Taxi Driver Online

LONDON-WIDE BY PETER ROSE AUG 06 ISSUE

The London Public Carriage Office has just issued a consultation document regarding the possible licensing of Pedi-cabs or ‘Rickshaws’ in the Capital. The Carriage Office (PCO) proposes examining things such as suitability for the role and the condition of the vehicle, age, character, medical fitness, topographical skills (an appropriate Knowledge of London assessment) and driving/riding ability.
The document also addresses the means of identifying licensed vehicles and riders, requirements relating to those who own licensed vehicles, ranks and fares.

London over the last few years has got used to the sight of these Rickshaws. (I don’t like the term ‘Pedi-cab’ as I feel it gives them too much credibility.) All around the Capitals west end they can be seen plying for hire, bells ringing, trying to attach the attention of the people on the pavements. Sometimes it seems as if you can’t move without tripping over one of these third world contraptions being in your way as one of the riders takes a rest on the sidewalk. It is not much better if you seek refuge by walking in the road; there you can take your life in your hands as you play dodgems with the Rickshaw’s young male riders as they race with one another. Presumably trying to impress their passengers, usually young and female. On other occasions the occupants might be young, I’m sad to say British males, charged up with booze, down in the capital for a Stag weekend or some other excuse to sample the full effects that alcohol can induce. Down the streets they race, spurring the riders on to go faster, many times the wrong way down a one way street. I’ve lost count of the times I have turned into Old Compton Street, (a street that runs one way east), only to be confronted with these contraptions racing west towards me , forcing me to stop so sharply so that their passengers can remain safe! Also I confess, to avoid damage to my own vehicle. All this on top of the extra care the London taxi driver takes with regard to pedestrian tourists visiting London, who may not be used to the fact that we drive on the left. One wonders how confusing it must be for them.

I often muse what the accident rate would be if the drivers of motor vehicles were not so careful and let the Rickshaw riders take responsibility for the safety of their passengers themselves. Of course the taxi trade knows that these Rickshaws are fundamentally unsafe. London’s Licensed Taxi Drivers Association produced a video exposé of the Rickshaw trade a couple of years ago and submitted one of them to a crash test. Suffice to say the Rickshaw did not survive being hit by a car at thirty miles an hour. Providing beyond reasonable doubt how unsafe these vehicles actually are. Quite recently while marshalling the directional taxi rank in London’s west end, one of the taxi drivers reported about fifteen minutes prior to arriving at the rank, he had seen the aftermath of an incident involving a Rickshaw. He told me and my fellow marshal that it looked as though a female passenger had been thrown from the Rickshaw. He went to see if he could gain anymore info, but by the time he got to where the accident allegedly took place the area had been cleared. Reports of this nature are becoming more and more commonplace. Some of us in the trade are thinking it is only a matter of time before we are going to have to report an horrific accident involving one of these so called ‘bits of fun’!

The exposé also looked at the way the Rickshaw trade, in many peoples eyes ‘rips off’ the public with regard to the fares they charge, which in may cases can be as much as three times the cost of a London taxi for the same short journey. But I suppose you could argue that if the public are willing to pay extortionate prices, who are we to question them?

Now if you would like to read the consultation document for yourself, it is available as a free download on the PCO website. Of course you won’t read or see any of the above in the document. Rather you will see a much happier smiley face to the Rickshaw trade. The photo shoot looks as though it was done on London’s south bank, at what must have been about five in the morning on a recent sunny day. You are struck by how happy and relaxed everyone looks, going about their daily business without a care in the world. You can almost hear them saying ‘Oh look there is one of those nice Pedi-cabs, lets take a ride’, as if they were at some sort of theme park. Off they go unhindered by the nuisance of other people trying to get to where they want to be, or any other form of traffic to hinder their progress along the river, let alone dozens of other Rickshaws that are usually looking for a fate! What a false impression this document creates. If anyone is going to get involved in this consultation, I would urge them to get out onto the streets of London on a Friday or Saturday night and take a good look at this so called trade during its normal operating mode, before they even consider giving them a license. I’m sure if they did, the case for an outright ban would only be stronger!

Before I end this month, I suppose that I should give a brief response with regard to the comments that Terry Flanagan of the GMB gave regarding my article of a couple of months ago. I can only say that Terry could not have done more to maintain the distance between the taxi and private hire in the Capital. After years of the so called leading lights in our trade telling us that private hire is good for the taxi trade. With one article he has managed to upset every taxi driver that read it, and put the ‘leading lights’ arguments back by years. For that I would like to thank him.

Be seeing you.

Peter J Rose

Manchester is the most popular University in the UK for the second year Running. Not many visitors come to Manchester and leave disliking it.

http://www.student-direct.co.uk/?p=1513

Regards

JD

Just read the Luddite comments of Peter Rose listen sunshine I know the truth hurts.there are more of us were more exploited but recognise the need to be organisd,but unlike you lot we only need one organisation.and I know you are not A member member of the T&G the first requisite of respect for us in the labour movement in London!!! Divided we fall and you lot are the prime examplesfabulous vehicles.oh so comfortable well reread the article.All your problems could be solved if you showed so unity,difficult i know,so attack us EH?

You need help.

Best you calm down, you'll do yourself an injury.

I hope when you were in the print you were'nt in charge of the typesetting?

I think Mr Rose puts his points across far more eloquantly than a 'luddite' like yourself could possibly ever dream of.

You would do well to look at your SWP callender, you'll realise its 2006, not 1976.

Did you know Labour were back in power?

'Professional drivers rep' ? My arze.

How's your Horse?

So the GMB and Steve Wrights LPHCA are one?

Judging by the hostile reception you got on their forum, I would beg to differ.
I'm led to believe from the PCO there's around 38'000 licensed Minicab drivers now registered with them.
I'm further led to believe. from a previous posting on this forum, you have about 1000 as members?
So the GMB represent less than 4% of drivers?

Quality 'sunshine', quality.

Just like all your problems will be solved with you at the helm?

I agree with your comment about 'attacking' 'us'. I'm not sure who 'us' is though, given the fact you don't even drive a Minicab any more.

Reading through some of your recent rants, or submissions as you prefer to call them, its little wonder people go on the offensive.

It seems you have a bitter agenda to upset everyone, even 'your' own.

Perhaps, like Kevin Curran and Robert Parker, its time to step down?

I'll retract my earlier invitation Dusty.

Ollie and Rambo put up better discussions, at least they can spell and can control their tempers.

Tell me, who scribes your submissions for Taxi-talk, clearly, given the above. its not you.

I note from your most recent rant you claim to ride in licensed Taxi's, yet choose to attack the vehicles and Taxi trade in the same breath damning everything Londons real Taxi trade stands for?

I would say that makes you a scab.

GBC trying to figure it out Gormless Bxxxxxd Cxxxp I wonder
Yes i do use black cabs dont have any problems when they know me sometimes have problems getting away,they like to debate you know but we dont insult each other!
LPHCA web site Iget the treatment.so what it is a proprietors site and they are note all as cute as the leadership.who recognise the reality.which was why i was invited onto the Private Hire Board.We the branch are now building contacts with other unions VIA South Eastern TUC Transport Industries Network which meets quaterly SADLY no black cab reps.now if you were a member of a real union and not a PROPER SCAB they might nominate you? but then again maybe not.

Taxi Talk sorry to dissolusion you Herr Obergruppenfuehrer GBCreep all my own work,are you coming on the first of AUG we guarantee you a fair hearing if you need help finding it give me ring 07958 275 339!!!!

In Manchester we have a GMB branch run by Hackney carriage owners who have a long-standing pedigree of actively trying to stop the council from issuing hackney carriage proprietor licenses. Yet it seems the London Branch of the GMBU wants the exact opposite to those in Manchester? Can anyone tell me if the GMBU has a national policy on issuing proprietor licenses in restricted authorities and if so what is it?

Regards

JD

Could you re-submit in a slightly more reader friendly manner?

Whats a proper scab? Someone who drives a Taxi but uses Minicabs to get to the lodge? or a rather vociferous Minicab branch secetary who uses Taxi's to get to a Minicab demonstration?

I would'nt join a union if you were the last one going, a professional (note one F) licensed London Taxi drivers organisation run by working Taxi drivers with the best part of 9000 members will do me nicely thanks.

I spoke to Richard Massett about your wild allegations of 'hiring' out badges and bills, surprisingly he's never heard of this practise either.

If you would care to contact him with the details he will more than happily work with you to bring your named culprits to book with the PCO.

Click on my LTDA link, the E-Mail addy's are in there.



Remember when I told you about making yourself look like a twit? well your doing it again.

I am somewhat intrigued what 'Cxxxp' would work out at though?

I hold a much higher rank than that.

. . . and did'nt have to bribe anyone to get it, unlike your average GMB election.

I hope when you were in the print you were'nt in charge of the typesetting?

sic