Taxi Driver Online

Black Cabs Blockade Oxo Tower

19th June 2009

Black cab drivers staged an hour-long blockade of the Oxo Tower in a row over minicabs "touting" for business.

They were protesting against the South Bank restaurant's use of a minicab firm whose drivers illegally wait outside for fares and in competition with taxis.

Five minicabs were blocked in in Barge House Street until restaurant manager Hein Pretorius came outside to talk to the cabbies about their grievances.

Grant Davis, chairman of the London Cab Drivers' Club, said: "The Oxo Tower is one of a number of venues across London who are using these minicab companies.

"They are breaking the law and touting for business. We will stand up for our members' rights."

Source; London Evening Standard standard.co.uk

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

I suspect there are 1000s of venues using minicabs, due to the lack of service via the black cab trade.

If the cars ain't booked, then that's not right, but if they are booked via the restaurant, then that's just tough.

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IDFIMH

Is there a rank outside the Oxo Tower?



The taxi trade have to ask themselves why these venues feel that PH is better to serve them

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

The cars are parked up outside, they have a link man inside the venue who approaches the public and asks if they want a "taxi". When outside they are directed to one of the waiting cars.

I often wait there, sometimes getting a bit of verbal from the touts who seem to think it is their right to ply for hire and i was also there that evening. Speaking to the members of the public i've picked up from the venue, they prefer to use licensed taxis (as is the case at most other venues i've frequented) but sometimes it's very difficult to get near these places. OXO is in Barge House St which is very narrow so means having to park up on the kerb, easy if there is a space but more often than not cars are parked up making it very difficult to find space.

To answer the other question, there is no official rank outside OXO.

Is there a rank anywhere near there then. Cos otherwise you are as bad as them it's no more legal for you to be there waiting as it is them

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

If we stood at the door and shouted 'taxee, taxee?' we might.

We can be found standing in a public street and hired, they can't.

They're breaking the law by touting customers, it's really that simple.

Yes they are breaking the law if they tout. The only place a taxi can sit to be hired is on a rank or on the move where it can be flagged down. If they could sit and be hired from anywhere there wouldn't be so much fuss about rank spaces surely.

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

I stand to corrected but I believe a hack can ply for hire anywhere within the licensing district. That includes being stationary where parking restrictions permit.

Isnt that "causing an obstruction"?..........

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

I was commenting upon the generality of Toots' post, not the detail of the Oxo situation.

ah, I see...........

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

So if I stop to fill up with Diesel, and someone comes up to me and asks if I can take them to Invercochieleekie when i've finished filling up, I'm now touting / breaking the law?

It's called found standing in London.

I love barrack room lawyers.

would the garage be inside or outside your LA though?...

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

quite possibly and if the police come along and move me on i shall do so without demonstration but until some action is taken against the touting in London i shall continue to fight for what work there is to be had from these venues.

With the greatest respect to anyone commenting on this, you're not fighting to protect my living, the trade reps are doing what they can (or appear to) and the touts are being allowed to carry on their practices. If it means creating illegal taxi ranks, parking on kerbsides and pi**ing off touts who think they have legitimate grounds to be parked up outside venues shouting "taxi" then i shall continue to do so............when their illegal practices are resolved i shall cease to practice mine!

I can quit understand your stance, its sad that you try to operate legally when those about you dont give a toss, and that seems to include LAs, ive emailed mine about several points and never had a reply so im using what time i have left in this life to better ends...

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most