Flights to lovely Lisbon from only £37 return

Pirates, if you are looking for a cool city break, these are the flights for you, we have come across these bargain flights to Lisbon that won't break the bank. Team some cheap flights with a great hotel and you have your self a nice little getaway to lovely Lisbon. Use our flights finder for… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Pride 2018: Ride with Pride

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This years Pride will take place on Saturday July 7th and begins at Portland Place finishing up at Trafalgar Square.For London cabbie Ian Beetlestone this weekends event holds a special place in his heart having taken part in the parade in a specially designed London Taxi.The first official UK Gay Pride rally was held in July 1972, inspired by the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York. It became an annual fixture in London’s calendar, and by 2007 it had swollen to one of the largest and most prominent pride events in the world – and it’s still growing! It provides a platform for everyone from the diverse spectrum of London’s LGBT+ community to raise awareness on issues they still face, and to celebrate what has already been achieved.

Back in October 2013 Ian Beetlestone wrote his first blog post about picking up the Bishop of Salisbury, the Church of England’s first bishop to back same-sex marriage. He wrote about the stereotypical idea of the London cabbie as a man of socially illiberal views and fantasised about what a positive message about the trade it would send to drive around in a rainbow cab in solidarity with the LGBT rights movement.In January 2015 he resolved to get more involved in the gay community and contacted Martyn Loukes, chair of TfL’s LGBT network OUTbound, with a view to making his rainbow cab dream a reality. His suggestion was that he drove his cab in TfL’s entry into the Pride parade in June 2015, and that the cab was covered with a rainbow livery for the occasion. Martyn was instantly keen and both got cracking on making it happen.TfL designed the livery along the same lines as that of the number 8 bus already in service, taxi advertising firm Ubiquitous sponsored the fitting, and Ian’s gracious gaffer Howard at Easyrentacab in Bethnal Green gave permission for his cab to be wrapped and driven in the parade.Ian said in his blog: “It is such a thrill to drive this cab. It has changed my job. I am constantly photographed as I go around town. People point, stare, smile; I hear them reading out loud as I go by, “Ride with Pride? Ride with Pride!” I get thumbs ups. People shout, “Love it!” as I pass. The positive response from pedestrians, passengers and other cabbies has been overwhelming.

“It is very nice indeed that despite the current, many and much discussed elsewhere disagreements between TfL and the taxi trade, we have been able to work together to make this happen. I am absolutely delighted that for the first time, this year a hackney carriage will be parading with TfL in Pride alongside a Routemaster bus, right at the heart of the London transport family, which is exactly where we should be.”

Ian still drives his “Ride with Pride” taxi and has teamed up with London Taxi PR to help deliver a positive social media campaign during this years Pride weekend.Check out Ian’s fantastic blog for more stories here.

July 05, 2018 at 05:44PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Winter warmer: 4nt B&B break in 5* Fuerteventura Sheraton hotel w/ flights from £338pp

Set your sights on the 5* lifestyle this winter Pirates! Because we have found this glorious mini break to Fuerteventura in January. Jet off to the Canaries and stay in the 5* Sheraton Beach, Golf & Spa Resort for 4 nights. The resort has wonderful views out onto the sea so you can relax in… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Energiewende Taxi! TX enters respected Berlin market

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London EV Company has launched it’s electric taxi, the TX, in Berlin – and has announced its intention to partner with Volvo Germany to sell and distribute the vehicle.The TX combines cutting-edge technology with classic British design. The vehicle is intended to play a role in Germany’s energy transition, helping operators move away from conventional fossil fuel powered vehicles, reducing their carbon footprint and improving air quality in cities across Germany. This a timely arrival for the vehicle – as Germany risks missing its 2020 carbon reduction targets due to the carbon intensity of its road transport network.

Speaking at the launch event, Carl-Peter Forster, Chairman of LEVC said:“Everyone is realising that the goals of the “energy transition” and improvement of air quality can only be achieved if more electric cars drive on German roads. We can help with our TX.”

All LEVC products include eCity technology - an advanced battery electric powertrain with a small back-up petrol generator. Applied to the all-new TX, the technology allows for a range of 640km (377 miles) including up to 130km (80 miles) pure electric range.

A trusted partnerLaunching a new brand in a new country requires a trusted partner, and for that reason, LEVC is proud to announce that it will be working with Volvo Germany to import, sell and maintain this vehicle. This makes use of the technology synergies between the two brands.

Thomas Bauch, CEO of Volvo Cars Germany said:“Volvo Cara Germany and LEVC will work closely together in marketing and service in Germany. The drivers can therefore fall back on the Volvo network after the conclusion of the contract negotiations.”

July 05, 2018 at 04:28PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Bargain flights to Reykjavik in Iceland from only £35 return

Pirates, Iceland is calling, check out these mega cheap flights to Reykjavik we have found for just £35 return! Wow! These flights are from London and you can also fly from Edinburgh - use our flights tool for all options. There are many dates available at great prices so get booking as these prices are… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

London: Weekly TfL roads and events update

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Brewer Street - Monday 25 June - Friday 27 July 2018 • There will be a road closure on Brewer Street between Wardour Street and Lexington Street for public realm works • Brewer Street (Madam Jojo) taxi rank will be inaccessible and will be suspended for this period of time • There will be no vehicle access during this period of timeCharlie Brown’s Roundabout - Monday 9 July - Monday 23 July • From 21:00 until 05:00 every weekday from Monday 9 until Monday 23 July, works will take place to improve the roundabout to minimise traffic disruption • The A406 will have lane closures clockwise/eastbound and the Southend Road off-slip will be closed between the junction and Lechmere Avenue • Chigwell Road (north) will be access only between Broadmead Road and Raven Road junctions with no access to the A1400 • There will be no access to or from Latchett Road and Maybank Road from the A1400 Southend Road • Alternative diversion routes will be sign-posted on the siteVictoria Embankment • Cadent Gas is due to carry out essential gas works on Victoria Embankment by Blackfriars Underpass from 6 August until mid-September 2018. As a result, Victoria Embankment will be closed westbound between Southwark Bridge and Westminster Bridge. Read more to find information on alternative travel routes and how you will be affected

Wimbledon Tennis Championships • The Wimbledon Tennis Championships are currently taking place until Sunday 15 July. Read our notice about special arrangements in place for taxi and private hire vehicles during the tournament.Finsbury Park - Wireless Festival - Friday 6, Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 July • The taxi rank in Finsbury Park Station will be suspended from 21:00 until 23:30 on the Friday and Saturday and from 20:30 until 22:30 on the Sunday • There will be a temporary taxi rank in the suspended bus stop on Green Lanes (directly opposite Manor House Station) • There will be a pre-booked PHV area in Osborne RoadBST Music Concerts - Friday 6, Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 July • The first weekend of British Summertime (BST) concerts takes place in Hyde Park, with doors opening at 13:00 on Friday, 12:30 on Saturday and 12:00 on Sunday. Last entry on all days at 21:00. Up to 50,000 people are expected to attend on Friday, and 65,000 people are expected to attend on both Saturday and Sunday • From 21:00 until 23:45, Park Lane may be closed between Marble Arch and Hyde Park Corner and the eastbound up-slip from Knightsbridge to Hyde Park Corner. This is to assist with post-event egress • If the closures are implemented, traffic will be diverted via Hyde Park Corner Underpass • Police units will be in attendance to assist with traffic movements on Marble Arch and Hyde Park CornerPride London - Saturday 7 July 2018 • There will be various road closures in place to facilitate the parade through Westminster • The parade will form up in Portland Place from 08:00 and is due to start at 13:00. The route will take the parade via Regent Street, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street St. James’s, Pall Mall, Cockspur Street and Trafalgar Square into Whitehall where it will disperse at the junction with Whitehall Place by 16:30 • From 07:30, Hostile Vehicle Measures (HVM) will be implemented to facilitate security measures prior to the form up • Full road closures will be implemented along the remainder of the route and adjoining roads from 10:30, with all closures expected to be in place by 12:00 • Road closures in Pall Mall East and around Soho will be implemented from 06:00 and will be removed as soon as it is safe to do so once the events have included, crowds have dispersed and cleansing has been completed. Historically, these roads do not reopen until 02:00 on the Sunday morningSummer Streets, Regent Street - Sunday 8 July • The second annual Summer Streets event will take place from 12:00 until 18:00 • To facilitate this car-free day event, Regent Street will be closed in both directions from Piccadilly Circus to Oxford Street between 08:00 and 20:00 • Additionally, Regent Street will be closed southbound from the junction with Mortimer Street to all traffic except London buses • New Burlington Street will be closed between 05:00 and 21:00. There will be associated closures or restrictions on adjacent roads.

July 05, 2018 at 03:19PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Super plush beachfront Ibiza break: 3nts B&B from £216pp incl. flights & stylish beachfront hotel

Looking for somewhere to get away to that'll match your fashionista lifestyle? Then we think a mini break at the 4* Sol Beach House Ibiza is the perfect solution. Looking out over the ocean, this modern accommodation is perfect for a few days away to escape the oncoming autumn weather of the UK. Holiday details:… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

New York flights from £244 return: Christmas & New Years Eve dates from many UK cities

We have found incredible flight fares to New York from multiple cities in the UK just £244 return -- including early December, Christmas and New Years dates. Our flights finder is throwing up amazing prices in November, December and January. These flights are operated by multiple airlines, including British Airways, KLM and Norwegian. Some may… Michael POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Family holiday in Orlando Florida from £389pp - 7nts 3* hotel & flights (couples from £456pp)

Ahoy there pirates, we have come across this really cheap holiday in Orlando Florida. The holiday departs in September and there are super prices throughout September and October! They are based on a family of 4 sharing with other party sizes at great prices too. If you wish to stay longer you can with 14… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Summer flights to Brussels from only £24 return

Pirates, if any of you fancy heading over to Belgium this summer then take a look at these cheap flights to Brussels we have found. You can get return flights for as little as £24, book these flights, bag a hotel and you're off to Belgium. The flights are from Manchester, but there are also… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Crazy cheap Corfu summer getaway from £222pp - 7nts beach hotel, flights, luggage & transfers

Ahoy pirates, we have found this real bargain holiday in Corfu in Greece staying for a week in the sunshine. The holiday departs at the end of August and you will stay in a hotel located right on the beachfront. Holiday details Travel duration: 7 nights Example date: 31/08 - 08/09 Departure from Aberdeen, Glasgow,… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Extend your summer with a Malaga mini-break: 3nt stay in funky hotel & flights from £216pp

Who says the summer has to end in August? Jet off to Malaga this October and make the most of the late season bargains out there - temperatures are still in the low - mid 20s at this time of year so there's still a chance to get a tan! For 3 nights the 4*… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Incredible last minute bargain: 7nts in Mexico from £340pp incl. top rated aparthotel & flights

Pirates, drop everything and check out this incredibly cheap trip to Mexico... the catch... well you jet off this week! If you're a Pirate who has left it to the 11th hour to book their ideal summer getaway then this deal is for you. Spend 7 nights in the July sunshine, not too far from… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Honeymoon must: 7nts all inclusive in Mauritius from £1011pp incl. flights & beachfront hotel

If you're searching for the perfect honeymoon or if you just need an excuse for a romantic break away - we've found the ideal romantic getaway for you in our treasure chest of goodies! Jet off to Mauritius in this winter from £1011 per person, based on 2 sharing. Sweep your favourite shipmate off their… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

VOLUNTEER TAXI DRIVERS NEEDED... LTFUC Trip To Southend On Sea.

Delightful Dublin mini break from £123pp - 2nts 4* hotel & flights

Pirates, if you are looking for somewhere to go this summer and enjoy a city trip then check out this Dublin getaway we have put together. We have found some cheap flights and teamed them with a cool hotel to put together this bargain deal. How to book: You are required to make payments on… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Plan Insurance: “Will Uber Drivers’ Insurance Be Cancelled?”

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Following the recent hearing and Uber’s admission that they’ve been circumnavigating TfL’s licensing requirements for the past 6 years, we received a lot of queries on social media about whether insurers should pursue Uber for claims payouts during this period. Also, questions have been asked to whether their drivers should have their insurance policies cancelled/voided.It’s important to point out that we aren’t an insurer, and as a broker, we have no vested interest in them doing so or not, but we’ve tried to anticipate what the outcome would be of an insurer pursuing that course of action, in response to the queries we have received.

Can an insurer void a policy?

Due to Article 75, an insurer has the right to void a policy and cease proceedings on the policyholders claim. However, they are still obliged to pay the third party. So, since Uber has been trading for over 5 years now, an insurer would have to go through all its historical claims and contact each person to find out if, at the time of the incident, they were transporting an Uber passenger.This process would take a very long time and cost a lot of money to the insurer! If they did successfully find a driver that matched the criteria, they would then have to take the driver to court. The issue here is that, unless the driver has sufficient income to be in a position to pay, it would be very unlikely that the insurer would get any of its money back. This could, therefore, be a very lengthy and costly process, just to void someone’s policy.So, in theory, they could try and do it; but they would still have to pay the third party cost and then try to retrieve the money back. This would be virtually impossible, as it would cost the insurer much more on top of what they have already paid!Complaining to the Financial Ombudsman (FOS)

Now, if an insurer was to go through the process, and the policyholder was to complain to the FOS, it would look at it and rule in the policyholder’s favour, on the following grounds:

The customer bought the policy in good faith – They were told by TFL they needed XYZ (a Medical, a Vehicle which is licensed, a DBS Check etc.) and insurance which covers their vehicle for Private Hire. They also had no reason to believe that they could not work for Uber; as TFL never said they could not.Also, they would more than likely class the policyholder as a vulnerable customer, particularly if they are on a low income, and English is their second language. The FOS are likely to view it as a “big corporate insurer” trying to squash a “little private hire driver”; and take this into consideration on their decision. You can read more regarding vulnerable customers on the FOS and the FCA’s websites.Lastly, the FOS would also ask:If the driver was an operator would you have still insured them? And the insurer would most likely say YesHad you known he worked for Uber, would you still have insured him? Again most insurers would say Yes

If this was the case, then the FOS would say: “So what is the problem then? You would have insured him, so you can’t now cancel”.It is worth noting here, that the FOS does not look at what is legal or not; they look at what is fair and right. Therefore they would say the policyholder did what he thought was right and acted in ‘Good Faith’ by disclosing all that was asked of him.Pursuing Uber for claims payouts

As we have just explained, going against individual drivers would be a very costly and lengthy approach, and unlikely to be successful for the insurer. They may instead consider actions against Uber or TfL, who allowed the situation to happen.However, as the contract of insurance is between the insurer and the driver, and does not involve Uber or the Regulator, this once again could lead to extremely expensive, long and complex judicial proceedings.To summarise, an insurer can go through the process, but it is very unlikely that they would successfully cancel the policy. Going against individual drivers wouldn’t seem to be cost-effective. Actions may be taken against Uber themselves or the regulators, but this could also lead to very complex judicial proceedings, which is an area of knowledge that goes beyond our area of expertise as an insurance broker.

July 05, 2018 at 07:52AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Uber relaunches a licensed service in Finland after taxi law deregulation

Flushed with success in London, Uber has officially relaunchied in Finland, a year after suspending its primary service in the market — when it said it would wait for taxi laws to be deregulated.

Among the changes it was waiting for are the removal of taxi permit caps and fare restrictions. 

Most parts of the Act came into effect on July 1.

The Finnish government said its intention is to modernize the rules to “significantly enhance the implementation of new technology, digitalisation and new business concepts”, promoting competition and working towards the creation of what it dubbed “seamless, multimodal travel chains” — thanks also to a push in the act for data and systems interoperability and open interfaces.

“This Act will give us a genuine opportunity to make mobility a comprehensive service for customers,” said transport minister Anne Berner last year.

Uber says two services that use professional drivers — uberX and UberBLACK — will operate in the Helsinki capital region in Finland, which it notes will includes Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa and Kauniainen.

Uber is not restarting its unlicensed peer-to-peer service (UberPOP) in the market.

That unlicensed driver option has essentially been outlawed in Europe after the region’s top court ruled in December that Uber is a transport service, not a platform, thereby locking its business into being regulated by existing taxi licensing regimes.

And locking Uber into lobbying city authorities to ‘modernize’ and deregulate taxi rules in its favor — such as by removing permit caps and making it easier for more people to become drivers, Uber intend to flood the market to drive out all competition.

“In the vast majority of the European countries we have been operating under existing transportation laws for years now and were able to scale our business with licensed private hire drivers,” an Uber spokesman told us.

Blogging about the Finland relaunch, Uber talks up the different course it says it’s seeking to chart under new CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, writing: “We’ve set a course for more responsible growth with a new approach to building long-term partnerships with cities and regulators.”

In truth Uber has had its course reset after a series of scandals rocked the company and, in Europe, after myriad legal challenges led to regulatory blowback and ramped up public and political pressure on the company to change.

Those external forces are continuing to reconfigure Uber’s business — and in Europe at least to make it better mesh with local civic values.

In London, the company has made a series of changes to how it operates — such as introducing safety caps on the hours drivers can work — changes it made following a shock decision by the transport regulator to withdraw its license to operate in September 2017.

Last week, the company won an appeal against TfL’s withdrawal of its license based on changes it had made since September 2017, though the judge only granted it a provisional 15-month license — with UK regulators set to continue to scrutinize its conduct closely.

Another example of Uber’s regional reconfiguration: An announcement in May that it would expand accident insurance cover for its drivers and delivery workers across Europe.

Last month the company also said it will bring its Jump e-bike service to Europe — with Khosrowshahi claiming the company wants to help cities tackle traffic-related problems such as air pollution and congestion by increasing access to “cleaner transportation solutions”.

In Helsinki, Uber had intended to keep its UberBlack service going for the past year but a spokeswoman told us it did not have enough drivers to provide a reliable service — so UberBlack has not been operational since the suspension. But will restart later today.

Since last August, Uber says more than 250,000 people in the Helsinki area have opened its app despite there being no service in operation — which it touts as showing “clear demand” for its service.

It also notes that Finnish Uber users have taken more than 200,000 Uber trips abroad during the local market pause.

“We’re excited to use our technology to complement existing public and private transport options and to offer an affordable, safe and reliable alternative to personal car ownership. We hope that other countries, where local people are not currently able to use apps like Uber either to get around or to make money on their terms, will soon follow suit,” Uber adds.

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Violent thug jailed for beating and strangling taxi driver while he was driving at 70mph

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A thug who attacked a taxi driver while they were on a motorway driving at 70mph has been jailed for eight months. Graeme Cox, 30, repeatedly punched and strangled his victim whilst on a journey home from a night out with his girlfriend Ashley McWilliams, nearly causing a huge crash that would of seen all of them in grave danger. Cox, who had been drinking heavily all night while attending a a social function immediately started arguing with the taxi driver, a Mr Ponsonby, as they began their trip. Cox suggested that he had already paid for the journey upfront but the driver said he hadn't. Cox's aggression was clear from the start, taking an "in your face" stance towards his victim. Cox continuously shouted at the driver as they joined the motorway on route to Renfrew. Cox became more and more aggressive eventually lashing out, punching Mr Ponsonby on the left side of his face. The court heard that Cox then grabbed the driver by the neck while he was driving at 70mph. Ms McWilliams frightened for her life shouted "you are going to kill us all". The driver managed to distance himself from Cox, who then opened the passenger door while they were moving before reaching over to punch his victim again. The court heard that on arriving at their destination Ms McWilliams paid the driver and pleaded for him not to report the attack. But later that night police were called to a disturbance when neighbours witnessed Cox attacking McWilliams. He was seen stamping on her body outside the property. The police found Ms McWilliams with marks on her face. She also had no shoes on and her clothes were in a disheveled state. According to a report in the Daily Record, Cox pleaded guilty to charges of culpably and recklessly, while traveling as a passenger, punching Mr Ponsonby at 70mph, seizing him by the throat, opening a door while the vehicle was moving and placing passenger Ms McWilliams at risk of serious harm. He also pleaded guilty to the assault on Ms McWilliams. Sheriff Susan Sinclair sentenced Cox to eight months in jail.

July 04, 2018 at 11:16PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Last minute Cape Verde: 7nt all inclusive escape from £565pp incl. flights, hotel & more

Grab those cases down from the loft quick smart Pirates, because this time next week, you could be sitting by the pool on the African islands of Cape Verde! We've found an incredible bargain getaway for next week that'll tempt you to jet off to the African islands and enjoy round the clock wonderful weather!… GemUK POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT