Taxi Driver Online

Hi

I've just been told last night that Newcastle Council are planning to scrap the Private Hire knowledge test.

This is way too much of a coincidence - in the same week that Uber have been granted a Private Hire Licence.

I've got no problems with Uber (at the moment), as long as the driver has got a valid Private Hire badge and has knowledge of the area. It's competition for other firms - but to now open the floodgates to ANYBODY who has a valid driving licence is beyond ridiculous.

There is no reason for doing this unless Uber have spoken to Newcastle Council and "suggested" something.

BlueLine have already got something in place which helps people wanting to get into the taxi game with a knowledge course. I would assume they won't be too happy.

I'm certain that 100% of all local drivers won't be happy either but as this seems to be very new information, I think the majority won't know about it.

We put up with a lot when Berwick opened the Hackney badge system to anyone. Later finding out that Berwick plated taxis were working in the Merseyside area and even Wales through Private Hire firms. Total Joke. This has now been stopped.

Are Newcastle seriously considering this? How many foreign drivers will take advantage? What are the views of the Police for safety for passengers? Am I correct in saying that with Uber the driver can use their own car (so as long as it's got an MOT, it's usable!).

This is beyond stupid and would like to hear if Merseyside council went ahead with this : http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/mer ... er-7785043

Might give our lads a chance if they changed their minds.

There's a guy up here trying to get people to sign a petition: https://www.change.org/p/newcastle-city ... dium=email

Can I ask if anyone believes this is not right to sign it please.

If someone wants more information:
Gerard Smith, Senior Licensing Officer 0191 2777815 or Gerard.jhsmith@newcastle.gov.uk

Cheers for listening.
Chris

They will still need a council private hire drivers badge.

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Grandad,

Got to admit - considering how Blueline were instrumental in pushing the out of town hackney thing - with Berwick plates going all around the country let alone Newcastle (which still has a problem with Northumberland Plates) and thousands in costs paid for with trade and tax payers money by the subsequent court cases.

I cant help grinning like a Chesire cat.

Karma is a b*tch aint it.

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

And oh yeah - lets not forget who was pushing for new laws and the deregulation bill.

Karma - sense of humour that one

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

They will, but Newcastle are giving this away without passing a knowledge test.

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Just because anyone can stick a destination into a GPS system doesn't mean anyone can do the job. What happens when a punter changes their mind with Uber and decides to go somewhere else? ...or there are 3 or 4 "drop offs"...does the driver just keep asking for postcodes (?) I'm lost as to how the council think anyone can do this just because the information is available on a "maps" service.

Could I walk into a school and decide to teach history? No..obviously..I need qualifications. But all the information is online....I could just tell my students to go to a particular website and read about a certain subject - or I could just read from the screen . Again, just because the information is there doesn't mean every Tom, Dick or Harry can become a driver.

As for Captains comments - I've got nothing to do with BlueLine - if you must know, I can't stand the company (I'm a Hack driver)...But I'm glad it tickled your fancy. Got my fingers crossed Uber comes to your town soon

Karma? Think as a Hack driver in Newcastle I've had plenty of bad Karma from the Council and surrounding councils over the last few years to nearly bang the final nail in coffin for this trade up here. Uber and opening the badges will probably do that though. Just so can have another giggle - Went to "graft" on Wednesday for a huge £11 in nearly 5 hours. Not bad eh....loadsamoney.

I wasn't having a pop at you Chris007 - I was making a general comment and observation upon the irony of the situation - the very company that has bent every rule they could to further their own ends will be the most likely to suffer.

I think Newcastle has no representative organisation left has it?

And to drop something like a knowledge test would need a council meeting - was there any consultation?

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

ok...Crossed lines.

Newcastle lads don't really have anyone to turn to in times like this. We should have had some form of a letter or it should have been available on their notice board online or at their MOT testing station to inform drivers of their intention.

To be honest, when you hear about things like this its already well down the line to get anything changed. I'm not saying something has been offered by Uber for Newcastle to change their ruling but anyone with a bit on common sense can see something HAS happened between Uber and the council surrounding the withdraw of the knowledge test. Only a idiot would say otherwise.

I'm making contact with the Evening Chronicle tomorrow to hopefully get someone on our side (or the public side). The risk to the public by opening this to everyone and anyone is crazy. They actually start today....offering free fares to everyone upto £15.

Chris

What the difference between 100s of Berwick taxis working Newcastle, with no Newcastle knowledge, and 100s of Newcastle PH with no local knowledge?

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IDFIMH

The taxi and PH trade is changing very fast - unbelievably many of the moves made by private hire operators - certainly in respect of cross border - are going to finish many of them - they will no longer have absolute control over their drivers.

Still, they can sit on a beach in the Indies and try to create cartels - sadly - it wont work because they've empowered drivers and their previous moves to lower standards will bite them on the backside.

Now what did that chap tell a transport select committee?



and even better -



I repeat;




Of course when I raised question I was castigated - now they've freed the way for uber

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

Nearly missed this gem -

Quote:

In a modern Britain there should be no "invisible borders" or "barriers to free trade", as protectionism and outdated thinking belongs to yesterday. In London for environmental and safety reasons "Licensed Operators" in Private Hire are not constrained by "quotas and artificial operating borders", etc., and rightly can pick up and drop anywhere with a previously made booking.

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

Oh f*ck it heres the entire piece -

Now I tell you this chap represents the views of PH Operators - pre UBER obviously (so their views may have changed a little now)

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/p ... 20we22.htm

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

There are areas that don't have knowledge tests for ph as it's not deemed necessary. Personally I think drivers from both sides of the trade should have a knowledge test for at least the basics. The free market activists will say that if drivers keep getting lost because they don't know where they're going passengers will stop using the company, I guess the same will go for Uber and any company that provides crap drivers. Instead of fighting against the future I suggest drivers get together and start building their future before it's too late

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

yeah I did write something along those lines

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

Well I don't agree, passengers will use whatever means they can to get home at certain times of the week

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

you mean use the free market then

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