Taxi Driver Online

Probably more than you think. We are there a lot.

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Grandad,

does anyone except royal mail use coventry since thompsons pulled out?

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

A bit more info, and it appears they are going to have booking offices in the Terminals.


http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/b ... 644546.ece

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IDFIMH

Reading the comments on that site there's some unhappy customers who have been tipped upside down and the contents of their pockets dropped into the cab drivers money bag.

Most of which have been left by Minicab drivers, their families or company staff.

I don't take much notice of a few comments left on a newspaper / media outlets page, it was the same in Edinburgh every time a story was posted in the Scotsman, out trot the usual few dozen members of the anti Taxi brigade.

Fook 'em.
They'll still use Taxis when they're stood pizzed at 2am unable to get home, suddenly we're the knights of the road and all round good guys then.

The Heathrow 'situation' is being sorted out by the RMT according to a notice on the feeder park canteen wall.

Bob Crows holding a meeting.

That's B.A.A told then.

"French Style" Black Cabbies Protest To Block Heathrow

6th July 2009

The war of words between BAA the owner of Heathrow and the black cabbie fraternity has reached a new nadir with threats of "French style" blockades of Heathrow to traffic, provoked by a decision from BAA to grant private hire firms to pick up passengers at Heathrow.

In what is now becoming a battle of nerves for the 25,000 black cab community the decision by BAA to allow private hire company's like Addison Lee to operate from the various terminals at Heathrow has been seen as a direct threat to the monopoly held by black cabs who are allowed to pick up passengers from ranks at Heathrow.

The Times reported the story by saying that:

"Although passengers must pre-book, Addison Lee said that customers would be able to order a cab after landing, heightening fears for black cab drivers who believe that they will lose valuable trade to cheaper rivals".

The London Daily News has confirmed that groups of black cab drivers are actively planning blockades across Heathrow when the new system by BAA comes into force. One leading voice in the black cab trade John Kennedy of LTCPR said:

"Blocking roads around an airport will achieve nothing, the LTDA and other organisations should seek an injunction pending judicial review of this policy by BAA which they were not consulted on but merely informed".

Addison Lee has rejected claims that there presence at Heathrow is in effect a process of "land grab" and one step closer to pushing black cabs to the side with Liam Griffin the Managing Director of Addison Lee in The Times:

"There was no intention of encroaching on the black cab trade".

The "tea stools" around London (green huts were many black cab drivers frequent) are abuzz with talk of direct action and a willingness to stop the actions of Addison Lee at Heathrow, a similar protest took place in February this year with central London coming to a standstill.

Source; The London Daily News - thelondondailynews.com

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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.

Cashing In On The Heathrow Airport Run

6th July 2009

The snaking line of black cabs that greets passengers emerging from Heathrow arrivals tells you all you need to know about how lucrative airport pick-ups can be for taxi drivers. A single fare into Central London will cost about £50, depending on the traffic, or £65 to the City, but throw in a decent tip — Americans are particular favourites — and the final price could be nearer £100.

That’s why so many black cabbies choose to join the end of the queue at Heathrow and wait for an hour or two rather than cruise the streets of London. That is also why you will usually find queues of black cabs outside five-star hotels in the West End — and woe betide the hotel guest who jumps in a cab and asks to be taken to Trafalgar Square rather than the airport.

The usual defence for the high charges is that black taxis and their drivers are much safer and more reliable than a minicab, although Terry Sandford, once a regular in the black cab line at Heathrow, rather punctured that aura a few years ago when he claimed that a bag containing Sir Matthew Pinsent’s Olympic rowing gold medal had been thrust into his cab at Heathrow.

Hailed as a hero for returning the missing medal, he was later jailed for stealing the rower’s suitcase after he had accidentally left it on the roof of a car while picking his girlfriend up at the airport. Before his arrest, Sandford had told reporters: “I hope it shows people that their property is safe in black cabs as opposed to mini-cabs. Black-cab drivers always hand stuff in.”

Source; timesonline.co.uk

_________________
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.

All good things come to an end and it's a free market. I don't think blockading will endear the cabbies to the public either

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

They kept that quiet

CC

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

I was at EMA this morning. deffinatly no checker cars there.

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Grandad,

BAA is looking at trialing a deal with Addison Lee and One Transport at terminals 3 and 5 this year which would allow them to operate from reserved bays and from a central booking booth in the car park in direct challenge to the traditional black cab rank.


RMT general secretary Bob Crow, who will be meeting with black cab drivers at Heathrow to discuss the campaign this Thursday lunchtime, said today:


"This plan to deregulate the traditional taxi rank system at Heathrow is a kick in the teeth for those thousands of men and women who have spent years doing the knowledge and who now find that they are being squeezed out by the minicabs.


"If this system, which makes a mockery of the pre-booked status of minicabs, is introduced at Heathrow there is little doubt that it will be rolled out at other airports and possibly rail terminals. The consequences would be disastrous for the licensed cab trade.


"RMT will give full backing to black cab drivers fighting these plans and our fast-growing taxi branch will play a leading role in co-ordinating action.


"Cabbies have proved in recent months that they are prepared to take militant action to defend their trade and their livelihoods. In February, hundreds of cabs blockaded central London in protest at moves to allow minicabs to operate from a rank in Leicester Square. Our members are not going to take these Heathrow plans on the chin without a fight," Bob Crow said.

It wont work either.

No way the police will allow Heathrow to be blocked by protesters.

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IDFIMH

No, but could they stop 9000 taxis all trying to drive there at the same time?

Access to Heathrow is a nightmare at the quietest times of the day. two tunnels, that's it.

Either way the Airport is 'blocked'.

There are many ways to skin a cat.

I agree, and wouldn't fault the cabbies for having a go, but blocking Heathrow will lead to an over the top reply from the powers that be.

And lead to loads of folks using the train, thus keeping those RMT folks in their jobs.

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IDFIMH

Cabbies Fight Airport Minicab Plans

6 hours ago

Black cab drivers at Heathrow have vowed to fight plans they said would open the door to direct booking of minicabs at the airport, warning it would be "disastrous" for the licensed taxi trade.

The Rail Maritime and Transport union said moves by BAA to allow minicabs to operate from reserved bays and from a central booking booth in Heathrow's car parks would be a direct challenge to the traditional black cab rank.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "This plan to deregulate the traditional taxi rank system at Heathrow is a kick in the teeth for those thousands of men and women who have spent years doing the knowledge and who now find that they are being squeezed out by the minicabs.

Source; The Press Association

_________________
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.