Charging minicabs a fee to drive in central London when black cabs are exempt discriminates against vulnerable workers and passengers, a court has heard.

London’s black cabs do not pay the Congestion Charge – a £15 daily fee that aims to reduce traffic in central London – but Uber, Addison Lee and other private hire drivers do.

Minicabs were previously also exempt – but the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, scrapped the policy last year.

But that decision has been challenged in a Court of Appeal case brought by a gig economy workers’ union over the past two days.

While 88 per cent of black cab drivers are white, 94 per cent of minicab drivers are of black, Asian or ethnic minority (BAME) heritage.

This means the new policy indirectly discriminates against BAME workers, according to the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain.

It also impacts female drivers, who are more likely to work part time, and older or disabled passengers who have reduced travel options, the court heard.

Ben Collins, the IWGB lawyer, said minicab drivers were “working very long hours to make ends meet and provide for their families” and “every penny counts”.

Some 71 per cent of minicab drivers live in the most deprived parts of London, and they make on average £23,000 a year or less, he told the court.

And forcing them to pay the charge could see them lose income, or force them to work longer hours, he warned.

But City Hall says the number of private hire vehicles in the city centre has risen sharply, and discouraging access was necessary to drive down traffic.

Around a third of private hire vehicles, some 38,000, carry out trips in the charge zone, alongside London’s 21,000 black cabs – with 18,000 minicabs entering each day.

Marie Demetriou, for the Mayor and TfL, said the increase has been “beyond what was imagined” when the Congestion Charge was introduced in 2003 – but the number of black cabs has remained “pretty static”.

Removing the exemption for minicabs was not a tactic “plucked from the air” but “the mechanism for reducing congestion”, she argued.

But Mr Collins warned the charge for private hire drivers could increase congestion.

He said it may encourage drivers to loiter in the zone once they’ve entered “in the hope of finding a passenger” to recoup costs, rather than making a short trip through it.

The Congestion Charge rose 30 per cent last Monday (June 22) from £11.50 to £15 a day.

Operating hours have been extended to include weekends, and from 7am to 6pm previously to 7am to 10pm now – meaning the cost to minicab drivers could now be over £100 a week.

The changes are a temporary measure during the Covid-19 outbreak, and Ms Demetriou told the court it was an “extraordinary” step, not relevant to the claim.

https://www.guardian-series.co.uk

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

United Private Hire Drivers are asking Glasgow City Council to allow drivers to install protective screens in their cars.

Glasgow City Council have been accused of 'dragging their feet' over plans to introduce protective screens for private hire cars.

United Private Hire Drivers (UPHD) have said that the council is one of only two local authorities who have to decided not to allow drivers to install the screens in their vehicle.

Unlike black Hackney-style cars, private hire vehicles don't any have protection from or for their customers.

As well as transporting members of the public, some companies have contracts with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to take patients and medication to and from the hospital.

United Private Hire Drivers, which represents drivers all over Scotland, has said that three drivers have died of Covid-19 in Glasgow since the outbreak began.

A member of staff at the company, who own Glasgow Private Hire and Renfrewshire Cabs, told Glasgow Live that drivers are picking up hospital patients but not being told whether they are positive for the virus.

The worker who asked to remain anonymous, said: "Our company has a contract with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to provide managed transport services to the organisation - this includes patient and staff transport as well as other courier services for samples, medicine, equipment and more.

"The management team originally indicated that when NHSGGC staff contact our Control Room staff to book a taxi for a patient who has tested positive for COVID-19, that we should not inform the driver.

"Our staff did not follow this instruction and thus informed the driver sent for the hire. This was later backtracked by one of our managers after the fact and that we would not be transferring any customer with a confirmed positive case of coronavirus."

Drivers have said that maintaining a two-metre distance in a car is virtually impossible.

Alfie Wellcoat, Vice Chair Glasgow UPHD, said: "Drivers are having to chose between staying at home and losing money to protect themselves and their family, or go to work and put their lives at risk.

"We've been discussing installing the protective screens with all local authorities but so far, Glasgow City Council have been dragging their feet."

All private hire drivers require permission from the city's licencing board to make any modification to their cars.

Glasgow City Council are currently seeking further guidance on whether the screens prevent the spread of the virus and if they pose a safety issue for passengers, if the car is to crash.

A spokesman for the council said: "We fully understand the anxiety that anyone may feel when working in close proximity to members of the public during the Covid-19 crisis.

"At this stage no-one can confirm whether such screens do restrict the spread of the virus and we have other concerns about the safety implications of such temporary modifications to vehicles.

"We have written to the Scottish Government to seek clarification on how private hire vehicles can operate safely during the covid-19 outbreak. The matter has also been raised by Solar, the body that represents all licensing authorities in Scotland."

https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/

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

LEEDS

A passenger stole a taxi driver's cab then rammed a police car during a dangerous pursuit through Leeds city centre.

A judge told Sohail Khan he had an "arrogant disregard" for public safety during the incident as he was jailed for 10 months.

Leeds Crown Court heard Khan was a passenger in a taxi travelling on Whitehall Road on July 9 last year when the vehicle was stopped by police.

Stephen Littlewood, prosecuting, said the taxi driver pulled over and got out of the car to speak to officers.

An officer then noticed Khan acting suspiciously inside the vehicle and place something into the glove box.

The officer told the 23-year-old defendant to get out of the taxi but he locked the doors and climbed into the driver's seat.

Khan then drove off in the taxi and was followed by the officers.

Mr Littlewood said Khan went around a roundabout five times before heading towards Domestic Street in Holbeck.

He went around another roundabout several times before driving the wrong way on a one-way road.

The officers abandoned the pursuit because of the danger it posed to members of the public.

Khan was spotted driving the car back on Whitehall Road a short time later and the pursuit resumed.

The defendant drove on the wrong side of the road but had his path blocked by two other taxis.

Mr Littlewood said the taxi drivers refused to move out of Khan's way when they realised he was involved in a police chase.

Khan tried to drive between the two cars, causing damage to all three vehicles.

He was then blocked in by a police car but Khan tried to ram his way out.

The officers approached Khan in the taxi on foot but he refused to get out and continued to rev the engine.

Mr Littlewood said the officers smashed the window of the vehicle and managed to arrest Khan.

The incident lasted ten minutes in total.

Khan, of Burlington Road, Beeston, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, having no insurance and having no licence.

He has a previous convictions for dangerous driving.

Matthew Harding, mitigating, said Khan pleaded guilty to the offence at an early stage and was sorry for what he had done.

Mr Harding said Khan came for a supportive family and was afraid of going to prison.

Jailing Khan, Judge Robin Mairs said: "You demonstrated a complete and arrogant disregard for any other driver.

"You were quite willing to risk the loss of life or limb and it is only by good fortune that that did not happen."

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk

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Travelling in Cheltenham licensed taxis or private hire vehicles is set to become safer as the authority's cabinet is expected to approve a new policy on partition screens in the vehicles.

On July 7, Cheltenham Borough Council's cabinet will consider a proposed policy to allow taxi and private hire drivers to install partition screens in their vehicles, as a means to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission between themselves and their passengers.

Whilst there is no evidence to suggest that a partition screen between drivers and passengers will provide 100 per cent protection against transmission of the coronavirus, there is evidence to show that the use of physical barriers is effective in lowering the risk of infection and spread of the coronavirus.

The proposed policy that Cabinet will consider next week, is part of the authority's recovery work for Cheltenham. There is recognition that the COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly severe on the livelihoods of hackney carriage (taxi) and private hire licence holders. A policy that will allow taxi and private hire drivers to make journeys safer will provide the public with reassurance and provide confidence that measures are being taken to try and keep them safe when taking a taxi or private hire vehicle.

It is also designed to provide taxi and private hire drivers with the confidence they need to return to work. Office of National Statistics data has shown that licensed drivers have a greater risk of mortality relating to COVID-19. The ability to install properly designed and installed partition screens, together with other safety measures such as good hygiene and the appropriate use of PPE, are measures being encouraged by the authority to support licensed drivers.

Councillor Andrew McKinlay, cabinet member for development and safety, said: "The council is committed to supporting the town's recovery.

"The principal concern of the council is the safety and wellbeing of the public. This policy, if adopted, will make taxi journeys safer for people and should give greater confidence to people wanting to visit the town, that steps are being taken to better protect their health and wellbeing.

"The draft policy will not impose a mandatory requirement to install partition screens in taxis, recognising that a flexible approach is appropriate, particularly since there is no formal Government guidance on this matter. However, members of the public can exercise their right of choice if they would prefer to take a taxis fitted with a screen, instead of automatically taking the one at the front of a taxi queue."

https://www.punchline-gloucester.com

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A taxi driver has been caught speeding in excess of 90mph on the M65 despite a downpour of rain.
The motorist had two fares in the back of the vehicle while reaching a speed of 92mph in Burnley.

Police have today (June 30) slammed the driver for the 'disgraceful' incident, pointing out he already had ten points on his licence for speeding offences.

Officers said he had 'not learnt' his lesson and reported him for summons.

A spokesperson for Lancs Road Police said: "This taxi was stopped in Burnley having been followed doing 92mph on the M65 in the rain.

"Disgracefully he had two fares in the back and to make things worse he already has 10 points for speeding offences!

"Lesson clearly not learned so reported for summons."

https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/taxi-driver-10-points-licence-18514664

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WOKINGHAM

A taxi cab boss has been seeking support for taxi drivers in Wokingham after the council closed taxi ranks and parking bays, following the announcement of shops reopening. 

Muhammad Arshad, Chairman of the Wokingham Borough Hackney Drivers Association, has been speaking to the council for weeks, seeking support for the local taxi industry, which has been badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic. 

In an email, Mr Arshad said to the Wokingham Borough Council: "As the shops are being opened and life is just about to be normalised, our only official taxi rank in Wokingham broad street has been closed, without us being notified and no alternative provided. This means we cannot resume work even if we want to. 

"Please note that not all the taxi drivers are permitted to work at Wokingham Station, as it needs a separate permit from South West Trains."

Peter Baveystock of the Wokingham Borough Council said in response: "The taxi ranks (and parking bays) in Broad Street are currently suspended under an emergency Section 14(2) Order to enable social distancing measures to be implemented.

 

"We have had to close these ranks (and other bays) under this Order to meet the Government requirement for implementing temporary footway extension measures in time for the relaxation on non-essential retail business operations.

www.bracknellnews.co.uk 

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Licensing bosses in Wolverhampton are preparing to approve the £49,000 register, which will enable all drivers, operators and proprietors of private hire and hackney cabs licensed by the council to provide up-to-date information records.

 
Private hire taxi drivers in the city hit out at the council this week after fitting plastic screens in their cars to protect against coronavirus – which licensing chiefs then made them remove, as prior permission had not been sought.

 
The ‘My Driver Portal’ will enable all drivers to record criminal/motoring convictions or cautions; changes in name, address or contact details; changes in private hire operator; changes of driver if the vehicle is licensed by a hire company, and any road traffic accidents.

 
In a report to the council, Licensing Section Leader Lorraine Jones said: "When a driver has a change in circumstances they are required to inform us in writing as part of the conditions of their licence.

"It is important to ensure that records are kept up to date in order to be able to contact the relevant and correct driver/proprietor or operator in the event of a circumstance or allegation that requires immediate action to be undertaken by licensing services.

"The portal was created as a self-help function for drivers to maintain their records online and ensure they are kept up to date as per the conditions of the licence issued. 

"Traditionally this would be a paper record, but as we are working totally electronically, it was a natural step for the register to be electronic. It also makes the register more easily accessible. 

"The introduction of an online portal provides easier access to the information held against licence holders and the ability for licence holders to instantly update the information themselves,” she added. 

Access to the driver portal will be secure and require an email address specific to each driver, proprietor or operator.

 
The facility – obtained from software suppliers Idox for a one-off payment – will also include news feeds, announcements and advertisements for relative issues including insurance, replacement car hire, repairs, tyres and valeting.

 
There is also a potential for the council to stream income from the advertisement function.

The council’s Non-Statutory Licensing Committee will discuss the new online portal next Wednesday.

 

www.expressandstar.com
 

As economies across Europe gradually reopen after the coronavirus pandemic, fleet and travel managers face the challenge of advising their employees on how to travel safely by taxi, ride hailing or car share services.

With fears over the transmission of COVID-19 on public transport, such as buses, trams and trains, many employees are looking to travel by taxi, ride hailing, car hire and car share services. However, the prospect of multiple travellers using the same car during the course of a day brings its own risks, for which different companies and trade organisations have developed their own solutions.

Taxi safety charter

In the UK, three of the leading taxi dispatch software providers – Autocab, Cordic and iCabbi – have created a charter of best practice for taxi firms to follow, as a way to reassure their passengers and drivers. More than 190 taxi firms across the country have already signed up to the charter, which calls for:

●       Hand sanitisers to be available to all drivers and customers

●       Drivers to wear personal protective equipment (PPE)

●       Passenger areas of the vehicle to be wiped down and sanitised regularly

●       Vehicles with a shield installed will have it regularly cleaned and sanitised

The charter also calls for card payments, wherever possible, to avoid having to handle cash.

Safa Alkateb, CEO at Autocab said: “We’re encouraging the entire industry to get behind the Charter – by signing it, private hire taxi operators can guarantee they are providing a cleaner and more hygienic way of travelling.”

Safety screens debate

Addison Lee, one of London’s biggest private hire operators with more than 4,000 cars in the UK capital, has provided its drivers with protective equipment such as masks, gloves, hand sanitiser and disinfectant, and is ensuring its vehicles undergo an electrostatic antimicrobial cleanse. It has also launched a major programme to install partition screens between the driver and passenger seats as a physical barrier against the spread of the virus.

Liam Griffin, CEO Addison Lee, said: “We know that across the industry drivers have started to install a variety of home-made partitions. By implementing a single, tested model in each of our vehicles, we can ensure that the solution we are providing is safe and effective for both passengers and drivers.”

However, Green Tomato Cars, a private hire firm with 600 hybrid and zero emission cars in London, has dismissed partition screens as “collection points for germs [that] reduce airflow,” and expressed concern that retro-fitted screens give a false sense of security to drivers and passengers. Instead, the company is ensuring the electrostatic cleaning of all of its cars, the same process used by commercial airlines, while providing hand sanitiser and face masks for all drivers.

Face masks for drivers and passengers

Ride hailing giant Uber has made face masks compulsory for both driver and passenger, and said passengers can no longer sit in the front seat, reducing the capacity of its cars.

The UK government also recommends using a mask when riding in a taxi or private hire vehicle; sitting in the back seat on the other side of the car from the driver in order to maximise social distancing; and washing or sanitising hands for at least 20 seconds after a journey.

https://www.fleeteurope.com
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LONDON CARD PAYMENTS

New data has highlighted the continued steady growth in black taxi card payments since lockdown and pinpoints Fridays as the busiest day each week.


Colts Cabs, one of London’s biggest licensed black taxi rental firms, has posted daily figures on the number of transactions completed via card payment terminals, since cabbies started returning to work in May.

SRC= TaxiPoint

BLACKBURN

A Man who escaped prison and tried to run from police has been arrested again. 

In the early hours of Saturday, June 27 at 2am, officers from Blackburn Team 1 response detained a 30-year-old male on Rawstorne Road, Blackburn, after he fled from a taxi. 

Officers were involved in a foot chase, which resulted in the man being detained and arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary, actual bodily harm assault and absconding from prison.

 

The man from Blackburn was further arrested in police custody after he was found with a number of wraps of class A drugs.

 

/www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk

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GLASGOW

A TAXI driver is accused of sexually assaulting three women including a passenger in his cab.

Adil Taj, 41, allegedly assaulted the women between September 1 and September 28 in Glasgow. 

Prosecutors claim Taj sexually assaulted the first complainer near Glasgow School of Art.

It is said Taj repeatedly attempted to kiss her and hold her by the body. 

He is then claimed to have sexually assaulted a passenger in his taxi by asking if she wanted to kiss him and failing to desist when refused.

Taj allegedly stopped the taxi he was driving and entered the rear of the vehicle before exposing his penis and forced her hand on to it.

 

Taj’s final charge states the third complainer was sexually assaulted on various occasions at his flat in the city’s Springburn between September 27 and 28. 

It is stated the woman was touched on the body and was told by Taj that he wanted to kiss her and struck her on the buttocks. 

A hearing at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Friday was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The case was dealt with administratively and a further hearing will take place in August.

 

www.glasgowtimes.co.uk

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National

Taxi drivers have been left without "adequate protection and guidance" despite many working throughout the lockdown, industry leaders say.

Figures show the profession has one of the highest rates of Covid-19 deaths.

Drivers, taxi firms and industry bodies have said national safety guidance is urgently needed.
Government advice says drivers can refuse to take passengers who are not wearing face coverings.

Many companies now provide masks and hand sanitiser, but some drivers say they have to pay for their own protection at a time when they are struggling financially.

Some report being so "desperate" they have made DIY protective screens out of cling film.

Most taxi and private-hire drivers are male, and a high proportion are from black, Asian and ethnic minority (Bame) backgrounds - two of the groups at high risk from coronavirus.

 

Over the past three months, drivers say their main jobs have been transporting NHS staff, key workers, patients and the vulnerable.

https://www.bbc.co.uk

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OSLO

Jaguar Land Rover will provide 25 Jaguar I-Pace models to Cabonline, the largest taxi network in the Nordics. The cars will be equipped with Momentum Dynamic’s wireless charging technology.

 A team of engineers and technicians from both Momentum Dynamics and Jaguar Land Rover were engaged to help in testing the solution, and Cabonline signed up to operate the fleet as part of Oslo’s ElectriCity programme.

The project is said to offer solutions that have widespread significance and could help adoption of electric vehicles globally.

The ‘ElectriCity’ programme involves several entities including taxi operator Cabonline (NorgesTaxi AS), the region’s largest charge point operator Fortum Recharge, US technology developer Momentum Dynamics and the City of Oslo to build wireless, high-powered charging infrastructure for taxis in the Norwegian capital.

Fortum Recharge, which is supporting the installation and electrification of the project, identified the need for a more efficient charging experience for taxi drivers in Oslo and enlisted the support of Momentum Dynamics in integrating the wireless charging infrastructure.

For usage efficiency, Taxi drivers need a charging system that does not take them off route during their working hours. Multiple charging plates rated at 50-75kW each, are installed in the ground in series at pick-up-drop-off points. This allows each equipped taxi to charge while queuing for the next fare.

https://fleetworld.co.uk

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Manchester.

Yet another App. Website does not work well.

I would swerve this one.

https://lynkcity.com/earn-with-car/

Nickie Aiken Conservative, Cities of London and Westminster  2:53 pm, 9th June

I beg to move,

That leave be given to bring in a Bill to provide for the regulation of the carrying of passengers in Greater London by pedal cycles and power-assisted pedal cycles for hire or reward;

and for connected purposes.

I am sure that hon. Members will be familiar with the sight of pedicabs or rickshaws on the streets of London. Before covid-19 they might have come out of the theatre to a row of pedicabs ringing their bells, playing their music, touting for business and haggling over trips to stations, restaurants, bars or hotels.

 Pedicabs may seem like a fun way to end an evening—a white-knuckle ride through the streets of London on the way home. But hon. Members might have found there was a sting in the tail. They might have been told when they arrived at their destination that the price originally agreed was for one person and, as they were two, the price had now doubled. I have heard of tourists being charged upwards of £100 for a mile journey.

Surely, you wonder, pedicabs must be regulated, run a meter, be insured and have their vehicles regularly inspected for faults and road worthiness.

 Should they not have to undertake the same checks and balances of other vehicles for hire? Our traditional black cabs and private hires such as Uber are heavily regulated. Sadly, none of that is true for pedicabs.

 Due to a loophole in the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869, pedicab operators are not classified as stage carriages. As a result, there is no requirement for insurance, no requirement for fares to be fixed or consistent, and no requirement for vehicles or drivers to be quality assessed. They are the only form of public transport in London that is not regulated in any way, and estimates suggest that there are about 2,000 of them in operation in central London alone.

Alongside the fact that because pedicabs are not insured or checked in any way they are a risk to those who use them, they are proving to be a risk and a disruption to Londoners at large. They often play loud music late into the night as they drive the streets. They can drive dangerously on the pavements, putting pedestrians at risk.

 Accidents are becoming more frequent, and hit-and-runs are not uncommon. They have also been known to promote criminal behaviour. According to a 2015 Evening Standard report, pedicab drivers were being paid tips by prostitutes for taking passengers to brothels for sex, and there were reports of their facilitating drug dealing across the city.

 Westminster City Council receives a large number of complaints regarding pedicabs. In 2016, the last year for which the council maintained figures in this area, approximately 1,000 council-led interventions against pedicabs were required.

This is not to say that all pedicab drivers or operators behave in this way. We have seen a growth in pedicab provision on the basis of providing an environmentally friendly alternative to taxis and other forms of public transport. Some operators have taken it upon themselves to insure their vehicles and drivers, as well as to regulate their fares. However, it remains the case that these good operators are under no obligation to take the steps that they have, and they remain in the minority.

 I would also like to take this opportunity to highlight the growing number of bona fide companies that we see using pedicabs to deliver goods around central London. Of course, they offer a more environmentally friendly delivery service, which should be welcomed. This is not about taking them off the roads; I would wish to encourage more much greener vehicles such as these on our streets, as long as they are roadworthy and the drivers have been checked.

That is why I and a cross-party group of London MPs have brought this Bill before the House today. It is essential that Transport for London is given the powers to regulate pedicabs to make sure they are safe, that their fares are reasonable and consistent, and that rogue operators can no longer present a threat to residents and businesses in London.

 I also have cross-party support from outside this place. The Bill is supported by the Mayor of London and Lambeth Council, as well as Westminster City Council and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is also supported by London Councils, a cross-party organisation representing London boroughs.

 The Bill is supported by the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association, the New West End Company and the Heart of London Business Alliance, as well as residents associations and amenity societies across Westminster, including the Soho Society, the Marylebone Association, the St Marylebone Society, the Covent Garden Community Association and the Knightsbridge Association.

The Bill allows TfL to set the requirements of drivers’ eligibility and conditions, thereby preventing the current exploitation of some drivers by gangmasters. We must recognise that a minority of pedicab drivers may be at risk themselves of being trafficked and being part of modern slavery abuse.

 Having the regulation as outlined in the Bill could help to stop that practice if drivers have to be checked. The Bill protects the consumer by ensuring the quality and roadworthiness of vehicles. It will offer some comfort to businesses and residents by allowing for conditions to prevent pedicabs from standing or plying for hire in specific places or at specific times, as determined by Transport for London.

This is a simple Bill. It is a clear Bill, and it is a Bill that is much needed and much wanted. I understand that the Government are sympathetic to what the Bill wishes to achieve, as I note that the response to a written question from Florence Eshalomi in April said:

“The Government is aware of concerns raised about unregulated pedicabs in London and as such, has committed to seek opportunities to introduce legislation that will enable the regulation of pedicabs.”

I would be delighted to offer the Government such an opportunity by encouraging them to back my Bill on Second Reading.

Last, but certainly not least, the Bill is supported by 3,000 of my constituents, who have pledged their support via my website.

I am clear that this is not a Bill to ban pedicabs. I welcome them as part of London’s drive to become a greener city for us to live and work in, but they must be regulated.

They must be safe, and there must be sanctions for injury or risk to pedestrians and customers. It is for those reasons that I hope the Bill will be introduced. No other city in the UK is subject to this loophole; it is just London that runs the risk. We must take this opportunity to correct that, and I commend this Bill to the House.

Question put and agreed to.

Ordered,

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Manchester is getting busier

Took a walk around Shops this Morning. Where the last 3 months streets have been empty. Today a Marked Improvement, especially the Market St/ Exchange Square area.

 

Just before 11 a.m. today, 15 june, around 200 hundred People queued to access Selfridges Exchange Square.

Photo's accessible from this link.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/EnWSNYxcqW6zKSHv7 

Cab's an inappropriate luxury

For many city dwellers the dramatic improvement in air quality they have experienced over the past few weeks has been a welcome silver lining to the daily traumas of Covid-19. However, as lockdown begins to be relaxed and people need to return to work, how are urban centres going to balance environmental, health and safety concerns with the challenges of bringing the UK economy back to life?

This question is a critical one for UK’s 360,000 taxi drivers, who have found themselves on the front line of this debate, as they try to maintain their livelihoods while facing threats from all sides. 

Pomanda.com has analysed the performance of the 3,944 taxi firms across the UK with annual sales of £50k and above. These firms together contribute over £3.6 billion to the UK economy, the vast majority of which goes to pay the salaries of drivers and administrators. The average firm has annual sales of £917k and cash reserves of just 29k (less than two weeks’ worth), making them very vulnerable to the current crisis.

Data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) covering England and Wales reveals that the highest rate of deaths (after male security guards) was 36.4 deaths per 100,000 among male taxi drivers and chauffeurs. Clearly social distancing is challenging for anyone not in one of London’s estimated 21,000 black taxis, which are already fitted with partitions between drivers and passengers. Minicabs have been struggling to catch up with major operators such as Addison Lee now fitting perspex partition screens between drivers and passengers across its 4,000 vehicles and the app Uber piloting the use of partition screens in the North East of England.

The UK’s taxi drivers are now desperate to get back to work, given that 83 per cent are self-employed, typically have high fixed vehicle costs and are unlikely to benefit to any degree from Government support. The Prime Minister’s announcement that those who cannot work from home should return to work, appeared to clash with the Transport Secretary’s statement on 14th May that “It is your civic duty to avoid public transport wherever possible”. However, these mixed messages would seem to present an opportunity for the taxi industry as an effective, ready-to-go option to avoid street being flooded with private vehicles (as has happened in many countries around the world).

This opportunity comes not a moment too soon. Further analysis by Pomanda.com of the 2,054 taxi firms with annual sales over £50k, which have been operating for at least the past 5 years has shown that the sector was already struggling before Covid-19. Annual sales have only grown by 2.8 per cent over this period, while profit before tax has declined by 13.4 per cent and cash reserves by 9.7 per cent. “Traditional taxi firms have been challenged by the arrival of global technology players such as Uber with almost unlimited financial resources” says George Pennock, Director at Pomanda.com. “At the same time, they have faced pressures from increased environmental levies/taxes and growing challenges from city planners looking to reduce car numbers.”

The challenge to taxis from the environmental sector also remains intense. Some are now arguing that in a post Covid-19 world where every square meter of city centre street will be needed for social distancing, unnecessary cabs will be an inappropriate luxury. They say that towns should cut the number of licenced cabs and restrict usage to specified essential journeys and for disabled people. In addition, some argue that taxis should be required to become 100 per cent app-based, to end the congesting cruising for custom. They point to the huge take up of hired bikes (Santander hire out over 870k ‘Boris bikes’ per month in London) and the burgeoning electric scooter industry, where trials are underway to potentially legalise this as a new form of transport in cities across the UK. They argue that with visionary leaders, the Covid-19 crisis could lead to cities that are where the air is cleaner, accident numbers are lower and congestion is a thing of the past.

However, as with many of the choices which Governments and cities are going to have to make in the months ahead as they stumble out of the Covid-19 tunnel, there are going to be different constituencies to consider and no easy answers. In all cities, there will be the need to find a balance between environmental concerns and providing a range of valid options for citizens with different travel requirements, different wallet sizes and different health and safety concerns regarding Covid-19.

https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/what-is-the-future-for-the-uk-taxi-industry-post-covid-19/09/06/

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