Taxi Driver Online

I understand that, but the court will decide if AL are being put at a competitive disadvantage by the bus lanes. My view is that they are.

I wait with bated breath to see if the folks with the wigs agree, or not as the case may be.

_________________
IDFIMH

What he wants and what he gets are two very different things though. Bit like he was going to beat Westminster, but lost.

I wonder what the staffs view will be when the first driver loses his ph permit?

All in the name of King Griffen and his angry ego.

Quality.

Equality?

Yep, all wav fleet with turning circle, drivers have the extensive knowledge of London, speak fluent english, and use tfl metered fares.

Theres fair competition for you!

I don't like his type..

But that's not down to Griffin.

What it needs is for the black cab trade to do a Griffin and challenge the in-equality in the courts.

_________________
IDFIMH

,
Your having a giraffe, even you still need translated with your deep Auchtermuchty twang

Does illegally driving in a bus lane attract penalty points?

Could London adopt the Nottingham model, and only allow Wheelchair accessible hire vehicles to use bus lanes?

_________________
Former taxi driver

No.


Yes.

_________________
IDFIMH

So it's reasonably obvious the PH spivs are talking to each other on this issue then

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

And one of the most unlikely campaigners on our behalf . . . the former deputy PM, John Prescott !

Been weighing in big style on Twitter as CC will have seen.

I worked yesterday, the first day back since the Bus lanes fiasco raised its head on Monday.

Was there thousands of Minicabs in the lanes, nope. Did I see Addison Lee using one single lane, nope. I even went in early to have a look, because Bus lanes are'nt in force when i usually work. Nothing, now't.

Perhaps his drivers really do value their licenses, over Griffens ego?

The Institute of Directors Back Addison Lee.

London Evening Standard
19 April 2012

A campaign by Britain’s biggest taxi firm against London’s “discriminatory” bus lane rules has been backed by a top business leader.
Simon Walker, director general of the Institute of Directors, said Addison Lee was right to challenge the ban on minicabs using London bus lanes as passengers were being “ripped off”.
Addison Lee sent a letter to its 3,500 drivers on Monday urging them to ignore the ban and drive in the lanes. Chairman John Griffin said allowing only licensed black taxis to use them was “unfair discrimination”.
Transport for London will next week seek a High Court injunction ordering the letter to be withdrawn.
Mr Walker said some of the institute’s 40,000 members had complained about the inability of private hire vehicles to use the lanes.
He told the Standard: “Anything that provides protectionism is a bad idea and will result in consumers losing out. A lot of our members use Addison Lee, as well as black cabs. It’s a service that’s been built up quite successfully. To hobble it, and other minicabs, seems unfair.”
He added: “We have got three hire car services and two of them are discriminated against because they cannot drive along the bus lanes. I think protectionism by metered taxis has helped push up prices.
“That’s always a problem when you have an inhibited ability to enter an industry — the consumer gets ripped off. Black cab prices are higher than they need to be.”
TfL insists its main priority is to keep bus lanes clear for the six million people who make bus journeys in London every day. They also argue that only black taxis can be hailed on the street and all are wheelchair accessible.
Cyclists claim roads will become less safe if the city’s 60,000 private hire vehicles are allowed to use the lanes.
But a spokesman for Addison Lee said: “All we ask is that the EU and UK laws that promote freedom to supply competing services and fair competition are observed on the city’s public roads, so that we can compete fairly for the benefit of all.
"We do not believe this would impact on congestion, however we would be happy to join black taxis in agreeing to only enter the bus lanes with a passenger on board.”
Leon Daniels, TfL’s managing director of surface transport, said: “The service provided by private hire vehicles is different to that provided by taxis.
"Taxis are instantly recognisable, purpose built, fully wheelchair accessible vehicles with a regulated and metered fare system and can ply for hire and therefore need greater access to the pavement to pick up passengers.
“Bus lanes are in place primarily to enable buses to move around the capital efficiently carrying more than six million passengers a day. Allowing tens of thousands of Private Hire Vehicles to drive in bus lanes would disrupt the bus network and our passengers’ ability to get around.”

Addison Lee have been blasting Twitter for the last few days, here are a couple of samples. One of them says it, in or out, its all the same to us I think this demonstrates he does not care about the public, as he states, he wants everybody out of Bus Lanes, along with his drivers.

The London hackney trades surge to get work back using Apps such as HailO and the like must really be starting to pinch.


Addison Lee ‏ @AddisonLeeCabs
@teninchwheels Would it be fair for an apple seller to have a publically funded stall on the high street while the orange seller is banned?

Addison Lee ‏ @AddisonLeeCabs
@cyclingfront @nat_simo @GreenJennyJones In or out it's all the same to us, we just want to be given the chance to compete fairly...

This post today, from Manchester Private Hire Association. Suggest they are in contact with Addison Lee. He wishes to work with them to get access to bus lanes in Manchester.

Mch Private Hire ‏ @Mchprivatehire
We have received an email from John Griffin (Addison Lee P/H) we will be working together to tackle Bus Lanes in Manchester.

Why does he wish to help Manchester Private hire ??

Be careful Manchester PH, your punching above your weight now, The following article, might explain the Viper's motive.

The Guardian
16 April.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/apr/1 ... -bus-lanes

Griffin wrote to his drivers last week and told them to drive in bus lanes pending the result of the judicial review. "Addison Lee believes that we cannot allow our customers to continue to be victims of this unfair and discriminatory treatment.
"As chairman, I can advise you that a lawful interpretation of the bus lane regulation entitles Addison Lee drivers with private hire identifiers to use all bus lanes in the same way as our competitors. Accordingly, you are fully entitled to use the bus lanes."
TfL hit back on Sunday, threatening to prosecute and withdraw licences from drivers who use bus lanes. "Under current regulations, driving a private hire vehicle (PHV) in a bus lane, during the hours when the bus lane is operative (and other than to pick up and set down passengers) is a criminal offence for which PHV drivers may be personally prosecuted," wrote John Mason, director of taxi and private hire for TfL in a statement.
Griffin told his drivers that he would indemnify them for any fines they might receive for following his instructions. But TfL said that this offered no protection from having their licences revoked.
Mason concluded: "Drivers who repeatedly contravene traffic regulations, including by intentionally driving in Bus Lanes, other than to pick up or set down passengers, may be considered unfit to hold a PHV driver's licence; and operators who encourage such conduct may be considered unfit to hold a PHV operator's licence."
The dispute comes as Addison Lee prepares to expand its operation during the London Olympics this summer with £12m of finance from Barclays.
John Griffin founded the company in 1975 with a single car and he hopes to expand its business beyond the M25 in coming years. The company makes 25,000 journeys in London per day and last year the company had a turnover of £127m. In the same year, Griffin was paid £3.6m.
The row threatens to cause disruption to London's traffic as black cab drivers have vowed to take action to enforce the law. Some drivers plan to pull up in front of Addison Lee cars using bus lanes and photograph them. The photographs would then be provided to the police and Transport for London. Addison Lee and the Metropolitan police said on Sunday they were unable to contact senior management for further comment.

The institute of directors . . . Who know what about Taxis and Minicab licensing?

Had an exchange with one of their mob on twitter earlier on, still wouldn't answer the question apart from saying their members use both services.

I asked him what he thought of his members causing the current financial meltdown, I'm still awaiting a reply.

The IOD says . . . Whoopee doo.

I'm more interested what the High court injunction says next week.

Hi Andy, FWIW I am genuine. Thanks for the quote.

My view on bus lanes is at http://cab4now.com/2012/04/16/the-londo ... ane-battle.

A nice cartoon there too explains the situation. BTW I haven't left AL. It's just a long holiday. Back from Bangkok now and home in Malta. Currently wondering whether to go back before or after Olympics. I'm running out of time because I'll take another break if I go back before because I won't work when the Zil lanes start.

Good luck mate.

fab....al apologists

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin