Taxi Driver Online

A bit London-local sort-of-thing, this, but sure it's kind of restriction just about every driver in the country can identify with, except of course that the London cabbies seem more inclined than most to take this kind of 'direct action'.

Whether that's because they get things changed doing this sort of thing, or whether they perhaps don't fear the reprisals that the trade elsewhere might suffer, I don't know.

(Originally did this post last night, but it was one of those where you dot the Is and cross the Ts, press the wrong key and the whole things disappears

To be fair, though, it's quite an easy website to, er, borrow stories like this from, unlike some )

Black cabs blockade London Bridge in row over proposed taxi restrictions on Tooley Street

https://www.southwarknews.co.uk/news/bl ... e-protest/

"It’s an absolute disgrace, it’s all just a happy-clappy ‘let’s ban the cabs.’”


Image: Southwark News

London’s black cab drivers are blockading London Bridge this evening in the second night of a row over proposed traffic restrictions to Tooley Street.

The protest, which began on Monday evening, caused delays to numerous bus routes but drivers vowed to continue with the disruption until black cabs are guaranteed to be allowed to use the same lanes as buses.

However TfL has labelled the move “unnecessary.”

Among the plans is a controversial measure to restrict east-bound traffic along Duke Street Hill and Tooley Street to cyclists and buses only.

Grant Davis, chairman of the London Cab Drivers Club, told the News: “We’re not having them restricting our work practices.

“It’s an absolute disgrace, it’s all just a happy-clappy ‘let’s ban the cabs.’”

“They’re not only restricting us, they’re restricting our passengers too. Where buses go, taxis should be able to go, too.”

Mr Davis said blockading traffic was a “blunt instrument” but added: “When you have a licensing authority like TfL who won’t listen, you have to.”

Ben Plowden, TfL’s Director of Strategy and Network Development, said: “A consultation is currently underway on changes to Tooley Street to improve conditions for people walking and cycling, or traveling by public transport.

“The best way for people to let us know what they think about these proposals is to respond to the consultation, so this type of protest is unnecessary.

“All feedback on our proposals will be thoroughly assessed and taken into account.”

Other proposed measures include a 20mph speed limit, introducing a 2 metre wide westbound cycle lane westbound on Duke Street Hill and Tooley Street, and restricting access from side roads onto Tooley Street to westbound traffic only.

A consultation onto the ‘interim’ changes will close on January 8.

TfL is working on a larger revamp of the area as part of the CS4 Cycle Superhighway.

The issue for me is why is it dangerous for cabs to drive down that road, but safe for buses?

If I was a cyclist or pedestrian I know which I would rather be hit by.

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IDFIMH

Seems the protest is taking place every night this week. Not sure if that's the best way to go about these things, but certainly an impressive display, and some nice photos.

Apparently the campaign slogan is "where buses go, we go".


Image: Twitter/@mightybarnski


Image: Twitter/@MartinHatch

Good turn out there

Lord Justice Keene in the Maude v Castle Point case in para.18 stated"In my view a condition preventing a taxi from plying for hire from a particular taxi stand or stands,or in a particular street or streets, would fall outside the scope of the powers granted by Parliament.
Lord Justices Kennedy and Buxton agreed with him.

According to this case a taxi should be allowed to ply for hire in all streets which have vehicle access.

That first picture is great.

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IDFIMH

Not sure that's exactly what their Lordships were saying.

They were talking about a situation where one taxi could go to a place, but another one licensed by the same authority couldn't.

_________________
IDFIMH

According to TaxiPoint it looks like the drivers have been successful in their bid to maintain access to Tooley Street:

London cabbies look set for Tooley Street access much to dismay of cycling lobby group

Perry Richardson

https://www.taxi-point.co.uk/single-pos ... obby-group


Image: TaxiPoint

Following a week long taxi demo the London taxi trade has received reassurances from the regulators that road access to Tooley Street will remain open to cabbies.

Industry representatives met with Transport Commissioner, Mike Brown, this week to discuss key issues surrounding the taxi trade. Most of the talking points centred around the growing trend to restrict cabbies access, but allow other public vehicles like buses to continue using the roads.

The controversial Tooley Street proposal looked to change the layout of the street, include a no left turn for cabbies from London Bridge and restricted access on a section of Tooley Street itself. Despite buses retaining access the regulators said the changes would reduce road danger, improve air quality, and provide better facilities to enable people to walk, cycle and use public transport, supporting the objectives of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy.

Cabbies took to the streets last week and demoed on each weekday evening rush-hour demanding taxis had the same access as buses.

The LTDA also contacted senior Transport for London officials highlighting the proposals were in direct conflict with the Mayors Transport Strategy. According to trade sources the regulator has since agreed to the strategy conflict and that the consultation was currently supporting the need for taxi access to remain.

The Cycle London Campaign Group who hold significant lobbying power are seen to dismayed by the decision to allow the 100% wheelchair accessible taxi fleet the opportunity to continue delivering its public service. The group are targeting more cyclists to respond to the consultation by handing out leaflets asking for their support to ban taxis.

But police have issued a notice under the Public Order Act to prevent 'serious disruption' from another access dispute:

City of London Police impose restrictions on Bank Junction taxi protest

Steve Kenton

https://www.taxi-point.co.uk/single-pos ... xi-protest


Image: TaxiPoint

In the wake of a raft of protests from the licensed London taxi industry, City of London Police took the step of imposing restrictions on yesterdays demonstration by issuing a section 14 to taxi drivers taking part in the protest.

The demonstration, which centered around Bank Junction, was following on from last weeks protests at London Bridge.

The protests were called by London taxi pressure group the Independent Taxi Alliance (ITA), after Transport for London as well as borough councils across London, look to impose restrictions on taxis entering designated roads, thus impinging on the ability to function of the only fully wheelchair accessible, mode of public transport available to Londoners.

A section 14 is a notice pertaining to the Public Order Act 1986, preventing serious disruption to the life of the community, and is used to impose certain conditions at any given event.

It is expected that City of London Police may adopt a similar tactic today, and throughout the rest of the week long series of protests although there is no confirmation of this.