Well, time to wake up ladies and gentlemen because this trade is in trouble. For far too long we have sat back and allowed those who govern or manage this industry a free reign in the hope and maybe past knowledge that everything would be ok because those kind civil servants loved a cheeky, slightly over opinionated cabby. Those days are well and truly over and it is time for this industry to pull its socks up and get real. Let us take stock where we are as a trade, we have three main driver organisations, sorry, four, the RMT have just set up a branch, three radio circuits (all booking car services), a vehicle manufacturer who may need to seek a bailout like the rest of the automotive industry, a new vehicle that looks ok but is still well overpriced, plus a licensing authority interpreting the 1998 private hire act in such a fashion that we now have lines of illegally ranked mini-cabs parked outside nearly every venue in London. Now just to put the gloom into doom or the icing on the cake we have a recession and if you thought I forgot the cherry well you were mistaken there is a bill before parliament which is seeking to create a voluntary registration scheme for pedicabs/rickshaws which will include parking (ranking) bays.

Now the recession was always going to reduce our incomes and this was always going to have a adverse effect on the balance sheet of LTI’s parent company Manganese Bronze, however more worrying is the actions of the licensing authority for they have greatly reduced the amount of night work available to taxi-cab drivers and this again will compound the sad state of affairs at LTI by reducing further driver income and therefore the opportunity to purchase or rent a new taxi-cab. Now to make matters worse at the beginning of one of the worse recessions most of us will ever see we have legislation passing through parliament which wishes to create a registration scheme for pedicabs/rickshaws to do the work of London taxi-cabs. If clause 34, sections 2-9 of the London Local Authorities and Transport for London (no.2) Bill makes it through parliament you and I will be sitting behind a pedicab/rickshaw very soon.

Now I am still just about on the side of this present Mayor Boris Johnson, for this latest bill before parliament was placed and designed under Livingstone’s watch but I would like this present Mayor to maybe consider the impact that the policies of transport for London and this bill will have on our standard of living, for I will not sit back and watch my industry torn apart by people with other political motives. The time is fast approaching for Ltcpr to get into the mix and ensure we the working taxi-cab driver gets his or her slice of the cake, we maybe be small in numbers right now but we are growing by the day and our voice is far and wide and certainly louder with a clearer concise message than most, we shall never give up the struggle and will always seek to improve the working conditions of the London taxi-cab driver, others sit at tables and stay silent when then should be speaking out on your behalf ask yourself and maybe your association why.

Now we have just had one of the most successful trade demonstrations since the seventies yet it took nearly two weeks to attend talks afterwards because of the actions of one group (and before you even say it, it wasn’t the LCDC delaying talks), but did we actually need talks or a demonstration surely if we are right and justice is to prevail we should seek judicial review of the actions of Transport for London, for mini-cabs are ranking up all over capital and the enforcement/compliance team does not exist in large enough numbers to control the illegal practices of mini-cabs within the capital. This problem will not go away and we at Ltcpr will continue to bring pressure on those in authority until the law of this land is enacted in a sensible but firm fashion.

Hopefully over the next couple of months most of you will meet me on a rank or maybe even at a meeting, you may even have heard me on the Big George show on BBC London 94.9 fm or you can log onto www.ltcpr.blogspot.com and come join the internet revolution…Ltcpr “a different approach”.

John Kennedy is the founder of London taxi-cab public relations.

Editor: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily that of the editor or publisher.

By JOHN KENNEDY

The united trade demo on February 5th proved the depth and strength of unity running through our world famous iconic taxi service at this moment in time. As thousands of drivers joined the protest, the traffic quickly queued and Central London soon became grid-locked. However, the protest was peaceful and proved that it is possible to make our voice heard without any pushing, shoving or need for police intervention.

Perhaps some of the main-stream media missed the exact point of our demo; perhaps they just don’t understand our industry. Or was it that our PR was not that good?  Reports said the black cab trade were annoyed because the minicabs are stealing their work; The Times said: “Hundreds of black cabs caused grid-lock in Central London as they protested against what they see as the encroachment of minicabs. The taxi drivers, who are also worried about a 30 per cent drop in customers because of the recession, blockaded Trafalgar Square, The Mall, Downing Street and the Strand to show their anger at a new scheme that promotes their minicab rivals.” But this is not the whole picture. We are tired of TfL’s constant attempts to put minicabs on the same level as the cab trade. The two industries are different; yes both are providing a service to passengers, but the long journey through The Knowledge to become a licensed taxi driver is the proof that our trade is different. Why try to blur the edges? And it is not just the cab trade who feel this way. John Griffin, Chairman of Addison Lee was heard on LBC radio, when he said: “Plying for hire is the sole preserve of the Taxi trade and must remain so, initiatives that seek to undermine this premise should be resisted.” Whilst readers may feel that Mr Griffin has a vested interest in saying this, he is a well known “face” within the ph industry and surely the PCO should listen to his viewpoint as well as the cab trade’s view.

The marshalled scheme in Whitcomb Street is being heralded as popular with passengers.  The minicabs still gather at the bus bay in Whitcomb Street from Thursdays through to Saturdays between 21.00 and 04.00. The travelling public are not interested in trade politics, be it cab trade or minicab trade, they just want to get home at night. Few will understand why this is such a big issue. That is until someone runs into problems with an insurance claim when they use a vehicle that may be licensed but that is carrying someone who has been touted by a minicab driver. Whilst the respectable part of the licensed minicab trade continue to campaign against those within their own trade who do tout, the public need more awareness of the dangers they put themselves in.

ONE TOUT AND YOU’RE OUT
The letter sent out by the PCO to both cab drivers and minicab drivers with the “ONE TOUT AND YOU’RE OUT” message is viewed by the majority within the cab trade as an insult. Yet another example of the PCO trying to merge the two trades without considering the impact the letter would have. Now those in office at the PCO, right through TfL, up to the Mayor’s office at City Hall must be aware of the strength of feeling in the cab trade. Let’s hope some action follows, but in the opinion of our editorial team here at TaxiCab News, don’t hold your breath while you wait.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
After the demo, Steve McNamara from the LTDA, told TaxiCab News: “Thursday’s ‘Enough is Enough’ protest by an estimated 8,000 taxis was the largest demonstration ever held by the London taxi trade and possibly by taxi drivers anywhere in the world. If anyone at the Public Carriage Office still fails to realise the resentment caused by their letter threatening taxi drivers with ‘ONE STRIKE AND YOU’RE OUT’ when the Mayor clearly intended his policy to be aimed at minicab drivers, they are living in a cave. This blatant corruption of the Mayor’s intentions, along with the PCO’s casual attitude to the licensing and enforcement of the Private Hire legislation, has united our industry like never before and forced us into taking militant action to defend our livelihoods. I hope that our grievances and concerns will now be constructively addressed before we are compelled into taking further and more militant actions.” 

Martin Low, Director of Transportation at Westminster Council, has told taxi drivers : “We would welcome ideas from black cab drivers on how to increase their availability in the West End, particularly in the early hours of the morning when the clubs close.” (You might want to contact him at Westminster City Council, 64 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6P). Ed Thomspon, Director of Taxi & Private Hire at the PCO, said: “Thursday’s taxi protest caused serious disruption in central London, inconveniencing thousands of Londoners just trying to go about their business.  The protest is based on mis-information being given out by certain trade bodies, who have refused to meet with the Public Carriage Office (PCO).  Whitcomb Street is not a private hire rank – we have not and we will not introduce private hire ranks in London.  Private hire vehicles must always be booked through a licensed operator.

“It would have been so much more helpful to have spent Thursday afternoon discussing the issues facing the taxi trade and trying to come up with positive ways to help taxi drivers deal with the economic downturn.  Our door remains open and we are, as ever, ready to talk any issues through.”

Let TaxiCab News know your thoughts and feelings on the demo and the issues surrounding it. Should our trade hold more demos? Or should discussions take place with Martin Low and the PCO?

The message was clear on Thursday February 5th, 8000 drivers spoke clearly to the PCO and Westminster City Council. More demos are planned if they do not listen.

A POLITICAL LOBBY/PRESSURE GROUP GETS UNDERWAY
by John Kennedy

Yes after a lot of thought and debate at various tea stalls, cafes and ranks over the years, I’m taking the plunge and on the 31st January 2009 and will launch an online political lobby/pressure group called London Taxi Cab Public Relations. With the private hire trade on the march, with touting out of control, the creation of “satellite mini-cab” offices, (Leicester Square/Whitcomb Street) and coupled this with a recession we are under threat like never before.
Ever since the inception of a Mayor and the creation of Transport for London we have become a political football to be kicked about by whoever holds this office so we need to change our relationship with Transport for London and place this trade on sound footings.
We happen to be adults who have no voice or say in the way our industry is run let alone managed, we were never asked if we wished to be controlled by Transport for London it was just taken as a given. We moan, groan, even complain, yet it appears nobody actually listens, an example of this, is the touting that happens every night of the week in the capital. Laws are passed, mini-cabs licensed yet the touting still goes on, those who have the power to do something choose to ignore the problem and instead seek to legitimise “ranking” of mini-cabs by amending traffic management orders, yet we witness the road traffic act applied in a rigorous fashion except in the centre of London at night where touts cars park illegally and the wardens walk on by.
The parking laws within the capital have made the job of the taxi-cab driver near on impossible especially now we have enforcement by CCTV, but instead of us just appealing tickets we should have been seeking amendments to the Road Traffic Act to take into account the job we do. Why shouldn’t we be allowed to park on a meter bay for free for 20 minutes so you I or could go to the toilet or maybe the bank to get some change? With camera enforcement of Road Traffic offences the days of a telling off by a Police officer have long gone, but has the pendulum swung too far the other way, is camera enforcement fair? After all just look at the way a blind eye is turned to touting, yet you or I happen to hit 35 mph on the embankment and yes you’re nicked. Let me make this clear I do not condone the breaking of the law but for people like us who drive for a living we can be unfairly punished for making a genuine mistake, surely a caution and/or a greater allowance of points on our driving licenses should be sort.
So I like many of you have had enough and I firmly believe the only way forward for us is to lobby, campaign and apply pressure to those in authority so if we want change we must lobby all politicians ranging from local councillors, London Assembly members, the Mayor of London and both Houses of Parliament. I/we shall seek permission from you the subscriber to lobby on your behalf on the following issues:
1. To split the Public Carriage Office in two, therefore divesting the mini-cab operation into a Private Hire Office. We can compete with each other but our right to “ply for Hire” must be protected at all cost.
Transport for London and the PCO should be protecting this right and not seeking to undermine our position by interpreting and or amending the Private Hire Act of 1998, which has had the effect of creating hundreds of “illegal mini-cab ranks”.
2. One Badge One Vote on all issues that affect the working conditions of the London taxi-cab driver, they call it democracy.
3. To amend the road traffic act so that parking laws take full account of the job we do.
4. To seek a caution for a first time road traffic offences and an increase in amount of points allowed upon driving licence.
5. To ban “rickshaws” from the public highway.
6. To seek amendments to the Private Hire Act 1998 so it clearly defines what an operating centre is, so we end the madness of clipboard operators, oversized telephone booths becoming mini-cab offices and these anti-competitive practises.
7. Meaningful consultation to take place between Transport for London and all badge/plate holders, let’s end the rumour mill by ensuring we know what is happening to our industry. If meaningful purposeful consultation is not forthcoming we shall revisit Parliament and seek alternative arrangements of management and may seek to divest ourselves from Transport for London control.
8. Retain the high standards of the knowledge of London. This examination still produces the world’s finest taxi-cab drivers our passengers expect no less.
9. With over 50,000 mini-cabs licensed in the capital and touting rife we must seek a “new enforcement unit” fit for purpose and funded by the mini-cab trade to ensure they do pre booked work only and finally end the epidemic of touting with the capital.
Now like any pressure group as goals are met and situations change we shall adapt to changes in the political world and if need be change tack so that we meet the main aim and objective which is to place this trade back on sound stable footings and ensure the finest taxi trade has a future brighter than any headlamp the automotive industry can make. I certainly have more radical proposals but to lobby on those I would like to be able to seek a mandate from the majority of London taxi cab drivers so over time and as we increase the subscriber base this will become achievable, the more of you that subscribe, the bigger the noise we can make in Parliament and the cheaper the cost will be to you all.
The initial cost will be £32.00p per year per badge holder; this will be reviewed annually with the sole intention to reduce the cost to you. Cost will depend on the numbers that subscribe and I like all of you understand that we are at the beginning of a recession. Let me make this clear we are not a union nor trade association, we will be a political lobby/pressure group if “any” trade organisation wishes to work in partnership they will be more than welcome in fact looking back at those nine objectives how could they not want to!

THE 10th ISSUE
Now you may well be wondering why did I stopped at no.9 – well I didn’t. The 10th issue is an immediate and very important issue one that could do us great harm at the beginning of a recession and that is the tariff increase.
Now can anybody show me any other business that is not in receipt of public subsidy that is increasing its prices. Therefore I firmly believe the trade organisations should continue the good work they do on the tariff review but the final say should be given to the taxi-cab driver via a ballot. I’m sure our friends and colleagues at the PCO could post us a letter with a ballot form enclosed to be returned no later than said date and hey presto we will have started to see democracy in action and I’m sure the London taxi-cab driver will make the right decision depending upon the prevailing economic winds. In fact we could witness the beginning of “One Badge One Vote”.
Now this is an “e business” so we shall communicate with subscribers via email and keep you all informed of progress via the web addresses (www.ltcpr.blogspot.com). Your subscription shall run from 1st May and be valid for one calendar year.
Between 31st January and 1st May I shall be visiting various cafes, venues, garages and hopefully speaking to you the taxi-cab driver about how we shall meet these goals. But be under no illusion I/we shall use all modes of the media available to us from the printed press, radio, television to the world wide web, we shall highlight the plight of this wonderful trade to the world and will shall produce evidence to back up the claims we make. It will be obvious that we will be denounced by some in our trade, but when you know something is wrong and you understand that wrong you have a duty, a moral obligation to do something about it. One driver amongst our ranks who has worked so hard highlighting the problems we face on a daily basis is Thomas the taxi of the Anderson Shelter, without you this would not be possible so I personally thank you for your endless tireless work now come on board with me and let us place this trade back at the top of the tree where we belong, remember “a London taxi always leads the others merely follow”.
Application forms will be available at various sites such as the Chelsea Tea stall Chelsea Bridge, Tom’s Snack Wagon on Clapham Common, the Astral Café, Regency Street and also down loadable from the 31st January at our website
www.ltcpr.blogspot.com or www.andersonshelter.blogspot.com
Please fill out form and make cheques payable to ”London taxi cab public relations” and leave at one of the above named sites, if you choose to pay by cash please place money in an envelope provided.
Tune in to the Big George show on BBC London 94.9 fm on Friday 30th January 2009, I will be launching Ltcpr just after midnight you can call Big George on 0207 224 2000 or text on 07786 200 949 Monday to Friday between 10 pm to 2 am or log onto www.londondailynews.com to keep up to date with London news and the progress of Ltcpr.