Taxi companies appear to be thriving in the West Midlands, despite the advent of disruptive smartphone app Uber.
New figures from the Office for National Statistics show there were 445 taxi businesses operating in this region in 2018.
The figure includes cab hire, taxi cab services and private hire cars as well as chauffeur-driven services and car rental that comes with a driver.
It is not a count of individual drivers - just the companies they work for - and therefore excludes black cabs and Uber drivers.
The number is up from 435 such businesses in 2015 - the year that Uber first came to Birmingham.
Nationally, Uber appears to have made little impact on the number of taxi companies in operation - although experts warn the figures don't tell the full story.
There were 7,885 taxi companies in businesses across the UK in 2018 - down slightly from 7,950 in 2017, but up from 6,720 in 2012.
Donna Short, director of the National Private Hire Association, said: "Uber has made a considerable impact on the taxi trade.
"Their business model is very attractive, particularly to younger people, which has meant that existing companies have had to up their game.
"Collectively, taxi companies have had to develop their own apps, start using social media, invest in technology and give more consideration to training.
https://www.business-live.co.uk/technology/west-midlands-taxi-companies-thriving-16396856
-----------------------------------
Toyota finally decided to go all-electric from 2020 on with a new BEV platform and six global BEV models including crossovers, SUVs and more.
Toyota, after years of neglecting of all-electric cars, announced today a huge offensive with a new platform, global models of various type as well as ultra-compact and walking area BEVs.
The new plan envisions rollout of all-electric vehicles from 2020 (starting with Toyota C-HR BEV and Toyota IZOA BEV twins in China) and Toyota says that by 2025, all models to have electrified version (at least hybrid).
In the early 2020s, Toyota would like to introduce 10 BEV models worldwide, including six global models, based on e-TNGA platform.
If we look at the general plan, you can notice however that expected BEV sales are low compared to hybrid and plug-in hybrid share. Interestingly, Toyota doesn't see much market share for hydrogen fuel cell cars by 2050 either.
"Much work lies ahead to achieve the popularization of BEVs. Specifically, we will be focusing on vehicle development and the stable supply, improved durability, and reuse of batteries.
We are steadily preparing a framework to respond thoroughly to the challenge, putting all the pieces in place, including the creation of new business models.
Working in an extensive and open manner, we are collaborating with partners as we strive to contribute to a better society."
https://insideevs.com/news/353600/toyota-six-global-bevs/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
-----------------------------------
Sunday, 9 June 2019
Saturday, 8 June 2019
SHEFFIELD
Taxi drivers say they have been left in limbo after plans for a Clear Air Zone were announced eight months ago with no further information.
Last November, Sheffield Council said it was looking at creating a zone around the city centre after the Government said it must cut nitrous oxide emissions.
Taxis and buses would have to pay a daily £10 charge to enter the zone and the council is also looking at charging light goods vehicles such as vans.
But Uber drivers say since the announcement, they have struggled to find further information despite repeated requests.
Council chiefs say they have met with taxi driver representatives as they “move towards” a full consultation. There are 3,000 private hire and 850 black cabs in the city.
Lee Herriott, Virginia Halstead and Dean Higgins say drivers can’t buy new vehicles because they don’t know what “green” level will be required.
Mr Higgins said: “The cheapest electric car is £28,000 but they are too small to use as a taxi. The range of cars just isn’t good enough, especially for wheelchair access. The most suitable car is a Tesla but they are £40,000 which is a mortgage for some people.
“There’s also not enough charging points. You have to break during your shift to charge them and if you have an airport run it’s a real problem. Electric black cabs also struggle with the hills in Sheffield.”
Ms Halstead says there’s also an issue with LPG and hybrid vehicles. “There are only 31 hackney cabs out of 850 which are suitable for LPG because you need a tank but by law it can’t be near where passengers sit so it’s very difficult to fit one in a taxi. These tanks are ok with saloon cars but not estate or hackney cabs.”
Taxi drivers say they also feel penalised because private motorists won’t be charged.
Mr Herriott said: “They will still allow cars and lorries which is what is annoying private hire drivers. We are only four per cent of the pollution in Sheffield.
“We are all self employed, but why aren’t other small businesses, such as delivery companies, not being charged?”
Coun Bob Johnson, cabinet member for transport and development, said the aim was to have the entire taxi fleet in Sheffield made up of ultra-low emissions vehicles by 2021.
Coun Johnson, a new cabinet member, said: “Our ambitious clean air plans are now my responsibility and I thank these drivers for the concerns they’ve shown – it’s encouraging that they are already taking steps to get cleaner vehicles.
“Air pollution is a serious problem and taxi drivers are one of the groups who are most at risk from the damage caused by nitrogen dioxide emissions.
“My officers have held several initial meetings with representatives of Sheffield’s taxi associations about these proposals and will continue to do so as we move towards a full city-wide consultation.
“These meetings have been positive but it’s vital we keep working with taxi drivers to design the support packages that will reduce air pollution in the city.
“The consultation will be available to every taxi driver. We are launching a website and will hold some targeted discussions and events in the weeks ahead. We want to support drivers to enable them to get cleaner vehicles while thinking about the long-term needs of the city.”
https://bit.ly/2MzVlWY
-------------------------------------------
Uber has axed plans to come to Aberdeen almost two years after it was granted an operating licence.
Andrew Martin, tourism lecturer at Aberdeen University, said: “I know that taxi drivers have been having a really difficult time since 2015.
“I would reckon that the business case for Uber just wasn’t as strong as it might once have been.”
Under the cashless service, patrons pay through a smartphone app and are given information on their driver, including the make of car, before pick-up.
It is understood that if the Silicon Valley company had recruited drivers in Aberdeen they would have had to undergo the same training and tests as ordinary taxi drivers, which has not been the case in other cities.
There was mixed reaction to the news Uber had pulled out among traditional taxi drivers.
“I think it’s a good thing they’re not coming,” he said.
“But as far as I could gather they would have had to go through the same licensing process as other drivers, which would take away their end of the market.”
The city council confirmed Uber had “surrendered the booking office licence that was granted in 2017”.
https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk
-----------------------------------------
BURY
Hackney private hire cabbies say their complaints are being ignored by the council.
Bury cabbies say they are being unfairly treated
Charles Oakes, chairman of the Hackney Drivers’ Association, was joined by four private hire drivers who slated staff at the town hall last night.
They claimed that vehicles are unfairly failing tests for cosmetic issues such as scratches which is putting drivers out of work.
Mr Oakes told councillors on the licensing and safety panel drivers’ complaints are being ignored.
He said: “There is a backlog of complaints that have not been answered. What’s going on?
Because members who are aggrieved in whatever way have a right to be heard.”
Angela Lomax, head of trading standards and licensing, said that many complaints were getting lost because they were not sent to the right people.
She said: “The problem we have got, Mr Oakes, is the various pathways you are sending your complaints. We won’t deliberately ignore you. Unfortunately, we don’t have the staffing level to be sat at the desk and answer phone calls.”
However, Shaf Mahmood, a Bury Private Hire Drivers’ Association representative, said the department was “deliberately” not answering complaints.
Angela Lomax, head of trading standards and licensing, said that many complaints were getting lost because they were not sent to the right people.
She said: “The problem we have got, Mr Oakes, is the various pathways you are sending your complaints. We won’t deliberately ignore you. Unfortunately, we don’t have the staffing level to be sat at the desk and answer phone calls.”
Vehicle failed MOT for having tinted windows
He told the panel about an incident on Tuesday in which a vehicle failed its MOT for having tinted windows despite passing the previous year.
Mohammad Sajad, secretary of Bury Private Hire Drivers’ Association told the panel that having one licensed MOT station in the borough is not enough given the rising number of taxi drivers.
The taxi drivers claim they are failing tests for unfair reasons.
A fire at Bradley Fold station earlier this year means that vehicle testing has been relocated to Bolton for the time being.
Mrs Lomax praised the “marvellous” staff for being up and running within 48 hours at the station which is four miles away.
A total of 50 vehicles are tested every week by the Bradley Fold staff who have to deal with 1,000 drivers throughout the year.
Mr Bridges also claimed that drivers often fail to give the station enough notice before turning up for tests.
He said: “Drivers come in two days before their licence expires. It’s never their fault, it’s always the council’s fault.”
Drivers can't afford extra fees
Mr Oakes said that there is “discontent bubbling” throughout the hackney and private hire trade.
He raised concerns about the proposals which could result in taxi drivers who use certain vehicles paying a daily fee for travelling on highly-polluted roads.
New industry standards are also on the horizon affecting all drivers across the region.
He said: “Drivers can’t afford all these things and every bit of money that goes into this. I’ve been complaining about the refusal of the council to allow the trade a second testing station in Bury. The fire at Bradley Fold clearly shows there’s a need for another testing station. Drivers are not going to be happy having to go to Bolton to get their vehicles tested.”
A public consultation on the common minimum standards for taxis and private hire vehicles in Greater Manchester and the Clean Air Plan is expected to take place later this year.
M.E.N.
Taxi drivers say they have been left in limbo after plans for a Clear Air Zone were announced eight months ago with no further information.
Last November, Sheffield Council said it was looking at creating a zone around the city centre after the Government said it must cut nitrous oxide emissions.
Taxis and buses would have to pay a daily £10 charge to enter the zone and the council is also looking at charging light goods vehicles such as vans.
But Uber drivers say since the announcement, they have struggled to find further information despite repeated requests.
Council chiefs say they have met with taxi driver representatives as they “move towards” a full consultation. There are 3,000 private hire and 850 black cabs in the city.
Lee Herriott, Virginia Halstead and Dean Higgins say drivers can’t buy new vehicles because they don’t know what “green” level will be required.
Mr Higgins said: “The cheapest electric car is £28,000 but they are too small to use as a taxi. The range of cars just isn’t good enough, especially for wheelchair access. The most suitable car is a Tesla but they are £40,000 which is a mortgage for some people.
“There’s also not enough charging points. You have to break during your shift to charge them and if you have an airport run it’s a real problem. Electric black cabs also struggle with the hills in Sheffield.”
Ms Halstead says there’s also an issue with LPG and hybrid vehicles. “There are only 31 hackney cabs out of 850 which are suitable for LPG because you need a tank but by law it can’t be near where passengers sit so it’s very difficult to fit one in a taxi. These tanks are ok with saloon cars but not estate or hackney cabs.”
Taxi drivers say they also feel penalised because private motorists won’t be charged.
Mr Herriott said: “They will still allow cars and lorries which is what is annoying private hire drivers. We are only four per cent of the pollution in Sheffield.
“We are all self employed, but why aren’t other small businesses, such as delivery companies, not being charged?”
Coun Bob Johnson, cabinet member for transport and development, said the aim was to have the entire taxi fleet in Sheffield made up of ultra-low emissions vehicles by 2021.
Coun Johnson, a new cabinet member, said: “Our ambitious clean air plans are now my responsibility and I thank these drivers for the concerns they’ve shown – it’s encouraging that they are already taking steps to get cleaner vehicles.
“Air pollution is a serious problem and taxi drivers are one of the groups who are most at risk from the damage caused by nitrogen dioxide emissions.
“My officers have held several initial meetings with representatives of Sheffield’s taxi associations about these proposals and will continue to do so as we move towards a full city-wide consultation.
“These meetings have been positive but it’s vital we keep working with taxi drivers to design the support packages that will reduce air pollution in the city.
“The consultation will be available to every taxi driver. We are launching a website and will hold some targeted discussions and events in the weeks ahead. We want to support drivers to enable them to get cleaner vehicles while thinking about the long-term needs of the city.”
https://bit.ly/2MzVlWY
-------------------------------------------
Uber has axed plans to come to Aberdeen almost two years after it was granted an operating licence.
The cashless car hire firm was awarded its office booking licence in 2017 – required to let it run a service in the Granite City.
However the company has now U-turned on its commitment and has said it has no plans to come to the north-east.
The city council has confirmed the American organisation has handed its licence back.
Uber has declined to elaborate on the reasons for its decision but a north-east tourism expert has speculated that the changing local economy could have been the death knell for the move.
“Trading has been difficult. There have been less people coming through the airport and less wanting to use hotels and accommodation in the city.
“You only have to take a look around Union Street on a Friday and Saturday night to see how quiet it is.
The controversial service is already operating in Glasgow and Edinburgh, but the Aberdeen branch would have been the furthest north the multinational firm has ventured in the UK.
It is understood that if the Silicon Valley company had recruited drivers in Aberdeen they would have had to undergo the same training and tests as ordinary taxi drivers, which has not been the case in other cities.
There was mixed reaction to the news Uber had pulled out among traditional taxi drivers.
Derek Davidson, who is self-employed, has been a cab driver in the city for 20 years.
He said: “I’m probably in the minority but I don’t think Uber are as bad as others make out.
“The big taxi firms take a radio fee if you work for them, no matter how many jobs you do. At least Uber only takes a cut of the trips you actually make.”
But Alex McIntosh, who has been a driver for 10 years, said he was pleased at the news.
“But as far as I could gather they would have had to go through the same licensing process as other drivers, which would take away their end of the market.”
The city council confirmed Uber had “surrendered the booking office licence that was granted in 2017”.
https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk
-----------------------------------------
BURY
Hackney private hire cabbies say their complaints are being ignored by the council.
Bury cabbies say they are being unfairly treated
Discontent is “bubbling” among taxi drivers in Bury, according to a trade representative.
They claimed that vehicles are unfairly failing tests for cosmetic issues such as scratches which is putting drivers out of work.
Further frustrations were expressed about the need for drivers to travel outside of the borough to be tested.
He said: “There is a backlog of complaints that have not been answered. What’s going on?
Because members who are aggrieved in whatever way have a right to be heard.”
Angela Lomax, head of trading standards and licensing, said that many complaints were getting lost because they were not sent to the right people.
She said: “The problem we have got, Mr Oakes, is the various pathways you are sending your complaints. We won’t deliberately ignore you. Unfortunately, we don’t have the staffing level to be sat at the desk and answer phone calls.”
However, Shaf Mahmood, a Bury Private Hire Drivers’ Association representative, said the department was “deliberately” not answering complaints.
Angela Lomax, head of trading standards and licensing, said that many complaints were getting lost because they were not sent to the right people.
She said: “The problem we have got, Mr Oakes, is the various pathways you are sending your complaints. We won’t deliberately ignore you. Unfortunately, we don’t have the staffing level to be sat at the desk and answer phone calls.”
However, Shaf Mahmood, a Bury Private Hire Drivers’ Association representative, said the department was “deliberately” not answering complaints.
He told the panel about an incident on Tuesday in which a vehicle failed its MOT for having tinted windows despite passing the previous year.
Licensing unit manager Michael Bridges said he had already seen a complaint about this incident and would respond in due course.
But the disgruntled drivers said that testers examine vehicles with a “fine-tooth comb” and fail them “for anything”, resulting in additional charges.
The taxi drivers claim they are failing tests for unfair reasons.
A fire at Bradley Fold station earlier this year means that vehicle testing has been relocated to Bolton for the time being.
Mrs Lomax praised the “marvellous” staff for being up and running within 48 hours at the station which is four miles away.
A total of 50 vehicles are tested every week by the Bradley Fold staff who have to deal with 1,000 drivers throughout the year.
Mr Bridges also claimed that drivers often fail to give the station enough notice before turning up for tests.
He said: “Drivers come in two days before their licence expires. It’s never their fault, it’s always the council’s fault.”
Drivers can't afford extra fees
Mr Oakes said that there is “discontent bubbling” throughout the hackney and private hire trade.
He raised concerns about the proposals which could result in taxi drivers who use certain vehicles paying a daily fee for travelling on highly-polluted roads.
New industry standards are also on the horizon affecting all drivers across the region.
He said: “Drivers can’t afford all these things and every bit of money that goes into this. I’ve been complaining about the refusal of the council to allow the trade a second testing station in Bury. The fire at Bradley Fold clearly shows there’s a need for another testing station. Drivers are not going to be happy having to go to Bolton to get their vehicles tested.”
A public consultation on the common minimum standards for taxis and private hire vehicles in Greater Manchester and the Clean Air Plan is expected to take place later this year.
M.E.N.
Friday, 7 June 2019
Daniel Zeichner Labour, Cambridge
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2019 to Question 240585 on Taxis:
Licensing, what progress he has made on bringing forward legislative
proposals to restrict cross border hiring by private hire drivers.
Nusrat Ghani
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport), Assistant Whip (HM Treasury)
Government continues to carefully consider how any restriction of out-of-area journeys by taxis
and private hire vehicles proposed by the Chair of the Task and Finish
Group might work in practice, with a view to legislating when time
allows.
Wednesday, 5 June 2019
LEICESTER
Four men have been arrested on suspicion of child sex offences after a taxi driver became concerned for the welfare of two young passengers he had dropped off at a flat in Leicester.
The driver had collected the girls, whom he believed to be 15 or 16, from an address in the city on Sunday evening and took them to their destination - a flat where they were greeted by a man, Leicestershire Police said.
The driver had been concerned by the nature of the girls' conversation during the journey, when they discussed "alcohol, sex and drugs", the force said in a statement today.
"The driver dropped off the girls at the agreed address where they were met by a man who walked them inside," the statement continued.
"Fearing that the girls were being sexually exploited, the driver called police.
"Officers attended the flat and forced entry after entry was refused.
"Four men were arrested on suspicion of arranging or facilitating a commission of a child sex act and have been released under investigation.
"The girls were found at the address and have been spoken to by officers."
Last year, the force ran a campaign to help taxi drivers and hotel and bar owners learn how to spot the signs of the sexual exploitation of vulnerable young people.
Detective Inspector Jenni Heggs, from the force’s child sexual exploitation (CSE) team, said: “People who work in these industries are in a unique position to spot the signs of CSE whether it's a taxi driver who notices all may not be right with passengers in their vehicle, hotel reception staff looking out for unusual bookings or bar staff being alert to a number of indicators and raising the alarm if necessary.
“Reports such as this help us build the bigger picture around CSE and I would like to praise the driver for contacting police.
"He noticed something which didn’t seem right with him and he made the right decision by reporting his concerns.
Latest advice from the NSPCC
“This latest report shows that our message is being listened to and people are helping the police and other agencies in the fight against eradicating CSE but this something that we must all continue to work together on.
"I would encourage everyone to know the risks around CSE, spot the signs and speak out to help us safeguard victims and bring their abusers to justice.”
https://bit.ly/2Mvf4Y3
-----------------------------------
TXE
Lookers has joined the London EV Company’s (LEVC) taxi retail network with the opening of a new dealership in Stockport.
The Geely-owned hybrid electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer followed-up its appointment of Endeavour Automotive in Chiswick and Taggarts Motor Group in Glasgow during April with the announcement that fellow AM100 group Lookers would operate a franchise on St Mary’s way, Stockport.
All three facilities have been aligned with nearby Volvo dealerships in their respective city's, allowing the retail groups to offer aftersales support with technicians trained across the two brands, which share many components.
Lookers' new premises in Stockport will provide full sales and aftersales support to hackney carriage taxi drivers in the area.
A two-day ‘TX Discovery Event’ is being hosted by Lookers today and tomorrow (June 5 and 6) to mark the new business’s official opening, encouraging taxi drivers to learn all about the TX Electric Taxi and speak to experts from LEVC.
LEVC’s TX taxi is a plug-in hybrid range-extender electric vehicle originally designed to comply with Transport for London’s Taxi Private Hire regulations, which, from January 1 this year, meant that any taxi driver applying for licence has to have a zero emissions capable vehicle.
This will eventually lead to the phasing out of all diesel taxis in London.
In February, GMCA (Greater Manchester Combined Authority) announced plans to introduce a clean air zone across all 10 of Manchester’s local authorities by 2021.
Under current plans, vans and taxis are set to be charged £7.50 per day when operating within the clean air zone.
The TX has a zero emissions range of 80.6 miles and a total range of 377 miles.
LEVC believes that taxi drivers can save up to £110 per week in fuel savings alone by moving into a hybrid-powered TX taxi.
https://bit.ly/317hVK1
------------------------------------
Uber is under examination by US and foreign tax authorities, the company confirmed on Tuesday, saying it could face charges in key markets including the UK.
The news, contained in a regulatory filing and first reported by Bloomberg, is a new blow to the company.
Uber has lost about $12bn or 9% in value since its first day of trading as a public company on 10 May, a major disappointment.
In its first earnings report as a listed company, the company last week reported losses of $1bn for the first quarter of 2019, among the largest of any public company.
In its filing to US regulators submitted in April, Uber said the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was examining tax years 2013 and 2014. It also confirmed it is under examination by other state and foreign tax authorities, and that its tax advantages are to be cut due to its “transfer pricing positions”.
Transfer pricing concerns normally refer to how a company books the transactions of goods and services among corporate subsidiaries, often as a way to shift reported income to low-tax jurisdictions, as in the infamous “double-Irish” manoeuvre deployed by big companies to avoid billions in tax exposure.
News of Uber’s tax audit comes one day after it was leaked that regulators are preparing investigations into anti-competitive practices at Google, Facebook and Amazon. An IRS investigation into Uber will probably reinforce the impression that political and regulatory winds are turning against big tech.
Uber said tax years from 2010 to 2019 could be at issue in a number of its key markets, including the US, UK, the Netherlands and India. The company said it has adequate cash reserves to meet its exposure.
Banks have begun research coverage of the company, at the end of a regulatory “quiet period”. Most analysts seemed to ride over Uber’s disastrous IPO, which was initially guide-priced at a whopping $120bn. The company ultimately went public at $80bn. Its current market value is $69bn.
Revenues are projected to climb 24% this year to $14bn but the company is on track to lose $4.4bn. According to Refinitiv data, three analysts from banks uninvolved in the Uber IPO recommend buying the stock, five have neutral ratings and none recommend selling.
The IPO has also brought the probability of higher prices for customers.
“We expect to deploy fewer consumer promotions,” the chief financial officer, Nelson Chai, said last week.
By some estimates, Uber’s fares must double if the company is to break even.
Writing at nakedcapitalism.com in 2016, industry expert Hubert Horan calculated that riders were paying only 41% of the cost of their trips.
“Uber’s growth to date is entirely explained by its willingness to engage in predatory competition funded by Silicon Valley billionaires pursuing industry dominance,” Horan wrote.
https://bit.ly/2HZP6aV
Four men have been arrested on suspicion of child sex offences after a taxi driver became concerned for the welfare of two young passengers he had dropped off at a flat in Leicester.
The driver had collected the girls, whom he believed to be 15 or 16, from an address in the city on Sunday evening and took them to their destination - a flat where they were greeted by a man, Leicestershire Police said.
The driver had been concerned by the nature of the girls' conversation during the journey, when they discussed "alcohol, sex and drugs", the force said in a statement today.
"The driver dropped off the girls at the agreed address where they were met by a man who walked them inside," the statement continued.
"Fearing that the girls were being sexually exploited, the driver called police.
"Officers attended the flat and forced entry after entry was refused.
"Four men were arrested on suspicion of arranging or facilitating a commission of a child sex act and have been released under investigation.
"The girls were found at the address and have been spoken to by officers."
Last year, the force ran a campaign to help taxi drivers and hotel and bar owners learn how to spot the signs of the sexual exploitation of vulnerable young people.
Detective Inspector Jenni Heggs, from the force’s child sexual exploitation (CSE) team, said: “People who work in these industries are in a unique position to spot the signs of CSE whether it's a taxi driver who notices all may not be right with passengers in their vehicle, hotel reception staff looking out for unusual bookings or bar staff being alert to a number of indicators and raising the alarm if necessary.
“Reports such as this help us build the bigger picture around CSE and I would like to praise the driver for contacting police.
"He noticed something which didn’t seem right with him and he made the right decision by reporting his concerns.
Latest advice from the NSPCC
“This latest report shows that our message is being listened to and people are helping the police and other agencies in the fight against eradicating CSE but this something that we must all continue to work together on.
"I would encourage everyone to know the risks around CSE, spot the signs and speak out to help us safeguard victims and bring their abusers to justice.”
https://bit.ly/2Mvf4Y3
-----------------------------------
TXE
Lookers has joined the London EV Company’s (LEVC) taxi retail network with the opening of a new dealership in Stockport.
The Geely-owned hybrid electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer followed-up its appointment of Endeavour Automotive in Chiswick and Taggarts Motor Group in Glasgow during April with the announcement that fellow AM100 group Lookers would operate a franchise on St Mary’s way, Stockport.
All three facilities have been aligned with nearby Volvo dealerships in their respective city's, allowing the retail groups to offer aftersales support with technicians trained across the two brands, which share many components.
Lookers' new premises in Stockport will provide full sales and aftersales support to hackney carriage taxi drivers in the area.
A two-day ‘TX Discovery Event’ is being hosted by Lookers today and tomorrow (June 5 and 6) to mark the new business’s official opening, encouraging taxi drivers to learn all about the TX Electric Taxi and speak to experts from LEVC.
LEVC’s TX taxi is a plug-in hybrid range-extender electric vehicle originally designed to comply with Transport for London’s Taxi Private Hire regulations, which, from January 1 this year, meant that any taxi driver applying for licence has to have a zero emissions capable vehicle.
This will eventually lead to the phasing out of all diesel taxis in London.
In February, GMCA (Greater Manchester Combined Authority) announced plans to introduce a clean air zone across all 10 of Manchester’s local authorities by 2021.
Under current plans, vans and taxis are set to be charged £7.50 per day when operating within the clean air zone.
The TX has a zero emissions range of 80.6 miles and a total range of 377 miles.
LEVC believes that taxi drivers can save up to £110 per week in fuel savings alone by moving into a hybrid-powered TX taxi.
https://bit.ly/317hVK1
------------------------------------
Uber is under examination by US and foreign tax authorities, the company confirmed on Tuesday, saying it could face charges in key markets including the UK.
The news, contained in a regulatory filing and first reported by Bloomberg, is a new blow to the company.
Uber has lost about $12bn or 9% in value since its first day of trading as a public company on 10 May, a major disappointment.
In its first earnings report as a listed company, the company last week reported losses of $1bn for the first quarter of 2019, among the largest of any public company.
In its filing to US regulators submitted in April, Uber said the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was examining tax years 2013 and 2014. It also confirmed it is under examination by other state and foreign tax authorities, and that its tax advantages are to be cut due to its “transfer pricing positions”.
Transfer pricing concerns normally refer to how a company books the transactions of goods and services among corporate subsidiaries, often as a way to shift reported income to low-tax jurisdictions, as in the infamous “double-Irish” manoeuvre deployed by big companies to avoid billions in tax exposure.
News of Uber’s tax audit comes one day after it was leaked that regulators are preparing investigations into anti-competitive practices at Google, Facebook and Amazon. An IRS investigation into Uber will probably reinforce the impression that political and regulatory winds are turning against big tech.
Uber said tax years from 2010 to 2019 could be at issue in a number of its key markets, including the US, UK, the Netherlands and India. The company said it has adequate cash reserves to meet its exposure.
Banks have begun research coverage of the company, at the end of a regulatory “quiet period”. Most analysts seemed to ride over Uber’s disastrous IPO, which was initially guide-priced at a whopping $120bn. The company ultimately went public at $80bn. Its current market value is $69bn.
Revenues are projected to climb 24% this year to $14bn but the company is on track to lose $4.4bn. According to Refinitiv data, three analysts from banks uninvolved in the Uber IPO recommend buying the stock, five have neutral ratings and none recommend selling.
The IPO has also brought the probability of higher prices for customers.
“We expect to deploy fewer consumer promotions,” the chief financial officer, Nelson Chai, said last week.
By some estimates, Uber’s fares must double if the company is to break even.
Writing at nakedcapitalism.com in 2016, industry expert Hubert Horan calculated that riders were paying only 41% of the cost of their trips.
“Uber’s growth to date is entirely explained by its willingness to engage in predatory competition funded by Silicon Valley billionaires pursuing industry dominance,” Horan wrote.
https://bit.ly/2HZP6aV
Tuesday, 4 June 2019
LONDON
Concerns have been raised by taxi drivers in London over the availability to rent or buy second hand cabs as many drivers and fleet owners take advantage of Transport for London's taxi decommissioning scheme.
The decommisioning or delicensing scheme allows owners to take advantage of a funding scheme which offers a top payment of £10,000 to the first 1,250 applicants, with tiered payment levels available to subsequent applicants on a first come, first served basis all the way down to £1,000, to owners of diesel taxis which are less than 15 years old.
Once a taxi vehicle licence has been surrendered and the vehicle delicensed it cannot be licensed in London again, however the scheme has now created a problem as there are a dearth of second hand vehicles to buy and fleet owners are now affected as they cannot replenish older stock with newer second hand vehicles, thus pushing up rental prices, or in some cases putting drivers temporarily out of work.
Add to the mix that there is no second hand market for the LEVC taxi as yet, and the Nissan Dynamo has yet to launch, London's cabbies have a problem.
With up to 5,100 vehicles potentially leaving service in London it is expected that many part-time or ad-hoc drivers will leave the industry completely.
According to a number of sources within the industry there is usually an approximate differential of 12% between driver and vehicle numbers, however at the moment there are approximately 17% more drivers than vehicles.
A number of garages and fleet owners have already had to let "occasional" drivers go, and have a waiting list for permanent drivers to join their fleets. Some garages are also expressing concerns that they have no spare or "back-up" cabs available should an existing driver break down.
However until the second hand taxi market becomes buoyant again, some drivers could be left out of work as stock dwindles even further as well as rent for older existing fleet stock rising.
https://bit.ly/31bkXN6
-------------------------------------
BRIGHTON
The taxi app Ola was today (June 4) given permission to operate in Brighton and Hove.
The company has been granted a one-year operator’s licence by Brighton and Hove City Council.
Ola’s operations director Karl Lutzow told a council licensing panel that the company would only use local drivers.
All taxi drivers licensed in Brighton and Hove must stick to the council’s rules – known as the Blue Book.
He promised to restrict the use of out-of-town drivers after the council’s Licensing Committee chair Councillor Jackie O’Quinn raied concerns.
He said that out-of-town drivers would be restricted to picking up two fares within 24 hours before going back to their own area.
Ola wanted a five-year licence but was granted one for one year only. When the company starts operating, the licence’s one-year term will also start.
The council said that the shorter term was in “order to monitor their operation and the working of the memorandum of understanding”.
Drivers would also be restricted from working for more than ten hours and have an enforced four to six-hour break between shifts.
CCTV must be installed in all vehicles, whether operating as private hire vehicles or as taxis. And all drivers would be self employed.
The app has a panic button for passengers and drivers.
https://bit.ly/2KqC7k4
--------------------------------------
LUTON AIRPORT
A man who ran an illegal taxi business for people at London Luton Airport has been fined and banned from driving.
Yasir Masood, 39, of Spencer Road, Luton, pleaded guilty at Luton Magistrates’ Court last week to touting for hire by a private hire vehicle in February.
He was disqualified from driving for 30 days, fined £40 and ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £30 victim surcharge.
Sergeant James Hart, from the force’s community policing team at the airport, said: “We know that illegal touts have been causing a number of issues at the airport.
“This kind of behaviour can be irritating for people, and it is also unfair on legitimate taxi drivers who have gone through the proper processes of getting a licence.
“Touting will not be tolerated. Those doing so will be interviewed and prosecuted to the full extent.”
If you have any information about illegal taxi touting at London Luton Airport, you can report it by calling 101
https://bit.ly/31bjJ4w
-----------------------------------
Concerns have been raised by taxi drivers in London over the availability to rent or buy second hand cabs as many drivers and fleet owners take advantage of Transport for London's taxi decommissioning scheme.
The decommisioning or delicensing scheme allows owners to take advantage of a funding scheme which offers a top payment of £10,000 to the first 1,250 applicants, with tiered payment levels available to subsequent applicants on a first come, first served basis all the way down to £1,000, to owners of diesel taxis which are less than 15 years old.
Once a taxi vehicle licence has been surrendered and the vehicle delicensed it cannot be licensed in London again, however the scheme has now created a problem as there are a dearth of second hand vehicles to buy and fleet owners are now affected as they cannot replenish older stock with newer second hand vehicles, thus pushing up rental prices, or in some cases putting drivers temporarily out of work.
Add to the mix that there is no second hand market for the LEVC taxi as yet, and the Nissan Dynamo has yet to launch, London's cabbies have a problem.
With up to 5,100 vehicles potentially leaving service in London it is expected that many part-time or ad-hoc drivers will leave the industry completely.
According to a number of sources within the industry there is usually an approximate differential of 12% between driver and vehicle numbers, however at the moment there are approximately 17% more drivers than vehicles.
A number of garages and fleet owners have already had to let "occasional" drivers go, and have a waiting list for permanent drivers to join their fleets. Some garages are also expressing concerns that they have no spare or "back-up" cabs available should an existing driver break down.
However until the second hand taxi market becomes buoyant again, some drivers could be left out of work as stock dwindles even further as well as rent for older existing fleet stock rising.
https://bit.ly/31bkXN6
-------------------------------------
BRIGHTON
The taxi app Ola was today (June 4) given permission to operate in Brighton and Hove.
The company has been granted a one-year operator’s licence by Brighton and Hove City Council.
Ola’s operations director Karl Lutzow told a council licensing panel that the company would only use local drivers.
All taxi drivers licensed in Brighton and Hove must stick to the council’s rules – known as the Blue Book.
He promised to restrict the use of out-of-town drivers after the council’s Licensing Committee chair Councillor Jackie O’Quinn raied concerns.
He said that out-of-town drivers would be restricted to picking up two fares within 24 hours before going back to their own area.
Ola wanted a five-year licence but was granted one for one year only. When the company starts operating, the licence’s one-year term will also start.
The council said that the shorter term was in “order to monitor their operation and the working of the memorandum of understanding”.
Drivers would also be restricted from working for more than ten hours and have an enforced four to six-hour break between shifts.
CCTV must be installed in all vehicles, whether operating as private hire vehicles or as taxis. And all drivers would be self employed.
The app has a panic button for passengers and drivers.
https://bit.ly/2KqC7k4
--------------------------------------
LUTON AIRPORT
A man who ran an illegal taxi business for people at London Luton Airport has been fined and banned from driving.
Yasir Masood, 39, of Spencer Road, Luton, pleaded guilty at Luton Magistrates’ Court last week to touting for hire by a private hire vehicle in February.
He was disqualified from driving for 30 days, fined £40 and ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £30 victim surcharge.
Sergeant James Hart, from the force’s community policing team at the airport, said: “We know that illegal touts have been causing a number of issues at the airport.
“This kind of behaviour can be irritating for people, and it is also unfair on legitimate taxi drivers who have gone through the proper processes of getting a licence.
“Touting will not be tolerated. Those doing so will be interviewed and prosecuted to the full extent.”
If you have any information about illegal taxi touting at London Luton Airport, you can report it by calling 101
https://bit.ly/31bjJ4w
-----------------------------------
Monday, 3 June 2019
BASINGSTOKE
ECO-friendly initiatives are bidding to drive change in reducing pollution and improving air quality across the borough.
Drivers of taxis and private hire vehicles across the borough are being encouraged to go the extra mile when it comes to going green, with changes to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council guidelines.
In April a new taxi fee structure was introduced, meaning that ultra-low emission Hackney Carriage vehicles get a licence for free.
The updated licensing scheme includes the removal of rules over the type of vehicle which can be driven, giving more choice about the makes and models of vehicles for drivers.
Cabinet member for regulatory services and the environment Councillor Hayley Eachus said: “Everyone needs to do their bit when it comes to keeping our air clean.
“We hope that these measures will make it easier for drivers of taxis and private hire vehicles to make good choices about the cars that they are driving and about how they are driving them.”
The scheme also introduces an upper age limit for licensed carriage vehicles in a bid to reduce pollution caused by older vehicles operating, mainly within the town centre.
The policy also now allows vehicles with smaller, more efficient engines, including hybrid and electric vehicles, to be licensed.
The borough council is also working to promote anti-idling messages to drivers of taxis and private hire vehicles.
New signage is being introduced at the taxi rank at Basingstoke Railway Station encouraging drivers to switch off their engines while they wait and drivers are being given anti-idling car stickers to display in their vehicles.
This new initiative forms part of the borough council’s scheme to reduce air pollution across Basingstoke and Deane.
For more information about the council’s Clean Air Basingstoke and Deane campaign, go to basingstoke.gov.uk/clean-air.
---------------------------------
Glasgow Uber drivers fear that proposals for cab drivers sit an SQA English test will cost too much for low earners.
The Independent Worker’s Union Great Britain (IWGB) say that the cost of the qualification, which will be between £300 and £400 for both taxi and private hire car operators, is too high.
Sources say this could prevent people entering the trade and put the public at risk.
On Wednesday the local authority’s licensing committee approved plans to introduce a policy which means new drivers and those renewing their licence will need to complete an SQA qualification before they can take passengers.
Drivers will also be tested on their knowledge of the city in a bid to tackle the shocking rise in passenger complaints which have more than doubled in the last five years.
Despite agreeing that Glasgow City Council need to introduce private hire training to improve the safety of passengers and drivers, Uber claim these tests could pose as barriers and prevent drivers from applying for a licence.
Chris Dames, the chair of the Glasgow group of the United Private Hire Drivers, a branch of the IWGB, said: “We are pleased that the council is ensuring passenger safety with the new qualifications but the cost to the drivers is far too high.
“Many of our members invested in cars on the promise of income that never materialised. The council and operators should help the low paid and find the money to help drivers.”
A working group was previously set up between the council, taxi firms and private hire companies – including Uber to discuss how the new policy would work.
Sources have revealed that the company believes regulation should be put in place should be proportionate but not as strict.
Concerns have also been raised that the training does not include training for child sexual exploitation and safeguarding, qualifications are not transferable and that customers should have been included in the working group.
Extreme rules could be counter productive for passengers who may end up taking a lift home from unlicensed vehicles, walking home or drink driving – endangering themselves and others.
Uber feels that the proposed SCQF training solves the working group’s identified needs and is disproportionate when it comes to serving the needs of the public.
The company think further consultation on the training course should take place. As it stands new drivers will be expected to have completed the course by January 1, 2020.
https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/uber-drivers-say-english-test-16373817
---------------------------------
BLACKPOOL
A former cab company owner has pleaded guilty to damaging a taxi while on holiday in Blackpool after smashing its windscreen.
38 year old Neil Gallagher of Compass Street, Swansea was picked up with his wife by a taxi outside Blackpool Pleasure Beach ice arena at 12.25am on 6 May.
Prosecutor Pam Smith told Blackpool Magistrates Court that Gallagher had asked to go to an ATM and then on to a kebab house where he and his wife would eat.
She went on to tell the court that Gallagher wanted the cabbie to wait for them and then take them back to their hotel.
The court then heard from Ms Smith that the cabbie explained that because it was a very busy time he would be unable to wait for the couple whilst they ate.
However, Gallagher then told the cabbie that he owned a taxi company in Wales and you will wait because I’m paying
The prosecutor then described how the cabbie refused, at which point Gallagher then got out of the cab and hit the windscreen shattering it.
The cabbie claimed that he lost earnings over that weekend as it was also a bank holiday and as a result couldn't get his vehicle repaired.
Robert Castle, defending, explained to the court that his client had had a taxi company in Wales but it had failed, as a result Gallagher’s mental health had been affected and subsequently had a nervous breakdown earlier in the year.
Gallagher also felt that the cabbie had a legal obligatuin to take them and in frustration slapped the windscreen, although not intending to damage it.
Gallagher was fined £120 and ordered to pay £330 in compensation towards the cost of the cab drivers windscreen and his subsequent loss of earnings.
https://www.blackpoolgazette.
-----------------------------
MEXICO CITY – Taxi drivers have snarled traffic in downtown Mexico City in their latest protest against Uber and other ride-hailing apps.
The protesters claim the apps are unfair competition because those drivers are more loosely regulated and don't have to pay licensing fees.
Cabbies drove hundreds of pink-and-white-liveried taxis along central boulevards Monday and then parked them on the capital's sprawling main square known as the Zocalo and the six-lane street that circles it.
Dozens of bus drivers joined the park-in on the plaza out of solidarity.
Several cabbies said the ride-hailing apps have cost them 40% of their earnings. They are demanding the apps be banned.
But many Mexico City residents say the apps provide a service superior to that of most taxis, in terms of safety, reliability and comfort.
https://fxn.ws/2WMVaLQ
ECO-friendly initiatives are bidding to drive change in reducing pollution and improving air quality across the borough.
Drivers of taxis and private hire vehicles across the borough are being encouraged to go the extra mile when it comes to going green, with changes to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council guidelines.
In April a new taxi fee structure was introduced, meaning that ultra-low emission Hackney Carriage vehicles get a licence for free.
The updated licensing scheme includes the removal of rules over the type of vehicle which can be driven, giving more choice about the makes and models of vehicles for drivers.
Cabinet member for regulatory services and the environment Councillor Hayley Eachus said: “Everyone needs to do their bit when it comes to keeping our air clean.
“We hope that these measures will make it easier for drivers of taxis and private hire vehicles to make good choices about the cars that they are driving and about how they are driving them.”
The scheme also introduces an upper age limit for licensed carriage vehicles in a bid to reduce pollution caused by older vehicles operating, mainly within the town centre.
The policy also now allows vehicles with smaller, more efficient engines, including hybrid and electric vehicles, to be licensed.
The borough council is also working to promote anti-idling messages to drivers of taxis and private hire vehicles.
New signage is being introduced at the taxi rank at Basingstoke Railway Station encouraging drivers to switch off their engines while they wait and drivers are being given anti-idling car stickers to display in their vehicles.
This new initiative forms part of the borough council’s scheme to reduce air pollution across Basingstoke and Deane.
For more information about the council’s Clean Air Basingstoke and Deane campaign, go to basingstoke.gov.uk/clean-air.
---------------------------------
Glasgow Uber drivers fear that proposals for cab drivers sit an SQA English test will cost too much for low earners.
The Independent Worker’s Union Great Britain (IWGB) say that the cost of the qualification, which will be between £300 and £400 for both taxi and private hire car operators, is too high.
Sources say this could prevent people entering the trade and put the public at risk.
On Wednesday the local authority’s licensing committee approved plans to introduce a policy which means new drivers and those renewing their licence will need to complete an SQA qualification before they can take passengers.
Drivers will also be tested on their knowledge of the city in a bid to tackle the shocking rise in passenger complaints which have more than doubled in the last five years.
Despite agreeing that Glasgow City Council need to introduce private hire training to improve the safety of passengers and drivers, Uber claim these tests could pose as barriers and prevent drivers from applying for a licence.
Chris Dames, the chair of the Glasgow group of the United Private Hire Drivers, a branch of the IWGB, said: “We are pleased that the council is ensuring passenger safety with the new qualifications but the cost to the drivers is far too high.
“Many of our members invested in cars on the promise of income that never materialised. The council and operators should help the low paid and find the money to help drivers.”
A working group was previously set up between the council, taxi firms and private hire companies – including Uber to discuss how the new policy would work.
Sources have revealed that the company believes regulation should be put in place should be proportionate but not as strict.
Concerns have also been raised that the training does not include training for child sexual exploitation and safeguarding, qualifications are not transferable and that customers should have been included in the working group.
Extreme rules could be counter productive for passengers who may end up taking a lift home from unlicensed vehicles, walking home or drink driving – endangering themselves and others.
Uber feels that the proposed SCQF training solves the working group’s identified needs and is disproportionate when it comes to serving the needs of the public.
The company think further consultation on the training course should take place. As it stands new drivers will be expected to have completed the course by January 1, 2020.
https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/uber-drivers-say-english-test-16373817
---------------------------------
BLACKPOOL
A former cab company owner has pleaded guilty to damaging a taxi while on holiday in Blackpool after smashing its windscreen.
38 year old Neil Gallagher of Compass Street, Swansea was picked up with his wife by a taxi outside Blackpool Pleasure Beach ice arena at 12.25am on 6 May.
Prosecutor Pam Smith told Blackpool Magistrates Court that Gallagher had asked to go to an ATM and then on to a kebab house where he and his wife would eat.
She went on to tell the court that Gallagher wanted the cabbie to wait for them and then take them back to their hotel.
The court then heard from Ms Smith that the cabbie explained that because it was a very busy time he would be unable to wait for the couple whilst they ate.
However, Gallagher then told the cabbie that he owned a taxi company in Wales and you will wait because I’m paying
The prosecutor then described how the cabbie refused, at which point Gallagher then got out of the cab and hit the windscreen shattering it.
The cabbie claimed that he lost earnings over that weekend as it was also a bank holiday and as a result couldn't get his vehicle repaired.
Robert Castle, defending, explained to the court that his client had had a taxi company in Wales but it had failed, as a result Gallagher’s mental health had been affected and subsequently had a nervous breakdown earlier in the year.
Gallagher also felt that the cabbie had a legal obligatuin to take them and in frustration slapped the windscreen, although not intending to damage it.
Gallagher was fined £120 and ordered to pay £330 in compensation towards the cost of the cab drivers windscreen and his subsequent loss of earnings.
https://www.blackpoolgazette.
-----------------------------
MEXICO CITY – Taxi drivers have snarled traffic in downtown Mexico City in their latest protest against Uber and other ride-hailing apps.
The protesters claim the apps are unfair competition because those drivers are more loosely regulated and don't have to pay licensing fees.
Cabbies drove hundreds of pink-and-white-liveried taxis along central boulevards Monday and then parked them on the capital's sprawling main square known as the Zocalo and the six-lane street that circles it.
Dozens of bus drivers joined the park-in on the plaza out of solidarity.
Several cabbies said the ride-hailing apps have cost them 40% of their earnings. They are demanding the apps be banned.
But many Mexico City residents say the apps provide a service superior to that of most taxis, in terms of safety, reliability and comfort.
https://fxn.ws/2WMVaLQ
Saturday, 1 June 2019
DURHAM
A TAXI firm boss was ordered to pay almost £2,500 for letting someone drive one of his private hire vehicles without the appropriate licence.
Paul Smith, operator of Weardale Private Hire, of Lane Hill, Ireshopeburn, was charged with permitting Kevin Maddox to drive the vehicle without a private hire drivers’ licence.
Smith was also charged with permitting him to use the vehicle without the appropriate insurance and ordered to pay a total of £2,484.
Maddox, also of Lane Hill, Ireshopeburn, was charged with acting as the driver of a private hire vehicle without a current private hire drivers’ licence and subsequently ordered to pay a total of £660 by Peterlee Magistrates’ Court.
The action followed an operation by Durham County Council’s integrated transport and licensing teams at Evergreen School, in Bishop Auckland, last June, in which officers checked licensed vehicles and their drivers.
Maddox, who was driving a private hire vehicle, initially claimed he had forgotten his drivers’ badge but checks revealed he only held a licence to drive hackney carriages.
When interviewed under caution, the 58-year-old confirmed he did not hold the appropriate licence and that he had started working for Paul Smith in September 2017, when he provided a copy of his hackney carriage drivers’ licence. Maddox also stated he had been asked by Smith to carry out the home to school contract to cover for a driver who was on holiday.
Smith, who pleaded not guilty, said that when Maddox’s employment began he took copies of his DVLA and hackney carriage licences, however he admitted not doing all the appropriate checks due to lack of time and that he gave permission for Maddox to carry out the home to school contract.
In mitigation, the 56-year-old said he had a clean record for more than 23 years and takes pride in his job, it was a genuine misunderstanding and that he never intended to operate with no insurance. Maddox also stated he had a clean driving licence for more 36 years and it was his only form of employment.
Owen Cleugh, the county council's consumer protection manager, said: “Taxi private hire licensing is in place for the protection of the public as it ensures that all licensed drivers and private hire operators are fit and proper to hold a licence. It is important for drivers to hold the correct licence to carry out specific types of journeys as it could be the case, as in this instance, that they do not have the appropriate insurance cover which poses an additional risk to road users and passengers.”
Smith was fined a total of £1,381, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £103, £1,000 in costs and his driving licence was endorsed with six penalty points. Maddox was fined £130, ordered to pay a £30 victim surcharge and a contribution of £500 to the costs.
https://bit.ly/2KjgwKl
----------------------------------
NEW YORK
How We Investigated the New York Taxi Medallion Bubble
By Brian M. Rosenthal
It took a year, 450 interviews and a database built from scratch to answer a simple question: Why had anyone ever agreed to pay $1 million for the right to drive a yellow cab?
Mohammed Hoque, one of the taxi drivers interviewed for a recent Times investigation, during a shift last December.CreditKholood Eid for The New York Times
The story started, like a lot of stories seem to, with President Trump’s former lawyer, Michael D. Cohen.
On April 9, 2018, the F.B.I. raided Mr. Cohen’s office, thrusting him into the national spotlight. The next day, the top editors at The New York Times asked five reporters to start working on a profile. I was one of them.
The other reporters researched Mr. Cohen’s family, his legal career, his real estate interests and, of course, his work for the president. I took on the last piece of his business empire: his ownership of 30 New York taxi medallions, the coveted permits needed to own a yellow cab.
After a few weeks of reporting, the team learned enough to publish our story on Mr. Cohen. And I discovered enough to know what I wanted to investigate next.
At that time, the taxi industry was becoming a big story. Mr. Cohen had owned his medallions as an investment, counting on them rising in value because of the city’s decision to issue only about 13,000 permits. But thousands of the medallions were owned by drivers themselves, and two driver-owners had just died by suicide. Public officials were talking about how the price of a medallion had plummeted from over $1 million to under $150,000. Most were blaming ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft.
I had a different question: Why had anybody ever paid $1 million for the right to the grueling job of being a cabby?
When I pursue an investigation, I identify the single most important question that I am trying to answer, and orient all of my reporting around it. (For example, why did it cost more to build subway track in New York than anywhere else in the world? Or why did Texas have the lowest special education rate in the country?) In this case, I ended up interviewing about 450 people, and I asked almost all the same question: Why did the price reach $1 million? It became my North Star.
I heard plenty of theories, but I began to get somewhere only when I had an epiphany: No driver-owner had ever really paid close to $1 million for a medallion. On paper, thousands of low-income immigrants had. But while they had poured their life savings into their purchase, virtually all had signed loans for most of the cost — and never really had a chance to repay.
I needed to examine as many loans as possible, to see if they were as unusual and reckless — and predatory — as some of my sources said they were. But how?
I got a lead from an unexpected source: the lenders themselves.
After prices had started crashing, the lenders in the industry had tried to squeeze money out of borrowers. Many of them had filed lawsuits against borrowers — lawsuits which had to include copies of the loans.
I ultimately reviewed 500 of these loans, and I saw disturbing patterns: Almost none of them included a large down payment. Almost all of them required the borrower to repay everything within three years, which was impossible. There were a lot of interest-only loans, and a wide variety of fees, including charges for paying loans off too early. Many of the loans required borrowers to sign away their legal rights.
Armed with the loan documents, I started calling dozens of current and former industry bankers, brokers, lawyers and investors. Some pointed me to disclosures that lenders had filed with the government, which were enormously helpful. Others shared internal records, which were even better.
New York City did not have reliable digital data on medallion sales, so I used paper records to build a database of all the 10,888 sales between 1995 and 2018. The city taxi commission had never analyzed the financial records submitted by medallion buyers, so I did. Nobody knew how many medallion owners had gone bankrupt because of the crisis, so I convinced my boss to pay a technology company, Epiq, to create a program that sped through court records and spat out a tentative list — and then two news assistants helped me verify every result.
As I dug into the data and the documents, I sought out driver-owners. I wanted to understand what they had been through. To find them, I went to Kennedy International Airport.
The fare from taking someone from the airport into Manhattan can make a cabby’s day, and so drivers wait in line for hours. And over several visits during a couple of months, I waited with them, striking up conversations outside a food stand run by a Greek family and next to pay phones that had stopped working years ago. After talking briefly, I asked if I could visit their homes and meet their friends.
In all, I met 200 taxi drivers, including several I interviewed through translators because they did not speak English fluently. (Some of those men still had signed loans of up to $1 million.) One by one, they told me how they had come to New York seeking the American dream, worked hard and gotten trapped in loans they did not understand, which often made them give up almost all of their monthly income. Several said that after the medallion bubble burst, wiping out their savings and their futures, they had contemplated suicide. One said he had already attempted it.
The day after we began publishing our findings, city officials announced they were exploring ways to help these driver-owners, and the mayor and state attorney general said they were going to investigate the people who channeled them into the loans.
In the end, the three front-page stories that we published this week about the taxi industry barely mentioned Mr. Cohen at all.
But they did something much more important: They told the stories of Mohammed Hoque, of Jean Demosthenes and of Wael Ghobrayal.
https://nyti.ms/2EthWye
-----------------------------------
"I'm forever peeling Mangoes" (singalong)
A taxi passenger fell asleep with a large knife in his possession - and said he was using it to peel mangoes.
Luther Francis gave the bizarre excuse when police were called to the vehicle by the cabbie after he passed out.
They found the 13-inch long knife knife in his possession and he said that he was preparing his breakfast with it.
Francis, 24, pleaded guilty to possessing a bladed article in public without lawful authority.
He was jailed for six months after magistrates heard that he had previous similar convictions on his record.
They included wounding using a screwdriver at a nightclub for which he was sentenced to eight years in custody.
Prosecutor Sharon Thompson said that at 7.30am on March 31 Francis caught a taxi from his home in Cowper Street, Leeds, to Huddersfield.
He got into the front passenger seat but then fell asleep and the driver feared that he was not going to get paid.
He pulled into a petrol station on Leeds Road in Mirfield and called police.
Miss Thompson said: "The officer attempted to rouse the defendant but he seemed to be under the influence of drink or drugs.
"He opened the front passenger door and as he leaned into the vehicle he saw an unknown orange object inside his hooded top.
in public without lawful authority.
He was jailed for six months after magistrates heard that he had previous similar convictions on his record.
They included wounding using a screwdriver at a nightclub for which he was sentenced to eight years in custody.
Prosecutor Sharon Thompson said that at 7.30am on March 31 Francis caught a taxi from his home in Cowper Street, Leeds, to Huddersfield.
He got into the front passenger seat but then fell asleep and the driver feared that he was not going to get paid.
He pulled into a petrol station on Leeds Road in Mirfield and called police.
Miss Thompson said: "The officer attempted to rouse the defendant but he seemed to be under the influence of drink or drugs.
"He opened the front passenger door and as he leaned into the vehicle he saw an unknown orange object inside his hooded top.
"It was a large kitchen knife. He also removed a black sheath which was separated from the knife."
The orange handled kitchen knife was described as totalling 13 inches with a six-and-a-half inch blade.
Francis was arrested and said that he was going to a friend's house in Huddersfield and moving the knife between the addresses.
He said he didn't intend to harm anyone or use it on the taxi driver but was aware that carrying it in public was an offence.
Magistrates were told that in March 2012 Francis was sent to a young offender institution for 27 months for an offence of robbery.
Then in March 2014 he was locked up for eight years after stabbing a rival in the stomach with a screwdriver in a brawl outside a nightclub.
The victim suffered life-threatening injuries in the attack outside the Warehouse in Leeds city centre.
Leeds Crown Court heard that the incident happened during a disturbance involving a large group of people and the victim underwent surgery after the screwdriver caused damage to his liver.
Because of the new offence Francis has been recalled to prison and is not due for release until 2023.
Catherine McCullough, mitigating, said that her client disputed being under the influence.
She told magistrates: "He was getting the taxi early in the morning and was very tired and having to eat his breakfast on his journey.
"That breakfast was two mangoes and he'd used the knife to peel them."
Ms McCullough told magistrates that Francis is heavily involved in his grandmother's care.
She said: "Since he's been recalled to custody she's had to go into a home and he's expressed some remorse about that situation."
Magistrates jailed him for six months but the sentence will not affect his expected release date.
He will have to pay £115 victim surcharge upon his release and the knife seized will be forfeited and destroyed.
https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/i-peeling-mangoes-said-taxi-16354738
A TAXI firm boss was ordered to pay almost £2,500 for letting someone drive one of his private hire vehicles without the appropriate licence.
Paul Smith, operator of Weardale Private Hire, of Lane Hill, Ireshopeburn, was charged with permitting Kevin Maddox to drive the vehicle without a private hire drivers’ licence.
Smith was also charged with permitting him to use the vehicle without the appropriate insurance and ordered to pay a total of £2,484.
Maddox, also of Lane Hill, Ireshopeburn, was charged with acting as the driver of a private hire vehicle without a current private hire drivers’ licence and subsequently ordered to pay a total of £660 by Peterlee Magistrates’ Court.
The action followed an operation by Durham County Council’s integrated transport and licensing teams at Evergreen School, in Bishop Auckland, last June, in which officers checked licensed vehicles and their drivers.
Maddox, who was driving a private hire vehicle, initially claimed he had forgotten his drivers’ badge but checks revealed he only held a licence to drive hackney carriages.
When interviewed under caution, the 58-year-old confirmed he did not hold the appropriate licence and that he had started working for Paul Smith in September 2017, when he provided a copy of his hackney carriage drivers’ licence. Maddox also stated he had been asked by Smith to carry out the home to school contract to cover for a driver who was on holiday.
Smith, who pleaded not guilty, said that when Maddox’s employment began he took copies of his DVLA and hackney carriage licences, however he admitted not doing all the appropriate checks due to lack of time and that he gave permission for Maddox to carry out the home to school contract.
In mitigation, the 56-year-old said he had a clean record for more than 23 years and takes pride in his job, it was a genuine misunderstanding and that he never intended to operate with no insurance. Maddox also stated he had a clean driving licence for more 36 years and it was his only form of employment.
Owen Cleugh, the county council's consumer protection manager, said: “Taxi private hire licensing is in place for the protection of the public as it ensures that all licensed drivers and private hire operators are fit and proper to hold a licence. It is important for drivers to hold the correct licence to carry out specific types of journeys as it could be the case, as in this instance, that they do not have the appropriate insurance cover which poses an additional risk to road users and passengers.”
Smith was fined a total of £1,381, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £103, £1,000 in costs and his driving licence was endorsed with six penalty points. Maddox was fined £130, ordered to pay a £30 victim surcharge and a contribution of £500 to the costs.
https://bit.ly/2KjgwKl
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NEW YORK
How We Investigated the New York Taxi Medallion Bubble
By Brian M. Rosenthal
It took a year, 450 interviews and a database built from scratch to answer a simple question: Why had anyone ever agreed to pay $1 million for the right to drive a yellow cab?
Mohammed Hoque, one of the taxi drivers interviewed for a recent Times investigation, during a shift last December.CreditKholood Eid for The New York Times
The story started, like a lot of stories seem to, with President Trump’s former lawyer, Michael D. Cohen.
On April 9, 2018, the F.B.I. raided Mr. Cohen’s office, thrusting him into the national spotlight. The next day, the top editors at The New York Times asked five reporters to start working on a profile. I was one of them.
The other reporters researched Mr. Cohen’s family, his legal career, his real estate interests and, of course, his work for the president. I took on the last piece of his business empire: his ownership of 30 New York taxi medallions, the coveted permits needed to own a yellow cab.
After a few weeks of reporting, the team learned enough to publish our story on Mr. Cohen. And I discovered enough to know what I wanted to investigate next.
At that time, the taxi industry was becoming a big story. Mr. Cohen had owned his medallions as an investment, counting on them rising in value because of the city’s decision to issue only about 13,000 permits. But thousands of the medallions were owned by drivers themselves, and two driver-owners had just died by suicide. Public officials were talking about how the price of a medallion had plummeted from over $1 million to under $150,000. Most were blaming ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft.
I had a different question: Why had anybody ever paid $1 million for the right to the grueling job of being a cabby?
When I pursue an investigation, I identify the single most important question that I am trying to answer, and orient all of my reporting around it. (For example, why did it cost more to build subway track in New York than anywhere else in the world? Or why did Texas have the lowest special education rate in the country?) In this case, I ended up interviewing about 450 people, and I asked almost all the same question: Why did the price reach $1 million? It became my North Star.
I heard plenty of theories, but I began to get somewhere only when I had an epiphany: No driver-owner had ever really paid close to $1 million for a medallion. On paper, thousands of low-income immigrants had. But while they had poured their life savings into their purchase, virtually all had signed loans for most of the cost — and never really had a chance to repay.
I needed to examine as many loans as possible, to see if they were as unusual and reckless — and predatory — as some of my sources said they were. But how?
I got a lead from an unexpected source: the lenders themselves.
After prices had started crashing, the lenders in the industry had tried to squeeze money out of borrowers. Many of them had filed lawsuits against borrowers — lawsuits which had to include copies of the loans.
I ultimately reviewed 500 of these loans, and I saw disturbing patterns: Almost none of them included a large down payment. Almost all of them required the borrower to repay everything within three years, which was impossible. There were a lot of interest-only loans, and a wide variety of fees, including charges for paying loans off too early. Many of the loans required borrowers to sign away their legal rights.
Armed with the loan documents, I started calling dozens of current and former industry bankers, brokers, lawyers and investors. Some pointed me to disclosures that lenders had filed with the government, which were enormously helpful. Others shared internal records, which were even better.
New York City did not have reliable digital data on medallion sales, so I used paper records to build a database of all the 10,888 sales between 1995 and 2018. The city taxi commission had never analyzed the financial records submitted by medallion buyers, so I did. Nobody knew how many medallion owners had gone bankrupt because of the crisis, so I convinced my boss to pay a technology company, Epiq, to create a program that sped through court records and spat out a tentative list — and then two news assistants helped me verify every result.
As I dug into the data and the documents, I sought out driver-owners. I wanted to understand what they had been through. To find them, I went to Kennedy International Airport.
The fare from taking someone from the airport into Manhattan can make a cabby’s day, and so drivers wait in line for hours. And over several visits during a couple of months, I waited with them, striking up conversations outside a food stand run by a Greek family and next to pay phones that had stopped working years ago. After talking briefly, I asked if I could visit their homes and meet their friends.
In all, I met 200 taxi drivers, including several I interviewed through translators because they did not speak English fluently. (Some of those men still had signed loans of up to $1 million.) One by one, they told me how they had come to New York seeking the American dream, worked hard and gotten trapped in loans they did not understand, which often made them give up almost all of their monthly income. Several said that after the medallion bubble burst, wiping out their savings and their futures, they had contemplated suicide. One said he had already attempted it.
The day after we began publishing our findings, city officials announced they were exploring ways to help these driver-owners, and the mayor and state attorney general said they were going to investigate the people who channeled them into the loans.
In the end, the three front-page stories that we published this week about the taxi industry barely mentioned Mr. Cohen at all.
But they did something much more important: They told the stories of Mohammed Hoque, of Jean Demosthenes and of Wael Ghobrayal.
https://nyti.ms/2EthWye
-----------------------------------
"I'm forever peeling Mangoes" (singalong)
A taxi passenger fell asleep with a large knife in his possession - and said he was using it to peel mangoes.
Luther Francis gave the bizarre excuse when police were called to the vehicle by the cabbie after he passed out.
They found the 13-inch long knife knife in his possession and he said that he was preparing his breakfast with it.
Francis, 24, pleaded guilty to possessing a bladed article in public without lawful authority.
He was jailed for six months after magistrates heard that he had previous similar convictions on his record.
They included wounding using a screwdriver at a nightclub for which he was sentenced to eight years in custody.
Prosecutor Sharon Thompson said that at 7.30am on March 31 Francis caught a taxi from his home in Cowper Street, Leeds, to Huddersfield.
He got into the front passenger seat but then fell asleep and the driver feared that he was not going to get paid.
He pulled into a petrol station on Leeds Road in Mirfield and called police.
Miss Thompson said: "The officer attempted to rouse the defendant but he seemed to be under the influence of drink or drugs.
"He opened the front passenger door and as he leaned into the vehicle he saw an unknown orange object inside his hooded top.
in public without lawful authority.
He was jailed for six months after magistrates heard that he had previous similar convictions on his record.
They included wounding using a screwdriver at a nightclub for which he was sentenced to eight years in custody.
Prosecutor Sharon Thompson said that at 7.30am on March 31 Francis caught a taxi from his home in Cowper Street, Leeds, to Huddersfield.
He got into the front passenger seat but then fell asleep and the driver feared that he was not going to get paid.
He pulled into a petrol station on Leeds Road in Mirfield and called police.
Miss Thompson said: "The officer attempted to rouse the defendant but he seemed to be under the influence of drink or drugs.
"He opened the front passenger door and as he leaned into the vehicle he saw an unknown orange object inside his hooded top.
"It was a large kitchen knife. He also removed a black sheath which was separated from the knife."
The orange handled kitchen knife was described as totalling 13 inches with a six-and-a-half inch blade.
Francis was arrested and said that he was going to a friend's house in Huddersfield and moving the knife between the addresses.
He said he didn't intend to harm anyone or use it on the taxi driver but was aware that carrying it in public was an offence.
Magistrates were told that in March 2012 Francis was sent to a young offender institution for 27 months for an offence of robbery.
Then in March 2014 he was locked up for eight years after stabbing a rival in the stomach with a screwdriver in a brawl outside a nightclub.
The victim suffered life-threatening injuries in the attack outside the Warehouse in Leeds city centre.
Leeds Crown Court heard that the incident happened during a disturbance involving a large group of people and the victim underwent surgery after the screwdriver caused damage to his liver.
Because of the new offence Francis has been recalled to prison and is not due for release until 2023.
Catherine McCullough, mitigating, said that her client disputed being under the influence.
She told magistrates: "He was getting the taxi early in the morning and was very tired and having to eat his breakfast on his journey.
"That breakfast was two mangoes and he'd used the knife to peel them."
Ms McCullough told magistrates that Francis is heavily involved in his grandmother's care.
She said: "Since he's been recalled to custody she's had to go into a home and he's expressed some remorse about that situation."
Magistrates jailed him for six months but the sentence will not affect his expected release date.
He will have to pay £115 victim surcharge upon his release and the knife seized will be forfeited and destroyed.
https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/i-peeling-mangoes-said-taxi-16354738
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