London’s congested streets.

The London variant is offered with the more powerful engine as standard together with the 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic gearbox, which is now controlled using a steering column-mounted lever.


Standard equipment on both versions includes the fuel-saving BlueEfficiency measures which features engine Start/Stop function for the 114CDI models, air conditioning, electric folding mirrors, electrically operated sliding doors on both sides and electrical nearside step; London versions feature an additional off-side step.

Priced from £135 per week for the Vito Taxi 109CDI National variant, the Vito Taxi comes with a three-year, unlimited mileage manufacturer’s warranty and MobiloVan back-up, which includes free, round-the-clock emergency roadside assistance. Pricing for the London variant is still to be announced.

http://www.commercialfleet.org/news/van-news/2016/06/09/mercedes-launches-euro-6-vito-taxi

MANCHESTER.

The Manchester Compliance Team have had a very good season, so far.

The first six months results have been released.

---------------------------------------

EIRE

Motor insurance has increased by more than 35% in the past year according to the CSO - but taxi drivers, who face losing their livlihood, say they are faring even worse than that.

Tower Cabs in Limerick own a fleet of eight taxis and paid €7,000 for insurance in 2013 and €16000 in 2014.

"Last year I got a renewal €56,000, I thought it was a misprint so I rang them,” Owner Tom Hannon explained.

“They said no, that's the way things are gone. From €16,000 the previous year. And no satisfaction, just, if you’re not happy, move on."

Tom ended up paying €31,000 to a different insurer for his eight taxis last year, but this year can't even get a quote.

"I have eight drivers losing their jobs now in August over this situation. It'll be a devastating blow to receive."

Jude Williams of Treaty and Expert Taxis in Limerick said "There's an increase in the taxi insurance of 200-300%.

“Going from €1100 up to maybe €4,500 in Limerick and even in Dublin they're getting quotes of €16,000 and these are taxi drivers with full no claims bonus. There's no explanation as to why it's increased so much, the only thing we can figure out is a lack of competition."

The insurance industry say claims volatility is to blame for rising premiums.

"We have called for our level of awards to be benchmarked against other jurisdictions,” Kevin Thompson of Insurance Ireland says.

“Because as a society we need to decide whether we can afford a level of awards or not, so we are urging the government to take action and we are urging other stake holders as well to engage in this process so we can bring affordability back in to the market."

Any measures to drive down the costs of insurance are unlikely to arrive on time for taxi drivers like Tom.

http://utv.ie/News/2016/06/10/Taxi-drivers-lose-jobs-over-soaring-insurance-costs-60239?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

EVOLUTION

1980s: hailed or booked a taxi (from my home phone or a callbox), went where I wanted to go, kept an eye on the meter, and paid with cash.

1990s: same except that I paid by check.

Early 2000s:  same except that taxi drivers had stopped taking checks because they bounced too often, so I was back with cash.

Late 2000s: found that some tax drivers would take credit cards. Of course they expected a bigger tip to cover their 3% processing fee. And they used a manual card reader, which was obviously not connected to any network, and then processed the credit card slips through their bank. I usually paid with cash.

Early 2010s: taxi drivers started to use Square (or similar) to process their credit cards. This made it really easy for me to give a big tip (and made me feel a bit mean for “only” doing 15%). It was also network connected so my balance was checked before payment completed. And I got my receipt emailed to me. Progress!

Mid 2010s: along came Uber, Lyft, etc. Suddenly, I didn’t really have to think about how I was going to pay, or whether I had the right cash, check or credit card with me. Instead, payment was an integral part of the transaction. Now, the mobile app that allowed me to see how close the nearest driver is, enter the destination, get an estimate of cost, track the driver’s progress to me, also automatically hit my credit card and allowed me to add a tip (or not) and rate the driver.

https://goo.gl/9h3wFU

------------------------------------------

A motorcyclist in his 20s has been involved in a serious collision with a taxi in Grimsby.

The incident occurred at around 10pm at the junction of Yarborough Road and Cross Coates Road.

Relatives of the male motorcyclist on the scene say they believe he has suffered broken legs after colliding into a wall and another parked vehicle. He was laid down on the floor and covered in blankets while they waited for the ambulance to arrive.

An ambulance arrived on the scene shortly after 11pm.

The collision is between a private hire Citreon C5 taxi and a 125 Aprilia bike.

One police car was on the scene and traffic was being diverted around the where the collision happened.

One eyewitness on the scene said: "I am disgusted with the amount of time the poor lad has been on the floor - he could have died."

http://goo.gl/wqGS8Z