Taxi Driver Online

Channel 4 have for some reason decided to put free tuk-tuk's onto the streets of London to promote its "Indian Winter" campaign. They have the Channel 4 logo and across the back and the words'Take a free ride on us". Now the questions we need to ask of this public sector broadcaster are very simple.

Did they seek permission from any relevant authority (PCO/TFL, Westminster City Council, Metropolitan Police) before they decided to place tuk-tuk's on the public highway ?

Do Channel 4 understand that the London taxi trade is presently in the middle of a very bad recession ?

Did Channel 4 contact any taxi trade organisation/union and seek advice on this publicity stunt ?

Now before anybody tell us we are over reacting just remember when the first few rickshaws hit the streets of London we were told "people won't use them", "there's only a few of them" etc. Well here we are with well over 900 3rd world death traps on the streets of the capital and look at the chaos and congestion they cause.

The RMT London taxi branch have been in contact with John Mason Director of Taxis and Private Hire and we are of the understanding that Martin Low of Westminster City Council and the Metropolitan Police are looking into this matter.




(taken from the RMT web blog)

I don't know the answers to those questions, but if those motorised vehicles are taking folks from A to B, then they are acting illegally even if there is no payment.

And the London trade wouldn't be over reacting if they got the right hump over this.

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IDFIMH