Taxi Driver Online

Black Cabs Fight Hots Up

02.10.09

London's traditional black taxi cab, already under increasing pressure from the number of new Mercedes black cabs prowling the city, could face a third rival after a landmark court ruling.

Allied Vehicles has been attempting to break into the London market with its Peugeot-built Eurocab for years. It has been banned until now by Transport for London because its vehicles do not have a 28-feet turning circle.

Now, however, Allied Vehicles, after several legal victories in cities around the country, has won a court battle with Liverpool City Council which, like TfL, has banned vehicles which do not have sharp turning circles. Mr Justice Blake in the High Court has ruled that an apparently arbitrary rule on turning circles contravenes Article 28 of the European treaty promoting free trade. “We will now go to TfL to review their conditions of fitness”, said Allied Vehicles general manager Donald Pow.

That is bad news for Manganese Bronze, maker of the traditional black cab, which this week admitted its sales are down 10% in the face of a surge of sales of the Mercedes Vito, which has sold 400 vehicles in its first year and has 25% of new black cab sales.

Source; London Evening Standard; standard.co.uk - ThisIsLondon.co.uk

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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I now think the E7 could be licensed in London before the end of the year!!

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
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OH the wonders of email and being able to paste
I wonder how they got there copy of the judgment:wink:

The same way yours will get the Equality bill I guess

CC

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

Brian with a Y sent them it

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

Could well be ..... Brian with a Y sent me my first copy followed closely by the Captain & then Mr Skippy41.

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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There is another court case that clearly states that if European manufacturers wish to make taxis for London all they have to do is build them to the standard required

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

OR Did he within 2 mins of receiving it from the solicitors

Ooooo Yes

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

The public aint too impressed with the eurocab;

Mercedes having killed off one London icon the Routemaster with their horrible bendi-buses are now trying again with their converted van, the Vito. Long live the "proper" taxi.

- Micky, London N4

Anyone who watches taxis plying there trade in Central London can see how eminently sensible the 28’ turning circle rule is. Whilst the Eurocab can cope easily with wheel chairs for those who are elderly or whose mobility is impaired in someway access is very awkward. I have not ridden in the latest Eurocab but the ones I have ridden in have an appalling ride which shows their “bread van” origins. Manganese Bronze have improved the ride of traditional cabs no end in recent years. KEEP EUROCABS OUT OF THE CAPITAL!

- Michael, London

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

Yes but the Liverpool one was won on two counts; DDA & EU competition legislation, which in my book makes it all the more powerful.

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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Chances of those comments coming from genuine members of the public = ZERO.

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IDFIMH

Micky & Michael must be cousins of GBC

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

I'm all for a choice, but what they say is true.

Having ridden in E7's, both old and new, the 'passenger experience' leaves a lot to be desired.

You can't see out the front, and you strain your neck to see out the side windows.

The doors are also a major concern for me, three Edinburgh drivers that I hired the other week all complained they had experienced a lot of problems with broken doors and a lot of hassle trying to get Allied to sort it out.

I hope LTI continue, but they desperately need a reliable power unit back up front that works.

They've needed that since they replance the Nissan engine.......perhaps they should stop asking the London Taxi Trade and ask the provincial.....after all we do more hard miles in the stix.

CC

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