PH Operator Caught Touting On Street, Using Four Operatives Outside The Royal Albert Hall.

Yesterday afternoon, we witnessed four males giving out leaflets with s voucher offering FREE TAXIS to people around the Royal Albert Hall. The men were all wearing a T-shirt advertising Via-van. 

We asked TfL on Twitter, are Via Van a licensed operator and if this was acceptable and this was their reply: 

Yes Via Van is a licensed private hire operator what you witnessed was far from acceptable please report all you saw and heard to us by using tfl.gov.uk/tph.report.

Below is a video of just one of four of them, they were there for over half an hour and must have handed out hundreds of vouchers to people going into the Albert hall, he has the via van logo on his shirt.

    

He was standing right beside the Albert hall’s licensed taxi rank shouting repeatedly "free taxi". It’s blatant touting and misleading the public (they don’t supply taxis)

If TfL let them get away this what’s to stop other minicab firms doing this at major taxi ranks in London?

Via Vans licence should be immediately revoked for touting in a public place. 

TfL say they have passed this on to compliance but also stress that should you see this happening, you should use the form on tfl.gov.uk/tph.report. to report. 

TAXI LEAKS EXTRA BIT :

TfL haven’t got a great track record with this kind of touting offence. Uber were doing the same thing outside the Evening Standard Awards at tobacco doc. Many drivers took photos and complained but nothing happened.

Also, while John Mason was Director of TPH a private hire company was giving passengers free rides home from ranks in central London. The company played advertising videos to the passengers on rout. Mason refused to do anything about it. 

We must contact our orgs and make sure this corporate touting is followed up by TfL and isn't swept under the carpet. 

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Majorca late season holiday from £199pp - 6nts 4* hotel, breakfast & flights

Pirates, you can't beat Spain for a bargain break, take a look at this holiday in Majorca we have come across. The Spanish holiday is under £200 per person and is for 6 nights but you can easily stay longer if you wish - and why not we say! Breakfast is included each morning of… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Drink Driver jailed for killing 76 year old Taxi driver

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A drink driver has been jailed for seven years for killing a 76 year old Taxi driver in Scotland.

Slavi Todorov, 34, was found to be almost three times over the legal drink drive limit at the time of the collision after spending the night drinking Vodka at his brother-in-law's house. The crash happened on 9 July last year near Ayr. Todorov drove his vehicle on the wrong side of the road which led to the collision with Taxi driver, Mr Mackie. Eye witnesses alerted the police who attended the wreckage on the A70 Coylton to Ayr road where they found Todorov in the drivers seat of his Range Rover Evoque.

The 76-year-old victim was trapped between the steering wheel and drivers seat of his Taxi and subsequently died from his injuries later in hospital.

Judge Lord Ericht told Todorov at the High Court in Edinburgh:

"Consumption of substantial amounts of alcohol had grossly impaired your driving.

"You were around three times over the drink drive limit."

According to a report in the BBC, Todorov had an alcohol count of 64 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The limit is 22 microgrammes.

Todorov's inconsiderate actions has deprived Mr Mackie's wife of spending the remainder of their lives together. They had known one another for almost 57 years.

Along with his 7 year jail sentence, Todorov has also been banned from driving for 10 years and ordered to sit an extended test before returning to the road.

August 07, 2018 at 03:37PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

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Edinburgh joins the list of cities launching EV Taxi technology

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The world’s most advanced electric taxis, designed and built in the UK, have started appearing on the streets of Edinburgh, thanks to a deal that has been signed by the city’s Union Motor Company.

As a result, these TX eCitys, which promise to dramatically cut driver’s fuel bills, will increasing appear on the capital’s roads. The first TX was handed over to the Edinburgh cabbie, David McMillan, as part of the opening of the new dealership.LEVC’s TX is a range-extended electric vehicle – which this means that the vehicle is only ever driven by its powerful electric motor. However, there is a small petrol engine on-board which can top-up the battery, should the driver be unable to charge. This technology will give drivers a range of up to 377 miles, and a zero emissions range of 80.6 miles.

Mr McMillan, who usually covers 100 miles a day, estimates that he will save £458 per month from making the switch. Further cost savings come from service intervals that jump from 12,000 miles to 25,000 miles.David McMillan, 67 and a cab driver of 7 years, said: “These types of vehicle are the future – promising a smoother, more comfortable ride for passengers and will help clean up cities too. The fact I will be financially better off is a big bonus too.”Mr McMillan has always embraced the latest technological advances in the taxi trade and is currently available to hire through Gett, the global ride sharing app, which has been allowing passengers in Edinburgh to book a ride in a couple of taps in the app since 2015.Union Motor Company, who have operated in Edinburgh for 22 years work with a variety of car brands, have been chosen by LEVC to sell and service the next taxi in the city. The business was chosen because of its commitment to the EV transition as well as its long-standing positive relationship with Edinburgh taxi trade.Danny Flynn, founder of The Union Motor Company, said: “This is the future of all vehicles – they will be essential to protect our urban environment and improve air quality. We have always been a forward-thinking company and we like to be involved in the pioneering of any new technology. We are very excited to come on board and work on the new electric taxi and LEVC.”The Union Motor Company have installed 2 electric charge points at both their retail sites and have employed four new members of staff to sell and service the vehicle. In addition, several staff members have undergone rigorous training to ensure they are ready to service these electric vehicles.Chris Gubbey, CEO of LEVC said: “Our purpose-built, passenger focused taxi, has been designed with the intention of getting more people in the back of cabs – offering the safest, cleanest, quietest and smoothest taxi ride yet. We are delighted to have had the support of Union Motor Company to deliver this vision for the taxi trade in Edinburgh – and I look forward to hearing about how drivers all get on in the new cab.”

August 07, 2018 at 02:33PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

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Ola announces plans to enter UK taxi and private hire market

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Ola, one of the world’s largest ride-hailing companies, and India’s most popular, today announced its plans to enter the UK market. Ola has obtained licences to operate in South Wales and Greater Manchester, and will launch operations in South Wales within the next month. Ola says it will be the only ride-hailing app in the UK that offers passengers the option of PHVs and Black Cabs through one consumer-friendly platform, which will in future see additional transportation options incorporated for greater passenger choice. The company is working with local authorities across the UK to expand nationwide by end of 2018.Ola states that it places drivers at the heart of its approach, providing the industry’s leading commissions, resulting in higher earnings and daily payments. Ola seeks to lead the industry with its approach to passenger safety including DBS screened drivers and processes such as 24/7 voice support, options to share ride details with emergency contacts and in-app emergency features. Bhavish Aggarwal, Co-Founder & CEO of Ola, commented: “Ola is excited to announce its plans for the UK, one of the world’s most evolved transportation markets. The UK is a fantastic place to do business and we look forward to providing a responsible, compelling, new service that can help the country meet its ever demanding mobility needs. We look forward to our continued engagement with policymakers and regulators as we expand across the country and build a company embedded in the UK.”Ola’s entry into the UK follows its launch in Australia in February 2018, where it now operates in seven major cities. Over 40,000 drivers across Australia have registered since its launch in February and have completed millions of rides. Ola now conducts 1 billion rides each year globally, with more than 1 million drivers and 125 million customers in over 110 cities.

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Frequently Asked Questions: What does the group action mean for me?

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Will I incur any costs or legal fees for taking part?

No. The claim will be entirely funded by a third-party funder, Harbour Litigation Funding, subject to a minimum number of drivers signing up to participate. Harbour Litigation Funding will pay all of the participating licensed taxi drivers’ costs of bringing the claim. There will also be an insurance policy to protect against exposure to Uber’s costs, should the company successfully defend the claim. If the group action is successful and compensation is received, Harbour Litigation Funding will receive a share of each participant’s damages received with the large majority being returned to the claimants. If the group action is unsuccessful, you will not have to repay Harbour any money.

Can I remove myself from the group action at any point?

Once you have agreed to participate in the claim, you can still remove yourself from the action but there may be a cost to you in doing so.

What happens if we win the group action, and what will I gain?

If the group action is successful, each claimant who has participated will be awarded a share of damages, less the share of proceeds returned to Harbour Litigation Funding to cover the costs of the dispute.

What happens if we lose the group action, and how will it impact me?

We have secured funding from a Harbour Litigation Funding, a leading litigation funder, subject to a minimum amount of licensed taxi drivers signing up to participate. This means that if the claim proceeds, you will not have to pay your own legal fees, whether the group action is successful or not. There will also be an insurance policy to protect against any exposure to Uber’s costs, should the company successfully defend the claim.

Are there any other risks associated with me taking part?

We do not anticipate any other financial risks to you from taking part in the group action.

Can I publicly talk about my involvement in the group action, to my friends and family, or on social media?

While we are not restricting participants from discussing the group action with friends and family or online, this will be a legal case. As such we advise caution in saying anything that could prejudice the result of the group action.

There has already been some media coverage of this. If I participate, will I be contacted by journalists? Will I be expected to talk to them?

All requests from journalists will be handled by Newington Communications. If you would like to act as a spokesperson or provide a case study to the media about how Uber’s operations have affected you, you can volunteer to do this, but you will not be asked to speak to the media if you do not want to.

Is the action open to retired drivers?

If you are retired, you may be able to participate in the group action. You would need to have been working as a taxi driver in the period that Uber has been operating in London, in order to demonstrate the loss of earnings sustained. As such, drivers who retired before 2012 are excluded from this group action.

Is the action open to businesses within the trade, or just individuals?

At the moment the claim is focused on individual licensed taxi drivers in London but we continue to consider other possible claimants.

August 07, 2018 at 12:27AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

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