July 22 (Reuters) - Chinese regulators are considering serious penalties for Didi Global Inc (DIDI.N) after the ride-hailing giant's New York initial public offering last month, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday.

Regulators view Didi's decision to go public despite pushback from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) as a challenge to Beijing's authority, the report quoted sources as saying.

Didi did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Its shares dropped 7% on Thursday.

The CAC last week said officials from at least seven departments sent on-site teams to conduct a cybersecurity review of Didi.

Regulators are weighing a range of potential punishments, including a fine, suspension of certain operations or the introduction of a state-owned investor for Didi, according to Bloomberg News.

Earlier this month, the CAC launched a data-related cybersecurity probe into Didi just two days after the company raised $4.4 billion from its New York initial public offering.

Regulators also ordered Didi to remove its apps in China, which Didi said might hurt its revenue.

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EDINBURGH

A callous taxi driver put the lives of his passengers at risk by picking up fares despite being diagnosed with Covid-19.

Gordon Leadbetter accepted fares from pensioners including a 91-year-old woman, an 82-year-old man and care home workers after testing positive last December.

Leadbetter, 59, also ferried desperately ill passengers to and from Edinburgh Royal Infirmary who were attending for dialysis treatment while failing to wear a protective mask.

The cabbie tested positive for coronavirus the day after his wife was diagnosed with the killer disease and had been rushed into hospital for urgent treatment.

Leadbetter, from Musselburgh, East Lothian, was caught out after a neighbour heard of his positive test result and phoned his employers to air their concerns.

He was suspended from the Edinburgh taxi company following a board meeting on December 26 last year and was subsequently arrested and charged by police two weeks later.

Leadbetter pleaded guilty to culpably and recklessly accepting vulnerable passengers into his taxi between December 17 and 26 last year after he had been tested positive for the virus when he appeared at the capital's sheriff court last month.

He was back in the dock for sentencing today where Sheriff Chris Dickson said he had carried out "a very serious offence" and had put "a number of patients at risk."

Leadbetter was spared a jail term and instead was placed on a 12-month supervision order and told he must complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

He will also be electronically tagged and must stay within his home for the next eight months between the hours of 9pm and 5am.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/taxi-driver-worked-despite-coronavirus-24577382

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DYNAMO TAXI

The following press release is aimed to promote the Nissan Van Conversion. The press release claims the vehicle is a working Hackney in Manchester and other large Cities. I can assure that is not the case.

When a press release contains deliberate errors, I suggest it is a con.

What I do know is that London's leading Cab rental Garage, COLTSCABS, purchased 20 of them.

The Cab has been so successful (sic) the owner has put them up for sale and expects to have to wipe his mouth over the loss.

I think we owe a huge thanks to Colts Cab to warn the Trade of their error.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/alistaircharlton/2021/07/22/uk-electric-taxi-firm-dynamo-reveals-ambitious-growth-plan/

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LEEDS

  A protest has been held against Leeds City Council's plans to pedestrianise Leeds Station and its surrounding area as part of a £39.5 million investment scheme in the area.

Cars and buses will no longer be able to use New Station Street, meaning the taxi rank and bus stops will be moved.

The taxi services will then be relocated to Bishopgate Street.

Members of the LCC AUAG & Disability Hub protested in Millennium Square on Monday, July 19 to voice concerns about the accessibility of the plans.

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/people/protest-in-millennium-square-following-plans-to-move-taxi-rank-at-leeds-station-3315857

  CROSBY

'Taxi driver' and man filmed punching and biting each other in street fight

The men were captured rolling around on the road as traffic had to swerve to avoid them

A man and another who appears to be a taxi driver have been caught on camera fighting in the middle of a busy Merseyside street.

Mobile phone footage has emerged showing the two men punching, kicking and biting each other.

The fight is believed to have took place yesterday (Monday) evening on Crosby Road North in Crosby, and was filmed by a passing driver who stopped at the scene.

At one point both men fell in the middle of the road as cars passed by. The two men then tried to wrestle as a woman attempted to separate the pair.

https_www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/?rl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpoolecho.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fliverpool-news%2Ftaxi-driver-man-filmed-punching-20929547

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PETERBOROUGH

Angry hackney carriage drivers descended on the council’s offices at Fletton Quays to protest against an application from Gujjar Investments Limited, to set up a minicab office in Westgate, at the site of the former Maplin store, opposite Beales, which had been recommended for approval by planning officers.

But after a dramatic day, which saw dozens of hackney carriages outside the authority’s Sand Martin House offices given parking tickets, councillors on the planning committee voted to turn down the plans.

The proposed new development would be a booking office and waiting area for people booking a private hire vehicle through the Autocab app.

The application had been recommended for approval despite 41 objections being received and the council’s own licensing team highlighting its opposition.

But councilors at the meeting refused the application by majority vote.

https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/politics/council/100-peterborough-taxi-drivers-who-protested-at-council-offices-celebrate-after-plans-for-private-hire-cab-business-refused-3290687

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BILBOROUGH

Taxi drivers warn that they are ‘always very vulnerable’, after a driver was threatened with metal pole in an attempted robbery.

A 41-year-old man was intimidated by a group of men with a metal pole on Bracebridge Drive, Bilborough in the early hours of June 29, after he refused to let them into his taxi.

The group demanded money from the driver after he suggested that they should call for a bigger taxi to take them to Long Eaton.

Fearing for his safety the man drove off just before the group threw the metal pole, which missed his vehicle.

Azeem Hanuf, chairman of Nottingham United Private Hire Drivers, said: “Unfortunately, we are always very vulnerable as taxi and mini cab drivers.

“I’m sure it’s been a very traumatic experience for the driver.

“It could have been worse; it could have been a knife or something so my heart goes out to him.”

A survey conducted by Nottingham United Private Hire Driver found that 80 per cent of drivers had suffered abuse or threats of some kind.

https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/nottingham-news/cabbies-always-feel-vulnerable-after-5593784

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NUNEATON

New taxi drivers will be forced to take an English and safeguarding test to work in Nuneaton and Bedworth.

Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council wants to introduce the tests for those who are want a taxi drivers' licence.

It will cost £35 and all new applicants will have to undertake training and testing to get their licence to operate across the borough.

Councillor Kyle Evans, cabinet member for public services, explained why they were bringing in the tests.

"We want to ensure that residents in this borough, who use taxi drivers, are safe," he said.

"We have had nunerous incidents in other local authorities, particularly councils like Rotherham where we have had some really bad cases of child sexual exploitation and I am not going to accuse taxi drivers in Nuneaton and Bedworth of anything like that, we have some great taxi drivers and I know that as a member of the licensing committee,

"But I do think it is really important that we have those safeguards in place within the system to make sure that our tax drivers are fit to serve the pubic and that is going out to a public consultation."

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/local-news/new-taxi-drivers-forced-take-20945193

ST HELENS

 A Taxi driver was found to have two defective front tyres and an unlicensed car was caught operating illegally as late night-checks were made on vehicles in St Helens.

Licensing officers from the council and police were involved with the operation to check taxi driver standards as people returned to the town's nightspots.

The checks took place last weekend in St Helens town centre and across the borough.

In total 43 vehicles and their drivers were checked over Friday and Saturday night.

https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/19337789.police-take-action-action-defective-unlicensed-taxis/

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REDCAR

The driver who was behind the wheel of the taxi which hit Liam Hibbins will not be charged with any offence, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has confirmed.

The 26-year-old landscape gardener died after being hit by a car, driven by Colin Clarke, on an unlit section of the Coast Road in Redcar.

Liam, who had spent the day at the races with friends, was believed to have been attempting to flag down a taxi as he made his way home to Skelton.

He was rushed to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough where he passed away as a result of head and neck injuries on October 8, 2017.

During his inquest, held at Teesside Coroner's Court this week, Coroner Clare Bailey ruled that Mr Clarke was, on the basis of probability, speeding at the time.

Mr Clarke told the hearing, sitting at Teesside Magistrates' Court, that he was completing his final job, transporting two passengers, and travelling with his dipped beam headlights on the lowest setting.

He said he began to accelerate when the speed limit on the Coast Road changed from 30mph to 40mph and saw what he described as a "silhouette" around 16m ahead of him.

Mr Clarke said he did not realise it was Mr Hibbins, who was wearing dark clothes and had his back to him, until he was was five metres away and it was too late to stop.

https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/taxi-driver-tragic-case-liam-20691195

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LONDON

The British Transport Police (BTP) are appealing for help in identifying two men who attacked and robbed a taxi driver in Beckenham.

The violent attack, in which the driver was repeatedly punched in the head, took place at Beckenham Station last Friday (May 21).

Officers have today released an image of one man in connection with the assault, who they are asking the public to help identify.

At around 4.20pm last Friday (May 21), the taxi driver picked up the two men from Bromley High Street.

The BTP said the men became "verbally aggressive and threatening" towards the victim during their journey in his taxi.

Their behaviour caused the taxi driver to stop at Beckenham Station and get out of his car, at which point one of the men followed the driver and punched him several times in the head.

Meanwhile, the other man robbed the driver’s car, taking his ID card and other belongings, before joining his companion in the attack.

https://www.mylondon.news/news/south-london-news/taxi-driver-punched-head-robbed-20699666

BOLTON

Taxi drivers are set to go on strike for the second time this month demanding a ‘nominal’ fare increase to meet rising costs.

The private hire association says they have not seen fares increase for taxi journeys for nearly four years despite the cost of running their cars going up each year.

Many drivers, who have had their business devastated by the coronavirus pandemic, are now struggling financially due to the increasing costs, according to the association.

Drivers are planning to boycott driving their vehicles from 6am today all the way through to 6am Saturday morning.

A spokesman for the association said: “We have been talking to the companies that we work for and some even agreed to put the fares up at first but many have now gone back on their word."

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/

 

United Trade Action Group v Transport for London & Transopco UK Ltd (as Interested Party)

David Matthias QC

Charles Streeten

Thursday, 22 April, 2021

On a renewed oral application for permission, the United Trade Action Group (‘UTAG’ - a body representing the interests of the hackney carriage trade) was given permission by Mrs Justice LANG to judicially review the decision of TfL to grant a Private Hire Operator’s Licence toTransopco UK Ltd whose private hire drivers work off a smartphone  ride-hailing app calledFREENOW.  LANG J. held that it was arguably unlawful for TfL to have granted an Operator’s Licence to Transopco, because Transopco (a) facilitated and encouraged private hiredrivers to work off a ride-hailing app despite it being unlawful for private hire vehicles to ‘ply for hire’ on London’s roads, and (b) required private hire drivers to accept private hire bookings without themselves holding operators licences.  The Judge ordered that the case should be heard before a Divisional Court given its great importance and potential implications for private hire operators and drivers generally.

 Bradford Taxi Action Group (BTAG) is calling for a full strike on May 13 and 14 unless Bradford Council responds to concerns about plans to introduce a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) in January.

In a letter to the council, Asif Shah, chairman of BTAG, wrote: "We are still awaiting a response from an email sent to the Council Leader and Chief Executive on March 18 in relation to the CAZ queries.

"If we don’t get a response by May 4, then we will have no option but to call for a full strike to take place on Thursday, May 13, and Friday, May 14, to coincide with Eid celebrations which will undoubtedly create problems for the city."

Mr Shah did say that a strike would cause significant disruption as approximately 70 per cent of operators across the city support BTAG.

It follows on from a previous taxi strike about the Clean Air Zone on March 12, which Mr Shah said had a "very successful turnout of 500 to 600 drivers".

The CAZ would see the most polluting vehicles charged to enter much of the city centre.

Although private cars will not be charged, taxis and private hire vehicles that do not meet up to date emission standards would have to pay £12.50 per day to enter the city.

"There is frustration amongst members," said Mr Shah. "We don't want to strike because it's not in the interest of anybody.

"But if we do strike it will bring the transport industry in Bradford to it knees."

 More than £1million has been awarded to taxi owners in Glasgow to help comply with Low Emission Zones.

More than 100 taxis have now been successfully retrofitted with LPG engines. This is in preparation for Scotland’s Low Emission Zones (LEZs) which will be introduced by May 2022.

The Scottish Government funding is to retrofit non-LEZ compliant vehicles with Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS) approved solutions, that meet the minimum proposed standards of the LEZs.

Grants of up to £10,000 are available to cover up to 80 per cent of the cost of a retrofit solution.

Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, said: “LEZs are crucial to protecting public health by improving air quality. With every taxi trip potentially eliminating the need for another private vehicle entering the city centre – it’s clear to see why having LEZ compliant taxis is an important and valued part of the sustainable travel mix.

“Funding will again be available in April 2021 and I encourage any taxi driver who is interested to find out more about the support on offer.”

An LPG engine is cheaper to run for taxi drivers, provides a quieter and smoother experience for passengers and provides cleaner air with reduced carbon dioxide emissions.

Taxi owner Donald Wilson said: “My taxi was retrofitted in early January 2020 and since then, I have had no issues to date and my fuel costs have been reduced by an average of 20 per cent.

https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/19174133.glasgow-taxi-drivers-awarded-10k-grants-help-comply-low-emission-zones/

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NOTTINGHAM

Taxi drivers have expressed their support for a new 20mph speed limit which could end up covering every road in Nottingham city centre.

Nottingham City Council will be starting a consultation on a number of traffic calming proposals, including the introduction of a 20mph limit across the city, as well as the permanent closure of the Victoria Embankment to motor vehicles.

Consultations on seven key proposals will be running until April 2.

Portfolio holder for transport, councillor Adele Williams, said the plans could help cut down on emissions as well as make neighbourhoods safer and quieter.

Speaking to Nottinghamshire Live, a number of taxi drivers generally welcomed the plans for the new 20mph limit.

Azeem Hanif, the chairman of the United Private Hire Drivers union, said: "I think it is a mix of both, from a road safety perspective it is a great idea.

"But we have also got to consider the wider impact of traffic flow. When we are back to normal life it is going to be a real challenge. I think there could be a wider knock-on effect.

"The other question is what is the city going to do to enforce it? "It will make an impact getting to jobs, that slight length of time is going to make an impact to delivery time, but road safety is a great thing. Rather than being five minutes it will be seven minutes, so it would not be that bad.

"The vast majority of people would be in favour of it because we are heavily populated with narrow streets."

https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/nottingham-news/nottingham-taxi-drivers-back-plans-5180178

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DUBAI residents will look twice when the familiar curved silhouette of the famous London black cab appears on the roads of the emirate.

Aptly called “London taxi,” the vehicle launched in February and is being trialled at Dubai International Airport.

The eye-catching taxi features the famous black color and curved design of the British cab.

Managed by Dubai Taxi Cooperation, the eco-friendly taxis are based on a hybrid design using electricity and fuel.

“It is part of our strategic plan to boost the limousine sector and the taxi sector with a wonderful and a reliable car,” Mansoor Rahma Al-Falasi, CEO of Dubai Taxi Cooperation, told Arab News.

He said the new taxi will offer customers a greater choice of services.

“The London taxi is one of the newest features in our fleet.”

Along with its dual engine, the London taxi also has an accelerated braking system and a battery that can be recharged in only 30 minutes.

The cab’s roomy interior includes six seats in a separate cabin and access for disabled passengers.

The taxi is fitted with satellite-based navigation, voice command system, forward-collision warning system, blind-spot monitoring and lane departure warning system in addition to WiFi.

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1827736/offbeat