The Badge Issue 242 September 2016

More trade stories than all the others put together Issue 242 September 2016THE TIME INSIDEHAS COME CRB CERTIFICATE POSTAL COCK-UP PAGE 7 NEWS DIAL-A-CAB SELL OFF WARNING TO DRIVERS PAGES 11 NEWSLCDC CALLS FOR MAYOR TO LAUNCHPUBLIC INQUIRY INTO TfL & UBER Seepages FRANCES JUMPS FOR VETERAN CHARITY 3, 4 & 5 PAGE 21

2 Issue 242 - September 2016 Editorial: Published by CREDIT CARD MANDATE: the receipt printers. The biggest L.C.D.C The London Cab Drivers’ Club Ltd. TRADE TREATED WITH irony of the lot is the majority of the LEADERS CONTEMPT YET AGAIN CC technology we are being forced Unit A 303.2, to install in our taxis will be obsolete NOT FOLLOWERS Tower Bridge Business Complex Last week I had a meeting with in most likely the next 18 months, Tower Point, 100 Clements Road Helen Chapman and Peter Blake but what do they care? JOIN TODAY: Southwark, London SE16 4DG to discuss trade matters and the 0207 394 5553 first item we spoke about was the TFL / UBER EMAILS Telephone: 020 7232 0676 credit card mandate. As everyone knows, the club’s In this issue we publish even E-mail for membership enquiries: position has always been that whilst more damming emails that show E-mail: [email protected] we have always been in favour of collusion between TfL and UBER, Web: www.lcdc.cab taking CC we have been also between UBER and vehemently opposed to fixed units. Westminster City Council that Editor: Grant Davis Unfortunately TfL in its wisdom clearly illustrates that UBER have decided to accept the view of the not acted within the law. The Badge is distributed free to the LTDA’s Steve McNamara that fixed I think it is high time that the Licensed London Cab Trade. units was the only way this policy relationship between TfL & UBER could be successfully implemented. should be the subject of a PublicFor advertising enquiries please contact the office on After a heated exchange, Helen Inquiry. 020 7394 5553 or E-mail: [email protected] Chapman told me that this was “set in stone” as it had been signed off LCDC AGM All advertising in The Badge is accepted under our by the TfL board: I told them both terms and conditions. These are available that the least thing they could do We are holding our AGM on the at the LCDC office. was to extend the mandate for 13th Sept at the Biscuit Factory. another month, to allow drivers the Helen Chapman will be there taking Before entering into any commitment, financial time to look at the deals available questions and also London TaxiPR or otherwise, always remember to seek and make up their minds. will give a presentation to members. professional advice. Yet again the trade has been treated with utter contempt, like we Grant Davis The views expressed in this publication are not were with the emission systems and Chairman necessarity those of the Editor or of the Management Committee of the London Cab Driver’s Club. Contributions for publication are welcomed and should be sent to the Editor at the above address. The London Cab Drivers’ Club Ltd.

Issue 242 - September 2016 3FURTHER PROOFWas Uber allowed to operate by TfL withno planning permission for premises?Uber since their arrival intoLondon have operated fromfive separate addresses in thecapital - does this soundstrange to you?We have looked into all theiroffices and the planningarrangements they have madewith both TfL and localauthorities and below is thestory so far:As part of the requirements fromTfL to gain a licence as a PHOperator you would need:A. Planning permissionB. A certificate of lawful useC. application for a certificate of lawful use which subsequently has to be provided when granted.1. King’s Cross:UBER applied for a certificate oflawful use on 31/5/12 to IslingtonCouncil. The submission states thatit was just a B1 office operating asa 9-7pm office. All that TfL hold is aletter from Islington Council sayinga decision will be made in thefuture.2. Baker Street: “Whenever a client wants a driver, a request is sent through theAgain, 83 Baker Street 7/11/12 app to the nearest driver. It is important to note that we have noUBER submitted to WCC that their bearing on which driver gets which trip it is purely which driveroffice was working hours of just 9 - is the closest to the client and has their app switched on”5pm. They then went on to state “The office acts as a base. Within our working hours of 9-5”their working operation, whichshows that UBER do NOT act as an Letter from Uber to Westminster City Council, regarding 63 Baker StreetOperator and take the bookings: onthe right is a section of the letter WCC wrote back to UBER and provided them with a Certificate of certificate of lawful use, they wereUBER sent to the Planning requested further information lawful use. granted an Operator’s licence fromDepartment at Westminster City regarding their application. UBER However, the Club have TfL on the 16/07/14Council. chose not to respond. documentation from Westminster Subsequently, UBER withdrew their The statement above right proves TfL then issued them an operating City Council that NO certificate was planning application on thethat UBER are not the Operator licence on the 23rd February. ever issued to UBER to operate 21/11/14.and that the jobs go straight to the The Club made an FOI request from the premises. Therefore, this shows that TfL haddriver, therefore every UBER driver asking TfL what proof did UBER allowed UBER to operate from thehas been acting illegally. provide to them? 4. Caledonian Road: address without showingAlso, they state the office is TfL answered that UBER had 27/06/14 UBER applied for “lawfulness”.operational from 9-5? Where is therequirement for them to be a 24Hroperation?3. Old Marylebone Road:09/12/13 UBER applied to WCC forplanning permission, a week later www.lcdc.cab

4 Issue 242 - September 2016TfL and Uber Leon Daniels approaches Uber to help kids’ charityget cosier TfL Commissioner invited to meet Uber Chief Adviser Protest over Uber sex attacksDavid Plouffe Kids’ Company’s Camilla Batmanghelidjh

Uber contact TfL over Issue 242 - September 2016 5fast-tracking their drivers Why did Leon choose just to contact Uber about watchdog Transport Focus? Anthony Smith, Chief Executive, Transport Focus Uber explain theircomplaints procedure to TfLBut where’s thelandline that LeonDaniels told theGLA they had?

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Issue 242 - September 2016 7CRB CERTIFICATE POST COCK-UPGraham RobinsonHead of LicensingLondon Taxi and Private Hire | Transport for LondonLicensing London Taxi and Private Hire230 Blackfriars Rd, Southwark,London, SE1 8PJ16th August 2016Dear Graham,Please find enclosed X3 CRB Enhanced Certificates, which were indivertibly sent to one of our members who brought them up to your office today toensure they will be returned safely to TfL.As you are well aware we have had a number of members unable to work whilst waiting for CRB checks to be cleared, some have had to wait for a longas four months. The mind boggles as to what is going on in relation to the issuing of theses certificates, incompetence does not even begin to describehow such sensitive documentation can be sent out incorrectly.The LCDC would like to put on record that we will be making representation to the highest authority within TfL to make ensure that there is a thoroughinvestigation into this issue. So that in future innocent working men and women will not be prevented from going to work because of other people’sinability to do their jobs properly.Yours SincerelyGrant DavisCc: Valerie ShawcrossCc: Helen ChapmanCc. Caroline Pidgeon L.C.D.C LEADERS NOT FOLLOWERS www.lcdc.cab

LONDON CAB DRIVERS’ CLUB AGM: SEPT 13th More trade stories than all the others put together Issue 232 September 2015 More trade stories than all the others put together Issue 233 October 2015 More trade stories than all the others put together Issue 234 November 2015Help trade to fund INSIDE Government backs Uber over PH regs INSIDE INSIDElegal challenge SPTROEPSSand save our CITY HALL CHAOS: DID BORIS SLAMS PAGE 4industry - p 3 MAYOR BACKS APP WE SHOOT OURSELVES GOVERNMENT THAT PROMOTES UBER IN THE FOOT? OVER UBERNOW TO LONDONERSIT’S UP PAGES 14&15 NEWSTO YOU PAGE 5 NEWS NEWS INDEPENDENT TURNING LIB DEM MAYORAL LCDC MAKE FORMAL GLA GRILL TFL OVER MAYORAL CANDIDATE THE CANDIDATE CAROLINE COMPLAINT TO TfL PH REGULATIONS PAUL TAVARES SCREW PIDGEON ON TRADE PAGES 6&7 PAGES 8&9 PAGES 14&15 NEWS NEWS NEWS THE LONDON TAXI See pages #STAYFAREMAYOR ACCUSED See WONDERLAND CAMPAIGN 3,4 & 5 CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF pg 3 OR BLUNDERLAND? #STAYFAREMAYOR PAGE 11 PAGE 23 PAGE 9SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER/JANUARYMore trade stories than all the others put together Issue 236 February 2016 More trade stories than all the others put together Issue 237 March 2016Wednesday,February10that2:30pm INSIDE INSIDE CREDIT CARD The AGM will TFL DIRECTOR’S CAR CONTROVERSY include a Q&A CRASH LBC INTERVIEW session with PAGES 4 & 5 PAGE 7 TfL’s Helen NEWS Chapman and NEWS presentationDEMO AT MATT THE CAB: TARIFF ANDDOWNING by London CREDIT CARDSTREET Taxi PR UPDATES TRADE IN TURMOIL AFTER PH REGS FIASCO PAGE 11 WHAT PAGE 8 DOES IT NEWS TAKE? NEWS See See pages LCDC MEMBER page 3 3, 4 & 5 DELIVERS - IN THE BACK OF HIS CAB! PARIS LEADS THE WAY IN UBER FIGHT PAGE 15 PAGE 14 & 15FEBRUARY MARCH THE BISCUIT FACTORY @ 7PM More trade stories than all the others put together Issue 238 April 2016 More trade stories than all the others put together Issue 240 June 2016WES TAKES INSIDE A FRESH START INSIDE More trade stories than all the others put together Issue 241 July 2016 SPTROEPSS PH REGS START TO INSIDE LCDC WELCOMES ARRIVAL OF VAL BITEUP THE HEATHROW HORROR SHAWCROSS AS DEPUTY MAYOR CABBIES TAKE TRADE DEMO AT VETERANS TO YPRES PAGE 2 STANDARD AWARDS PAGE 15 OVER MINICAB NEWS ASSAULTS PAGE 4 NEWS NEWSFIGHT THE RACE FOR CITY CHAIRMAN ATTENDS HALL BEGINS BRUSSELS CAB SUMMIT PAGES 6 & 7 PAGE 18 OPERATION NEON... NO ONE, MORE LIKE! NEWS NEWS PAGES 12&13 NEWSSee pages GETT BUY RIP: THE GREATEST3& 5 RADIO TAXIS PLEASE VOTE FOR PAGE 9 See page 3 PAGE 22 WAR DISABLED See page 3 CHARITY! PAGE 20 APRIL MAY JUNE JULY/AUGUST

Issue 242 - September 2016 9 Alan’s AngleWestminsterranks updateThis month’s meeting with WestminsterCity Council was frustrating in that afternearly a year since we were givendrawing for ranks in West One we stillhaven't got them in yet.WCC apologised and said it had been TOWER BRIDGE CLOSUREfrustrating for them as well, as they have hadto completely restructure their team and we The bridge will be closed to all vehicle traffic between Saturday 1should now start to see the consultations for October until Friday 30 December 2016 for essential maintenancethe first seven ranks come through, which works.they have. With the new team in place we The closure extends from the junction of Tower Bridge Road andshould also see the rest, which totals around Queen Elizabeth Street on the south side to the traffic lights by the20 plus, get to the consultation stage pretty A100 Tower Bridge Road and A1203 East Smithfield junction on thequickly. We have also asked for two ranks to north side. There are two diversion routes in place:change location, which they agreed to do due • Northbound: journeys will involve crossing over London Bridgeto either building works or bike schemes, one from Borough High Street to Monument and east onto Eastcheap Street or Fenchurch Street.being moving the rank up to the door of the • Southbound: journeys will involve crossing over Southwark Bridge from Upper Thames Street, to Southwark BridgeFlemings Hotel in Half Moon Street and the Road/Marshalsea Road and onto Great Dover Street.cab rank in Wellington Street will be extendedto three spaces and re-sited on the other side waiting to happen. Update on WCC to show spaces. They also told us that they are going advertised times. So that's where we are withof the road facing south towards the Lyceum the taxi trade which ranks have got space will ahead with the instalment of cameras to issue WCC at the moment - they will push aheadTheatre. go live on their parking app around October/ PCNs to vehicles in Oxford Street. This is with all of the ranks that the ranks committeeI did recently see on a blog site that we had November. This will give us live information long overdue and I have been complaining have proposed and this is due mainly to theasked for a taxi rank beside Sexy Fish in from cameras fitted just above the ranks that that they should be enforcing Oxford Street fact that TPH have funded the ranks out ofBruton Lane and that this was the wrong will relay to the app if ranks are full or have as the signage states no vehicles at the ranks budget.place to site it there. They suggested it shouldgo outside the front door - the reason wedidn't ask for it there was WCC are putting abike lane on the inside of the square. Thewhole scheme to put a bike lane aroundBerkeley Square looks like an accidentCharity night walk a chance for trade to ShineThis year’s Shine event will take spoke to him and then told with Water Lane. . This year is a vehicles will be allowed to stop to Lower Thames Street should turnplace on Saturday 24th compliance he wasn't drunk. He taxi only affair and Gett will be pick up participants on Lower their engines off when waiting onSeptember - the charity was reported for telling the walkers onsite, so participants can book a Thames Street, outside Old the rank and avoid causing anymarathon walk in aid of Cancer who were being held up around taxi if they wish to do so. Booked Billingsgate Market. Shine will be noise to avoid complaints. So let’sResearch UK has been a the back of Billingsgate that there Gett taxis will pick up passengers supplying marshalls on Lower try and show our full support on thenightmare for us to try and were waiting taxis for them out the in Lower Thames Street, opposite Thames Street and there will be night and get these very tiredprovide the walkers with a taxis. front. This year sees a complete Water Lane. I did mention to GETT marshalls from the LCDC on site walkers home safely and show theIn the last few years we have not change from the Shine event they could donate all the 13% to help the walkers get to the rank. event organisers that we canbeen in the thoughts of the promoters, who have been in talks takings from drivers to Cancer The only thing we are asking is for provide a five star service for theirpromoters and have had to fight for with LCDC and ranks committee, Research UK which they agreed to Taxi drivers using the rank in charity event.any space at Billingsgate on Lower TfL and GETT for over a year to do, watch this space.There will beThames St. We have been tucked hopefully get this year’s event no private hire company supplying www.lcdc.cabaround corners and have to watch running right. We are being told cars, although a private hirewhilst Marshalls are walking jobs that participants will start to arrive company does hold an operator’sout to waiting Private Hire cars. at Old Billingsgate Market from licence for the site. Last year thereLast year saw one of our members around 22:00 and there will be a were lots of problems with PHDreported to City police as they taxi rank on the southern side of parking up on Lower Thamesbelieved he was drunk driving a Lower Thames Street with the waiting for fares - this year wetaxi. City police turned up and they head of the taxi rank at the junction have been assured that no

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Issue 242 - September 2016 11Shining a light onDial-a-Cab sell off 14 ssue 239 y 2 wTheereopnteivoenrThe Board of Dial-a-Cab has So what can these new Why were Dial a Cab youcirculated to members its companies do that the givenproposals for the future of existing Society can’t?the Society. They do not Do members have control of members not givenmake for easy reading. appointment of directors? the option to dissolveThere are references to No. “...it is proposed that the the Society, rather‘Conversion’, demerger’, new constitution would provide than to demutualise?Holdco, Propco, ‘A’ Shares, ‘B’ an ability for the Board toShares and proxy votes. appoint additional Directors as sasmHdwtyoraetiIwfoseeoofneoDcLhnuvtrsomhwpasuinienaoeihtceetratuoetruoustihmsrialsoylwvAavtotri.thulbnieeaelltnGnHewmCeaovrribscu,nstoCerliMtaehioelbnwsheugfaasumergeaanerd-iletisblotkisttilhebhedanrigdheonsemerieanmrgotssaennooherndiesssraaarlteoecdoucosdttttneanbmSeifthlevitivanxtronhtaioreteBoehbvcoonattlgsscudoeeteaer,tiogis.seiot-dirtwecSahnushdhsfbfatfnaohtotaeeyolosttiociruhrnc.nhtRliDhfptreheethehiaAttcoeyeentC.feerCRPpwTtattabiTh2erShgrDrRBniboeoene6hshrERUveevda.etimtdnfi:RiileIfoiLsDddoinVisaMSs-eVureEeItgwgfmEsoSdraroIdnSa-uyoCcRruuS,tzibcmlbisErvrpOepiSShOynetyeethrreoFigyeLLotRdnntush,chduvIUmtTlAMCeibaioelieetaodTHiiyDaaforItmtfeI2ITilEiytnneOIltsohdd6OhEadSsinaoeiNgOesnbDuoi,tfAgnTsnmysWfcD:oanaAcoetotrntreittlNaXhrhi.uunyabmleEertI-slyieatboeRia-msennn-rttedisono,fAll members wanted was their they consider appropriate”share in cash which, according (Paragraph 4.5) L.C.D.Cto the March edition of ‘Call Do you appoint WE GO THE EXTRA MILESign’, would be around the Chairman? JOIN£20,000. However, this has No. The present Chairman of TODAY: 0207 394 5553now shrunk to £50. Dial-a-Cab automaticallyWe have been asked by LCDC becomes the new Chairman for How we reported on Conclusionmembers who also belong to life. the plans back in MayDial-a-Cab to shed some Do you have controlwelcome light on these over your shares? The only way toproposals. (The quotes are No “...shares are only to befrom the Proposals). transferrable with the consent Why is there such a short guarantee realisingLet us start at the beginning: of the Board.” timetable for all this? your promised“In May 2016 members At present the Rule Book is Unknown. £20,000 is to:overwhelmingly indicated a the members’ contract with Why are members being 1) Vote against thedesire for the Society to the Society. What is the new denied an informed debate, a Board’s Proposalsdemutualise, to realise the contract? period of mature reflectionvalue of its assets (being Not known. The Rule book or a careful assessment of 2) Put forward aDial-a Cab taxi circuit disappears and is replaced by the ramifications? proposition at the nextbusiness and its freehold the Articles of Association. The AGM is not too far away AGM to invoke Rule 26interest in Dial-a-Cab House) These have not been and would be ideal opportunity which is quoted in full atand to then distribute that circulated. You are being to consider this matter. the start of this article.value to members”. asked to sign up to a contract Unless there are other(Paragraph 1.1) that is unseen. reasons: such as wishing toThis is the Society’s Rule Will you get dividends avoid too close a scrutiny, orgoverning demutualisation. paid on your shares? being conscious of something“26 Dissolution Unlikely. “It is not anticipated down the line that makes timeThe Society may at any time that dividends will be paid until of the essence.be dissolved by the consent of the Board has been able tothree-fourths of the members, secure a sale of the propertytestified by their signatures to and/or the Dial-a-Cab taxian instrument of dissolution in circuit.”the form provided by the What is to happenTreasury Regulations, or by to Encompass?winding-up in manner provided There were five Encompassby the Industrial and Provident companies set up in July 2015Societies Act”. as the proposed new nameThis would seem simple for Concierge, a bookingenough. Not so according to platform developed and paidthe Board’s proposals, which for by the members to booksuggest the creation of three private hire.companies to handle the sale The Directors were Brian Riceof assets. and Howard Pears. There is no mention of these within the Proposals. www.lcdc.cab

12 Issue 242 - September 2016DO WE NEED A PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO TfL?During the past 4 years, London process? London Ltd and Uber BV are acting as there need to be an independent inquiryhas seen a rapid growth in Private Did Uber meet the required conditions to agents for the driver. It also shows the into policy justification?Hire/Mini-Cab licences that have be licensed, and do they now? driver is directly accepting the physicalbeen issued by Transport for Has TfL failed in their duty to regulate? booking from the customer - Would the Attachment 3.London. Has TfL's failure impacted on public driver need an operators licence to Uber Plying for Hire.This has almost certainly had a safety? accept the sub-contracted booking? -detrimental impact on congestion, air see regulation law & practice. This flow chart shows a chronologicalquality and road traffic accidents with Attachment 1. Uber booking time line of when an Uber customeralmost every private hire driver now contract deception. Attachment 2. initiates contact with an Uber driver (whorelying on mobile phone interaction Uber Real Flow. isn't permitted to ply for hire);while driving to accept a booking; this This flow chart explains how the booking It clearly shows that the customer hasinteraction consists of reading text contract works according to the This flow chart shows how the technical booked a car and the driver hasmessages, interacting with on screen customer contract & the driver contract - process actually works in real time accepted the booking \"contract\" for amaps & reacting very quickly to this bears little reflection as to the \"real\" chronological order and shows on page booked journey time that was in theincoming bookings - all that impact on technical routing process shown in 2 of the flow how it is impossible for the \"past\" and not in the \"future\" - contrary todriver awareness. attachment 2. required customer booking data to be pre-booking regulation.We now know, following FOIs and one It shows that the customer books a car captured when it is required to be; as The process in attachment 3 and 4 areanswer from Tom Moody - TfL's Head of with Uber London Ltd and the booking per section 21.36 of James Button's the same, one is a physical process andPolicy, that there is no e-hailing policy, \"contract\" raised is sub-contracted to licensing law and practice. one is a electronic virtual process, one isno impact assessment or consultation, Uber BV who is domiciled in the This flow chart (Uber Real Flow) should deemed plying-for-hire and one isno risk assessment and no diagrams or Netherlands - Would Uber BV need an be a mirror image of attachment 1 (Uber deemed pre-booked.flow charts to explain the justification of operators licence to accept a sub booking contract deception). What Can you tell the difference?the Uber licence.Therefore, questions contracted private hire booking? - see seems to be happening in the \"real life\" What is TfL's policy justification for this?can be raised. regulation law & practice. technical process differs to the \"virtualAdvances in technology have seen It also shows how Uber BV split the world\" of contract movement. In summary, There are many questionsUber challenge the regulator (TfL) with booking contract into 3 parts and keep 2 The question is; as TfL did not carry out these flow charts raise, given thequite a dramatic outcome - the parts for themselves and 1 part is held any due diligence, risk analysis or problems that the emergency servicesdocuments attached raise some directly by the driver - The physical checks on the Uber application at the are facing in dealing with distractedsignificant questions; customer journey; whereby the driver time of licensing to ensure that the app driving, and problems other licensingDid TfL carry out their 'due diligence' requires hire & reward insurance. actually works in the way that the authorities outside of London have with This flow clearly shows that Uber operators licence was granted - does cross-boarder compliance, there could1www.lcdc.cab

Issue 242 - September 2016 132be a strong case for the Mayor and the to the contract between the customer not party to the booking contract, then operators outside of their licensing area,transport scrutiny committee to and the driver (by Uber's own the Uber driver must be party to the an independent investigation into whoindependently investigate what has admission) allows the driver the freedom contract and directly accepting the holds the booking contract would almosthappened at TfL. to operate outside of their licensing area. booking from the customer. certainly address the issue of crossCross-boarder hiring. TfL's failure to Commonsense tells us, that if Uber are There is significant regulation boarder hiring and relieve pressure onaccept or understand Uber are not party acting as an agent for the driver and are surrounding sub-contracting to regulators outside of London. 3 www.lcdc.cab

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Issue 242 - September 2016 15Are taxis unaffordable?AskPOB survey is affecting many drivers around half the price, such as those physically impaired income, physical and mental the Toyota Prius at @£22,000, to travel in this city. turning circle close to £33k overshows: 90% health with a negative impact are able to undercut us. However, I do feel that a vehicle of £43k with a TC. on family life. We are paying a premium for this service is not fully 65% of drivers said they wouldof Cab Drivers Running a cab in this current a purpose built vehicle to pick appreciated by the public choose a vehicle with no WCA, environment is now people up instantly with a and especially TFL, who closer to £33k, over a vehiclethink that the economically unviable, with turning circle (TC) and never advertise the costing £43k with WCA.The such a poor return earned by wheelchair access (WCA), merits of WCA taxis. I results concluded that 90% ofLondon Taxi is the end of the working week. whilst PH like Addison Lee & have yet to see a drivers see the vehicles we Many drivers are finding it UBER, now virtually plying for disability group, or one of their have available are nowunaffordable! increasingly difficult to meet hire can drive just about any prominent spokespeople, UNAFFORDABLE in the payments for their cab each vehicle of their choosing support our valuable service or current market. Drivers wouldOver the last couple of week, whether the cab is on without any conditions or show an interest in TFL’s prefer to keep TC and WCAyears, TFL have licensed finance or rented from a garage. restraints.Two years from now discrimination against our but feel they no longer want toapproximately 60k mini cab Some are finding themselves in all new taxis on the market will trade.The taxi card scheme pay for it. I believe we shoulddrivers in London, who we serious debt just to get their cab no longer use diesel and must puts wheelchair users in cabs not lower our standards that setall know predominantly repaired or through an overhaul. be capable of running on an but has declined rapidly since us apart from PH and searchwork for one PH Operator. Taxi Drivers and fleets are not electric battery. These vehicles its inception and is now going for solutions.Rather than performing the upgrading their vehicles due to have yet to be built and tested. into PH. Also, TFL and We must keep wheelchairrole of a regulator, it appears huge uncertainty in our trade Will they be reliable and able to council’s such as Camden’s accessibility, but not if it meansfrom leaked emails and FOIs that it is financially unviable. Aobtained by The LCDC, that created by a multitude of inept cope with constant use on the dedicated cycle lanes are purpose built taxi without WCATfL have acted more like TFL policies. I have never seen road? How much will they making it difficult for us to pick would cost in the region 20-UBER’s promotor or business so many taxis sitting on a side cost? Anything more than up and set down WC users, 30% less. Why should Taxispartner. It is has paid huge of the road with their bonnet up, £35,000 is just not feasible due to lack of kerbside spaces. Drivers continue to subsidisedividends for both parties - the broken down waiting to be anymore. Ironically, with the vehicle we TFL’s ONLY 100% WCAapp company have gained a recovered. Another concern that puts the have that benefits them, many transport out of their ownmonopoly of the PH Industry Too many older cabs will not trade off purchasing a new disabled users no longer use pocket with no help or subsidyand TfL revenues increased by attract new customers and diesel taxi at present, is TFL us, as they believe that we are after the despicable way theymillions by selling licences at risks losing regular cab users could decide to renege the 15- too expensive. This year I have have regulated the industryapproximately £300 a pop. TfL that we just cannot afford to year age limit at a whim. In only carried two wheelchair and the outright contempt theylicensing the app, carte lose.At present, we have addition, the resale price of a user passengers. have shown our trade?Kenblanche of the PH regulations virtually no choice of vehicle to new diesel taxi could seriously Recently ASK POB conducted Livingstone unsuccessfullyhas provided the app an unfair choose from; only two and they depreciate: another reason a survey to gather driver’s lobbied for WCAV’s to have acompetitive advantage over are now unaffordable. A TX4 at why taxi sales are virtually non- opinions on the importance of lower rate of VAT when he wasother PH Operators and more £43,000 and the Vito existent. I am extremely proud keeping the turning circle and Mayor. Maybe Val Shawcrossimportantly over the Gold @£46,000,are both that London Taxis’ are the only WC access. 71% of drivers could get this campaign up andStandard London taxi trade. excessively priced. Our 100% wheelchair accessible canvassed said they would running again with Sadiq KhanDue to the irresponsible, competitors driving a vehicle for transport in London and help choose to buy a vehicle with no and TFL Board approval? #colossal number of PH What I do know is, TFL havelicences sold, it is becoming diminished our work levels toincreasingly difficult and such a level that we cannotstressful to earn a reasonable continue to be burdened withliving especially with the large such high outgoings. To myoverheads we have. Many of mind, the current status quous are working at least three cannot continue.long days a week to pay for ourcab,fuel and put some aside for Over to you Val.the tax man before we earnanything for ourselves. TFL’ssly deregulation of the PHtrade, executed with noconsultation, risk assessmentor supply and demand survey, www.lcdc.cab

16 Issue 242 - September 2016AS AN L.C.D.C HEATHROW AIRPORT TFL and was a major influence in the recent Join over theMEMBER YOU REPRESENTATION “ future proof” document. phone - just callWILL RECEIVE: With our reps at the airport working VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS and we’ll take 24 HOUR DUTY SOLICITOR hard on the trade’s behalf for a fairer, The Club works alongside LTC and your payment EXCLUSIVE TO THE CAB TRADE and more safer future at Heathrow. Mercedes to deliver a vehicle that Your 24 Hr duty solicitor hotline RANKS AND HIGHWAYS meets our standard as a London taxi details The LCDC attend the Joint Ranks driver. Recently we have held membership card. committee, working hard for more meetings to work against the ULEZ Peace of mind 24 hrs of the day. ranks and more access for the taxi strategy and the introduction of taxi trade in London. age limits. FULL LEGAL COVER Our fantastic team of City Of London CAB TRADE ADVICE CLUB PROTECTA based solicitors and barristers, All members can call the office for To help drivers who have acquired experts in Hackney Carriage and any information or up to the date twelve points keep their licence. road traffic law. news on any trade related subject. JUST COMPLAINTS AND APPEALS TRADE’S FUTURE £3 per As a member of the LCDC, we will The Club worked tirelessly in bringing month deal with any complaint that has been in the green & yellow identifiers to made against you by members of the the taxi trade. * £12 per month is tax deductible public. And are always working hard to Also we will attend the LTPH with you protect our future. on any personal appeals that would affect your licence. CAB TRADE REPRESENTATION We are working hard to work with members of the GLA and also politicians to fight our corner against Please complete this form and send it with your application form Application Form (LCDC) Ltd UNIT 303.2 Please complete this form in BLOCK CAPITALS TOWER BRIDGE BUSINESS COMPLEX, TOWER POINT, The subscription rate is £170 per annum. If you are unable to pay in a 100 CLEMENT’S ROAD, SOUTHWARK single payment please make one cheque payable to “The London Cab LONDON, SE16 4DG Drivers’ Club Ltd,” with today’s date, for £56.67, and two post-dated 0207 394 5553 cheques one month apart for £56.67. Standing Order Form Send the completed form to: THE MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY, The London Cab Drivers’ Club Ltd, UNIT A 303.2 Your Bank: ......................................................................................... Tower Bridge Business Complex, Tower Point, Your Bank Address:............................................................................ 100 Clements Road, Southwark, London SE16 4DG Post Code:.......................................................................................... Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms:.................... Surname: ...................................... Please pay the sum of £15 NOW and monthly thereafter until further notice. First Names:...................................................................................... Please pay the sum of £42.50 NOW and then quarterly thereafter Address: ........................................................................................... until further notice. ............................................... Post Code: ...................................... Badge No: ............................. Email: ............................................... Quoting Reference No ( ) Telephone No: (with full STC code):................................................ To the account of THE LONDON CAB DRIVERS’ CLUB LTD, I agree to abide by the rules of the Club. I also agree that the above Barclays Bank Bloomsbury & Tottenham Court Road branch, information will be kept by the LCDC in a computer system under the terms of the Data Protection Act. PO BOX 1134, London W128GG Sort Code 20-10-53. Account No- 40450421. I understand that I will not be eligible for legal representation for Your Name: ..................................................................................... matters arising prior to the date of this application. Thereby declare that Account No: ..................................................................................... I have no outstanding PCO or police matters pending. Sort Code: ....................................................................................... Signature: ........................................................................................ Signed: ...................................... Date: ...................................... Date: ..................................................................................................www.lcdc.cab

Issue 242 - September 2016 17 www.lcdc.cab

18 Issue 242 - September 2016 www.lcdc.cab

Issue 242 - September 2016 19 Walker on the March.... BBC RADIO 4: WHAT’S THE TARIFF STUFF REVIEW SUMMERTIME BLUES CARD CHARGES POINT – THE LONDON BLACK While you were all sunning yourselves So how have you found the The Club pointed out that when the 20p CAB; 24 AUGUST 2016 in the traffic this summer, I attended a work this summer? was agreed in lieu of charging the tariff meeting. I’ve pushed a cab since late customer for using a card, this covered If you didn’t catch this programme, you This meeting was ostensibly to discuss the 1979 and I honestly cannot 3% maximum transaction charges.can still find it on the i player. It takes a root and branch review of the tariff and taxi remember a summer or kipper We tried to clarify if this was total chargeslight-hearted look at whether our trade is service by outside consultants and to season as bad as this one. to the driver or simply transaction charges.redundant in this tech age. discover if there were any particular points Even the 2008-09 recession It turned out that TFL didn’t place any As entertainment, it uses several stereo- the trade wished to look at. wasn’t this bad. maximum charges on the card suppliers attypes of the London cabbie but it’s all in fun Although the consultants will be contacting all. The result is that most drivers are payingand still informative. All except for journalist the trade, the reps present wanted to discuss were inappropriate as hire and reward over 3% charges, including equipmentHairy Mutt (Harry Mount), that is. the Cost Index there and then. It was agreed insurance is approximately five times higher rental. The Club asked that these additional This berk takes the old chestnut of “ I ain’t a that while there may be some tweaking than domestic vehicle insurance and thus charges be assessed and added wholly totourist mate” to a new level. Dear old Mutt required, the long-standing method of will skew the level of increase. TFL pointed the 2017 tariff increase and then be addedhas done this before and for whatever increasing the tariff according to increases in out the difficulty of obtaining accurate to the Cost Index as a cost item thereafter.reason is very anti-taxi driver. Possibly he costs and average wages is sacrosanct. information but we felt that that was their The LTDA rep reminded the meeting thatfeels inadequate because our hippocampus’ This removes any political interference problem and not ours. airport drivers pay a disproportionately highis larger than his. Don’t worry Hairy, size isn’t such as we used to suffer prior to this amount of charges and that somethingeverything. method. For example, in the mid-1970s we MIS-APPLICATION OF should be added to the Heathrow charge to Mutt tells the tale of when he took a cab were refused any increase for four years. TARIFF INCREASES cover this.from Bloomsbury to Camden (didn’t say This was at a time when we had already The other trade reps agreed as did the TFLwhere) at 11.00pm (didn’t say which day of suffered an oil crisis where diesel prices The Club once again brought to people present, in principle, although theythe week) and the driver had the audacity to doubled overnight and followed by a second attention the way in which tariff pointed out that the decision was the Board’s.use Camden High St, the only busy street in where crude prices increased 800%. This is increases have always been increasedthe area according to Hairy. not to mention the price of a new cab almost evenly across the tariff. CHANGE-OVER RATE (R4) He suggested the driver was shamed doubling as well. This takes no account of demand and TFLwhen he was caught out but apparently this Then in 1980, we were awarded a 50% are finally prepared to look at this. The Club brought this issue up again.kind of thing used to happen all the time increase. These were both political decisions It’s all very well to increase the tariff by, say As you will be aware, this year the pointaccording to Mutt but now he uses PHVs and neither helped the cab trade. A 10% 2% but for us to receive a 2% increase, where R4 kicked in was changed from aand everything works wonderfully well. Taxi annual increase would have been viewed as demand has to remain the same because we specific fare value to a distance of sixdrivers go slower when they have a reasonable by passengers as it was in line earn our corn by the amount of fares we do miles. The effect of this is that thepassenger than when empty. Hairy doesn’t with inflation at the time. Unfortunately, and not just what the fare comes to. On some increased rate occurs later in a fare thansay how he knows this as he isn’t in the taxi political expediency dictated that we had to fare levels this is what happens but other fare it used to.when it’s empty but this isn’t the only ruse suffer for years and then see our customers levels are more price sensitive and when the We pointed out last year that if this was towe use to bump up the meter. We also slow outraged at the huge increase we were fare increases, the number of fares reduce. happen, compensation was required bydown when heading towards green traffic given to correct the mistake. Technically, price elasticity need to be increasing the meter elsewhere. Preferably,lights in the hope they will turn red and The introduction of the Cost Index took all established at different demand points and this would be on the front end of the meter.deliberately choose the most crowded the political shenanigans out of the picture then increase the tariff variably to mitigate Unfortunately, we were completely ignored.roads. and left us with a fair and reasonable any loss of demand as a result of an So the Club brought this up again. We I guess Hairy Mutt the journalist also method of increasing the tariff right up until increase in the tariff. It seems PCO/TFL have pointed out that while R2 and R4 werebelieves that journos never research their this year’s stitch-up. never even considered this in the 30 odd additions to the main tariff, R1 and R2 werematerial but just make stories up and tell lies We also reminded TFL that we felt that years they have been using the cost index. integral to the tariff and both should bebecause they can’t be bothered to establish using national insurance cost averages The club raised this issue last year and it adjusted according to Cost Index changes.the truth. has now been taken on board and will be We reproduced the projections that TFL part of the independent review. produced last year. These estimated the As was pointed out to TFL that passengers effect on the tariff of the change. We pointed are not in the least interested in how many out that the 20mph average speed they seconds or metres they get for 20p but used was a joke and we could only dream rather what it says on the clock at the end of of travelling at 20mph during the day-time. the journey. The plain fact is that at the lower Notwithstanding that, their own figures end of the tariff, our fares are very estimated a 2.1% reduction if the rate 4 kick-in competitive, sometimes even against taking changed to six miles distance. So, their own a bus or tube and can withstand a greater % figures showed that instead of the 1.6% increase than we can on higher fares. rightful increase we should have received and TFL claimed that we received, they should have known from their own figures that the tariff actually reduced by 0.5% last year. The club demanded that the next tariff change should include a 2.1% increase, over and above any adjustment dictated by the Cost Index. One of the other trade reps was a little concerned about how high next year’s increase might be but we were supported by the other trade reps. The TFL reps were unable to dispute the Club’s argument but again, while agreeing in principle, the decision was the Board’s. www.lcdc.cab

20 Issue 242 - September 2016London taxi drivers could soon be The trade in the past few years has you do one, ten or one hundred jobs: importantly, the app does not store anyseeing a new taxi app on the streets seen Hailo, GETT, MAXI and even talk it will be fair in the sense that the personal data.”of London: TAXIAPP was the of Cab:app all providing drivers with nearest job gets the job... it’s that TAXIAPP are planning a majorbrainchild of a dozen cab drivers work, so what’s the difference and why simple.” advertising campaign with flyers, liverieswho dreamed up the idea of a taxi should drivers sign up? There is also another major difference, and adverts in newspapers.app that was purely owned by the Cab driver Hassan Mostafa says: Mostafa suggests: “We have come up with an idea thatdrivers and all the money raised will “This is an app by cab drivers for cab “ We believe drivers will use TAXIAPP could help save the trade before it’s toobe ploughed back into promotions drivers, it is non-profit and commission over the others because there is no late.”and improvements - all this for just free. commission. Every job is paid straight We at the LCDC wish them all the very£20 per month. “And for just £20 per month, whether to the driver, cash or card and more best.

Issue 242 - September 2016 21DOUBLE JUMP FOR CHARITYSkydiving in aid Fred’s glider was hit by anti-of the London aircraft fire and crashed intoTaxi Benevolent an orchard outside of theAssociation for Battery. Sustaining woundsWar Disabled to his legs, it was decided that Fred should stay andIt is an enormous guard two Germancompliment to the Taxi prisoners. An act ofCharity committee kindness, offering morphinemembers and the to one of the injuredvolunteer drivers that soldiers who had been shottwo WWII veterans, in the stomach, may haveboth ex-Airborne saved his life - later thatDivision, decided to do day he was captured by anot one, but two German patrol who sparedskydives in aid of the him after they heard of hischarity, writes Frances generous deed, and sentLuczyc Wyhowska... him to recoup at a Parisian hospital, which he later escaped from with the support of the French Resistance.The first was a jump into Calvey who had done so great sense of speed. You The charity has received Fred has revisitedthe Merville Gun Battery in much to keep my spirits up also get dozens of needle- some excellent publicity as Normandy and the MervilleNormandy, which took pre-jump was unable to be like prickings on your skin a result of the two veterans Battery a number of timesplace on 20th August. The there as his cab had broken from the drops of moisture jumping in Normandy, with the Taxi Charity andsecond was with the Red down. I did however receive within the cloud. including in the online other veteran organisations,Devils on 25th August. I many messages of good People Magazine in the US. but looked forward towill provide a short luck from the trade on Then suddenly the earth On a personal level I very landing within the Batterybiography of these two twitter that day which I comes into view and what much hope that this for the first time – sevenexceptional men at the end appreciated greatly. There an astonishing thing that is. exposure makes the public decades after the originalof this article. In the are so many truly nice It is quite unlike seeing the appreciate the innumerable military operation.meantime, I would like to people in the cab trade. same view from within an valuable facets of thewrite about my own aeroplane because you are London cab trade. Without Fellow para and Arnhemexperience. It is almost impossible to completely aware of being the work of the drivers on veteran, Ted Pieri, also describe the actual outside and in the sky! the committee and the aged 90, joined Fred on theI don’t think I have ever experience. The Red When the parachute is exceptional generosity of jump. Ted, who lives inbeen told how mad I was Devils are so professional opened an extraordinary our many many volunteer Erith, Kent, joined the 1stquite so often as when I and friendly that you feel a sense of peace envelops drivers there would be none Airborne division in 1943.said that I too would do a surreal sense of confidence you. of this wonderful work for Although initially a despatchskydive with Fred and Ted, despite the fact that you are This is when you suddenly our veterans. Thank you to rider, he volunteered forand full-time cab driver and about to fall head first out of experience the feeling of all those that supported me. parachute training andcommittee member Graham an aeroplane 13,500 feet time as well as velocity qualified getting his wings.Pike. Graham is a very above the ground. Time slowing down, and my Fred Glover was a member He undertook his firstgung-ho man, always ready becomes unquantifiable – I personal Red Devil took his of ‘A Company’ of the 9th parachute jump in 70 yearsto join in and who does didn’t really know whether time to return to earth so Battalion, tasked with in 2015, and enjoyed themuch behind the scenes to everything was happening that I could make the most entering the Merville experience so much that hesupport our military. I, on very quickly or not. The of every moment. Even Battery in glider planes was willing to jump again tothe other hand, am not rushing sound during more bizarrely, we were instead of parachuting in raise money for the charity.quite so full of derring-do, freefall is terrific, and going having a conversation up in with the rest of the Battalionand I suffer badly from through cloud does give a the sky. in June 1944.. “My recent involvement withvertigo. I hoped that the Taxi Charity hasperhaps this weakness increased my enthusiasm towould inspire my friends to jump for a second time andsponsor me and I have not give something back for allbeen disappointed. they have done,” said TedOn the day itself there was https://mydonate.bt.com/evone blow: my friend Mickey ents/veteransskydivefortaxi charity www.lcdc.cab

22 Issue 242 - September 2016

Issue 242 - September 2016 23Why I campaign for bus safety#LondonBusWatch: Above: a fully recovered Tom linear or predictable), I Drivers to get the Mayor of that TfL doesn’t have a Chief launched a voluntary Bus London and TfL management Safety Officer for its BusHow TfL’s complete Kearney is now campaigning for Safety Campaign called to make some major changes Operations is a signal indicator #LondonBusWatch that in the operational safety of how unimportant safety is toindifference about bus safety. focused on exposing TfL’s monitoring and reporting of TfL’s management. peculiar secrecy about the TfL’s Bus Operation. I have That London’s premiermy near-death bus Clockwise: Pictured the day before operational safety performance very much appreciated the shopping district should be the of its contracted bus fleet and support of many of London’s ‘World’s Most Polluted’ andcollision made me a the accident. the danger this non-transparent Black Cab drivers in my home to the three of the UK’s attitude posed to pedestrian campaign to improve the safety most dangerous pedestriantransparency and bus One month after and cyclist safety with, for of London’s Buses and crossings (the one where I was obvious reasons, a focus on increase transparency at TfL. I struck is Number 1 in the UK)safety campaigner A scan of Tom’s head injuries Oxford Street. Working believe that we share the same is, frankly, both an insult to through social media and the opinion that both the frequency Oxford Street’s hundreds ofAs I fought my way back to of my injuries) woke up slowly press, I networked with London and lack of investigation about millions of annual visitors and to over the month of January Assembly members from all TfL Bus Collisions evidences a this great city and furtherthe office through the heaving 2010. After 8 weeks or so after parties, cycling and pedestrian profound failure of leadership evidence of TfL’s safety the collision, I had regained the campaigners, bus crash on safety at the highest levels negligence. The concentrationcrowds of Oxford Street ability to speak, remember who survivors, taxi and TfL Bus of TfL. In my opinion, the fact of so many people on foot (and I was and how to walk again. there will be tens of millionsChristmas shoppers during While I was learning how to eat more when Crossrail opens in and through my mouth again (I 2018), means there is no roadthe early evening of 18 had a stomach tube), I design that can accommodate productively used the two-hours so many people and trafficDecember 2009, my mind was per meal of ‘feeding time’ to do (Buses or Taxis) safely. The research on my laptop how a deaths of two elderlyon my young family’s TfL bus nearly had nearly killed pedestrians in June from Bus me. Although there were plenty Crashes in May and the seriousimminent trip to Cape Town of news reports about people collision yesterday evening (4 being killed and seriously August) just highlights thefor Christmas and New Year's. injured after being hit by TfL lethality of Oxford Street that will buses on Oxford Street and all not subside until motor traffic—With the December’s early across London (thanks to my especially TfL Buses—isdarkness and snow beginning campaigning, we now know the permanently removed.to fall, I smiled when I recalled a average since 1 April 2007 is When people go to Oxfordline from an email I’d sent about 2 TfL bus collisions per Street, their intention is to shop,earlier that day: day involving a pedestrian, 1 work, visit friends or just enjoy\"It snowed last night. per day involving a cyclist), TfL some time in the greatest cityCommuter chaos beckons.\" didn’t make any bus casualty on earth and not to bleed outMoments later, while waiting on data available for public into coma or death on London’sthe edge of a signalled (i.e., scrutiny. main shopping street, their“wait minutes for the Green It was TfL’s hiding of this Bus brains and bodies crushed byMan to flash for a few Casualty Data coupled with the rushing tonnes of steel. Theseconds”) Oxford Street fact that no one from TfL or Mayor’s recent announcementpedestrian crossing just a few Arriva bothered to contact me of his plan to make Oxfordhundred feet from my or my family while I was in Street traffic free by 2020company’s office on Cavendish hospital or for years thereafter (I means the horrible life-Square, an 18 metre, 16 tonne have never heard from Arriva) changing experience I enduredTfL Route 73 Bendy Bus that turned me into a TfL back in December 2009 will justoperated by Arriva travelling at Transparency and Bus Safety be a ghost of Christmas past.speed struck the back of my campaigner. And with 86 people killed inhead and pushed me into it, the After my full recovery in 2012 TfL Bus Collisions in Londonimpact cracking my head on (Traumatic Brain Injuries are since my own crash that 'lastboth sides, popping both my not straightforward and the Friday before Christmas,' thislungs, breaking my ribs and recovery process is neither change couldn't come soonpiercing my liver. I landed in a enough.heap 15 feet down the roadalready unconscious, with my Tom Kearney Blog:eyes rolling back into my head www.saferoxfordstreet.blogspotand bleeding out of my mouth .co.ukand ears. #LondonBusWatch:When the HEMS ambulance http://stopthekilling.org.uk/directpitched up a half-hour later, I -actions/london-bus-watch/didn’t have a pulse and was Twitter: @comadadrecorded to be in a coma of 2016 Winner, Transport –Glasgow Coma Scale 3 (15 Sheila McKechnie Foundationmeans you’ve “knocked your SMK Campaigners Awardhead in Glasgow\" and 2 means\"you’re dead”). Years later, theMet told me I was reported as a‘probable fatal' so perhaps thatexplains why it took so long forthe ambulance to arrive toOxford Street?I spent the next two weeks in anear-death coma and(miraculously, given the extent www.lcdc.cab

24 Issue 242 - September 2016Brook aims to emulate Sugar RayBritain's Kell Brook aims to so sharp and zoomed in.\" has 32 knockouts to his name might be more effective at and healthy and bring theemulate Sugar Ray Leonard Sheffield's Brook, 30, is and is thought by some to be 160lb than he was at 147lb. speed and the power. I'mwhen he challenges unbeaten in 36 professional the best pound-for-pound boxer At the final check weigh-in on 3 excited at how much energymiddleweight king Gennady contests and has made three in the world. September, Brook weighed and excitement I'll be giving toGolovkin at London's O2 on defences of the IBF If Brook manages to beat 168lb, five pounds heavier than everyone once that bell goes.\"Saturday. welterweight belt he won from Golovkin it would be an even his rival. Brook is attempting to succeedBrook, the IBF welterweight American Shawn Porter in bigger upset than Leonard's \"I'm interested in seeing what I where domestic rival Amir Khanchampion, is jumping two 2014. victory over the fearsome can do at middleweight failed - Bolton's Khan jumpedweight divisions to take on Brook's last fight was against Hagler, who had not lost for 11 because I'm not draining myself two weight divisions to fightunbeaten knockout artist Canada's Kevin Bizier, whom years. and gaunt at the weight,\" said then WBC middleweightGolovkin. he stopped in the second round However, while some Brook, one of 14 current British champion Saul Alvarez in MayWelterweight great Leonard Kazakhstan's Golovkin, 34, is observers have called the fight world champions. and was knocked out in sixcame out of retirement in 1987 unbeaten in 35 pro contests, a mismatch, Brook believes he \"I'm going to be fully hydrated rounds.to beat world middleweightchampion Marvin Hagler.\"I want to do what Leonard didwith Hagler - use my speed, myfootwork and box the perfectfight,\" said Brook.\"I do fear him. Of course I do. Iknow he's a big puncher andthat nobody wants to fight himfor a reason.\"But the fear is positivebecause it's going to make mesuper-sharp with cat-likereactions.\"You could see the fear inLeonard's eyes when he was inwith Hagler - that's why he was Adam D. Elliott Vincent House, 99a Station Road, London, E4 7BU SPECIALIST ACCOUNTANT TO THE LICENSED TAXI TRADE Tel: 020 8281 0500 email: [email protected] / SKYPE: taxitax

Issue 242 - September 2016 25Sound of the suburbs...I've always courted a passenger up illegally from main stream media couldunity within the taxi right under my nose, feeling not ignore.trade between all my blood run cold when it's We could have 32London licenced and a woman hoping she doesn't nominated spokesmen forsuburban taxi drivers. meet the same fate the 155 each demo pointing out thatObviously I realised now that did(32 uber) from Feb '15- each location demonstratesthis can't be achieved as a Feb '16. each life that has beenmajority of the trade just Now those figures may not ruined by an 'uber' driver.don't want it. However, there be entirely accurate but it's Also pointing out were notis a massive date coming up around that number, but worried about competition.next year. 30/5/17. even if the figure was one, We have no competition asThis is a date I believe that it's one too many. long as everyone plays by'Ubers' licence will be So here's my idea.... From the rules. I think this wouldrenewed, and I believe it is the first week in January put emense pressure onessential we find a way to let's say every Wednesday Khan and Tfl but like I saidwork together from the start from 2p.m - 3p.m we demo it's just my opinion and anof 2017 right up until May to at 32 different locations in idea.put pressure on the mayor London. We can always stick withand tfl not to renew their All 9 sectors demo at 2 sitting on a rank playinglicence, because let's face different locations within candy crush then jumpingfacts whether you're yellow their sector, that leaves 18 on Twitter digging eachor green we've all earned different locations for all other out once we've run outthe right to work as taxi London licences to demo in, of lives. I know which one I'ddrivers. in the city, central and west. rather do.I for one have had enough If we achieve this it wouldof sitting in my taxi on a rank cause chaos to a degree the #Be lucky.watching an 'Uber' pick a PAYTON’S SOLICITORS 9 – 13 CURSITOR STREET LONDON, EC4A 1LL We at the LCDC don’t often bang our own drum when it comes to helping our members with their legal troubles. A lot of the cases which come our way with members are quite sensitive and we respect their wishes to keep things in house and out of the paper which I can fully appreciate. However, not only do Payton’s Solicitors offer our members a 24 Hour Duty Solicitor 365 days a year, but since getting involved with the Club, our solicitor Keima Payton has the distinction of having a 100% success rate in all her cases which she has handled on behalf of the Club’s members. Keima Payton has a fearsome reputation in court and should ever the need arise you will find no one better able to fight your corner and save your Badge than Keima. - Grant Davis, LCDC Chairman Tel: 0207 405 1999 FAX: 0207 405 1991

26 Issue 242 - September 2016 Heart Tests For London Taxi Drivers WOOD STREET CLINIC The Heart Centre For London Taxi Drivers Have You Had Heart Problems? Do you need an Exercise Test and / or Echocardiogram (to measure LVEF) for LtpH? We can help with our fast, efficient service and special low rates for London’s taxi drivers We are now providing stress Echocardiography (functional testing) when required. We understand that your living can depend on these tests Contact us now on The Wood Street Clinic 133 Wood Street Barnet, Herts EN5 4BX Telephone : 0208 449 7656 www.woodstreetclinic.com or [email protected] @WoodStClinic FoMreamllbeLrsCDC£10 off TAXIS WANTED CABS WANTED TOP PRICES PAID BEST PRICES PAID INSTANT CASH INSTANT CASH SETTLEMENT CAB HIRE ALSO AVAILABLE PLEASE CALL ANYTIME 07877 093 866 PETER: 01322 669 081 07956 293 748 JASON: 07836 250 222 FORMORRIS TYRE SERVICES SALE: Unbelievable Prices TX4 elegance, TX / VITO REMOULDS 2014, black, one yrs plate, £38.50+VAT one year warranty: £31,850 TEL: 0207 231 5857 72 ENID STREET, BERMONDSEY, LONDON, SE16 3RA Call: 07592086248www.lcdc.cab