Taxi Driver Online

Play fare! Taxi drivers’ turf war after gentleman's agreement is broken


TAXI drivers are locking horns after a 40-year gentleman’s agreement to stay off each other’s patches was broken.

Drivers for Witham Taxis say they are losing work at the town’s train station to Braintree drivers who are ignoring an agreement not to find fares on each other’s patches.

In response, some Witham taxi drivers are now seeking passengers in Braintree.

The row has led to Robin Song resigning as chairman of the district’s taxi association.

He said: “Unfortunately there’s a small core of people who have been trying to get onto the Witham rank because they have said people are walking past their taxis at Braintree – it’s ridiculous.”

Braintree Council rules mean taxis can go anywhere in the district as long as they have council plates. A spokesman said: “It is unlawful for hackney carriage drivers to obstruct others from using the ranks or being hired.

“The creation of ‘zones’ within local authority areas has been prohibited by legislation since 1975.

“The council has responded to a number of complaints and investigations are ongoing.

“No immediate action has been taken against any licensed drivers at this stage.”

John Cenci, 48, works on the Witham rank and said it was ruining their reputation.

He said most taxi drivers want zones to be re-introduced.

He said: “The agreement has worked perfectly and now we have got no work, one day there was about 12 of them from Braintree.

“Someone needs to listen to our side of the story or or we will find work elsewhere.

“The end result could get ugly and we don’t want that.

“We don’t want to be going over to Braintree as we all get on, but we have been forced to be here.

“We have been scared to speak up because the council threatens us with our livelihood.”

Barry Archer, from Archers Taxis in Braintree, said he supported the gentleman's agreement. 

He said: “It stops people stepping on each other’s ground.

“There’s not enough space on the ranks in Braintree now, let alone if taxis from Witham come over.

“I don’t want to stir things up, it’s upsetting and it’s a crazy situation.”

Some commuters said they had noticed more taxis crowding the train station while others thought taxis should be allowed to go anywhere.

Terry Rodgers, who has cabs in Witham, said: “Everyone should stay where they are, but we have a small group who have rocked the boat.

“We want to keep it calm, we also want to educate customers so they have a voice, and educate drivers.”

Braintree drivers said a Yelo Taxi car has also been coming over from Halstead.

Owner of Yelo, Eric Bailey, said: “The plates are Braintree Council plates and as far as I and the council are concerned the taxis can go on any ranks in the district.”

source: http://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.u ... is_broken/

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

Anyone shed some light on this statement, we are zoned in the borders even though all the meters are set to the same rates

more to the point is the "gentleman's agreement" legal ?

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Have a guess?

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IDFIMH

A gentlemans agreement isn't worth the paper it's not written on?

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Former taxi driver

Don't see how any current drivers can be bound by a 40 year old "gentlemans agreement" moraly or legally.

If I'm not party to an agreement I feel no need to respect it.

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There's no excuse for animal abuse. If you ain't vegan you are an animal abuser.

Stay off our patch! Taxi drivers voice anger as Uber drivers venture into Southend to pick up passengers


TAXI drivers have vented their anger and told Uber cabs: You’re not welcome in Southend.

The taxi app, which allows anyone registered with them to book a taxi from their chosen location, hasn’t been officially launched in the borough, but cars can still be pre-booked through the app.

Michael Bernardson, 72, a taxi driver who lives in Westcliff, said: “The problem is that some people think they are a cab but they are not.

“It is just an app and there is not a great deal of legislation.

“Also, they don’t have a vetting process so any person that has a car can use the app to become a driver.

“It will be detrimental to Southend taxis if they come here officially. Hopefully Southend Council will act and ban them.

“Someone might get into an Uber and have a bad experience and they will think it was a taxi which makes us look bad - I have seen it in London.

“I don’t see the value of Uber coming to Southend, there is already a great service available.”

Gerard Rayment has been a taxi driver in Southend for 20 years isn’t happy either.

He said: “If they come to Southend officially, I wouldn’t be happy.

“They will do further damage to the trade.

“The problem is Uber themselves. The system is unfair – they have undercut prices which makes it difficult

“The system is making the owners rich, but not giving a fair deal to taxi drivers.”

Uber confirmed it had not officially launched in the town, but was keen to.

A spokesman said: “For now there maybe cars in the area that can be pre-booked through the Uber app.”

Currently they don’t officially operate in Southend, anyone can request a pick up from a driver, who might be nearby.

An Uber spokesman said: “Uber abides by the same rules and regulations that govern all other private hire operators.

“All drivers that use the Uber app are licensed private hire drivers which have passed an enhanced DSB background check, the same one black taxi drivers have to pass.”

Ann Holland, councillor responsible for tourism and the economy, vowed to investigate. She said: “I will look into this, but I am disappointed this may affect our taxi drivers.

”Taxi firms provide an important service to the economy of Southend and we’ve always had a good relationship with them.”

source: http://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.u ... assengers/

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

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IDFIMH

“The problem is that some people think they are a cab but they are not.

“It is just an app and there is not a great deal of legislation.

I think there is Uber's have to be plated in the uk or have they been allowed to introduce their unlicensed ride share nationally without anyone noticing

“It will be detrimental to Southend taxis if they come here officially. Hopefully Southend Council will act and ban them.

Can they ? How ?

Currently they don’t officially operate in Southend, anyone can request a pick up from a driver, who might be nearby.

and why would uber cars be hanging around Southend if they were not trying to pick up fares there ?

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Uber are running an advert on radio Sunderland trying to recruit drivers,included in the ad,a payment of a £300 bonus on the completion of 20 jobs,towards the end of the ad they state you may need a private hire license.

Have they started using unlicensed vehicles and drivers in Sunderland as the legislation that everyone has to operate under is active in Sunderland.