Taxi Driver Online

Taken from tonight's Standard

Traditional black cabs could soon disappear from London's streets.

Transport chiefs are expected to decide next week whether to relax the rules on which vehicles can be licensed in the capital. It could mean the classic "hackney carriage" design will make way for six-seater people carriers.

Transport for London's review of taxi regulations follows a High Court challenge to a decision by Ken Livingstone two years ago to retain the traditional model because of its 25ft turning circle, which allows greater mobility.

The taxi industry wants the freedom to purchase Peugeot sixseaters because is says they are cheaper than the traditional £30,000 cabs designed by London Taxis International (LTI).

Gerry Facenna, chairman of Allied Vehicles which already supplies the people carriers to other cities, said: "If the study is done properly, there can be only one outcome. "We will be in London and we will sell more taxis than LTI. Wherever we go head-to-head with them, more drivers choose us and we take almost two-thirds of the market."

He said the loss of a design that has been on the capital's streets since 1907 was not a factor. He said: "Things have got to move on, look at the red telephone box."

Under TfL rules there is a "presumption in favour of increasing competition" in the taxi market. The people carrier, known as the E7, is said to be £2,000 to £3,000 cheaper than the LTI model, something which LTI fiercely disputes.

Ian Pickering, managing director of LTI's parent company, Manganese Bronze, said: "We don't want London taxis to be another amorphous, bland product." The final decision rests with the Mayor. Bob Oddy, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association, said: "We want a choice of vehicle."

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Happy to be legit.

I have my reservations about this statement, perhaps a little bit of over enthusiastic reporting by the correspondant, possibly taken out of context with the rest of the statement?

Captain cab

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

"Things have got to move on, look at the red telephone box."


I liked the red telephone boxes.

forgot to ask, whats the suspension like on the E7, anyone know?

yes, the new ones are a vast improvement

Captain cab

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

hehe perhaps nidge could answer, he's use to suspension

Captain cab

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

Has the price of the E7 gone up then?

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IDFIMH

only in London.

What is a traditional black cab? An FX3? an FX4/fairway? a TX1? a Metrocab? a Beardmore? a Winchester? an Asquith? Always good to see LTI falling back on the weak 'icon' arguement.

I don't want freedom to buy just from Peugeot, i want a choice and competition.

Loss of a design since 1907, what the hell does that mean? Can't remember any horses and 'growlers' on Paddington last night?

Ian Pickering said . . . . . . Well Ian Pickering, lower your prices, give me service, give me air-con, and then compete! Welcome to the real world.

my tx has air con, its really useful with this snow

Captain cab

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

It always snow's in CC land though??

so you think its not dandruff then?

Captain cab

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