Morocco winter sun half board holiday from £249pp - 7nts 4* hotel & flights

Ahoy pirates, check out this great holiday in Agadir in Morocco we have come across on our cool holiday finder. You will stay for a week of winter sun in a 4* hotel on a half board basis, meaning you will receive 2 meals each day in with the price of your stay. Holiday details… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

My heart is in Havana: Flights to the Cuban capital from £310rtn

Pirates, have a glance at our Flights Finder for deals that are hotter than the hottest salsa rhytms! Today we're eyeing up flights to Havana (ooh na na), capital of the Caribbean island of Cuba - one of the world's most fascinating destinations right now! The cheapest options depart in October and November, giving you… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Luxe 4* Mauritius half board holiday 7nts from £1,089pp - incl. iconic resort & Emirates flights

Ahoy mateys! We've just laid eyes on this awesomely priced Mauritius half board holiday for next year, placing you at the iconic 4* Mauricia Beachcomber in the sun-drenched Grand Baie. The resort features 2 restaurants and a pool bar surrounded by 2 infinity pools and sweeping views of the crystal clear ocean. What more can… Castaway_Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Beachfront luxury in Dubai from £581pp: 5nt stay - incl. 5* The Palm hotel & Emirates flights

Last minute sun in the United Arab Emirates is just a couple of clicks away mateys, just follow our advice and you can be relaxing in the lap of luxury before you know it. You can get direct flights to Dubai -- including checked bags -- and 5 nights in a luxury 5* hotel on… Captain_Niamh POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Chic Ibiza 5* escape: 3nts in autumn from £278pp incl. flights & hotel near the beach

It's not too late to grab your time in the sun in 2018 Pirates. For example you can stay in 5* luxury, near the beaches that make Ibiza so famous, this October for less than £300pp. The Sir Joan Hotel is a quirky looking accommodation with roof top views over the beach. The 5* establishment… Worlds_End_Gem POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Sophistication in Sofia: 3nt Xmas market minibreak from £168pp incl. 5* hotel & flights

Ahoy mateys - Bulgaria is a truly pirate-style destination: much to see, great Christmas markets and delicious food - all at a much lower price once you get there. Try out this minibreak: 3 nights in pretty Sofia from £168pp including the 5* Sofia Hotel Balkan & flights. Holiday details Travel duration: 3 nights (longer… Bosun-Dawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Spa & Sightseeing: 5* Lake Garda spa break 2nts from £184pp - incl. flights, hotel & breakfast

Ahoy mateys! Combine a luxurious spa break with some sightseeing and scenic lake-views for this next deal. We're sending you to Italy's Lake Garda with a stay at the top-rated 5* Grand Hotel Terme in Sirmione, just a short stroll from the quaint historic centre with the beautiful Scaliger Castle, with breakfast and spa access… Castaway_Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Member of the public calls 999 to have Private Hire Operator arrested for not having any cars available

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Surrey police have issued a statement via their Facebook page reminding the general public to only call 999 in a state of emergency after they received a phonecall reporting a local minicab firm because they never had any available cars to come and pick them up.

Although rushing down to the local pub to get a few pints under your belt may seem like an emergency to some, your lack of modes of transport is not considered an urgent matter by the police force.

Surrey police said in their statement :

"We received a 999 call from a member of the public asking us to come arrest a taxi company because they didn't have any cars available."While we get that not being able to get a taxi can be a bit frustrating, we don't need to know about it and it is not a policing matter and does not warrant a call to 999.""Only call 999 if you or someone else is in immediate danger, or if the crime is happening right now."

August 29, 2018 at 03:23PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Luxe Rhodes getaway from £297pp - 6nts 5* hotel, breakfast & flights

Ahoy pirates, fancy a luxury getaway in Greece in late season staying in a stunning 5* hotel for 6 days in the sun. We have come across this great holiday in Rhodes with breakfast included each morning of your stay for under £300 per person. Holiday details Travel duration: 6 nights (longer or shorter stays… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

We're in awe of open-jaw: Fly to San Francisco & back from Las Vegas from £305 return

Pirates, we've spotted some proper bargain flights to the USA on our flights finder, which will hopefully make you happy! You can fly from the UK to San Francisco, and home from Las Vegas (this itinerary is known as open-jaw) from just £305 return -- including some dates in 2019. You'll need to find your… Captain_Niamh POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

2-in-1 fun: Amsterdam & Rome 4nt/6nt break from £149pp - incl. hotels & flights

Pizza followed by stroopwaffels? Today's great offer from TourCenter will see you visiting both Rome and Amsterdam - two of Europe's coolest city breaks in one fell swoop! This package includes hotels in both cities as well as all flights. There are options to get away for 4 or 6 nights. Departures are available between… Samcana POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Winter warmer: Flights to Malta from only £33 return

Pirates, how do you fancy heading to Malta this winter and escaping from the cold of the UK? We have come across these super cheap flights for under £35 return. There are flights in October through to December and you can fly from a choice of departure airports. Why not visit Valletta which is the… Lola POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Manchester cabbie has licence revoked for watching porn whilst working

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A cabbie in Manchester has had his taxi licence revoked after accessing porn on his mobile phone whilst carrying passengers.

On Febraury 2018, 64 year old Mohammad Deinali from Wythenshaw had picked up a passenger and his 10 year old daughter from Manchester Airport and asked to go to an address in Altrincham.

The court heard that troughout the entire length of the journey, Mr Denali had been watching pornography, and on one occasion he had nearly collided with anoth vehicle due to being distracted.

The passenger reported the incident and Mr Deinali's phone was inspected by council officers, who had found that the cabbie had been accessing pornography for most of the day.

The cabbie had his licence revoked after a council hearing in April 2018. The revocation was subsequently appealed against.

Manchester City Councils decision was upheld and Manchester Magistrate's Court and Mr Deinali was ordered to pay £250 in court costs as well as having his licence revoked.

August 29, 2018 at 11:36AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

End-of-season Menorca from £136pp - incl. 7nts apartment, flights, bags & transfers (2-6 share)

If you are still looking for a last minute getaway we may have the holiday for you, this Menorca self-catering holiday is based on 2, 4 or 6 sharing and even includes luggage and transfers in the price. While the dates are most definitely Autumn, the temperatures should still be in the mid-20's during this… Captain_Niamh POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Uber’s shift to scooters “will not end successfully” says Zoom

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Uber’s chief executive has said it will switch its focus from taxis to electric bikes and scooters in order to grow its global business.

The app has said it will promote the different methods of transport which can work better in inner cities, with Dara Khosrowshahi telling the Financial Times that whilst the move would cost Uber in the short term, in the long term it would be better for cities, users and the company. “During rush-hour, it is very inefficient for a one-ton hulk of metal to take one person 10 blocks,” he said. Uber has added e-bikes to its app in some US cities and spent about another $200m to buy the bike-sharing firm Jump earlier this year. It has also invested in the electric scooter firm Lime.

Speaking to Sky News, Zoom.taxi’s chief operating officer Fareed Baloch said he did not think the move would be hugely successful for the company. “Uber’s biggest competition was car ownership but for scooters the biggest competition is self contained areas where people live and work in close proximity so there is probably no need for scooters or e-bikes,” he said in a live interview. “I have heard quite a lot of people say that the e-bikes are greener and these will make our roads less congested. If you are comparing a scooter with cars then yes they are greener, but if you are comparing them with people walking or peddling then no they are not. “I believe they will face quite a few challenges pushing this forward,” he added. “We have seen the example in the past of Segway, where they came up with the ambition to replace cars the way cars replaced horses but that failed because people didn’t feel safe using that kind of product. So I have doubts that this move will work for them – but of course they are experimenting. Eventually it’s the market that decides.” With the average taxi journey about three miles inside a city, Uber’s argument is that it is easier to jump on a scooter than sit in a traffic jam. But Mr Baloch pointed out that first of all, city regulations would require all passengers to wear a helmet which may not be provided by the company and thus would be a large barrier to entry into the market. “The younger generation are happier to walk because they think that is healthier rather than get a scooter to do a short journey. I think it is in line with their idea of a healthy lifestyle which is going to be a big challenge for Uber.” Responding to questions from the presenter that all transport firms’ biggest competition is from car ownership, Mr Baloch said that in his many years’ experience of working in the industry there had not been a significant knock on effect of increased transport for hire and lower car ownership. “Very few people use Uber the way Uber initially wanted because they thought they could conquer the industry and all the small local players would be out of the market – which didn’t happen. “Most of the drivers for Uber work for the local companies and when we talk to them they say they don’t think they are getting paid more working for Uber than working with their local private hire company. In fact, they are working more but getting paid less which is one of the reasons why we haven’t seen all of the local operators being pushed out of the market.”

August 29, 2018 at 10:19AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Fareed Baloch - zoom.taxi THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Iconic New Yorker 4nt trip from £419pp (4-share) or £482pp (2-share) - incl. flights & 4* hotel

Grab your squad for the holiday of a lifetime, staying at the 4* New Yorker hotel in Midtown and with return flights, for as little as £419 per person, based on 4 sharing. A deposit of just £79pp secures this amazing deal. Couples can also travel from £482 per person, based on 2 sharing, and… Captain_Niamh POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Better space for cyclists and pedestrians shouldn’t be at the expense of taxis says LTDA

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The LTDA has recently submitted its response to the City of London’s transport strategy, which aims to improve access for cyclists and pedestrians. We have highlighted areas where we think the plans will have a positive effect, but also some areas where it be detrimental to the way we work. We recognise City’s ambition to make the area more pleasant and accommodating to cyclists and pedestrians. The spread of private hire vehicles has contributed to increased pollution and congestion on London’s roads, resulting in worsening air quality, reduced safety and a worse experience for cyclists and pedestrians. The LTDA recognises the health and wellbeing benefits of walking and cycling, but notes that these benefits are not equally available to all. In particular, walking and cycling may not be practical for road users with disabilities and visual impairments, and may not be a feasible transport mode for certain lifestyles, including certain professions and those with young children. With this in mind, measures aimed at improving walking and cycling in the City should not create unnecessary barriers to the use of public transport modes such as licensed taxis, and should instead support a vibrant and high-quality transport system which provides a range of options that suit a diverse population and its needs. Cycling infrastructure We support segregated spaces for cyclists, but the LTDA’s experience with Cycle Superhighways is that due consideration is not given to other road users in terms of the allocation of limited road space, which disproportionately harms disabled and restricted mobility road users. The capacity of several roads to accommodate traffic has been reduced, for instance, to single lanes of traffic in order to allocate more space to cyclists through the introduction of wide permanent cycle lanes in key transport arteries, such as Victoria Embankment. We have highlighted our concerns that the reduction in capacity of crucial routes increases congestion. This leads to taxi passengers having to endure longer journeys and paying higher fares. To support an efficient public transportation system, taxis need to be able to provide a door- to-door service, and require convenient and safe drop-off points. However, several of the initiatives already implemented have reduced the number of bus lanes available to taxis. Bus lanes provide a safe location to unload taxi passengers and to allow them to exit the taxi without stepping out into traffic. The loss of drop-off points presents a threat to the safety of our passengers and stops taxis from offering a door-to-door service to passengers, making journeys less convenient and more dangerous. It is also essential that new cycling infrastructure does not reduce taxi rank numbers, and that where taxi ranks are relocated in order to accommodate cycling infrastructure, they are of the same capacity as those being removed and are conveniently located. Taxi rank availability reduces congestion and pollution through a reduction in “rat-running” of taxis and idling. It also makes it easy for passengers to locate and board taxis. Cycling infrastructure which necessitates a loss in rank space is detrimental to the taxi trade and its passengers and must be avoided. The competing needs of different road users must be considered.

Accessibility

The LTDA agrees with City that public transport should accessible and welcoming to all. All London’s licensed taxis are wheelchair accessible. Indeed, we are the only form of transport currently on London’s roads which are fully accessible, and guide-dog friendly. Measures adopted under or proposed through the Transport Strategy must not worsen accessibility for people. Taxis form an important part of the public transportation system and it is imperative that taxis continue to have a key, strategic role in any solution. Safety Safety is of course paramount, but it is important to ensure that any measures adopted are aimed at the causes of collisions and incidents and are evidence-based. With this in mind, it should be noted that licensed taxis are amongst the safest forms of public transport. TfL’s own data shows that taxi and private hire vehicles cause amongst the lowest numbers of collisions in London, and in the City of London in particular. According to data collected by Transport for London in 2016 (the most recent data available), taxi or private hire vehicles were involved in: one serious casualty in the City of London out of the 51 of such casualties which occurred that year; 20 slight casualties compared to 354 across all road user types; and no fatal casualties. TfL data does not distinguish between incidents involving licensed taxis and incidents involving private hire vehicles, meaning that the numbers of incidents involving taxis is likely to be even lower than this. Improving the safety of public transport in the City of London for all road users and improving the travel experience for all are both of utmost importance. However, there must be a sufficient evidence base for any measures adopted by the Corporation. The data currently available suggests that measures which have the effect of restricting or limiting taxi access or mobility are unlikely to improve road safety. Air quality Encouraging the take-up of low-emissions and emissions-free modes of travel is essential to supporting a healthier and cleaner public transportation network – a fact long recognised by the LTDA and demonstrated by its commitment to the take-up of new zero- emissions capable models of taxi. However, this ambition, shared by the mayor, local authorities, TfL and others, can be threatened by poor transport planning. As previously stated, the reduction in road space often included in proposals for new cycling infrastructure can lead to increases in congestion and longer journey times. Increased journey times result in vehicles idling on roads for longer periods of time and increasing pollution. This is of concern to the LTDA and its members, who suffer the consequences of poor air quality when working. The reduction of road space available to taxis results in lost fare income. Ultimately, this will serve to delay the take-up of zero-emissions capable models of taxi as drivers will struggle to raise the capital required to purchase new vehicles. Ultimately, limiting taxi access or mobility may result in worse air quality and higher levels of pollution. In the long-term, this can be avoided by ensuring that the optimum conditions are in place to ensure a thriving taxi industry.

August 29, 2018 at 09:41AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Richard Massett - LTDA THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Slinky Cyprus: 4nts winter break from £201pp incl. 5* hotel, breakfast & flights

Pirates, slip off to Cyprus with a 4-night winter break from £201pp including the 5* Golden Bay Beach hotel, breakfast & flights. This posh hotel has a massive pool, spa facilities and a gorgeous beachside location, so it's a great spot for a winter escape for you and a loved one. Holiday details Travel duration:… Bosun-Dawes POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Stylish 4* West London stay from £44.50pp - 2 restaurants & spa on-site

Ahoy mateys! Treat yourself and someone you care about to a stylish stay in the capital this autumn. We found a string of cheap Sunday rates over at the luxe 4* Hotel Dorsett Shepherd's Bush just next to Westfield shopping centre and with easy access to Notting Hill, Earls Court, Kensington and Olympia. Prices… Castaway_Cee POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Taxi demos continue in Newcastle as angry cabbies descend on Eldon Square

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Angry cabbies have descended on a rank between Haymarket and Eldon Square for the second time in a week as their dispute with Newcastle City Council continues to bubble over.The taxi drivers, who also protested last Thursday, in what was dubbed as "go to work day" are taking the council to task over shrinking rank space, an over subscription of private hire licenses and lack of enforcement.The action was called by the The Newcastle Hackney Carriage Drivers Association in response to the councils lack of action surrounding all of the issues.The council are believed to now be working with the NHCDA in identifying potential rank space. This is tempered by Newcastle City Council stating that they can do nothing about PHV numbers due to the lack of legislation surrounding the issue, echoing many areas across the UK.In an earlier statement by the NHCDA the group said: “The Newcastle Hackney carriage Drivers Association, the main body representing the city’s hackney carriage trade, has decided to exercise the right of all hackney carriage drivers by having a Go to Work Day to highlight the difficulties of having insufficient rank spaces within the city centre.“The hackney carriage trade has suffered serious setbacks as a direct result of Newcastle City Council removing ranks without prior consultation or involvement from drivers.“The recent closure of the taxi rank at The Gate, in particular, has created substantial difficulties for hackney carriage vehicles to move around the city and this is further exacerbated by limited or restricted access through bus lanes and gates.“This, together with the historic closure of ranks, has caused an accumulation of problems and the hackney carriage industry feels that essential driving routes, whilst transporting members of the public, have become complicated and with increased fares, and therefore not in the interests of public safety or convenience.“Hackney carriage drivers are keen to address the problems of insufficient rank spaces provided by Newcastle City Council.“The difficulties of finding spaces which are accessible to members of the public, particularly at weekends, has a direct effect on traffic congestion and traffic flow.“This is also impacted by the numbers of private hire vehicles which illegally park up and ply for hire preventing the hackney carriage trade from legally working.“The numbers of private hire licences issued by the Licensing Department have increased threefold in as many years due to reductions in the criteria for issuing private hire licences.“The city centre, at weekends, is flooded with private hire drivers accepting non pre-booked work and whilst there may be difficulties managing and policing this, the hackney carriage industry firmly believe it is the responsibility of the local authority to prevent this from occurring.“The resulting issues with traffic congestion, public safety, air quality and pollution, which are known agendas for Newcastle City Council, should be tied in with their licensing policies and practices, otherwise their members are being counter-productive.“Whilst the hackney carriage industry recognises and welcomes Newcastle City Council’s plan to further pedestrianise the city centre and increase access to shopping, leisure and tourism, drivers want members of the public to be aware of and able to use a Black Cab as an official emblem of the city and an integral part of the city centre’s transport system.”

August 29, 2018 at 08:49AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT