Taxi drivers ask for increase in tariff during Eid festival and when it snows

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Fares in Wakefield could rise for the first time in seven years which will also include a higher tariff for Eid festival and snow fall over 2cm. The council have been approached by drivers to okay an increase which could see the price of a 10 mile fare rise from £14.60 to £17.10 during the day. The Wakefield Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Drivers Association said that the increase to the hackney fares was due to rising costs and new local authority rules surrounding emissions. Chairman Wajid Ali said: "There's already been a 20 per cent rise in private hire fares recently, so we're catching up with them. “It does mean a higher cost for the public, but these are costs levied by the council that we need to pass on to the consumer.” Wakefield’s taxi drivers are also hoping to include more variables in its “third tariff” currently used during the Christmas and New Year period. Driver’s want to see the highest rate applied when more than 2cm of snow falls and during the Muslim festival of Eid to attract more drivers out to work. However, the council didn’t react well to the proposal and said it was "unacceptable" to force customers to pay more because of snow.

December 03, 2018 at 08:09PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Derision poured on TfLs claims that they are working hard to make travel as easy as possible for disabled people.

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TfL have faced a barrage of derision over their claims that they are making travel across London as easy as possible for disabled people.

Today, being International Disability Day, prompted the following comment from Transport for London via their Twitter feed:

"Today we're wave the purple flag in recognition of people with disabilities #LondonisOpen to everyone and we are working hard to travel around the city as easy and accessible as possible."

There then came, what could only be described as an onslaught, in response to TfLs tweet, with not one single comment supporting their tweet.

@phillipegreen said via Twitter:

"By banning wheelchair accessible London taxis from Bank Junction, Tooley Street, TCR etc how are TfL helping make travel easier for people with disabilities."

@taxidonny said:

"So why is the London taxi trade with every vehicle wheelchair accessible demonstrating today about lack of access to Londons streets."

@john41539411 added

"I hate this type of comment, it's not true two stations nearest me are stairs only to the platform and never staffed."

@HankinsTrever was the only voice to show a modicum of restraint towards TfL saying:

"There is no doubt that this is a good gesture, but it is an empty gesture as TfL are stopping cabs giving a door to door service to disabled passengers by denying Black cabs access to all roads in London. So yet again TfLs words/gestures do not square with their actions.....Disgrace."

TfLs Twitter feed then fell silent on the subject as comment after comment, systematically condemned them over what could only be described as lack of awareness and empathy regarding what has been seen as an attack on the licensed London taxi industry by many from both inside as well as outside of the industry.

Actress Kathy Burke took to Twitter ro plead with TfL, saying:

"Dear @SadiqKhan and @TfL, I know London traffic is a nightmare but is shutting certain roads to the licensed Black taxi really the answer? What about the elderly, the vulnerable pr people with disabilities who NEED a door to door service. Please rethink."

Disability Day, is a day that has been promoted by the United Nations since 1992. The aim of Disability Day is to encourage a better understanding of people affected by a disability, together with helping to make people more aware of the rights, dignity and welfare of disabled people.

Many from within the disabled community as well as carers and taxi drivers will see TfLs comment as a disingenuous slap in the face steeped in hypocrisy, which is given more weight on the basis that the London taxi industry is embarking on its' second wave of protests today, this time at Bank Junction, for access to the very roads which TfL have excluded them from.

December 03, 2018 at 05:30PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Uber offering free rides for NHS staff this Christmas

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Uber have announced they will be offering two £10 vouchers to be used by NHS staff between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day this year. They say the offer is to make it easier for staff to get home to their families sooner during a difficult period to travel. As reported in the Chronicle Live, Health secretary Matt Hancock said that it’s great that Uber have agreed to the free rides for “selfless NHS staff” who give up their holidays to care for those who need it most. Over the Christmas period 97,000 nurses, 53,000 nursing assistants, 176,000 care workers, 12,000 ambulance drivers and 12,000 midwives will attend work for the NHS. Some may say this is a genuine nice gesture from the controversial ride-hailing app, others will say it’s just a clever PR spin.

December 03, 2018 at 02:14PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Uber driver caught on CCTV kicking taxi driver to death yet no arrest has been made

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The family of a Chicago taxi driver who was kicked to death by an Uber driver during a road rage incident are calling for justice after no charges have been brought against the attacker even though the roundhouse kick to the head was caught on CCTV. The grieving family now want answers and justice to be served following the attack which took place three months ago. CCTV footage shown on CBS Chicago, shows the moment an Uber driver delivered the fatal blow to the head of 64-year-old taxi driver Anis Tungekar. The incident took place on September 2, after a verbal altercation took place between the taxi and Uber driver. According to reports, the Uber driver damaged the wing mirror of Tungekar’s taxi. Tungekar then followed the Uber driver down the street and pulled in front of him. Tungekar can then be seen from the CCTV footage flipping the Uber dirver’s wing mirror in before heading back towards his taxi. The Uber driver is then seen walking around the fro of his vehicle and executing a roundhouse kick to the face of Tungekar, causing him to fall back, smashing his head on the concrete. CBS Chicago covered the story on their news channel:

(Video:YouTube)

The Uber driver then casually walked back to his vehicle and attempted to drive away. Good Samaritans stopped to help Tungekar and to prevent the Uber driver from getting away. The attacker was taken in for questioning but was realeased and to this day no prosecution has taken place. Tungekar’s family now demand answers. Tungekar’s son, Omar, 36, has said the family are still waiting for someone to acknowledge that it’s a crime to kick someone in the head to death. Chicago police say that the case is ongoing, but the family attorney has said that the attacker, as far as he is aware, is still out there on the streets. A man who clearly has a lack of self control and is potentially a threat to others due to his propensity for violence. Tungekar’s family have said they are likely to file a lawsuit against the Uber driver, but want criminal charges filed first. Uber have said that the driver in question has had his drivers account suspended and they are cooperating with the police.

December 03, 2018 at 10:48AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

London Taxi PR calls for rethink into ULEV road restrictions as they imply ‘Restraint of Trade’ on the profession

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London Taxi PR is calling on both the City of London Corporation and the Mayor of London to rethink their plans to impose air quality pilot schemes in Moor Lane, Moorgate, and additionally and most recently in Tooley Street and Borough High Street areas, as this will once again restrict all vehicles that are not ULEV compliant.

They also stressed the proposals will impact the profession, passengers and businesses who all wish to use licensed London Taxis as their journey provider. The organisation is not only calling on the City of London and the Mayor of London to reconsider these restrictions and their impact on London Taxis, but also take into consideration the effect on businesses within the zones. The new road restrictions are set to come into play within the City of London in Moor Street, Moorgate, and the pending restriction of access for Taxis and vehicles in Tooley Street will ONLY allow ULEV vehicles to access these areas, therefore effectively ‘banning’ Licenced London Taxis who are not ULEV compliant from plying their trade within the restriction zones. This would, according to LTPR, give an unfair trade advantage to other competitors whose vehicles are ULEV compliant, and therefore would create a mini monopoly, which would only increase as more clean air emission zones are rolled out within the City of London. A London Taxi PR spokesperson said: “We will be seeking exemption for ALL Licensed London Taxis within the restriction zones, which will be of benefit to ALL passengers, who choose to use London Taxis for their journey’s to and from their workplace in the restriction zones. “All London Taxis are purpose built, fully wheelchair accessible vehicles, and the recent imposition of road traffic restrictions in Islington and Hackney has already seen a similar campaign activated on behalf of the licensed London Taxi profession by LTPR to have exemption applied. This is due to the fact that the vast majority of the 23,500 licensed taxis in London are unable to go into the affected roads, as the restrictions only allow access to electric vehicles. “According to confirmed statistics, currently, there are just 821 ULEV taxis in operation across the whole of the UK, so not only is this felt to be a restrictive practice being imposed on the profession, but, more importantly, for all Taxi passengers. “Equally, it is thought that by allowing only electric taxi vehicles to access these areas that the restrictions are potentially breaching the Equality Act as it puts passengers with disabilities at a disadvantage, and the aim could have been achieved through less restrictive alternatives.”

December 03, 2018 at 10:20AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Taxi driver attacked with vehicle's Fire extinguisher by highly intoxicated passenger who didn't want to pay fare

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A passenger sprayed a fire extinguisher in the face of a taxi driver moments before he and three other men fled the vehicle without paying the fare. The assault which took place in Firhouse, Dublin, left the victim, who had recently undergone cataract surgery, in immense pain. The court heard how the offender, 20-year-old Cian Hand, got in the taxi with three other young men in St Stephen’s Green. One was dropped off in Rathfarnham before the remaining three went on to an estate in Knocklyon. On arrival, Hand reached into the back of the vehicle and grabbed a fire extinguisher. He then discharged it into the face of the taxi driver while the other two passengers ran from the vehicle. Hand then stopped spraying the fire extinguisher and ran from the vehicle without paying. Hand was caught on CCTV and tracked down by police. Sergeant Kieran O’Neill confirmed that the victim had to receive treatment at the Ear and Eye Hospital but has since made a full recovery. Hand admitted before at Tallaght District Court, to seriously assaulting a taxi driver and failing to pay a taxi fare. The incident took place on October 30, 2017. Judge Patricia McNamara ordered a pre-sentence report and adjourned sentencing until February, the Herald.iereported. Hand had no previous convictions and has since turned his life around, studying business and finance at Rathmines College, his defence lawyer said. Hand previously had a problem with pills and cocaine and had developed an autoimmune disease due to his substance abuse. The court heard that he was “highly intoxicated” at the time of the assault on the taxi driver. On top of the pre-sentencing report, Judge McNamara also asked the Probation Service to investigate if Hand was suitable to complete community service.

December 03, 2018 at 09:39AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Sadiq Khan blames minicabs and delivery vehicles for Londons road chaos

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London Mayor, Sadiq Khan has blamed the rise in mincab and delivery vehicle numbers for Londons traffic chaos.

The Evening Standard has reported that as a result the Mayor is now actively discouraging online shoppers from receiving deliveries at work.

With the number of vans delivering goods in the capital increasing year upon year, the Mayor is looking into thr option of creating parcel collection points at tube stations in the suburbs, as well as supermarkets and corner shops.

The plan is to enable workers to collect parcels on the way home, thus reducing the need for delivery vans to enter London.

The Mayor has also been lobbying the government to allow TfL as well as local authorities to cap the number of minicabs in London, something which thus-far has remained a fruitless exercise.

With mounting criticism pertaining to CS3 in relation to the traffic chaos it has caused, the Mayor has hit back at critics, claiming that the Cycle Super-highway, which runs alongside the Embankment is categorically not to blame for the heavy traffic in the area.

Mayor Khan has stated that rather than the widely criticised road schemes which have been initiated across London being to blame for Londons' increasing traffic problems, the real responsibility lays with Londonera lifestyle and the rise in minicab numbers.

Figures show that the Mayor has spent around £56 million on Cycle Super-highways and £46 million on Quietways since entering office.

The Mayor has also been vocal in relation to the slow uptake of various cycling schemes, and has made it clear that Londoners must ditch their cars in favour of walking, cycling and using public transport.

This will raise eyebrows from those within the taxi industry, which is an integral part of the public transport system, who have been protesting against TfL and the Mayors stance in restricting taxi access to a number of roads across London,

December 02, 2018 at 03:53AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Crackdown on private hire drivers misusing disabled badges in Wesrminster

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Private hire drivers working in Westminster have come under fire for illegally misusing disabled badges.

It has been revealed by Get West London that staff from Westminster Council have been photographing private hire drivers using a third party's' disabled badge to allow them to illegally park within the borough.

Illegally misusing a disabled, or blue badge is a criminal offence punishable by up to a £1000 fine.

Private hire drivers were not the only ones to come under fire for their illegal activities as it was also revealed that shoppers heading for Oxford Street were also committing the same offence.

Figures showed that 80% of blue badge misuse cases centred around the Portman Square Mews area of Westminster.

Successful prosecutions have gleaned in excess of £19,000 in fines, with 53 people convicted of an offence.

Concerns have been raised that some individuals were able to falsely claim Blue Badges from different boroughs, however it is claimed that improvements have been made to prevent people from obtaining Blue Badges dishonestly.

December 02, 2018 at 03:52AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Perjury Let-off for ex-Uber Boss

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Uber’s former UK boss has escaped being prosecuted for perjury despite her court evidence being proven to be false.

Jo Bertram, who now works for O2, told the High Court the firm’s central computers accept the bookings which are passed to its drivers, when the reverse was true. The truth made Uber’s business model unlawful in London, as its drivers were plying for hire and accepting work not through a licensed operator. It is one of the central reasons cited by TfL for refusing the company’s licence renewal in 2017 – although it controversially won it back this year. At the time, TfL said it believed “the point is determinative and that Uber’s current operating model is accordingly unlawful.” It added that even if it was wrong about that, the “materially false and misleading” information it and the court had been given by Uber was one of three factors that made the company “not fit and proper” to hold an operator’s licence. However, police have bizarrely decided not to press ahead with charging Bertram, claiming that her statement had no effect on the final decision. Detective Inspector Gail Granville said: “I do not believe that the disputed claim was material fact in the civil court proceedings.” This runs contrary to the claims of TfL, which said it believed that had Uber told the truth, its operating model would probably have been found “unlawful” in the 2015 High Court action. The regulator accused the company of giving “false” evidence to win the case. Uber told Mr Justice Ouseley, that its central computer systems, not individual drivers, handled all bookings and fares. It had told TfL the same thing many times. An investigation laterrevealed the company’s central computers accepted a booking only after a driver had done so. In its letter dismissing the case, the Met says that the case does not meet the CPS Charging Standard, which requires that the evidence is “exceptionally strong.” It also says that charges of Perverting the Course of Justice are reserved for “serious cases of interference with justice.” DI Granville said: “Although the evidence of Bertram was in incorrect, there is no evidence to show that she had ‘deliberately’ misled the court. For the offence to be made out there must be evidence of falsity. Being mistaken, or being unable to recall, does not itself mean an offence of perjury or perverting the course has been committed.”

December 01, 2018 at 08:20PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI LTDA THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

New York cabbies death witheld from family

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A cab drivers death was witheld from his family fo two days by the New York Police Department.

61 year old Magdy Abouzaid died in Aug. 2017, after succumbing to a heart attack whilst changing a tyre on his cab.

Relatives of the cabbie are now suing the New York Police Department for failing to norify them of his death, thus delaying their right to perform a burial in accordance with the muslim faith.

According to the family’s lawsuit, the police had listed Mr. Abouzaid as an unidentified person, even though Mr. Abouzaid’s taxi license was displayed inside the taxi, and his wallet with identification as well as his phone were in the car.

A complaint is currently under review, and the NYPD have thus far made no comment.

December 01, 2018 at 05:27AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Noel Edmonds reveals Black cab caper

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TV and radio presenter Noel Edmonds has revealed that he has been using his own personal Black cab so as he could use bus lanes to avoid traffic.

69 year old Noel, who has gone from Deal Or No Deal to "squeal or no squeal" after appearing on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, confessed on Thursdays' show that his wife Liz had bought him a taxi as a gift.

He then took full advantage of that gift by using him it to by-pass traffic by deiving down the bus lanes of Bristol.

In 2009 Edmonds caused a few raised eyebrows after being caught driving down a bus lane in his taxi with a fully clothed mannequin in the back.

Undeterred, the TV legend then went one further after being ticketed in his cab.....he bought a Routemaster bus so as to avoid being ticketed in the bus lane.

An unplated taxi is prohibited from using a bus lane, and is treated in the same way as any other excluded vehicle.

The former Clayhall resident caused a shock to viewers after he was voted out of I'm A Celebrity, on Friday.

December 01, 2018 at 05:26AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Uber's Brighton appeal over licence suspension ends a day early. Judge to make final decision in the next two weeks

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Uber’s appeal against Brighton and Hove’s decision to suspend their operators licence was heard in court this week as the ride-hailing app attempts to overturn the decision. The council has argued that Uber are undermining their regulatory framework by using “out of town” cars instead of private hire vehicles licensed locally. Brighton and Hove council have appealed to district judge Tessa Szagun for localised vehicles to be considered over the so-called “right to roam” rule. Uber’s argument over the claims was that complaints made against the controversial app were made by “local taxi companies” and that there was not a “scrap of evidence” to back up the claims. Addressing the council’s concerns was Leo Charalambides who said the implications of cross border hiring as used by mobile apps such as Uber had not been tested in the higher courts. He added: “There were concerns from the outset that the impact of this novel operation needed to be assessed and considered. “My case is an appeal for your sympathy for localism. Our local councillors are concerned that the right to roam is having an adverse impact on the application of our local policy. “Can the right to roam be of such importance that the power of local people to decide what their own public interest requires can be so outweighed by that particular legal consideration?” Brighton and Hove council are looking for Uber to geofence its app so that only licensed private hire drivers from their licensing authority can receive and accept jobs. If so, they have said they would be happy to reinstate its licence. Philip Kolvin QC, representing Uber, had his own views on the argument, saying:

“The chief magistrate has said the question of cross border hiring is irrelevant to the fit and proper assessment. “This is a perfect example of using licensing law for an ulterior motive. “Are these Uber drivers rampaging in Brighton and causing harm? In fact there’s not a scrap of evidence that speaks of actual harm. “Removing the right for Transport for London drivers to drive here has taken a lot of heat out of this situation. My client is now well on track to meet the 20 per cent wheelchair accessible vehicle requirement when it hits 100 cars. “The heat which seemed to be there in April and May seems to have vanished. The direction of travel is a good one. “My client should be allowed to continue to be licensed here rather than operating outside the council’s jurisdiction.” One of the biggest concerns for the council was the amount of Lewes licensed drivers were descending on Brighton. A webpage had been put up which unfavourably compared the cost and speed of obtaining a PHV licence in Brighton and Lewes seemingly to encourage budding Uber drivers to seek their licence in Lewes. As reported in Brighton and Hove News, Uber’s head of mobility Fred Jones, has said that webpage has now been taken down. He added that Uber were in favour of cross border hiring because it meant drivers were not having to travel back from other areas with no fares. His argument focused on trying to avoid congestion and increased pollution. The appeal which was scheduled for two days only lasted the one. Judge Szagun will now announce her decision for the final outcome on December 11.

December 01, 2018 at 12:15PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Uber and Hitachi set to take part in huge 3,000 electric vehicle trial in London

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The world’s biggest trial of commercial electric vehicles has been given the green light by UK energy regulator Ofgem, bringing together power, technology, fleet and transport companies to test and implement the best approaches to the EV rollout for commercial enterprises. With businesses, that include self-employed taxi drivers, buying 58% of all new vehicles in the UK, it will be commercial vehicles that determine the speed of the transition to low carbon transport. This three-year innovation project will come up with practical ways of overcoming the up-front costs that are currently holding back many of the country’s biggest commercial vehicle operators from making the switch to EVs. Led by tech company Hitachi and electricity distributor UK Power Networks, the trial will see up to 3,000 electric vehicles from Uber, Centrica and a large UK depot-based parcel carrier take to the road, supported by energy distributor networks. The project will deliver an end-to-end overview of what the switch to EVs means for the cables and substations that deliver electricity to the community, for the businesses that need to invest in new infrastructure, and for the end users that need to power their vehicles. It is intentionally vehicle agnostic and includes depot, home, and on-the-road charging scenarios. Around 3,000 electric vehicles will take to the roads in Greater London as part of project Optimise Prime to gather vital information that will help the UK to prepare for and speed up the transition to a greener and more efficient future. The project will launch early 2019. Following a programme design and build phase, the first Optimise Prime vehicles will be on the road during the second half of 2019. The test area will include a range of urban, suburban and rural scenarios across the South East, South Central and East of England. Shirley Rodrigues, the Deputy Mayor of Environment and Energy says: “I welcome this ambitious project which will support the work of the Mayor’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Taskforce and proves the wider roll out of electric fleets is both essential for cleaning up toxic air quality and vital to the good growth of our city. I’m pleased that trials begin early next year shortly before the 24 hour Ultra Low Emission Zone is introduced in April 2019 in central London.”

December 01, 2018 at 11:46AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Private Hire Driver has his licence suspended for tormenting young learner driver during a lesson

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A private hire driver has had his licence suspended by Glasgow City Council after a complaint was made against him by a driving instructor who said the accused lost his temper with an 18-year-old learner driver. PHV driver Abdul Khaliq repeatedly beeped his horn at the nervous learner driver causing him to stall his vehicle on a number of occasions. According to the Evening Times, Khalid was aggressive in his behaviour at two sets of traffic lights. At the second set of lights, Khalid overtook the young learner driver and shook his fist at him. The driving instructor was able to take down Khalid’s details and subsequently made a complaint to the council. Khalid claimed he didn’t realise the young man was a “novice”. The written complaint against him was read out at the licensing committee hearing on November 27. The complaint read: “I was giving a lesson to an 18-year-old who is nervous behind the wheel. “We had stopped at a red traffic light and a network private hire car pulled up behind us. “The lights changed and the driver in the car behind beeped the horn. This made the boy stall the car again and again. “All this time the horn was beeping, the driver could have overtaken us as there was no one else around. “The boy was a nervous wreck. We managed to driver on and the car followed. We stopped at the next set of traffic lights and the horn sounded again when they changed green. “We managed to drive on again and the network hire car overtook us shaking his fist. “The L plates on the car are clearly displayed.” Khalid was asked to explain his actions o the licensing committee. He said he did recall the incident and claimed that he waved as a way of apologising to the driver after he realised it was a learner driver. He said he would “never beep at a learner driver”. Khalid’s reasoning was not accepted by council members who decided to suspend his licence for two weeks. Councillor Rhiannon Spear said: “I am concerned you are not aware of your surroundings and are not a safe driver. If you have a passenger in your car this could be seen as an aggressive nature.”

December 01, 2018 at 08:56AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

LTDA hits back at accusations of sinister motives behind Unblock Embankment campaign made by former cycling guru

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The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association has defended claims made by London’s former cycling commissioner who suggested possible sinister motives behind the emergence of road user group Unblock Embankment. Earlier this week the group commissioned a damning and detailed report highlighting the serious economic harm to East London caused by the controversial C3 cycle lane. The study conducted by transport economists Volterra Partners showed that the removal of a traffic lane on the major east-west artery has made London significantly less connected, impacting tens of thousands of businesses in the eastern boroughs. However, Andrew Gilligan, who was London’s cycling commissioner between 2013-16, expressed his concerns on who was behind the group and it’s motives in a recent article in The Guardian. Steve McNamara, General Secretary of the LTDA, was quick to refute the claims by saying " Andrew Gilligan has got this seriously wrong. UBE is not sinister, it's a group representing all aspects of London businesses that recognise the damage done to pollution, congestion and our ability to move around by this ill thought out, badly planned and hurriedly installed cycle lane. It needs to be rethought out, replanted and much modified to make it work for all Londoners!” The study was commissioned by Unblock the Embankment, a group representing road users that rely on the A3211, the road between Westminster Bridge and Tower Hill that includes the Victoria Embankment as well as Upper and Lower Thames Streets. The study revealed that the removal of a traffic lane on the major east-west artery has made London significantly less connected, impacting tens of thousands of businesses in the eastern boroughs. Because of the historic role played by the Thames, London east of Tower Bridge is poorly served for roads. As a result, the area is heavily dependent on the A3211, which has become the main road link between Central London and a number of crucial economic centres, including the City, Bethnal Green, Old Street, the Isle of Dogs, South Poplar and Silvertown. Despite the economic importance of the A3211, in 2016 one of its two eastbound traffic lanes was removed to make way for the controversial £47 million East-West cycle superhighway, significantly increasing journey times for motor vehicles. Volterra calculate that the consequent delay in journey times has left 15,000 East London businesses out of reach of a 30 minute drive from Westminster during the morning rush hour. In the evening peak, this figure rises to 18,000 businesses. Being out of the 30 minute catchment limits hiring options, is off-putting to investors, and increases costs for businesses that rely on deliveries. The areas affected include Europe’s two biggest financial centres, its biggest tech cluster, the Excel Centre and London City Airport, along with many thousands of small businesses. Although the justification for a cycle superhighway on this route was to improve cyclist safety, there is limited evidence that the new infrastructure has cut the rate of accidents. Commenting on the study, Unblock the Embankment spokesman Tony Halmos said: “This study provides clear evidence that this ill-thought through scheme is causing real economic damage to London. With Brexit looming, we need to improve traffic flow on this vital arterial road. Yet the City of London Corporation’s draft Transport Strategy, which will significantly reduce the number of vehicles in the Square Mile, will cause even more congestion on the Embankment. “There’s a chance to limit the damage and turn the City of London’s transport plans into a positive for the Embankment, by finding an alternative route for CS3 and rerouting it up into the City. “The City’s strategy will cause further economic damage to London, especially in East London, unless the proposed new cycle lanes provide a replacement for the existing route for CS3 along the Embankment. With this change, the City’s plans will be a positive benefit for London”.

December 01, 2018 at 01:02AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Gentleman Cabbie dies after his own Taxi rolled over him as elderly passenger desperately tried to pull handbrake

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A taxi driver from Belfast has died after his own vehicle run over him while he was assisting his 87-year-old passenger. 50-year-old Brian Braiden, had been a taxi driver for 20 years and has been described as an “absolute gentleman” by those that knew him. The tragic incident took place on Monday afternoon at around 2:15pm. Mr Braiden got out of his taxi when he realised his elderly passenger had forgotten to close her gate, while doing so his vehicle rolled back over him. The injuries Mr Braiden sustained were too much for him to survive. Family members have been left dumb with grief and have said he was the kind of man who would insist on helping others. The elderly passenger desperately tried to reach for the vehicles handbrake but was unable to help. As reported in the Belfast Telegraph, family members are not just heartbroken by the loss of a special man, but are also devastated for the passenger and what she went through. Mr Braiden lived and breathed for his family and friends and a day never went by where he didn’t tell them all that he loved them. When the police informed Mrs Braiden of her husbands accident, she begged to attend the hospital but was told that her husband “was gone”. What should’ve been just another airport job turned out so tragic. Mr Braiden will no doubt be remembered forever by all those that knew him.

November 30, 2018 at 05:03PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

First Ultra Low Emission Zone signs go up in London

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TfL has begun installing more than 300 Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) warning signs across central London. The signs, which are being installed at the same locations as existing Congestion Charge signs, warn drivers at all entry points to the zone, and on a number of key approach routes, to ensure their vehicle meets the tough new emission standards that come in to effect next year. TfL has been running an extensive communications campaign since the spring to prepare drivers for the ULEZ. TfL has sent ULEZ. TfL has sent more than 2.5 million emails and contacted registered Congestion Charge users whose vehicles do not meet the ULEZ standards, to remind them the new zone begins on 8 April 2019.

TfL is also contacting other drivers it identifies in central London whose vehicles are not currently ULEZ-compliant. This has helped encourage 1.3 million visits to TfL's online compliance checker, where people can check if their vehicle complies with the ULEZ emission standards. The Ultra Low Emission Zone will help take the most polluted vehicles off London's streets. It is a central part of the Mayor's far-reaching work to make London a healthier, greener place by tackling the severe health impacts caused by London's polluted air. TfL is committed to ensuring that London's transport is leading the way in ultra low emission vehicles. All new electric taxis are required to be zero-emission capable. The entire central London bus fleet will be upgraded to meet the ULEZ standard by April 2019, and all buses in London will meet this standard by 2020. Ultimately, all buses will be zero-emission by 2037. Leading the way

To discourage the use of the most polluting vehicles, drivers travelling within the zone and using non-compliant vehicles, will need to pay a daily ULEZ charge of £12.50, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. These include:

motorbikes that do not meet Euro 3 standards (roughly the equivalent of not being more than 12 years old in 2019) petrol cars and vans that do not meet Euro 4 standards (roughly the equivalent of not being more than 13 years old in 2019) diesel cars and vans that do not meet Euro 6 standards (roughly the equivalent of not being more than four years old in 2019) Buses, coaches and lorries will need to meet or exceed the Euro VI standard or pay £100 a day

Nick Fairholme, Director of Project and Programme Delivery at TfL, said: 'We are committed to tackling the public health crisis that is London's toxic air. It affects all Londoners, causing 9000 premature deaths every year and reducing the quality of life for thousands more. 'We're working hard to prepare Londoners for the ULEZ and to encourage them to opt for vehicles that emit fewer pollutants or walk, cycle or use public transport. We know that many people are aware, with more than 1.3 million checks of vehicles' compliance on our website. 'These new signs will be a physical reminder that the ULEZ is coming, but we won't stop there. We've contacted registered Congestion Charge users and are currently contacting other vehicle owners who drive in central London.' Sonia Farrey, Director of Advocacy at Unicef UK, said: 'Children are one of the most at risk groups from air pollution, which can leave them with lasting health problems including stunted lung growth, asthma and potentially damage brain development. 'Given this risk, we welcome the introduction of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone that can protect children from this threat to their health and ensure children's right to live in a clean and safe environment.'

November 30, 2018 at 12:46PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI TfL THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT