Tuesday 18 December 2018

Price increase for Lyft and Uber in New York


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Prices for Uber and Lyft are about to rise in New York.
2019 will see the two ride-hailing giants have to collect a $2.75 (£2.20) fee starting January 1. The charge is a intended to try to reduce traffic and raise money for the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA).
The current cap on the issuing of new licenses has already forced prices up, and a minimum wage ruling will create a further price increase.
The Independent has reported that while Uber in particular baulked against capping licenses and bringing in a minimum wage, they did welcome congestion charging.
Ubers reluctance toward invoking a minimum wage as well as capping, bit welcoming congestiin charging is something which has been mirrored in the UK market.
Lyft and Uber have both shown a united front by supporting the $2.75 charge. They are also lobbying in other areas to charge all vehicles to enter congested downtown areas.
December 18, 2018 at 01:12PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Private Hire Driver stabbed in the eye with passengers stiletto during terrifying late night drunken attack


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A Birmingham private hire driver has tragically lost an eye after he was attacked by drunk passengers. Father-of-three, Afaq Iftikhar, picked up four women and a man from the Arcadian Centre, Birmingham, at around 4:30am on Saturday when things soon turned violent. Mr Iftikhar was forced to pull over his vehicle after one of the women began being sick.
Iftikhar said he got out his vehicle and asked the vomiting women to also exit the vehicle, this is when he saw one of the other passengers stealing money from the front of his car. Confronting them, Iftikhar threatened to call the police, this is when they turned on him. Being threatened with violence, Iftikhar told them to just leave and not to worry about paying. He was then attacked. The lady who had vomited, pulled one of her stiletto shoes off and hit Iftikhar across the face, rupturing his right eye. He was then repeatedly punched by two of the other passengers.
Iftikhar waited six minutes with blood gushing down his face before help arrived. The attackers also made away with money which they stole from the front of the vehicle. Iftikhar now fears that he may never be able to drive again, saying his world has been turned upside down. With three children to take care of he is now left worried about how he will earn a living. Iftikhar told Birmingham Live, that he could now be registered legally blind and could lose his job because of the attack. Iftikhar highlighted the dangers of driving a private hire vehicle which doesn’t have a security panel separating the driver from the passengers like traditional black taxis have.
(All images courtesy of Afaq Iftikhar)
December 18, 2018 at 09:56AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

London cabs up to thirty times as toxic as personal cars so says report


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The Real Urban Emissions (TRUE) Initiative, launched its report on London’s real world vehicle emissions on December 18th. This London data identifies Euro 5 black cabs as disproportionate polluters, while Euro 5 and 6 diesels passenger vehicles flout standards by an average of three times on city streets. Measurements of the real-world NOX, particulate and CO2 emissions from over 100,000 vehicles - including taxis and buses – have been taken from across London. It highlights the disproportionate impact of black cabs on London’s streets, and the serious breaches of emissions limits by all diesel vehicles’ respective standards.Black cabs Euro 5 black cabs, some of the newer models, are producing at least 50% more NOX than of the Euro 3 or Euro 4 models. The most common black cab models in London are polluting the streets with nitrogen oxide (NOX) emissions up to 30 times the level of personal petrol cars of the same age.
Average NOx emissions from cabs per KG of fuel used have actually seen a measurable increase in the past five years.Passenger cars Euro 5 passenger models and older are responsible for approximately 60% of greater London’s NOx emissions from passenger cars.
London’s Euro 5 and Euro 6 diesel cars are, on average, producing six times more NOX than equivalent petrol cars.Buses The average bus fleet NOx emissions have fallen by 65% in the past five years.
The data has also been incorporated into TRUE’s rating system, an innovative and interactive database which rates vehicles on their emissions. TRUE has used the International Council on Clean Transportation’s (ICCT’s) methodology to create a traffic light rating system which grades cars based on their real-world nitrous oxide (NOx) exhaust emissions. The new data allows TRUE to rank about 117 additional vehicle families covering 509 new models. In particular, the data contains twice as many measurements for Euro 6 vehicles. That additional data raised the number of Euro 6 vehicle families we can rate with confidence from 89 to 136. The TRUE rating now covers 98% of vehicles using internal combustion engines sold in Europe in 2017. Further data from testing undertaken by TRUE in Paris, and a host of other cities will be added to the rating system in the future, to enable cities to identify their key emissions issues. Sheila Watson, Deputy Director of the FIA Foundation, commented: “Dirty vehicles have been clogging the air with their toxic exhaust fumes, and taking a huge toll on the health of Londoners, especially children, for too long. Both policy makers and consumers have not seen the improvements in emissions which they should have based on the measured emissions of vehicles. “Evidence-based policy is the only way cities can have a significant impact on air quality, but that demands reliable real world data. That is why FIA Foundation is delighted to support this work, in partnership with the Greater London Authority and the Mayor, which we hope will strengthen the transport policy framework for a cleaner, safer city.” Drew Kodjak, Executive Director of the ICCT, "Cities in Europe are currently at the forefront of dealing with the health crises brought on by highly polluting vehicles emitting many times over regulatory limits in real-world driving. ICCT is pleased to be part of the TRUE initiative and to work with London’s Mayor’s office to collect and analyze real-world vehicle emissions data that can be directly used to inform policy action as well as consumers in London. The report and data being launched today represent a milestone in our continuing collaboration with London. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “London’s air is so toxic it damages children’s lung growth, causes thousands of premature deaths and increases the risk of asthma and dementia. We know that dirty vehicles are responsible for half of our NOx air pollution – and this new data from TRUE and ICCT reveals the stark health impact of polluting diesel taxis on our streets. It also underlines why we at City Hall have been delivering hard-hitting, urgently needed policies to tackle vehicle emissions, such as cleaning up the bus fleet and introducing the world’s first Ultra Low Emission Zone, 24 hours, seven days a week in central London from next April. We all need to play a part in cleaning up our toxic air and while I am encouraged that almost 1,000 taxi drivers have switched to cleaner electric taxis, this damning report really highlights why we need to accelerate their uptake.”
December 18, 2018 at 09:17AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Monday 17 December 2018

London Taxi Drivers’ Charity for Children Fundraising Day at Burlington Arcade


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The London Taxi Drivers’ Charity for Children (LTCFC) will be fundraising at Burlington Arcade, Burlington Gardens, W1 between 11am and 6pm on Friday 21 December 2018 to raise funds for their Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.
The LTCFC Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, which takes place in January 2019 and has been held yearly by the charity since 1962, is a party for 700+ special needs and disadvantaged children.
On this festive day of fundraising at Burlington Arcade we will be accompanied by our famous reindeer taxi, who always manages to attract passing shoppers and tourists and at 4.45pm we are delighted to announce the fantastic choir Sing Gospel will be joining us to spread their love of gospel music and help us raise funds for the children.
Established in 1928, run voluntary by London Taxi Drivers, the LTCFC enriches the lives of disadvantaged children through fundraising and hosting functions and events throughout the year. Throughout its 90 year history, the LTCFC have provided essential funding for the purchase of recreational, technology and mobility equipment for children, schools and hospices.
December 17, 2018 at 09:04PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Are Uber close to launching it's electric bike service in the UK? Their latest job listing would suggest so


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Uber will be launching it’s new electric bike hiring service in the UK in the very near future if it’s latest job listing is anything to go by. The ride-hailing giants, who have caused controversy across the globe with it’s app based ride-sharing service , recently acquired electric bike startup Jump and now according to a job listing on the company’s website they are searching for a general manager to work in London to “shape and lead” operations for Jump in Britain. Jump, which Uber bought in April is an electric-assisted two wheeled service which allows you to rent a bicycle from within the Uber app. Uber are looking for someone who will be responsible for hiring a team, building regulatory relationships and driving growth for the company’s alternative transport option. Uber are looking to launch ‘Jump’ across the globe and have listed similar jobs in countries such as Spain, Portugal, Netherlands and France. The long term plan for Uber is to convince people that they no longer need their own vehicle and will have access to a number of hiring options through the Uber app. During a TechCrunch Disrupt SF event, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said “we want to be the Amazon of transportation. And hopefully, ten years from now, no one in the audience is going to own a car.” Over the past few years, London has become almost obsessed with creating a network of bicycle lanes. Some would argue they are been a success, many would argue not so. Could we see an abundance of bright red Jump bikes, which can reach speeds of 19mph, zipping up and down the capitals cycle super highway anytime soon?
December 17, 2018 at 04:44PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

MPs look to halt smart motorways


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A group of MPs are looking to stop the roll-out of smart motorways across the UK.
An all party group has raised concerns that the removal of the hard shoulder on motorways, thus creating a fourth lane, could put both motorists and recovery workers lives at risk.
There is over 300 miles of smart motorway in the pipeline across England, with 100 miles of upgrade already in operation.
The three types of smart motorways are:
controlled smart motorways, which is self explanatory, motorways with a dynamic hard shoulder which is where the hard shoulder is used as an extra lane in busy traffic and ALR, which is where the hard shoulder is permanently used as a fourth lane.
The BBC have reported that it is the ALR scheme which is causing the most concern with fears that motorists will become "sitting ducks."
Campaign for Safer Roadside Rescue and Recovery leader Samantha Cockerill has branded the ALR scheme crazy and has called for the project to be halted.
Ms Cockerill has also called for recovery workers to be able to use red warning lights, rather than the current orange ones.
The campaign was started by Samantha after her partner, Steve Godbold, tragically lost his life after an HGV ploughed into him whilst he was working on a vehicle recovery job on the M25 in September 2017.
Despite an all party parliamentary groups backing for Samantha's campaign, Highways England, which controls Britains motorway network, insists that smart motorways are safe and the technology behind it is reliable.
December 17, 2018 at 03:41AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Christmas travel information for the London area


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As Christmas approaches, London becomes busier with shoppers and party-goers. Between Sunday 23 December 2018 and Tuesday 1 January 2019, most of TfLs services will be running. There will be some service changes and planned work on parts of the public transport and road networks.
Between Saturday 22 December 2018 and Tuesday 1 January 2019, planned works and service changes may affect your journey. Key service changes will include:
No services on Christmas Day except for Santander Cycles, Dial-a-Ride (for registered members only), Taxi and Private Hire and coaches which are available throughout the Christmas period. No London Overground, TfL Rail or Thames Clippers services on Boxing Day. Dial-a-Ride services will run throughout the Christmas season (for registered members), but are limited on certain days and are subject to different booking dates. Changes to frequency and timetable of most services during this period.
There will be free travel on TfL services from 23:45 on New Year's Eve until 04.30 on New Year's Day (except on Thames Clippers and Emirates Air Line ).
December 17, 2018 at 04:08AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Uber drivers tell singing passengers to pipe down in the back seat


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It has been reported in the Daily Mail that some Uber drivers are telling passengers to stop singing in the back of their vehicles or run the risk of getting a poor user rating.
A survey of 2000 Uber passengers in the UK revealed that 33% admitted to behaving poorly in the back of the vehicle, whilst 20% admitted to singing whilst they were a passenger. As a result of this, some users have seen their rating drop.
Drivers have taken exception to the rowdy behaviour, which also includes arguments in the back of their vehicles.
Uber have recommended that riders save a home address to their profile due to the number of people forgetting where they live, due to being drunk.
December 17, 2018 at 03:40AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

New workers rights legislation falls short of expectations despite recent gig-economy court cases


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New legislation released by Government to upgrade workers’ rights was introduced today - including a day one statement of rights for all workers setting out leave entitlements and pay. The government will today set out the biggest package of workplace reforms for over twenty years, with reforms that they say will ensure the UK leads the world in meeting the challenges of the changing world of work. However news around a ‘soft’ reform was heavily criticised by unions and workers with changes being described as “baby steps” and falling short of what the country needs heading into Brexit. The government announced several new reforms and recommendations, but the changes effecting the taxi and private hire industry centre around the long discussed Matthew Taylor report. They include:
Highlighting that banning zero hours contracts in their totality would negatively impact more people than it helpedthat the flexibility of ‘gig working’ is not incompatible with ensuring atypical workers have access to employment and social security protectionsplatform based working offers welcome opportunities for genuine two way flexibility and can provide opportunities for those who may not be able to work in more conventional ways
Measures outlined in the package form part of the government’s modern Industrial Strategy, published last year, which sets out how the whole of the UK can build on its strengths, extend them into the future, and capitalise on new opportunities. However, minicab operators Uber and Addison Lee have recently lost court cases which found their workers hired on a self-employed basis eligible for workers rights including minimum wage and holiday pay. Commenting on the government announcement on workers’ rights, the leader of Unite, the biggest union in the UK, Len McCluskey said: “The government’s plans are reluctant baby steps at best, and hardly give confidence that post-Brexit UK will be a country of decent jobs. “This is a time of historic low wages and of chronic job insecurity. We need proper, substantial action to combat this but what is on offer today falls well short of what this country needs to deliver work that pays. “People on zero hour contracts and workers in the insecure economy need much more than a weak right to request a contract and more predictable hours. “No matter how many times the government re-announces the same offer, unless and until this country takes a leaf out of New Zealand’s book by banning the use of zero hours altogether, working people will continue to be exploited and work will never be the route out of poverty.” Business Secretary Greg Clark said: “The UK has a labour market of which we can be proud. We have the highest employment rate on record, increased participation amongst historically under-represent groups and wages growing at their fastest pace in almost a decade. “This success has been underpinned by policies and employment law which strikes an effective balance between flexibility and worker protections but the world of work is changing, bringing new opportunities for innovative businesses and new business models to flourish, creating jobs across the country and boosting our economy. “With new opportunity also comes new challenges and that is why the government asked Matthew Taylor to carry out this first of a kind review, to ensure the UK continues to lead the world, through our modern Industrial Strategy, in supporting innovative businesses whilst ensuring workers have the rights they deserve.”
December 17, 2018 at 11:06AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Private Hire Driver suspended after illegally picking up passengers, but he says he was just being a Good Samaritan


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A Glasgow private hire driver has said he picked up three women who were not pre-booked because he was trying to help them. Alan Meecham, who is only legally allowed to pick up fares which have been booked through an operator, has had his licence suspended after licensing bosses were unimpressed with his failures to follow policy. Meecham claims he was simply being a Good Samaritan and would hope someone would do the same for his daughter if she ever needed a lift somewhere. While sitting outside Queen Street station, Meecham, who has been driving a PHV for 20 years, was approached by a woman who asked if he would take her and two friends home and how much it would cost. Meecham agreed a price to take the three women to Hamilton. He told the licensing committee that his priority was “to get the girls home safely and away from the city centre”. “If one of the girls was my daughter I would like to think someone else in my position would do the same” he said. “When I got them home safe and sound I knew I had done my job, even though I know I shouldn’t have done it.” Meecham’s reasoning for taking the job didn’t go down well with the licensing board who told him that after 20 years doing the job he should’ve known better and if he had followed to rules and advised them to pre-book through his operator he would’ve probably got the job anyway. As reported in the Evening Times, members of the licensing committee agreed to suspend Mr Meecham’s licence for two weeks.
December 17, 2018 at 09:44AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Sunday 16 December 2018

London Black Taxi driver nicknamed Crypto Cabbie allows you to pay for your trip with Bitcoin, and you can buy it from him too


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London black taxi driver who goes by his pseudonym name, Dave Jenkins, doesn’t just accept payment for a trip in the form of cash or card, he also allows his passengers to pay for their journey using BitCoin (BTC). According to a report in DecryptMedia, Jenkins, who has been given the nickname “crypto cabbie” carries a small point-of-sale terminal in his London cab. The touchscreen device can process what would be cash transactions in the form of bitcoins in real time, then provide a printed receipt for the passenger. The cabbie not only allows you to pay for his services with the crypto currency, he also purchases bitcoin using the small device. Jenkins feels that the service he offers is possibly one of the easiest ways to buy bitcoin, saying you don’t need to deal with all the hassle involved with signing up to the likes of Coinbase or Bitstamp where you need to send off your passport etc etc. Crypto cabbie charges a 6% commission for selling you bitcoin which you can pay for with either pounds or euros. Cryptoglobe confirmed that once you have bought the bitcoin, you need to visit the website FastBitcoins.com to redeem your voucher. Jenkins, who calls himself “a one man band” is available to hire for a ride via Twitter @fastbitcoinscab.
December 16, 2018 at 07:23PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Cabbies win landmark case after challenging council’s overpriced licensing fees


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Wakefield Council could be ordered to pay out millions of pounds to taxi drivers after a ‘landmark’ court ruling found they have been overcharging for licensing fees for years.
The council now face a huge backdated bill to reimburse taxi drivers who Leeds High Court found were being unlawfully overcharged since 2004.
Wakefield District Private Hire and Hackney Association brought the judicial review against the council after the cost of a licensing badge this year increased by 60 per cent to £384.
Judge also refused Wakefield Council permission to appeal, but they will have the opportunity to make an application to the Court of Appeal.
According to a report in the Wakefield Express, the refunded payment would be in excess of £1 million, which could increase if the council is unsuccessful in an appeal. The High Court has ordered the council to set new licensing fees to come into effect by March 2019.
It is understood that the council will continue to issue taxi licences, although until the new fees have been set, they cannot charge vehicle fees.
wajid Ali, co-chairman of the Wakefield District Private Hire and Hackney Association has said that this landmark judgement could pave the way for other bodies to challenge licensing fees across the country.
December 16, 2018 at 05:06PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

The phantom soiler strikes again as Uber fine woman for "not" vomiting in a vehicle


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A Liverpool woman who undertook a journey in an Uber has been forced to pay an £80 soiling charge by the minicab giant for allegedly vomiting in the vehicle. The woman however strongly denies ever vomiting in the vehicle.
In what seems to be a growing issue with the ride-hailing app, 19-year-old Elishia Thompson and her boyfriend Bradley Darnell have been fighting with the company to get the charge refunded
Elisha, who was moving home that day, had booked the Uber to take her and a television to an address in Everton from Haleswood.
She claimed that upon arrival at her destination, she was issued a receipt for £6.69 for the journey, however when she checked her bank balance she was shocked to find that uber had taken £86.69 from her bank account.
When Elishia queried this she was informed by Uber that there was an £80 soiling charge after she had allegedly vomited in the vehicle, and then supplied her with photographic evidence.
The soiling accusation has been strenuously denied by Elishia, stating that the imagary submitted by Uber bore no resemblance to her journey.
Ms Thompson has also submitted evidence to the Liverpool Echowhich shows that Uber have even denied ever taking any money from her account.
Ubwr have not commented on the issue as the dispute rumbles on.
December 16, 2018 at 03:58PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

London's New Years Eve fireworks display: Expected road closures


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With New Years Eve fireworks celebrations expected to take place from 9pm onwards, vehicle access to certain areas of London will be severely curtailed.
Restrictions will begin from early afternoon on New Years Eve until around 6:00am on New Year's Day. These restrictions will afferlct both vehicle and foot traffic.
Roads will be closed between Oxford Street in the north to Lambeth Bridge in the south, and Blackfriars Bridge in the east to Vauxhall Bridge in the west. Some roads in central London will stay closed for the London New Year’s Day Parade.
A vehicle and pedestrian road closures map is available to guide you around the restrictions.
December 16, 2018 at 03:58AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Four in 10 know someone who has driven over the limit


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With the Christmas party season in full swing new RAC research has found nearly four in 10 people have friends who they believe have driven while being over the drink-drive limit.
While two-thirds of the 1,865 motorists questioned for the survey timed to coincide with the launch of the Government’s THINK! Christmas drink-drive campaign believe there is more pressure in general to drink alcohol in the month of December and during the festive period, a shocking 28% were unprepared to try to talk a friend who they thought might be over the limit out of driving. A hard-line 9%, however, say they would warn a friend not to drive otherwise they would call the police. Four in 10 would try to persuade their friend who had been drinking to take alternative transport home, and even arrange and pay for a taxi. Only 38% of those questioned claimed to have a zero-alcohol policy when driving to a social function. Just over a quarter say they will have one small alcoholic drink, such as half a pint, shandy, small wine, small spirit mixed, followed by non-alcoholic drinks and then drive home. One in 10 could be risking being over the limit by having one large alcoholic drink, such as a pint of beer or lager, large wine or a large spirit mixed, and then non-alcoholic drinks and drive home. Two per cent say they will have two alcoholic drinks and drive home. Looking at Christmas Day itself a fifth of those who took part in the research say they will be driving after celebrating with family or friends and, asked separately, 23% will drink alcohol before driving. Data compiled for this year’s RAC annual Report on Motoring shows there is growing concern about those who drive under the influence of alcohol, the issue having risen from eighth to fifth in a list of 20 major driving concerns, with 27% of drivers identifying it is as a major concern. Eight in 10 motorists of the 1,808 motorists surveyed say they do not think they have driven under the influence of alcohol over the past 12 months. But worryingly, there has been a statistically significant increase in the proportion of drivers who admit in the past 12 months that they have driven shortly after drinking when they think or know they were over the legal limit, rising from 8% to 12%. Looking at the ‘morning after’ drink-driving issue, 2% say they know they have broken the law in this way, while 8% believe they may have done so. The figures also show motorists aged between 25 and 44 are more likely to admit to driving when they think or know they were over the legal limit shortly after drinking than those in other age groups, while those who live in London or in other cities also have a greater propensity to drink-drive.
RAC road safety spokesperson Pete Williams said: “Drink-driving, whether someone is just over the limit or several times above it, is unacceptable – it ruins lives. So it’s shocking to see in our research that so many people know drivers who have got behind the wheel when they’re over the limit.
“It’s also sad that a sizeable proportion of those surveyed are unwilling to try to persuade a friend who’s too drunk to drive, not to. But, on the other hand it’s positive that 43% would sort out a cab for a friend instead of letting them drive. “The findings of our long-term research for the Report on Motoring around drivers aged 25-44 being more likely to say they had driven while over the limit were significant, and in some cases surprising given that younger drivers under 25 are often seen as more likely to drink and drive. It is also surprising Londoners are more prone to this as city dwellers generally have better public transport alternatives to the car compared to those living in rural areas. “We urge everyone to think twice about driving to a social function and then drinking. The best advice is not to drink at all or to arrange other transport so you can enjoy yourself without the fear and consequences of breaking the law. And, for those that have been out drinking it is also essential they ensure they are safe to drive the next day as just going to sleep for a few hours doesn’t necessarily make you legally safe to drive.”
December 16, 2018 at 01:15PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Taxify say rebrand will “avoid any confusion with traditional taxi services”


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Uber’s biggest European competitors Taxify has confirmed that its rebranded UK name, now called Hopp, is part of a strategy to win back its London operators licence it once held for just four controversial days.
The minicab firm is hoping the name change, dropping the word “Taxi” from its name, will help them meet the requirements set in the capital. A Taxify spokesperson told Business Insider: “...we’ve applied for a licence with the intention of trading under a different brand in the UK to avoid any confusion with traditional taxi services.” Taxify originally launched its service in September 2017, but was forced to shut down just four days later as details of its licence emerged. The European company took the unusual steps of buying a small local minicab firm, instead of applying for a licence themselves. In December 2017 Taxify were fined £250 plus £10,000 legal fees for trying to enter the London market via the backdoor. Taxify admitted to a “major error of judgment” and has since employed former Gett Chief Marketing Officer Rich Pleeth to help win approval from regulators Transport for London for a new licence. TaxiPoint originally reported the change of name on 4th December 2018 which has always been perceived to be one of stumbling blocks facing the company’s launch in the UK. Founded by Markus Villig, Taxify, now known as Hopp in the UK, launched in 2013. They claim to be one of the fastest-growing ride-hailing platforms in Europe and Africa with investors including Daimler, Didi Chuxing, Korelya Capital and TransferWise co-founder Taavet Hinrikus. The ride-hailing company claims to have more than 10 million users in more than 25 countries globally.
December 16, 2018 at 08:47AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT