Taxi Driver Online

So did Brussels say that all Taxis in London have to be of low emission by 2006? And why not the 40,000 private hire vehicles?

I was under the impression the London Low Emission Zone Feasibility Study conducted in 2003 which as you probably know is A Summary of the Phase 2 Report to the London Low Emission Zone Steering Group. Suggested that the low emission zone starts with a scheme that targets lorries, London buses and coaches, simply because these vehicles have disproportionately high emissions per vehicle. It also stated that in later years the zone could potentially be extended to include Vans and Taxis?

The report mentioned the LEZ's could not be implemented before 2006, which in effect is now.

I don't keep track of what goes on in London but as far as I am aware there is no EU legislation that says Taxi emissions have to be lower than that of a normal car? I suspect an LTI vehicle doesn't meet the emision standard of a normal car?

So could the reason for this implementation be down to LTI and the vehicles they produce? I must admit their poor emission performance was highlighted in the recent study we discussed on TDO, the main problem is obviously their diesel engine?

My personal opinion is that rather than blame the EU who I must admit do have targets for 2010 contained in directive 96/62/EC, the LEZ in respect of Taxis is solely down to Mr Livingstone and LTI for their chity engines?

Air quality Directive (96/62/EC)

Objective

The objective of the Directive is to improve air quality throughout Europe by controlling the level of certain pollutants and monitoring their concentrations. In particular the Directive aims to establish levels for different air pollutants; draw up common methods for assessing air quality; methods to improve air quality; and make sure that information on air quality is easily accessible to Member States and the public.

Background

According to the Directive, the European Parliament and the Council must lay down limit values and alert thresholds (see "Related Acts") for the following pollutants: sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead; benzene and carbon monoxide; ozone; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), cadmium, arsenic, nickel and mercury.

So called "Daughter" Directives have followed to lay down limits for other pollutants.

Implementation

Member States are responsible for the implementation of the Directive. Ambient air quality must be monitored throughout the territory of the Member States. Different methods may be used for this: measuring, mathematical modeling, a combination of the two, or estimates. This must happen in built-up areas with more than 250 000 inhabitants, or in areas where concentrations are close to the limit values.

If the limit values are exceeded Member States must come up with a programme for getting them back to a set limit within a deadline. The programme, which must be made available to the public, must contain information on the location where the pollution is excessive; the nature, and an assessment, of the pollution; and the origin of the pollution. The must also be sent any relevant information (recorded pollution level, duration of the alert, etc.). Geographical areas which have pollution levels below the limit values must remain that way, and it is up to Member States to ensure this.

Most of the information and directives can be downloaded from here.

http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/air/ambient.htm

Just for the record.

Transport and Air Quality Strategy Revisions: London Low Emission Zone – Draft for Public and Stakeholder Consultation - 30 February 2006

Preamble

On behalf of the Mayor, Transport for London (TfL) is consulting the public and stakeholders on draft revisions to the Mayor’s Transport and Air Quality Strategies.

This preamble is not part of the proposed Revision text. The proposed revisions seek to take forward the Mayor’s proposal, made in his 2004 election manifesto, which, subject to consultation, was to designate the whole of Greater London a Low Emission Zone (LEZ).

The Mayor has a statutory duty to take steps towards achieving Government air quality objectives (and EU limit values) for seven locally managed pollutants in London. The objectives of the proposed LEZ are two-fold:

• to move London closer to achieving the air quality objectives (and EU limit values) for 2010, in support of the Government’s Air Quality Strategy
(AQS) and the EU’s Air Quality Framework and Daughter Directives; and

• to improve the health and quality of life of people who live and work in
London, through improving air quality. The LEZ would seek to achieve this by deterring the most polluting dieselengined vehicles from the Greater London area. From 2008 the LEZ would target Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs), buses and coaches based on their emission standards. The LEZ could be expanded to cover diesel-engined Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs) in 2010, subject to further analysis.

It is proposed to insert new sections 4G.126 – 4G.198 and new Proposals 4G.27, 4G.28, 4G.29 and 4G.30 in the Transport Strategy. It is also proposed to replace existing sections 4C.1 – 4C.35 and Proposal 10 of the Air Quality Strategy with new sections 4C.1 – 4C.73, and add new Proposals 10, 11, 12 and 13.

The same text is proposed for both strategies to ensure they are consistent. No other sections of either strategy are being updated, and all the remaining policies and proposals still apply.

These revisions also take into account the policies, proposals and objectives of the Mayor’s other statutory and non-statutory strategies, published since the original Transport and Air Quality Strategies were published in July 2001 and September 2002 respectively. Copies of all the Mayor’s strategies are available from the Greater London Authority (GLA) and on the GLA website at www.london.gov.uk. Copies of the strategies should also be available to view at all main public libraries in Greater London.

Regards

JD

i think councils will just go for a new car policy.
and then renew it after 5/6 years.
that way they dont have to defend emmisions.

Green badge, I was there for two reason's;
1, i'm doing the knowledge and wanted to see what option's were avaliable for older cab's.
2, most of my pals are hac's and they alway's get thing's wrong when it come's to the pco, so I thought i'd go up there and then when we are in the cafe I can make out i'm a right know it all!!!

My hobby is restoring military vehciles so anything to do with engine's etc etc interest me and I wanted to see what sort of conversions were being offerd to you guy's.

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stressed controller!!!

The London cab trade is not UNITED. I have said this on many occasions.
There are too many organisations for the trade and most of the time they are slagging each other off.
As for many of the drivers, to spend an hour or two doing something such as a demo. Oh no! They might loose a few shillings in loss of earnings. Let some one else do it.
We, and I include myself (although I have attended many demos in the past) deserve what we get.
I don't realy care as I am in the autumn of my cabbing days and will sit on the fence and watch with interest.

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Make trafic wardens redundant. PARK LEGALLY.
Congestion charge! Before it was free.

Pre Euro standard Taxis, and Euro 1 Taxi's have to be upgraded if presented after the 01/07/2006 for plating.

All Euro 2 Taxi's (S reg onwards) have to be Euro 3 if presented after 01/07/2007.

After July 2008 ALL Taxi's presented for plating MUST be Euro 3.

Whose ultimate decision this was, I don't know.

What I do know, that the trade bodies have looked into it with a fine toothcomb, and cannot find any legal or legitimate way around it.

Private cars are not covered by this legislation, hence the Minicab industry has escaped.

Or maybe this side of the trade stood it's ground.

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IDFIMH

Have i missed something here, or are you lot in London thick.
When Brussels said that they wanted emissions dropped they meant on NEW cars cabs etcetera etcetera, they did not say you had to go out and spend your Readie's on up grading your cab, as they know that your cab will eventually end up at the scrapper's, and you will have bought a brand new heap of junk from LTI only to be told its out of date before you have driven off the forecourt
Red Ken should have his gob done as well to E 9 standards as some of the c r a p that he speaks is unbelievable

'That' side of the trade, as you seem to accept another thread, does'nt have a voice to object to anything.

Its quite simple, private cars are not included in the above legislation.

If they were, you could buy a 'new' Minicab vehicle for under £2K that would be Euro 3, for instance a builders van like you saw in the last edition of Londons premier trade publication.

Well I would sooner have the 'no voice' that's going to get proper signage and bus lane access than the empty voice, albeit a loud one, from the likes of the LTDA.

And any voice that stands back and allows an authority to put a £2,000 tax on 16,000 cabs, ain't worth a toss.

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IDFIMH

I'm with GBC, why should the hac's have to meet the emmision's but not the PHV's, it's just another example of red ken getting it tit's up as usaul!!

What I would like to see(although it won't happen)is hac's and PHV's standing together and working together.

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stressed controller!!!

If what GBC tells us is correct then there's no way that PH drivers could afford it!

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Every decision can be challenged in the courts no matter what it is. It was the choice of London cabbies not to challenge the decision, probably because LTI vehicles contribute 12% of traffic polution in the City of London.

If all London Taxis were saloon type vehicles or perhaps even petrol engine vehicles Mr Livingstone might not have had cause to implement such a policy?

Regards

JD

Jd, red ken is introducing 2012 emmission's control's now, that is what is wrong, if he is worried about pollution he should take some buse's of the road.

If red ken has any ball's what he should do is ban all car's that don't meet 2012 emmission's from entering london, but imagine the outcry!.

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stressed controller!!!

I think it is wrong for some in the London Taxi trade to blame Europe for the Taxi regulations currently being implemented. Mr Livingstone is the sole architect of implementing emission controls for Taxis, not Europe.

Perhaps the question raised is that in respect of Taxis, the current policy might not have been implemented if it weren't for the type of vehicles that are licensed as London cabs? Therefore, instead of focusing solely on Mr Livingstones actions, perhaps we should look at the cause, rather than the remedy?

Regards

JD

JD, you raise a very good point in what you say, however, it's seem's to me and countless other's that red ken has got a bee in his bonnet about black taxi's. I would like to see him sort out the roadwork's which cause emmission problem's.

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stressed controller!!!