GETT TO EMPLOY UNLISENSED DRIVERS IN LONDON

https://www.appjobs.com/london/gett

Quote from advert:

Gett will suggest you customers in the closest proximity. All you have to do is pick them up and drive them to their destination.

Gett makes the sign up process extremely easy thanks to the user-friendly app. There are also hundreds of jobs that you can choose from! You can also receive bookings whenever you are available.

You will work in your own time without the hassle of getting a contract! You will receive easy payments when you are done, and keep all your tips!

NOTTINGHAM

A sting operation in the city centre saw 15 illegal taxi drivers caught in the space of just one hour.
Nottingham's licensing boss says it is "a game of cat and mouse" to catch them in the act.

Richard Antcliff, chief for licensing at Nottingham City Council, says a 'cohort' of around 200 drivers use social media messenger service Whatsapp to keep the council off their tail.

If an illegal driver spots a council or police officer then a message is pinged out to avoid that area so they aren't caught and prosecuted.

On Friday evening in Nottingham city centre, the Post went undercover with licensing boss Mr Antcliff to evaluate the scale of the problem.

In just over one hour, 15 drivers were caught picking up customers illegally. One left his vehicle outside a bus stop to issue a tirade of abuse, and another sped off before his details could be taken.
The 15 caught are now going through the system but face possible penalties including a fine or losing their badge.

The council’s licensing team are targeting drivers who obtain private hire licences from other councils and then 'tout' for business - also known as ‘plying for hire’ - on the streets of Nottingham.
The majority of the 15 caught on Friday evening had their licences issued in Gedling. Private hire drivers from Gedling can drop off in the city, but the problems arise when they then try to pick up passengers.

Under legislation, private hire vehicles may only pick up passengers when pre-booked, rather than from a rank or being hailed down like a city hackney cab.

However, Mr Antcliffe says around 200 taxi drivers are regularly breaking the law.

Other offences committed by illegal drivers include not setting the meter, charging high prices, and leaving the passenger uninsured if an accident was to occur while in the vehicle.

Mr Antcliff says that illegal taxi drivers are putting the public at risk – with a small minority using their cover to commit serious crimes.
He said in the last six months the city has got "out of control" and more enforcement work is needed to ensure that illegal taxis are driven out of Nottingham.

http://bit.ly/2othDO8
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TESLA WORLDWIDE

Dec. 16 (UPI) -- Electric car company Tesla doesn't want its Supercharging stations used for commercial purposes, including cabs and ride-hailing businesses that include Uber and Lyft.

The new policy, released Friday according to Bloomberg, also applies to cars used for commercial deliveries or government purposes worldwide. Instead Tesla wants the high-speed battery chargers available for private use.

"We are continually expanding our global network of Supercharger stations to enable personal long distance travel and to provide a charging solution for those without immediate access to home or workplace charging, thereby accelerating the widespread adoption of electric vehicles," Tesla wrote. "When Superchargers are used beyond their intended purpose, it negatively impacts the availability of Supercharging services for others."

Tesla said if commercial users don't comply, "we may also take additional action to protect the availability of Superchargers for their intended purpose, such as limiting or blocking your vehicle's ability to use Supercharger stations."

The auto company said commercial users should "reach out to your local sales contact to explore vehicle and charging options that suit your needs."

Tesla stations, which can charge vehicles in 30 minutes for a range of 130 miles, are mainly along highways but have expanded to city locations.

Tesla, which began offering Supercharging stations five years ago, started 2017 with more than 5,000 Superchargers globally and plans more than 10,000 Superchargers and 15,000 Destination Charging connectors worldwide by year's end.

Model S and Model X owners receive 400 kWh of free Supercharger credit -- about 1,000 miles -- each year. After the credit, Tesla says the average cost is $6 per 100 miles compared with $13 for gasoline.

http://bit.ly/2k3c5Wc
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TRAFFORD

A blind woman has told of her anger at being left stranded in the pouring rain after a taxi driver refused to pick up her guide dog.

Jeanette Fyfe says the incident in Sale left her feeling ‘powerless’.

The social worker missed an important doctor’s appointment after booking a cab from Sale firm Scotts Cars.

But when the taxi arrived at her home the driver refused to stop.

Now the cabbie has had his taxi driver’s licence revoked after Jeanette, 40, lodged a complaint.
Jeanette, who is registered blind and has severely limited sight due to a rare genetic disorder known as retinitis pigmentosa, says cabbies have refused to pick up her black Labrador guide dog Otto on at least 10 occasions in the past, but the incident in May was the final straw.

She’s now urging other guide dog owners to report similar incidents to help stamp out the problem.

“I had a really important medical appointment that I needed to get to”, she said. “I just wanted to cry, I was drenched, I was frustrated, I felt powerless.
“The anger really kicked in later when I rang the firm and was basically fobbed off. That’s when I thought this time I’m going to do something about it, because it’s happened to me so many times. It’s wearing, it’s discrimination.

“It’s a really important issue that is not being taken seriously by taxi firms. The majority of guide dog users have experienced this. There is a major problem with taxis and guide dogs.

“I want to get it out there because I really want to encourage other guide dog users to report it and see it through.

“Take video, take pictures, screengrab your booking confirmations and report it.”

Last week the Rossendale council registered driver had his a cab licence revoked following a hearing.
The driver, whose name has not been made public, has 21 days to appeal the decision.

Coun Steve Hughes, chair of Rossendale council’s licensing committee said: “We can confirm the licence of the driver in question has been revoked subject to appeal.”

Scotts Cars, based in Sale town centre, were contacted for a comment.

It is thought the driver no longer works for the firm.

It is illegal for taxi drivers to refuse to pick up guide dogs, unless the driver has a medical exemption certificate.

But earlier this month research published by the charity Guide Dogs found the number of incidents has more than doubled in the last three years, from 66 refusals in 2013 to 146 in 2016.

James White, senior campaigns manager at Guide Dogs, said: “This discrimination is not only illegal, but it’s also a huge blow to people’s confidence and feelings of acceptance in society.

Taxi and minicab drivers need to understand and abide by the law and welcome guide dogs and other assistance dogs into their vehicles.”

http://bit.ly/2Bk0lFX 

Comment. The Management of risk act 1999.
Makes it possible to refuse to take an unrestrained Dog in a saloon car.

If you are uneasy about a Dog being loose behind you it vastly increases the chance of an accident.

Of Course if you pay an extra Pound you can travel easily in a Black cab where a fixed partition exists to protect the Dog and the driver

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VIRGIN TRAINS EDINBURGH

A FEMALE church minister was ordered to get out of a complimentary taxi miles from her East Lothian home in the middle of the night after missing the last train home.

Deacon Elizabeth Harfleet was in a taxi booked by Virgin Trains after delays to her journey on their service saw her miss her connection. But she said the taxi driver only took her as far as Newcraighall – seven miles short of her home in Tranent – and then insisted he had not been told to take her further.

Faced with being abandoned on the street at 1.15am on a freezing winter night, Mrs Harfleet said that she paid the driver an additional £16 to take her home.

But she has spoken out in concern for the safety of other women who may have found themselves in the same position without any money who could have been put at risk.

She said: “I was shocked that the taxi driver was prepared to leave me on a pavement, in the early hours of the morning with a large suitcase, if I did not have money to pay him.Surely in a case like this safety should be placed above profits?

“It concerns me that this could happen, particularly at this time of year, to women in a more vulnerable position.”

Mrs Harfleet, 56, of Forthview Walk, who is a circuit minister with the Methodist Church in Scotland, was returning from a conference in Birmingham on Saturday, December 2, when delays meant she did not arrive at Edinburgh Waverley Station until 12.45am.

Virgin staff immediately organised ongoing taxis for passengers who were stranded. She gave them her details and was told she would be sharing her cab with another passenger going to Newcraighall.

However, she said that when that passenger was dropped off she was in for a shock. She said: “I told the driver I would direct him to my home in Tranent and he said he had only been booked to go as far as Newcraighall. He was adamant I would have to get out and was ready to leave me there.

“I recognised that this was not the time or place to get into an argument with a man I didn’t know. I had been given an assurance by the train manager that I would get home safely. I should not have had to do this but I offered to pay to be taken home. Of course money talks and then, meter on, we were on our way. I arrived home at 1.30am.

“Virgin Trains have a duty of care to their passengers and this situation might have been avoided with clearer communication.

“The taxi driver concerned demonstrated the most appalling dereliction of duty and passenger care I have ever encountered. He put money above safety. Who would leave a woman stranded on a roadside in the early hours of the morning, knowing this was not the chosen destination?

Clearly this man would, without a thought – shocking beyond words. I just happened to have cash on me. I just happened to be able to communicate easily and be assertive. What if that had not been the case for someone else? The outcome may have been different.”

Virgin Trains were asked for a comment but have not yet responded.

http://bit.ly/2yKzaRX 
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 Cambridge is reviewing Uber’s licence to determine whether the company is a “fit and proper” private car hire operator following suspensions in London and Sheffield.

Cambridge’s Taxi Licensing Committee will meet on Monday to discuss the renewal of the ride-sharing app’s licence, which expires later this month, in light of the Transport for London (TfL) suspension, the Cambridge News reports.

Although Cambridge transport firms have lodged objections about Uber since it began operating in the city last November, complaints about how the newcomer handles booking were not upheld, the newspaper says.

TfL refused to renew Uber’s licence in September, when it accused the operator of a “lack of corporate responsibility”. Safety concerns cited included the way Uber handled police reports of alleged sexual assaults by drivers.

A judge at a preliminary hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court yesterday scheduled Uber’s appeal against the London licence ban to begin on 30 April and last for five days, Reuters say.

However, the judge warned that the hearing might be delayed until June.

And if there are grounds for further appeals, the process could take years, although Uber reportedly hopes to have reached a deal with TfL before it has exhausted its legal options.

London is “one of Uber’s biggest and most profitable markets, and the loss of its licence was seen as a major blow for the company as it struggles to repair its reputation”, says The Daily Telegraph.

http://bit.ly/2AXAjZa
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Taxi fares to be reduced in Guildford

The judicial review was heard at the High Court on 7 and 10 November 2017, with judgement handed down on 5 December 2017. The High Court found in our favour and dismissed the challenge.

The judge agreed with the Council's approach and said the decision to use the data it did to set the fares was reasonable, and awarded full costs of £17,875.

The High Court Order suspending the implementation of the fares now ceases to have effect and we can implement the fare rates previously approved in November 2016.

Cllr Graham Ellwood, Lead Councillor for Licensing and Community Safety, said: "We are delighted that the High Court dismissed the challenge to our proposals to reduce fares. The Licensing team had gone to great lengths to consult with the trade to determine the correct input data for calculating the fares, which was recognised in court.

"Setting taxi fares (the rates charged on a taxi's meter by time and distance for a journey) is important to ensure taxi drivers can recover their costs and provide a service at a reasonable cost for the public. It's vital that we set the right rates to ensure this balance and to protect users from being overcharged.

"As a result of the High Court decision, we need to implement these changes. Currently taxi meters are still set to the old rate, meaning customers are now paying too much.

Taxi driver and proprietors need to make arrangements to change their taxi meters by Wednesday 20 December, and we have written to the taxi trade advising them of this.

"Now that the busy festive season is in full swing, we want the public to enjoy their celebrations and get home safely. We would remind people celebrating in Guildford to take one of our licensed liveried taxis home, or book a private hire vehicle through one of our licensed operators for a safe journey home, confident in the knowledge that they will be charged fairly for the service."

https://www.instituteoflicensing.org/NewsJobsArticle.aspx?NewsID=9926&NewsOrJob=news

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LEEDS

Council bosses have promised to listen to taxi drivers concerned about the impact of Leeds' proposed 'clean air zone', which could see them charged £12.50 a day if their vehicles do not meet decent emissions standards.

Town hall chiefs admitted the plan would have a 'huge impact' on the trade, but said the government must do its bit to help firms upgrade to more environmentally friendly vehicles.

Plans to create an area within the outer ring road where the charges will be introduced in a bid to improve the city's air quality were revealed last week.

The council has no choice but to tackle road emissions after Leeds was named as one of 29 areas where legal pollution levels had been breached.

Under the plans, a £100 daily would apply to buses, coaches and HGVs which do not meet the 'Euro6' standard, which covers vehicles made from September 2015 onwards.

Taxis may have to meet an even higher standard, with proposals to charge cabbies £12.50 a day unless they drive an 'ultra-low emission' vehicle (ULEV) - either petrol hybrid or electric.

http://bit.ly/2ksTr9w

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SOUTHAMPTON taxi drivers fear being driven out of business by an incoming scheme to tackle the city’s illegally high pollution levels.

That’s despite civic chiefs offering cabbies in Southampton and Eastleigh a £250,000 pot to help them ‘go-green’, before the introduction of a Clean Air Zone.

Due to be introduced by 2019, the scheme will force commercial vehicle drivers in high polluting vehicles to cough up sky-high fees to enter the city.

Environmental chiefs hope the move will drive down the lethal levels of dangerous gasses in Southampton – said to be one of the worst polluted cities in the UK.

In a bid to help cabbies, civic chiefs are offering grants to offset the cost of new eco-friendly vehicles, which will be immune from the charges.

But cab bosses say the grants, which range from £1,500 to £3,000, will only put a small dent in the price of an environmentally-friendly cab – which can cost up to £50,000.

Southampton-based taxi driver, Alan Lloyd, accused the council of “pricing taxis out of the city”.

He also described the money offered by the city council as “token”.

Another to comment was Perry McMillan, chairman of the south east cab section of Unite.

He said: “At the end of the day, cabbies can’t afford that sort of money.

“You’ve got to remember that a lot of these drivers are small businesses and some of those small businesses could go and get out of the market because of this.”

Despite having a hybrid himself, Mr McMillan, a taxi driver of more than two decades, said he was sceptical about how many cabbies would take up the offer.

He added: “I’ve spoken to taxi drivers and I think a lot of them are just looking at ways they can get round it. Whether that be just paying the charge or getting a vehicle which just passes the standard.”

The comments come following a meeting between civic chiefs and taxi bosses yesterday, where the new grant scheme was announced.

Officers from Southampton City Council say the money, which was gained from a central government grant, will be given to cabbies who purchase low emission vehicles.

The biggest grant of £3,000 will be given to those who choose an electric car, while smaller grants are available for hybrids and low-emission fuel-powered cars.

To be eligible, taxi drivers will need to have been licensed by the council for a year and have driven more than 8,000 miles over that period.

Drivers will also have to register their taxi for three years with the city council, who also license cabs in Eastleigh.

Announcing the scheme, which begins as of next Monday, councillor Chris Hammond, cabinet member for sustainable living, said: “Taxi drivers are one of the first groups that the city council and Eastleigh Borough Council has offered financial support for the Clean Air Zone.

“This Labour council has made pollution one of our priorities and it was an important part of our manifesto.

“We are doing what we can to make sure we have that dialogue and we give that support to help taxi drivers come on us with this journey.”

The scheme comes following a month-long consultation earlier this year, in which civic chiefs asked taxi drivers how they could best support them in light of the Clean Air Zone.

According to the council, 59 per cent of respondents claimed they would choose a hybrid car if they were to ‘go-green’.

The council said that most taxi drivers had also shown a preference towards a cash incentive scheme.

Southampton is one of five cities around the UK tasked with introducing a Clean Air Zone.

The others are Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham and Derby.

The scheme was launched after the UK was given a final warning by the European Union for continually breaching legal levels of pollutant gasses, including toxic nitrogen dioxide – produced by road traffic.

Health experts say the high level of pollutants lead to thousands of premature deaths each year, of which 110 occur in Southampton.

http://bit.ly/2zbCOI5

SHEFFIELD

The taxi app giant had faced being banished from the city over concerns raised by the local authority.

It is currently fighting moves to rid London and York of Uber cars.

Earlier this month, local officials said Uber's licence had been suspended after it failed to respond to requests.

Uber said it had not received the correspondence the council referred to as it had been sent to the wrong address.

Sheffield City Council will now consider a new licence application submitted by the Silicon Valley firm.

"The new application, made by Uber in October, to operate private hire cars in Sheffield is being considered and a decision will be made in early 2018," the council said in a statement.

The shock move comes weeks after Uber was banned from serving London.

http://bit.ly/2AheEd6

UBERK YORK.

Council webcast:  http://bit.ly/2ARB7Pe

Particular attention required from 20 mins into the video.

Lee Ward of Alpha, faultless, impressive performance capped by the end Quote of Uber's mantra..

"It is easier to ask forgiveness than to ask Permission"

Priceless, won the battle on its own.

YORK

Council chiefs have refused to renew the taxi-hailing company Uber's licence to operate in York.
Members of York Council's Gambling, Licensing and Regulatory Committee tonight debated for more than two hours over Uber Britannia Limited's application.

The company's current 12-month licence is due to expire on Christmas Eve.

Councillors concluded that the taxi-hailing firm was not a fit and proper person - a required condition to refuse an application of its kind.

A spokesperson for York Council said: “The application by Uber Britannia Ltd to renew its private hire operator’s licence in York has been considered by City of York Council’s Gambling, Licensing and Regulatory Committee tonight.

“Applying the legislation, the committee has decided to refuse the application having concerns about a data breach currently under investigation and the number of complaints received."

http://bit.ly/2BdohgN

LEEDS PH DEMO

Police issue formal warnings to Leeds taxi drivers who came to 'complete stop' during protest
Police say they were forced to hand out formal warnings to some drivers who brought their vehicles to a halt during a 'go slow' protest.

More than 100 private hire taxis took part in the demonstration in the middle of Leeds this morning over a number of concerns over safety and traffic issues.

They drove from Kirkstall through the city centre loop at a maximum speed of 15 miles per hour - causing significant disruption to rush hour traffic in the process.

Now West Yorkshire Police have hit out at a number of protesters who brought their vehicles to a complete stop on the route as part of the protest.
The force has not revealed exactly how many drivers stopped or how many warnings they issued.

But in a statement, Chief Inspector Nick Ireland of the city’s community safety partnership Safer Leeds, said: “This morning’s protest by private hire drivers in Leeds caused significant disruption to traffic, particularly on Kirkstall Road and around the city centre loop.

“The police will always facilitate peaceful and lawful demonstrations, and a policing operation, including the use of specialist police motorcyclists, was in place with the aim of allowing the protesters to make their point while keeping disruption to the public to a minimum.

“We previously held discussions with the drivers who stated it was their intention to drive slowly in traffic at 15mph.

"The situation this morning was not helped by the number of protesters who had to be formally warned by officers for bringing their vehicles to a complete stop, obstructing the highway.

“We will be continuing to liaise with the group around any further demonstrations and will ensure that suitable measures are in place, although we recognise that protests of this type during peak traffic times will always cause disruption.”

This protest was organised by Leeds Private Hire Drivers Organisation (LPHDO).

Speaking to Leeds Live this morning, drivers stressed that the 'go slow' convoy was organised in the hopes that Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Police would work with them to address concerns raised by private hire cabbies.

Among the issues were fears that the branded stickers that private hire cars have to display are increasingly making cabbies a target for vandals chucking stones at their vehicles.

Addressing the protesters before setting off this morning, Asif Afzal, chairman of the LPHDO, urged those taking part to "drive within the constraints of the law" during the peaceful protest.
He also told the group staging their demonstration to make themselves heard in the “most professional manner" they could.

http://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds-news/leeds-taxi-protest-traffic-police-14023129

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A Liverpool cabbie has given his view on why issues of “cherry picking” and over-charging are damaging the city industry.

This weekend the ECHO reported on more claims of Liverpool fans being either ignored by taxi drivers or quoted huge fares after matches at Anfield.

One city cabbie has got in touch to offer his explanation for the practices he says are giving the industry a bad name.

The 52-year-old driver, who asked not to be named, has been running his own cab in the city for three years and said that like the majority of drivers he is an honest and hard-working member of the trade.

He said he believes that some drivers are carrying out illegal behaviours because changes to government legislation has allowed large numbers of private hire cars to work in the city and take up custom.

But he said that is no excuse for ripping people off.

The driver told the ECHO: “Its a massive issue in the city and it’s embarrassing.

“I put this down to the apathy of some taxi drivers in Liverpool.

“A lot of these guys are middle aged men who used to earn a lot more money years ago than they do now.”

He said the government’s Deregulation Act, which allows private hire vehicles to operate across the whole country, has potentially lowered cabbies’ earnings by up to 25%.

He added: “These guys are either leaving the industry or they are starting to over-charging and cherry picking.

“Its totally illegal but they have many more problems than they used to have - with other taxis and private hires coming in to the city all the time.

“But under no circumstances can you condone any of the things they are doing.”

Responding to claims that some drivers are quoting Liverpool fans as much as £40 to get from Anfield to the city centre , the driver agreed that such things do take place and are out of order.

He said: “I took someone from Anfield to Lime Street the other day and they paid £5.50 - when we do it properly we are cheaper than private hires.”

Looking to the future, he added: “Hopefully, once we are able to get rid of all this mess and end the cherry picking and overcharging then the public will be able to make an informed choice.

http://bit.ly/2ygVJxr 

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse police arrested a former Uber driver and taxi driver in two separate sex offense investigations.

Ibrahim M. Aden, 34, is accused of trying to sexually assault a Syracuse University student in September. Aden was driving an Uber at the time. While driving a taxi cab in October, Aden is accused of sexually abusing a 22-year-old woman, police said.

Aden was charged Thursday with second-degree unlawful imprisonment and second-degree harassment for the Uber incident, and first-degree sexual abuse for the taxi cab incident, police said.

At about 2:30 a.m. on Sept. 17, an 18-year-old SU student reported to police that she requested a ride to her home from Ostrum Avenue utilizing the Uber App on her phone. The victim reported that on the ride home, the driver reached back and started to rub her leg and thigh area, police said.

The driver then reportedly drove to a secluded parking lot and began to make lewd comments to her. The victim was able to run away from the vehicle to her home, and called for the police.

The incident was posted on Facebook by a SU parent and the post was shared hundreds of times before it was deleted. Uber removed the driver's access to the app and cooperated with the investigation, according to a statement from the company in September.

Syracuse police said after Aden was suspended by Uber he was then employed by Yellow Taxi Company, which is where he worked when the second incident took place.

A 22-year-old woman told police that she was walking in the 1200 block of West Fayette Street at about 1:30 a.m. Oct. 29 when she was approached by a taxi cab. The driver of the cab offered the victim a ride home, indicating that he would not charge her, police said.

The victim reported that she sat in the front seat, and during the ride home, the driver grabbed her hand and pulled it towards his lap. The victim stated that the driver had his pants unzipped, and continued to push her hand into his lap, police said. The victim demanded that the driver stop the car and she ran home to call police.

Detectives from the Syracuse Police Department Abused Persons unit working on the investigations determined that the suspect from both of the incidents was the same person. After several interviews, and collecting evidence about these events, detectives were able to identify Aden, police said.

http://bit.ly/2jPRBA0

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PAISLEY

A TAXI driver admitted drink driving with a passenger in his cab at the time.

Fifty-six-year-old Thomas Montgomery was stopped by police after going through a red light in Paisley on Sunday.

When breathalysed he was found to be almost two and a half times the drink driving limit.

Montgomery was arrested and detained in police custody in connection with alleged road traffic offences.

He admitted the offences at Paisley Sheriff Court today and was disqualified from driving for 18 months as well as being fined £400.

Sergeant Mark Miller from the Divisional Road Policing Unit based at Greenock said: “The message could not be clearer – never drink and drive, and if you are caught doing so there are serious consequences.

“Thomas Montgomery put the safety of himself, his passenger and other road users at risk and getting behind the wheel whilst under the influence of alcohol completely unacceptable.

“Our festive road safety campaign is well underway with officers specifically targeting drink and drug driving.”

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INDIA

KOCHI: After a brief hiatus, the feud between autorickshaw-taxi and online cab drivers has reared its ugly head yet again with a section of autorickshaw and taxi operators at both the railway stations in the city resorting to a flash strike on Monday, inconveniencing passengers.

The issue began after the railway authorities reportedly gave permission to the online cab drivers to park their vehicles on the station premises in the morning. The autorickshaw and taxi drivers blocked the online cabs  that turned up at the Ernakulam Junction railway station in the morning in protest against the Railways' decision to grant parking space for Uber cabs along with other autorickshaws and taxies at the station.

According to Shaji, a representative of the City Auto Union, a few online cabs were parked in front of the railway station in the morning disregarding the auto-taxi stand. "They were canvassing passengers by offering travel packages, which invited the wrath of auto-taxi operators at the railway station.

Following this, the members of various auto-taxi unions affiliated to CITU, INTUC, AITUC, BMS, STU and TUCI called a flash strike," he said.

"The District Auto-Taxi Coordination Committee has decided to continue with the strike until the Railways come up with a solution to this issue," said M B Srumanthadan, secretary, Ernakulam District Auto-Taxi Coordination Committee.

According to the auto-taxi operators, during the Sabarimala pilgrimage season, they get relatively more rides than the rest of the months.

"We are prepaid taxi drivers operating as per government-fixed charges. However, the Uber charges vary from morning to night. It will affect the services provided by the traditional operators," said Sanil, a taxi driver.

"We heard the Railways had arrived at an agreement with Uber for three months and, based on this, they were canvassing passengers. Each taxi driver pays a minimum of `4,000 every six months for using the space allotted to them on the station premises, he said. If Uber operates from here without any fixed charge, there is no point in paying the amount to the authorities," said,

Pradeep Kumar, CITU district joint secretary.

http://bit.ly/2BfhoLI