Taxi Driver Online

Drivers hail black cabs' victory
A THREAT to Peterborough's distinctive fleet of black cabs has been snuffed out after cabbies closed ranks on the potential newcomer.
The city has 191 London-style hackney carriages, but fears were raised that an alien vehicle could become part of their number when Tahir Chaudhary applied to join the fleet with his Peugeot taxicab.

The application was greeted with fury by cabbies, who want to keep a clear distinction between taxis and private hire cars.

Chairman of the Hackney Federation in Peterborough, Mahmood Khan, said: “The federation is very proud of the high standard to which its members keep their London-style cabs. These vehicles are easily recognisable and avoid any confusion in the minds of the public between hackney carriages and private hire cars.”

In his application, Mr Chaudhary, of Robert Avenue, Peterborough, said: “While the current taxi specification is rigidly applied, the city’s taxi trade is subjected to an effective monopoly for new vehicle supply. I feel this is unacceptable in this day and age.”

But his plea fell on deaf ears, and at a licensing committee in the town hall councillors and officers came down on the side of the Hackney Federation.

Council spokesman Mike Lennox added: “When people hail a taxi we want them to be confident they are safe in a bona fide vehicle.

“The black cabs are clearly identifiable as taxis and the drivers have met the high operational standards that the council expects.”

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

It looks like Peter-borough's, council could be now open to a legal challenge, as the E7 is now recognised as a taxi in nearly every city and town in the country with the only exception being London.
I do not understand the logic of the cab owners there, why are they insisting on driving an over priced heap of sh i te, that cost an arm and a leg to run and keep on the road.

And Liverpool

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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!

and Manchester

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

from Decembers issue of Press Cuttings Monthly
supplied by Eddie Lambert:


Alternative Taxis lose Round One at Peterborough

Following a letter from city hackney driver Mr Tahir Chaudhary the Licensing Committee for Peterborough City Council (PCC) meet on Thursday 16th November to

consider whether to relax the present taxi vehicle licensing conditions. At present the council use the Metropolitan Conditions of Fitness (CoF) as applied in London.

This lead to a process that is and has been repeated all over the country as Allied try to get their vehicle into Licensing Authorities across the country, and LTI try to keep the purpose built vehicle standard.

The licensing committee heard from Andrew Overton on behalf of LTI vehicles and Terry Fryer for Allied Vehicles. Following their submissions the committee then went outside the town hall to inspect for themselves the two vehicles which were parked outside awaiting them.

After this inspection the committee resumed their seats in the council chambers and then heard from and asked questions of the trade who were present. The first questions went to Mr Shabir driver and proprietor who supported the purpose built taxi and he was followed by Mr Chaudhary who had submitted his letter in July.

They were followed by Eddie Lambert on behalf of the T&GWU who had made a submission supporting the purpose built taxi and then, representatives from two of the City’s pensioner groups also in favour of retaining the present standard.

The local police were not represented but had sent a submission backing the present standards.

From the nature of the questions raised by the committee members it was apparent that the main issue they were concerned about was public recognition of the vehicle.

After questions had finished everyone was asked to leave the committee room and the members considered their decision. This came very quickly, and when the trade and interested parties had all returned to the committee room the Committee Chair announced the decision to retain the present standards.

The disappointed parties Mr Chaudhary and the Allied Taxis personnel declined to make any formal statement until they had had time to consider their position but Terry Fryer shacking hands with Paul Stone from the local LTI dealer Condors said, “ well done that’s round one to you.” This obviously means they will consider challenging the decision but they will have to bare in mind the decision was unanimous.

Eddie Lambert has a serious conviction when it comes to sustaining LTI vehicles in those decreasing number of licensing authorities that apply the PCO COF to Taxi vehicles. I don't know why because I thought an organisation like the T&G supported the majority view of the Taxi trade? In fact it was Mr Lambert who said, "the TGWU needs the majority of the trade behind it to be effective and to effect change to our advantage".

Perhaps Mr Lambert thinks the majority of the Taxi Trade wants to see LTI insulated from competition? Or perhaps he thinks the majority of the trade drives LTI vehicles? I have a surprise for Mr Lambert in the fact that according to DfT figures the majority of the trade does not drive LTI vehicles.

In fact, statistics tell us that LTI can't compete in an open Market. So why does Mr Lambert wish to deprive drivers from purchasing a vehicle of their choice? If I could read Mr Lambert's mind perhaps I might be able to tell you but he has an open invitation to come on TDO and tell us himself.

You could be forgiven for thinking MR Lambert was an unpaid ambassador for LTI but here are his views on the famous insulated ICON.

The present 25 foot turning circle is an essential tool for the job. Any relaxing of this condition will make it far harder for taxi drivers to do their job. It is not just the ability to u-turn but the manoeuvrability in London's traffic, or any other city for that matter, that makes the turning circle vital. The retention of the turning circle is one of the few issues that get total support at our union branch meetings! It makes driving much easier and takes much of the stress and strain out of driving in London's traffic (even with the success of the congestion charge!)

Norwich is the latest disgruntled group of drivers to ask the council for a relaxation of the 25ft Turning circle. A majority of the local taxi trade association voted to remove the TCR and a request has been submitted to local council to license an E7. I'm not a fan of the E7 but I just happen to believe in driver choice because unlike Mr Lambert I think it is a fundamental right that drivers choose what they want to drive and not what Mr Lambert wants them to drive.

I know all you right-minded people will see the "abhorrence" of another person telling "you", what "you should" do! Just because they, want you to do it?

Regards

JD

How many of the converted vehicles have the European whole wide vehicle specification (fit for purpose) ?

How many of the converted vehicles are effectively cut and shuts?

LTI have set the standard for many years, whilst I own converted vehicles myself and have done for a considerable period of time, they are in many respects 'throw away vehicles' and after 3 or 4 years comparable to similar saloon vehicles used for the same (or similar tasks).

LTI are culpable, but not to the extent some would believe.

CC

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

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

Errm, I like the vehicles, but to state '' it is sleeker but unmistakably a London cab that the public can recognise.' is errm a bit thick.

Also to state 'It is also better for the environment and that is good.' so's planting trees but you cant get people in the back of them

FFS '“Previous TX models have been so fantastic that I could not really see how they could improve upon the quality,”

errm, building them properly would be a good start, no more shoddy bodywork, and crap engines.

CC

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

With all due respect I don't think its up to you, Mr Lambert, me or anyone else to tell drivers how to spend their money do you? On the other hand perhaps you do? Wasn't it the NTA who recommended the Doblo be outlawed as a hackney carriage? Something you applauded if my memory serves me well? That was very sporting of the NTA but what did it actually have to do with them? After all when all these wheelchair vehicles were tested at Loughborough College the Doblo passed with flying colours.

I wonder if the NTA thinks it has the right to tell tens of thousands of hackney carriage owners what they can and cannot drive? Certainly Mr Lambert does but then his organisation represents less than five percent of the Taxi trade and the NTA probably represents even less.

Any ideas why LTI can't convince the flagship drivers of Brighton to buy their vehicles? If they did perhaps Brighton wouldn't have the situation they have at the moment in respect of wavs? Is it also not the case that 80% of the NTA membership is made up of local organisations that drive saloon type vehicles? Is there any reason why LTI hasn't been able to break into that particular market? Perhaps the only reason why drivers buy LTI vehicles is because in the main they have to.

You mention LTI setting the standard? Well if that be the case then I must have been driving a completely different vehicle to the ones you have driven over the years because as far as my colleagues and I are concerned LTI vehicles have always been overpriced, basic and a piece of junk.

However, I don't think we need get into a heated debate about the quality of LTI vehicles, the overriding principle here is vehicle choice and as I said previously, you, me or anyone else does not have the right to impose their will on other drivers.

If you, the NTA, Mr Lambert or anyone else think they do have the right to impose their will on every tom, dick and harry who drives a cab, then I'm sure we would all like to hear why?

Regards

JD

Just as some would ask why you think you have the right to impose your will on the same tom, dick or harry who drives a cab.

The differance is that you are on a personal crusade whereas the Captain (NTA) and Mr Lambert (T&G) both represent National Bodies.

One day you may conceed that an opposing viewpoint has equal validity even if it differs from your own.

B. Lucky

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"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

What "will", do I impose on cab drivers? Is this answer's on a postcard time?



I wasn't aware the captain represented anybody but himself these days? He keeps telling us he represents no one? As for the NTA and Mr Lambert I couldn't give a chit who they represent, as far as I and the majority of self employed Taxi drivers in this country are concerned, they represent a minute percentage of the Taxi trade in England and Wales. This does not give them the right to tell self employed drivers what they should or should not drive? If they want to shackle their own members to the LTI flagship then that's fine by me but leave the rest of us to our own devices.



Telling people what they cannot drive and what they can drive is hardly an opposing viewpoint. It is an imposition of their will and interference on the freedom of choice of every person it effects.

I suppose you're a new convert to the LTI syndrome because it wasn't so long ago that you were screaming about LTI vehicles being over priced and costly to maintain. I'm not surprised you didn't come down on the side of driver choice but that’s only to be expected.

JD

If you do not wish to impose your will why do you have any concern whether another area to your own operates any restrictive policies.

What they should or should not drive is a decision that they should make, I doubt though that it is any concern of yours what drivers choose to drive or seek to exclude in areas other than your own.

I'm not saying that you are not entitled to an opposing viewpoint, I'm not even suggesting that you shouldn't be able to voice your concerns on such issues on here ................ but why do you contact local authorities offering your viewpoint even if that is just via a list compiled using your own statistics. Interference in matters not involving or effecting you is what could also be construed as imposing your will.

LOL LOL
I hate the bloody things ................ I still have the opinion of LTI products I have always had, as you claim overpriced and costly to maintain.

Drivers choice is of course important, but that needs to me measured against customer choice and safety of use. After all you couldn't use a Transit Pickup to carry 4 drunken passengers, as much as we would sometimes like to.

Let the people decide what they do ........... and if you don't agree debate the issue on here .......... I don't understand why anyone from say Manchester should be concerned about policies anywhere other than Manchester (for example only).

B. Lucky

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"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

Isn't it a shame that restriction and anti-competition is so ingrained in the psyche of many in the taxi trade?

It's time warp stuff. Or is it just blindness to the market conditions all around us. The market sectors which have binned restrictive practices.

The Peterborough situation is untenable. There is no way that the E7, and other offerings, will win the day.

It will just take time, and not a little cash and effort to enforce the rules which already exist.

I vouch if the decision had been taken in a court of law, E7s would already be being hailed all over our nation.

I bet that, given the choice, GBC, all his mates and Joe Public would be far happier if they could all use an E class mercedes in a unique, distinct colour, rather than that pile of [edited by admin].

More comfort, better reliabilty and less cost.

Bet Mercedes would cut a deal for a 'taxi' version of the car in a colour only available to Hacks.

Bet the turning circle would soon be chucked in the skip if Uncle Ken offered them that choice.

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A member of the Hire or Reward Industry