Taxi 467

LTDA The newspaper of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association www.ltda.co.uk @TheLTDA #467 5 May 2020

NEWS: p22 & 23

PATRIC’S STORY: ROAD TO ‘THE KNOWLEDGE’

ANOTHER NEW ELECTRIC CAB FOR LONDON? p3

PRIVATE HIRE TRADE DEMAND PARTITIONS p3

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TAXI |||| 5 May 2020

@TheLTDA

Thank you for not riding with Uber? No Problem!

NEWS Reports since TAXI #466 would appear to indicate Uber are having a bit of a crisis. Thuan Pham, Uber’s Chief Technology Officer - who joined Uber in 2013 and is the longest-serving senior executive at the company has resigned and will leave later this month, according to a report filed with the New York Stock exchange on 24th April. It’s not clear if he’s still in the office at this point or doing a bit of lockdown gardening.

Other mainstream news outlets claim to have learnt that Uber have been discussing plans to lay off twenty percent of its workforce - which could result in more than five thousand of Uber’s twenty-seven thousand employees losing their jobs. The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) have said that delivery riders have seen demand for their services plummet (food delivery app businesses seem to be responding by attempting to onboard new restaurants) it’s hard to imagine Uber Eats not being heavily impacted by the lack of demand for their services.

As reported in TAXI #466, Private Hire groups are calling for a Judicial Review following deaths of minicab drivers (six, to date) and a report from researchers at Oxford Internet Institute (OII), University of Oxford,

the University of Manchester, and the International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore has assessed the methods gig economy platforms have used to protect their workers during the coronavirus crisis which has somewhat further legitimised their plight. The research found that many workers “are having to choose between holding on to their incomes and putting themselves at risk of contracting coronavirus.” They made the following recommendations: ◆ Rapid access to a minimum income for

those unable to work due to a fall-off in demand, to legislative restrictions, or preexisting health vulnerabilities;

◆ Additional hazard pay for those facing additional risks while working during the pandemic; ◆ Regular, adequate, free provision of personal protective equipment; ◆ Extended sick-pay for those hospitalised by COVID-19; ◆ Establishing an accessible communications channel for workers for all issues relating to COVID-19

Mark Graham, Professor of Internet Geography at Oxford Internet Institute said: “A disappointingly high number of companies in the gig economy are prioritising shareholders, investors and customers above their own workforce.”

If all this wasn’t enough, The Financial Times ran an article which argued that Uber’s target of breaking even, ‘now looks impossible.’

Amidst this talk of job losses, crisis of cash and pressure from distraught workers to provide PPE to prevent infection and transmission of COVID-19, Uber have however, found the cash to commission and release a new advert…

The commercial focusses on images of the public enduring lockdown to progressively emotive piano music and ends with a simple message: ‘Thank you for not riding with Uber.’

No problem, Uber. No problem at all.

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5 May 2020 |||| TAXI

3

Minicab trade wrestle with image problems – but that focus won’t solve their corona vehicle issues…

STEVE MCNAMARA

PR ISSUES, PARTITIONS & PROTOTYPES

TOP TRADE STORY

E

ven though we are still no closer to an official date for any let up on the current lockdown, more and more businesses are beginning to open - albeit with restricted hours. B&Q were first, closely followed by McDonalds and many smaller restaurants offering take-away services. The minicab industry has seen these first signs of movement as the time to try and ‘favourably position themselves with the travelling public’ through a series of PR campaigns and, in Uber’s case, with expensive TV advertisements.

They know they are going to have a problem post lockdown and all the PR in the world cannot overcome their biggest hurdle - their vehicles! It’s impossible to self-distance in a Prius and sterilising such a small area built with unsuitable and absorbent materials will never work. Anyone with even only a handful of brain cells is going to be figure this out and the minicab industry is worried they will lose their premium customers to us. My spies tell me they fear only retaining those customers whose primary choice criteria is ‘price’ (the ones that swap from app to app, with zero loyalty, to save pennies) whilst the ‘better’ more regular riders will desert them in droves.

The big operators are lobbying hard for some sort of plastic partition to be approved in an effort to reassure passengers - others are dead against the idea, fearing it will further cheapen and denigrate the customer experience. One operator described it as “madness” and questioned how “cramming a passenger into the back of typical saloon with his/her knees pushed up against an obviously flimsy and aftermarket Perspex partition, that will scratch and look rubbish in less than a week, is going to be a good experience?” He went on “It will be impossible to talk to the driver or hear what he/she is saying. Passengers will feel ‘caged’ and trapped - we might as well put a sign on the roof confirming our third world status” Whilst the minicab trade is tearing each other apart on conferences calls, rumours are mounting that Karsan are currently in talks with TfL over plans to launch their electric cab in London. The Turkish manufacturer were thought to have pulled their protype vehicle back in 2016 but reports of preproduction models undergoing testing on European roads and a new possible tie in deal between Karsan and Renault, who manufacturer the electric Zoe, lead many to believe that the Turks are back. ◆

Steve McNamara is the LTDA’s General Secretary

Early Karsan protoype images released to trade in 2015

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TAXI |||| 5 May 2020

@TheLTDA

FROM THE EQUIVALENT OF £195 PER WEEK INCLUDING 5 YRS SERVICING AND 5 YRS WARRANTY*

WE’LL DOUBLE YOUR DEPOSIT

PUT DOWN £1,250 ON A NEW TX, W E ’ L L P U T I N £ 2 , 5 0 0*.

V i s i t l e v c . c o m /2 5 0 0 t o f i n d a p a r t i c i p a t i n g d e a l e r. Q u o t e “£2500 FDC” to cl aim your finance deposit contribution.

*Available at participating dealers only. Business users only. Finance illustration refers to Personal Contract Purchase. 7.3% APR Representative; figures based on TX Vista at £59,448 OTR (OTR figure is net of OLEV Plug in Taxi Grant which is up to £7,500 and is subject to European Whole Vehicle Type Approval and European Commission state aid notification) and including an optional 5 year service plan costing £1,700 and an optional 5 year warranty costing £649, a finance deposit contribution of £2,500, a customer deposit of £1,250, followed by 60 monthly payments of £842.88 (equivalent weekly payments of £195 – it is not possible to pay by week, balance is paid monthly via direct debit) plus an optional final payment of £18,873. Based upon an annual contracted mileage of 30,000. You have the option at the end of the agreement to 1. Return the vehicle and not pay the optional final payment. If the vehicle has exceeded the maximum agreed mileage a charge per excess mile will apply. In this example, 6p plus VAT per excess mile. If the vehicle is in good condition (fair wear and tear accepted) and has not exceeded the maximum agreed mileage you will have nothing further to pay. 2. Pay the optional final payment and keep the vehicle. Or 3. Part exchange the vehicle subject to settlement of your existing finance agreement; new finance agreements are subject to status. All prices inclusive of VAT. Two, three or four year plans are also available. Finance is provided by Black Horse Taxi Finance a trading style of Black Horse Ltd, St William House, Tresillian Terrace, Cardiff CF10 5BH. Credit is subject to status and is only available to UK residents aged 18 and over. All prices and promotions are valid for vehicles ordered and delivered before 30 June 2020. LEVC reserves the right to terminate offers at any time. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Excludes Meter, credit card equipment and any local authority fees. For full details of LEVC Servicing and Warranty inclusions please refer to the ‘LEVC Operators App’ available to download via IOS and Android.

M29050_Q2_TX_Double_Incentive_Ad_Taxi_Mag_288x226_AW.indd 1

29/04/2020 12:43

@TheLTDA

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5 May 2020 |||| TAXI

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TXe’s Given Essential Farewell Role NEWS T. Cribb & Sons were first established in 1881. They pride themselves on being a traditional, old, East End funeral directors.

Despite possessing a stunning fleet of specialist, modern Jaguar vehicles, the advent of this Coronavirus has prompted the need for innovative ideas, and the use a different type of purpose-built vehicle… the TXe. John Harris, Senior Partner at the firm explained to TAXI: “The limousines we use, do not have a partition, so because of the Corona pandemic we were approached with the idea of using the new modern black cabs. I actually really like the way they look – they are smart, and they fit into the fleet nicely.”

John adds that due to many households being in isolation, attending funeral services and adhering to government social distancing guidance was a challenge that required a solution. Cabbies’ duties for the company involve being allocated a particular family, who may live five miles out or fifty-five miles away - their job is the same and so is the flat rate paid to them.

A Cabbie collects a family from their home and ensures they travel in a disinfected Cab, with partition, to the meeting point of the ceremonial convoy. The TXe is then driven in procession to the funeral service, and the

families are safely returned back home again in the same, clean vehicle by a professional driver, dressed in the appropriate attire.

“Whatever you take from a family now – you can’t give back.” John talks with sincerity and a depth of understanding in the service he provides. Using the Taxis means families can attend and take part in traditional funeral arrangements, “The Cabbies tell me they have found the work rewarding – I’ve lent out the odd tie and jacket - we started with four Cabs and the

The LTDA Legal Team Winning in Lockdown Whilst many competitors have provided little or no service to clients throughout the lockdown period, the LTDA Legal Team remain available to members and are continuing to get results for their clients. LTDA member Cindy Brown, who found herself receiving a Court Summons (despite promptly paying a £100 fine and sending her licence off to Southend, following receipt of a notice alleging she had been driving at 24mph in a 20mph zone), was particularly grateful to the LTDA Legal Team who took on her case in late March: “They didn’t offer me a speed awareness course, so I paid the money and sent off the licence – I paid the money back in January and they sent me my licence back! On receiving the summons, I got in touch and sent them my bank statement evidencing this… All they did was refund me the money, shifting the responsibility on to me to deal with the Court!

That’s when I got in touch with the LTDA Legal Team…”

LTDA Solicitor John Luckhurst explained, “Yes, in that instance we intervened, engaging with the relevant agencies and the Court in order to secure a fair resolution. Our client had done all the right things, yet still found herself being summoned to appear – we took on that case in late March and had a resolution on 29th April, all conducted throughout lockdown. The case was settled without our client needing to attend court, on the same terms she was offered and legitimately undertook. LTDA legal intervention ensured that the global figure of costs (Fines, Victim Surcharge and Prosecution Fee), amounted to the £100 in the original notice and the client did not incur further costs which would often be the case when such a matter proceeds to Court.”

The LTDA Legal Team continue to be active throughout this challenging period, and available to take on trade related cases to support members.

demand grew, we’ve had six Cabs at one funeral yesterday and now there are nine Cabs in total which we can call upon”. It won’t come as a surprise John stating that he didn’t really have to ‘go looking’ for Cabbies with TXe’s – he says that they all just sort of knew each other and made themselves available… T. Cribb & Sons have since been inundated with enquiries from Cabbies offering themselves and their TXe’s – and would like TAXI to point out that they are grateful, though now have more than

enough TXe’s and Cabbies!

Licensed Cabbie, Mark who initially pitched the idea said, “Whilst the role can be distressing, especially seeing the strict limitations of mourners allowed into chapels and cemeteries, it’s also rewarding. It’s extremely heart-warming to be met with such gratitude for our services, by people enduring emotional and traumatic times – as Cabbies we don’t always receive such heart-felt courtesy from our customers in our regular work!”

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LEVC Berkshire 392 Bath Road, Slough, Berkshire SL1 6JA 01753 523031

01/04/2020 14:11

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www.ltda.co.uk ||||

TAXI |||| 5 May 2020

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Will authorities permanently hijack roads under the guise of introducing emergency measures?

RICHARD MASSETT

ROADS HIJACKED AS COUNCILS LAND GRAB

THE MASSETT FILE

W

ith London’s roads the quietest that they have been in living memory due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, some pressure groups with anti-car agendas are looking to take full advantage of the current situation. They have been pressing their case with claims about how wonderful it is to see London’s streets and roads so quiet and free from traffic, proposing that this should become the new norm, with no going back to the way we were.

Indeed, there are calls to seize the initiative and to rush through measures to widen pavements and to introduce more cycle lanes by removing even more space from motorists under the guise that further space is currently needed to provide for social distancing and because there are currently more people out cycling for exercise or leisure, there is no mention of the huge reduction in work based cycle trips. The plan then, is that when life does eventually return to normal, these groups would argue that the ‘temporary

infrastructure’ has been so successful that it should remain in place, all with the possible connivance of local political sympathisers who are in league with the cycling lobby.

Already, it has been reported that Hackney Council has been drawing up a shortlist of mainly residential streets where it intends to put in measures that would both reduce the level of rat running traffic and to enable these roads to operate for the exclusive use of pedestrians and cyclists.

It is not explained how this fits in with the fact that general traffic on main roads in London is currently around 67% down on the normal average, which could be assumed to mean less traffic would be rat running. The intention being, to get the restrictions in under the guise of emergency measures - without going through any lengthy consultation process. To effect the measures, the Council has said that it may use low cost items such as planters or bollards to block the roads at strategic points so that vehicles would not be able to get through, allowing the roads to then be used exclusively by cyclists and pedestrians.

When the current Government imposed lock-down is eventually raised, the Council

has suggested that it may then ask residents and presumably cycling pressure groups whether they wanted the restrictions to remain - no doubt this is seen as a quick and easy way for Hackney to cleanse its streets of what it sees as unwanted motor vehicles, regardless of whether they are electrically powered or not. It is notable that Hackney Council has previously informed TfL that it will not accept any new Taxi ranks on its roads that are not defined as exclusively for the use of zero emission Taxis.

Many other local authorities around the country are considering such measures and a similar pattern is appearing abroad too. For instance, take the Italian ‘car crazed’ city of Milan - the City Council authority there has come up with a plan to widen pavements and to introduce more cycle lanes. It is said that there is great concern over what happens during the period when lock-down conditions are gradually eased and while the numbers who would like to use the public transport system are set to increase, social distancing measures will still be in place, so trains and buses will each be carrying far fewer

numbers than they would normally. The City Council states that it has to attempt to provide for alternatives, otherwise the City’s road system will not be able to cope.

Although ongoing, the City centre may well be environmentally improved with permanent reductions in motor traffic, it is not thought likely that there is the public appetite to introduce sweeping measures across the wider area to restrict the use of cars or indeed the continued use of the iconic Italian motor scooter, on a permanent basis.

Meanwhile back in West London temporary measures have been put in place to widen the pavements and narrow the traffic lanes in parts of King Street and Uxbridge Road to enable people to comply with social distancing measures.

So beware, it’s just possible that when you do get back to work it may be that some of the roads that you have been used to using may have been hijacked while you were away. ◆

Richard Massett, LTDA Chairman, and Chairman of the London Cab Ranks Committee

MASSETT'S CAMERA HOTSPOTS EXMOUTH MARKET Red zone BERKLEY STREET J/W PICCADILLY Yellow box cameras JOHN ISLIP STREET No right turn into Ponsonby Terrace FULHAM BROADWAY/BARCLAY ROAD Yellow box CAMDEN 20mph limit SELFRIDGES Over ranking LUDGATE HILL Zig-Zags ISLINGTON 20mph limit RED ROUTES TfL is actively enforcing yellow box restrictions TOWER BRIDGE 20 mph speed limit – average speed cameras LIMEHOUSE LINK 30mph speed limit SMITHFIELD Do not park in loading boxes, they are enforced by camera A13 Average speed cameras in operation THE CITY 20mph limit KILLICK STREET Pedestrian zone WESTMINSTER PARK PLAZA No right turn into Addington Street VERNON PLACE No left turn into Southampton Row

◆ HOTSPOT 1 Devonshire Place Mews

— no right turn

◆ HOTSPOT 2 Binfield Road

—24hr pedestrian zone

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|||| www.ltda.co.uk

5 May 2020 |||| TAXI

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Cabbie Volunteers for Over Sixty Years

London Cabbie, Joseph Theodore, 82, from Muswell Hill, began volunteering for the Taxi Charity in 1958 when he took two veterans in his cab on the charity’s annual trip to Worthing. Almost every year since then he has joined the convoy of London cabbies who take veterans from all conflicts for a day at the seaside.

Joseph Theodore, London Cabbie and Charity Volunteer, said, “I was 21 when I started volunteering for The Taxi Charity.

The veterans, I took to Worthing that first year were from WWI and WWII. Over the years we have lost many veterans and been joined by those from other conflicts and recently my passengers have included veterans who have served in The Falklands, Afghanistan and Iraq. I have made amazing friends amongst the

veterans and the cab trade and I would highly recommend volunteering for this amazing charity.”

During the last sixty years Joseph has driven seven different cabs, his first was an Oxford, then a Beardmore, followed by an FX3, an FX4, a Fairway, a TXE and he is currently driving a TX4.

Dick Goodwin, Vice President, Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, said, “The Taxi Charity and veterans rely on the help of kind-hearted London Cabbies who volunteer their time and vehicles for free.

Joseph has been an amazing volunteer for over sixty years, and he is a very

important part of the charity family.”

Joseph campaigned for many years to see Norman Wisdom recognised with an MBE. He is now hoping to see a statue to Nye Bevan erected in London as there is currently only a bust of him situated in Tower Bridge. Joseph said, “With the amazing work being done by the NHS now it would seem very fitting to have a statue in London of Nye Bevan who contributed to the founding of the welfare state in the UK.”

About the Taxi Charity

The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans was formed in Fulham in 1948, to work

for the benefit, comfort and enjoyment of military veterans and arranges many trips every year for veterans from all conflicts.

The charity offers international trips to The Netherlands, Belgium and France, UK day trips to concerts or museums, transport to attend fundraising events, as well as special days out to catch up with friends and comrades.

To fund and facilitate these outings, the charity is wholly reliant on generous donations from members of the public, businesses and trusts and the amazing group of London licensed taxi drivers who offer their time and vehicles free. ◆ You can find out more about the charity by visiting www.taxicharity.org

TFL ARE OFFERING UP TO

£8,000 F O R TA X I D R I V E R S D E L I C E N S I N G THEIR EURO 3, 4 AND 5 VEHICLES* That’s up to £8,000 towards the purchase of a new TX. Find out more at www.levc.com/tflfund

Alternatively speak to us about a part exchange on your new TX – we are offering up to £3,500 more on part ex valuations of selected TX4 models.** w w w. l ev c . co m /va l u em y ta x i o r c a l l 0 2 0 3 9 1 2 6 2 1 4

*The TfL delicensing fund is available for taxi drivers who want to delicense their Euro 3, 4 or 5 vehicles.

For more details on scheme eligibility please refer to https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/taxis-and-privatehire/taxi-delicensing-scheme **Inflated offer prices are typically available on late Euro 5 and Euro 6 TX4 models in good condition and with full service history. All used vehicle offers are made at the discretion of the LEVC Brewery Road team. Terms and conditions apply.

LEVC London 39-41 Brewery Road London N7 9QH levc.com

LONDON NORTH

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www.ltda.co.uk ||||

TAXI |||| 5 May 2020

@TheLTDA

LTDA continue to respond and resolve driver issues throughout lockdown

ANTHONY STREET

STREETS AHEAD

WHO’S STILL GOING THE EXTRA MILE? THE LTDA

W

ell here we are, still in lockdown with only very few drivers out there trying to work and I’m being told regularly that work out on the streets remains scarce.

But I already knew this, as I’ve recently been out in the cab myself and only did one job to Streatham - on the way back, I decided to head for Chelsea. I drove through Clapham and the amount of people I noticed having picnics on the Common amazed me! If we are going to restore some normality back into our daily lives these people have got to take the social distancing guidelines set out by the Government, seriously.

As you are all aware, the LTDA takes hundreds of calls every week from our members on all the issues they face relating to our working practices and rules set out by our regulator TfL: medicals, licences, NSL tests, DBS checks… the list goes on. You might think with the majority of drivers not working the phones have gone quiet, but the problems we all have as drivers are still coming thick & fast into the LTDA via calls & emails. Many issues are still those we see as ‘par for the course’ of our daily work in Taxi House, but the virus and the lockdown have thrown up their own very unique problems and challenges. But then I do love a challenge…

One such unique problem arose for a member when knowing that his cab would reach 15-years of age (and as we all know that means the cab would no

longer be licensed due to the current rules set out by the Mayor of London), he did what most of us would do and started planning ahead. So, at the end of February 2020 with some ‘forward thinking,’ he decided to surrender the cab licence that was due to expire in two months and sent the licence with the plates off to Sheffield and was looking forward to starting afresh.

He looked into the possibility of buying a new TXe. He arranged a test drive and was surprised with the technology and comfort the cab

LTDA The LTDA members forum is currently postponed due to Covid-19 circumstances. We will update you with the next date as soon as we are able.

provided him and after giving some serious thought made the decision to order a new cab that would make his job more enjoyable and less stressful. He also decided to book a family holiday for the beginning of April and planned the trip so when he returned, his new cab would be ready for him to go back to work feeling ‘fresh as a daisy’… ‘I think we would all agree this is a good plan so far?’

However, all this was done without the knowledge that the outbreak of Coronavirus was about to destroy all his carefully laid plans - and that the taxi trade was about to hit a brick wall, with no work and London becoming a ghost town. He then found himself in a position where his holiday had been cancelled, with no idea when he would take delivery of his new cab and he still has a cab sat on his driveway but of course it now it has no cab licence. If only he had known that TfL would be giving drivers a six-month extension on 15-year-old cabs, and if he had plates, he would have an option to work to provide for his family - no matter how little but at least putting some food on the table.

Unfortunately, although not being blessed with the ability of seeing into the future, he did however possess the foresight to have previously joined the LTDA, who he called to see if we could help with the predicament he now found himself in.

Well I never say never and thought this request to TfL would be a long

shot, but I always do my upmost to help our members. I straight away got on the case emailing my contact at TfL, asking what could be done. TfL replied straight away, asking me to provide cab licence expiry dates, vehicle registration number and proof from the travel agent that confirmed the holiday had been cancelled. This case was then escalated and reviewed by senior staff within TfL who agreed to reissue our members cab licence. Great news for all involved.

Bus Lanes

You will be aware we have been banging the drum for some time now requesting 24 hour a day taxi access to several bus lanes. A list was sent to TfL and we have been granted some of these, such as the Euston Overpass that make our job much easier. We have now also been given Tunnel Avenue/ Blackwall Tunnel north bound and the signs are up. We have been told they are approved but are awaiting traffic orders on Shorter Street and City of London approval on Bus Gate at Tower Hill. I know twitter worriers will be negative about this news, but not all bus lanes are on Red Routes which are on the TLRN which are much quicker and easier to get approved - many are on ‘Borough’ roads like Blackwall Tunnel in the borough of Greenwich that has taken a long time getting approved.

Stay safe and stay well. ◆

Anthony Street is an LTDA Executive Support Officer

@TheLTDA

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5 May 2020 |||| TAXI

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TAXI |||| 5 May 2020

TX4 10 plates to TX4 65 plates from £210 to £275 Euro 6 from £270 £275 m o fr s o it v te la p 7 1

www.ltda.co.uk ||||

@TheLTDA

@TheLTDA

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5 May 2020 |||| TAXI

11

‘Lycra clad cycling men – the sad boy racers of the 90’s’

PAUL BRENNAN

TOP RANK

RING ROADS TO NOWHERE

by having four ring roads. One on the outskirts (the M25) and three inner rings, made up of a much wider North & South efore the lockdown and our lives circular, along with two more which were becoming impacted beyond only part built. Probably the most visible what we could have ever possibly sections of what could have been the imagined, I wrote the following ‘Ring inner most ring roads are the East Cross Roads to Nowhere’ article for Taxi. route, the Westway and the West cross I don’t know what type of city we will route. The latter has at its Northern end, emerge into after the lockdown; will we see a roundabout, that still has an ‘off road’ a change in attitude from those in charge to nowhere - it’s an anomaly from that or will it be the same old crap of yesterday? scheme coming to an abrupt end, and I don’t know, I hope things will improve, I actually I have to say, I’m quite glad it did. hope this has been a massive wake up call We can’t keep going from one extreme for the powers that be on just how fragile to another, just as the plan to build four we are, not only us humans but also our ring roads throughout London in the economy and business.

60’s was not right for London, neither is I hope the games played by politicians the current obsession of building cycle cease and in building back our economy, superhighways everywhere. Despite the frivolous spending of public money millions of pounds being spent on them on niche schemes that benefit just a go by before finding a spot in a carriage to ‘stumble over a career boundary’ from and the disastrous effects they have had, few - ends. London isn’t just a home, a they can squeeze into. being employed in a totally unrelated field the cycleways have not increased the playground or business, it’s all three and Roads are the arteries of London. and has turned overnight into a ‘wannabe number of trips made anywhere near a much more besides, now more than ever a Residents and businesses rely on the road MP.’ (Who quite remarkably may now level that justifies the negatives. You would good balance must be struck. infrastructure to carry them and their neither work nor even live in the ward think the ‘avocado on cardboard’ brigade With London and therefore the trade products around the capital. And like they supposedly represent.) It seems this would see the empty cycleways next to in limbo, I didn’t want to speculate on arteries, we block or reduce their capacity new breed of councillor doesn’t care about heavy stationary traffic or the fact that matters covered in the last 3 editions of at our peril. the local economy, they only care about many cyclists refuse to use them because Taxi, that will serve no-one and I’m sure Unfortunately, too many of those climbing the internal political ladder others have turned it into their own any meaningful updates will be covered responsible for keeping the arteries clear living and reacting only to the internal personal racetrack as a sign that they are by others. This article covers our ‘pre virus’ are likely sat in their favourite fancy café, political bubble that will aid that climb. simply not working. problems and I hope you will forgive me supping an ‘almond-milk latte’, munching Maybe they feel safe and comfortable in Amazingly, the pedestrian in almost all escaping our current woes, all be it for an ‘avocado on cardboard’, thinking, doing so because most of us are now so schemes has always seemed to be the one one edition…

‘What a wonderful world it would be, if disengaged with politics, creating easy that loses out, which is quite odd because I don’t think there are many people, everyone cycled like me and ate like me.’ opportunity for those with minority almost everyone whether you’re a cyclist, except maybe the most ardent of climate (Without giving any thought whatsoever views to band together and force through motorist or a user of public transport warriors who would argue against the fact as to how that almond milk or avocado changes that suit their agenda and not (including Taxis) will at some point that roads are vital to all who live, work or actually reached the café. Clue for them - it that of the mainstream? It’s both amazing throughout the day, be a pedestrian. just visit a town or city. That’s as true for isn’t by cargo bike.) and strangely quite reassuring that many Many current schemes, force pedestrians London as it is for any other city, despite Our road network has always been used of the councillors that are changing our to dice with danger from the speeding us having a better rail network than most, as a ‘Political Football’. Whilst historically road network to the detriment of local ‘Lycra-clad’ cycling men (who I’m which some mistakenly claim could take this has been the reserve of mainstream businesses, residents and other commerce convinced were once the sad boy racers up a larger share of trips currently taken national politicians, it seems that sadly, were elected with only a thousand votes. I of the 90’s all grown up and forced by by road. They obviously haven’t stood on this is all changing. This is likely because say reassuring, because it only takes a small their wives to drive ‘Dacia Dusters’ rather a tube platform letting two or three trains your ‘new local councillor’ has managed swing in votes for their jobs to be than the hot hatch of their youth they so put at risk - just as they have done to so long for). The picture on this page at first many others. glance, seems absolutely ridiculous - until In 2000 when a London Mayor became you look at the bus and realise it makes a reality, road schemes once again became complete sense for the pedestrians to be a Political Football, this time between where the cycles should be. It’s so they the Mayoralty and the London boroughs can safely access the bus, so why do TfL - who’d well and truly had their noses & boroughs insist on putting pedestrians put out of joint. As a result, the last 20 - especially vulnerable pedestrians with years feels like it has seen very little joined impairments or disabilities in danger with up thinking, as when road schemes are segregated cycleways? planned, effectively we have 33 entities, Did you know? all with their own plans and priorities, Roman London is approx. 23 feet below introducing schemes at the expense of todays road surface, that’s almost the each other, not to mention those of the height of three red phone boxes. Deeper Mayor’s/TfL’s. still is a layer of red ash caused when There have been some quite Boudica, Queen of the Iceni burned the ridiculous schemes for London’s road original Roman London to the ground. ◆ network throughout the years, the cycle superhighway is the current scheme but Paul Brennan, equally in the 60’s there was a big push LTDA Executive to extensively build up London’s roads

B

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@TheLTDA

If social distancing becomes the ‘new normality,’ the taxi trade may well benefit.

LLOYD BALDWIN

OPTIMISM IN SOCIAL DISTANCING?

ON POINT

H

i Everybody, I hope you and all your families are ok.

A big topic of discussion lately with members I speak to, is what our thoughts and predictions are of what will happen when we finally return to work. Although it is very difficult to predict and let’s be honest, who knows, the general consensus is that although it may be a bit quiet at first (especially if London workers are bought back in stages), the majority of cabbies believe that London will get back to normal relatively quickly.

The optimists point to the fact that people will not be wanting to travel on the Tube or Buses in fear of catching something. I agree with this, because I can see the ‘social distancing’ as something that will become the ‘new normality’ to many people. As we all know, travelling on the tube in rush hour is horrible and people are forced to stand face to face. Imagine being on a packed tube, bus or train and somebody near you starts coughing or sneezing… I can imagine the dirty looks being flashed around, can’t you? I foresee situations where if you obviously have a cold, people standing or sitting close by are going to be more than prepared to tell you in no uncertain terms to leave the train at the next station. I’m sure we will see videos popping up on social media of such situations in the future. The travelling public are really going to think about this when they walk down to get the tube or wait in a large queue at a bus stop and they are unable to get on without someone being in what people call their ‘personal space’.

As we’ve seen on the news, some will have no other choice and will be forced too, but others may see this as something they are no longer prepared to do. My colleague at the office who travels from East London by bus every morning will tell you of times where he has got off and walked because of the overcrowding.

It will only take a few percent of commuters, changing over to utilising us instead, to make a difference.

Hopefully the public will look at the advantages of using a London cab for another added reason. Not only are they being driven by the best Taxi drivers in the world, they are in a vehicle that is without question, better for their chances of not being in danger of picking up a bug. When we get back to normality - this safety feature is something we all need to promote. Back in the day, some drivers used to leave a box of tissues on the back-parcel shelf and now they could be replaced by some anti-bacterial hand wipes or

maybe a hand gel. Personally, I wouldn’t leave them in the back because people will steal them (they did my tissues) but having some in the cab ready to offer if asked for, or maybe some sort of fixed dispenser if approved, will do our reputation no harm.

Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks.

As you all know, we all have to apply for a Criminal Records Check (DBS) every 3 years when we renew our licence. There are different levels of DBS checks and we must provide a ‘Fully Enhanced’ one. Transport for London should send your Licence renewal pack out to you by post 4-months before your current licence expires. Within this pack, is information regarding the DBS check giving you a PIN number (104175) and a secret word (tphcrb) that you need to enter on the ‘Register’ page. I have seen many examples of members putting ‘DBS check’ into a search engine and clicking on the first option given and although applying for a DBS they are applying for the wrong type. You need to go onto your online search engine and put in the website address: www. gbg.onlinedisclosures.co.uk – Please make sure that when you click into this website, you then choose ‘GBG online disclosures only.’ Do not use CRB direct, as this will not be acceptable

“Imagine being on a packed tube, bus or train and somebody near you starts coughing or sneezing... I can imagine the dirty looks being flashed around, can’t you?”

for TFL, and you will have to re-apply and re-do the DBS again! Our (DBS) checks, cost £52 - others cost different amounts, so this is something to look out for. Transport for London have always been very clear regarding DBS, and that is if you have applied for it 3 months before your licence expires and for some reason it does not get issued in time, they will consider issuing a temporary licence.

There are 5 stages to our check and usually if there’s any delay, it’s when it gets to the Police check - stage 4. The police do not even have a number to call in order to ask that a particular application be looked at as a matter of urgency due to the licence being about to expire…

When your renewal pack comes through the door and if you are not 100% confident or have any queries, then please call me - and if you want to, you can come to the office with the paperwork and I’ll be happy to do the whole application for you. Just call and we can arrange a time that suits you. There is also the option of signing up to the DBS update system where you pay £13.00 a year to automatically update and this saves you having to go through the application process every 3 years. You can only sign up to the automatic update system in the year that a Certificate is issued and within 30 days of the date of issue. It’s something that ends up costing less and is easy to set up.

Please call me if you need any information regarding this.

I wish you and your families all the best.

Take Care.. ◆

Lloyd Baldwin is an LTDA Executive Support Officer

@TheLTDA

|||| www.ltda.co.uk

5 May 2020 |||| TAXI

13

LEVC

FARE

WEST LONDON NOW OPEN!

TRADING

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Pop in and we’d be delighted to show you round our new premises and talk you through some of the groundbreaking features of the new TX Electric Taxi.

AFTERSALES @ LEVC WEST LONDON • Factory trained LEVC technicians & recently extended workshop • While you wait appointments - subject to availability • Plated loan vehicles available - subject to availability • Free vehicle wash & vacuum

• Free vehicle health check • Free software update • Great coffee and a warm welcome!

LEVC West London 110 Power Road, Chiswick W4 5PY 020 3897 3722 www.levcwestlondon.co.uk TX Vista Representative Example Weekly Equivalent £183.92 • 60 Monthly Payments £797.32 • Customer Deposit £3,750 • Gov Grant £7,500 • APR 7.30% • On The Road Price £64,599 • Amount of Credit £53,349 • Interest Charges £13,178.88 Total Amount Payable £77,787.88 • Optional Final Payment £19,486 • Duration of Agreement 60 months • Mileage per annum 30,000 • Excess mileage charge 6ppm *Business users only. Finance illustration refers to Personal Contract Purchase 7.3% APR Representative; figures based on TX Vista with a customer deposit of £3,750, followed by 60 monthly payments plus an optional final payment. Based upon an annual contracted mileage of 30,000 (150,000 miles over term). All prices inclusive of VAT. £0 deposits may be available. Two, three or four year plans are also available. Three years 120,000 miles comprehensive vehicle / five years unlimited mileage drive battery warranties included. You have the option at the end of the agreement to return the vehicle and not pay the Final Payment. If the vehicle has exceeded the allowed mileage a charge per excess mile will apply. In this example, 6p per excess mile. If the vehicle is in good condition and has not exceeded the allowed mileage you will have nothing further to pay. Credit is subject to status and is only available to UK residents aged 18 and over. Finance is provided by Black Horse Taxi Finance a trading style of Black Horse Ltd, St William House, Tresillian Terrace, Cardiff CF10 5BH. Excludes Meter, credit card equipment and any local authority fees. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. OTR figure is net of OLEV Plug in Taxi Grant which is up to £7,500 and is subject to European Whole Vehicle Type Approval and European Commission state aid notification. All prices and promotions are valid for vehicles ordered and delivered before 31st March 2020.

W13 Endeavour LEVC 226x288 Fare Trading ad.indd 1

01/04/2020 14:12

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We are proud to work with London’s finest Thank you for your support at this time

“As a nurse who has just worked 65 hours this week a ride home in a black cab with a fantastic driver has been such a wonderful treat. Thank you to all the cabbies doing this for NHS workers. I actually don’t have words enough to thank you all. You are amazing!”

Ciara, London

London’s Black Cab only app!

@TheLTDA

@TheLTDA

|||| www.ltda.co.uk

5 May 2020 |||| TAXI

15

Learn Rob’s tales of London history to increase your tips!

ROBERT LORDAN

LONDON FILM LOCATIONS & RUNS!

ROB’S TIPS

W

hilst on the Knowledge, I became fascinated by the hidden stories associated with London’s countless streets and points. I’ve been passionate about the city’s history ever since - and have discovered that sharing these tales with the public often results in a nice tip!

Thousands of films have been shot in London over the years and I’ve found that many people - especially tourists, love having cinematic locations pointed out. Here then, are some ‘movie-runs’ to keep your brain ticking over.

Let’s get off to a running start with The Beatles’ 1964 film ‘A Hard Day’s Night.’

In the opening credits, the ‘Fab Four’ are famously chased by a mass of screaming fans.

This begins on Boston Place before turning the corner into Marylebone Station, where the band sprint towards an awaiting train. Let’s take it from Marylebone to Crystal Palace Park where, five years later, ‘The Italian Job’s’ infamous “You’re only supposed to blow the bloody doors off” sequence was shot - you can see the Crystal Palace transmitter in the background.

Another 60’s classic starring regular cab user and all-round legend, Sir Michael Caine is ‘Alfie’ which opens on Camley Street. Run it from there to Waterloo Bridge where the film’s melancholy final scene takes place.

London provides the backdrop for many gangster flicks- such as 1980’s ‘The Long Good Friday’ starring the late, great Bob Hoskins as mobster Harold Shand. In the film’s terrifying climatic scene, Harold’s car is hijacked outside the Savoy Hotel by two IRA hitmen - one of who is played by a young Pierce Brosnan.

Take it from the Savoy to Rutland Mews West where, in 2000’s ‘Sexy Beast’, dodgy banker Harry also meets a sticky end.

Sexy Beast stars another top Londoner - Ray Winstone. As a youngster, Ray was a regular at Repton Boxing Club - which, in Guy Ritchie’s ‘Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels’, appears as the venue for a high-stakes poker tournament. Take it from the Repton to Hatton Garden where, in Guy Ritchie’s second gangster comedy, ‘Snatch’, ‘Doug the Head’played by Mike Reid, works as a crooked diamond dealer.

The main villain in ‘Snatch’ is psychotic crime boss ‘Brick Top’, played by Alan Ford.

Another of Alan’s roles was in 1981’s ‘An American Werewolf in London’ in which he plays a cabbie who gets flagged down by Jenny Agutter (who plays nurse, Alex) on Wilton Crescent. The journey ends up on the north side of Trafalgar Square - now pedestrianised of course. Although you don’t see the entire

Gleeson) and his daughter have transformed their flat into a makeshift fortress to guard against ‘the infected’.

journey, what route would you take?

One of London’s most unlikely film locations is the former Acton Lane Power Station which serves as a remote space base in 1986’s ‘Aliens.’

It can also be spotted in 1989’s ‘Batman’ this time as the ‘Axis Chemicals’ plant where Jack Nicholson suffers an appalling industrial accident which transforms him into the Joker.

How would you get from Acton Lane to Westfield White City? Here there’s another unusual site - the old brick ‘Dimco Buildings’ alongside the bus station were used as the ‘Acme’ joke factory in ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit?’ Quite odd really, considering the film’s set in Los Angeles!

Stanley Kubrick’s ‘A Clockwork Orange’ generated much controversy when it was first released in 1971. The film showcases many London locations including Thamesmead, Brunel University and even Albert Bridge. The early, shocking sequence, in which Alex and his gang of ‘droogs’ assault an elderly tramp was filmed in a pedestrian subway beneath Wandsworth’s Trinity Road roundabout.

Run it from there to the Balfron Tower which features in 2002’s ‘28 Days Later.’ It’s here that London cab driver, Frank (played by Brendan

“Thousands of films have been shot in London and I’ve found that many people love having cinematic locations pointed out”

You may have been lucky enough to get a fare out to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour near Leavesden where the ‘Harry Potter’ films were made. The franchise also stars a number of central London locations. The ‘Leakey Cauldron’ for example can be found in Leadenhall Market (in reality it’s an opticians).

How would you get from Leadenhall Market to Lambeth Bridge where, in ‘The Prisoner of Azkaban’ the triple decker ‘Knight Bus’, magically squeezes itself between two regular London buses?

Even John Wayne made a film in London: 1975’s ‘Brannigan’ in which he plays an American cop on the trail of a fugitive Chicago mobster. Whilst in London, Brannigan stays at York Mansions on Prince of Wales Drive.

Another major Hollywood star who worked in London in the 70s was Gregory Peck who filmed much of the supernatural thriller, ‘The Omen’ here. How would you get from Prince of Wales Drive to All Saints Church, Fulham where, in ‘The Omen’, Patrick Troughton’s character, Father Brennan is apparently slain by devilish forces? ◆

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www.ltda.co.uk ||||

@TheLTDA

@TheLTDA

|||| www.ltda.co.uk

5 May 2020 |||| TAXI

17

The MIB time travels to explore the ‘(un) -appy’ situation & embeds an unwelcome lockdown earworm

STEVE KENTON

A MAN IN BLACK

BACK TO THE FUTURE

definition as to what denotes “plying-forhire” has been exploited by every single ride-hailing app across the country, let ppy, appy talking, appy talk, alone London. talk about how we like to work The industry has gone from being the Ahhh, wise words from Captain only game in town, a singular entity up Sensible… Well actually, he didn’t sing it until the early 60’s to having low grade quite like that, I just pinched it and twisted competition. However, worrying about it - after all, imitation is the best form of what that competition does has never held flattery and to start an article such as this in anybody in good stead, but the last thing any sensible way, is nigh on impossible. that the industry needs is to see the Discussing apps and radio circuits has two-tier system erode into a one-tier become rather a hot potato, so now that the free-for-all. This path could lead to the ball is rolling, I am going to enter the time ruination of the taxi trade, after all, who tunnel (cue swirly spiral opening sequence would spend several years qualifying to and me being frozen in time) as I head back enter into a heavily regulated industry, to 1991... affirmation was given by the other drivers: having the same effect and I ain’t getting driving an extremely expensive (albeit 30 years ago, I was a mere snip of a lad, “Yeah, make you right, he’s not wrong, any younger. I reached the stage where fantastic) vehicle, knowing that a private sporting long shoulder-length blonde hair yeah if we can do without them then so nothing was more important to me than hire driver can in-effect usurp regulation (think Van Halen but without the sex can you.” spending time with my loved ones. and do the same thing by plying-for-hire appeal - or the money), I was consuming Interestingly the one giving the ‘advice’ Upon moving away from London, I on an app, in a vehicle which costs around copious amounts of alcohol, smoking 30 had been declared bankrupt. Looking back, decided to work a number of longer days one-third of the price of a taxi. Ultimately Marlboro a day and playing bass guitar in a I probably should have ignored this guy, but and take a considerable amount of time off, taxi drivers need to have the confidence heavy metal band called ‘Critical Mass.’ being the young impressionable thus allowing me to maximise my quality in app-providers to respect and understand Now in fairness, I could see the writing on whippersnapper that I was, I took that time. Due to my circumstances I have to the divisions between the taxi and the wall for the group as we were more like ‘advice’ and came off of ComputerCab. use the apps as well as any other tool PHV industry and act accordingly - ‘vive a critical mess (sorry John, Andy, Richard & Part of me wanted to do it anyway as I available to me. I use the apps primarily la difference.’

Jason) but we were. wanted to see how I could get on, in because of the account work available and All of that notwithstanding, as well as I decided to do the Yellow Badge and relation to street work. because there is a dearth of streetwork after PH being my competition, every other taxi after 3-months of learning the streets of I was doing okay, ranking up, driving 1am. I don’t want to rank up for 45 minutes driver is also my competition, therefore if I East London and Essex in a bright red around etc, but I actually missed being on a on a regular basis as that impacts on my have the opportunity to take a job to Lower Datsun Cherry sports coupe (yes it did radio circuit, so I signed back up again. hourly takings, therefore driving around Denture in deepest Berkshire then I am exist), I finally passed the Knowledge and There was still a twang of discomfort in looking for hands, waiting for pings and going to go for it, if you get that job before subsequent drive - in a manual taxi, no less. being on a circuit which used minicabs to taking pre-bookings is how I operate - this me I will repeatedly headbutt the steering (Put that in your pipe and smoke it, cover work that the taxi industry wasn’t means I can maximise my income in the wheel until my ears bleed - then a short millennials.) covering, but being the commercial beast shortest possible time. while later smile and say to myself Driving a taxi was only ever meant to be that I am, I decided that if something Right now, discussion is raging, because (through gritted teeth) “At least it went to a part-time job for an aspiring rock star. I increased my income and reduced my some of the apps have allowed or are one of our own” - we are colleagues as well did do other jobs, but I was determined to working hours then it wasn’t going to allowing minicabs onto their platform, but as competitors. make my fortune playing to 80,000 bother me. It also had to be recognised that this is nothing new and has been a talking In summing up, the world has shrunk, headbangers at Castle Donnington’s due to the hours that I was working, point since the late 80’s, the older drivers we are no longer just taxi drivers, we are ‘Monsters of Rock’ festival, however the cab streetwork was scarce. seem more circumspect about this than the part of the wider transport logistics sector became a full-time profession.

Moving forward to the mid 2010’s, the newer drivers. (try saying that after 5 bottles of Trooper), Now, the reality of being a Yellow Badge cab which I owned reached the end of its The thing that seemingly gets lost in the we are representatives of one of the most in the early 90’s meant that unless you were lifespan - as a result I went back to renting whole discussion is the fact that we are respected trades on the planet, we have a willing to sit on any given rank for at least a taxi (I am still renting to this day), though customer driven, like a pub, restaurant, responsibility to our customers and we an hour waiting for God, you had to be on a because I drive any cab which is available, I retail establishment or brothel - if we don’t must maintain a presence. In an ideal radio circuit. I opted for ComputerCab, cannot be on a radio circuit. produce the goods or make ourselves visible world, that would mean differing app primarily because they had a number of Now the first thing that needs to be then we won’t get the custom. Whether the platforms to represent the differing levels other major accounts. This was the key to highlighted is that cabbies have the oddest industry likes it or not, many customers of service between taxi and private hire. As my financial survival without having to do shaped bums. Some of the seating positions want to use technology, many people wish far as apps are concerned, ‘the genie is out 16-hour days over a 6 day a week period, would quite frankly cripple a contortionist. to use taxis rather than minicabs but does of the bottle’ – we can’t turn back the and for a 21-year-old that was never going There’s been many a time I have finished anybody seriously expect a passing taxi with clock, but ensuring the genie serves the taxi to be an option because I had a life and work and realised that my ankles are where their light on to suddenly emerge at 3am on trade appropriately, and recognises and wanted to live it. my earholes should be, it’s most a rainy November night in Dulwich Village respects its unique differences should now A couple of years later I passed the disconcerting. Anyway, since I couldn’t be - any hands? That’ll be a no then. be our focus.

Knowledge of London to obtain my pretty on a circuit, I decided to join Gett, I also But wait! What about the taxi industry’s Ultimately you are your own boss - and Green Badge. On becoming friends with a joined Hailo a short while later. rights, its exclusivity, the earned right to nobody can tell you how to operate. (Except small group of cabbies I was given some Now given the way that I had to (and exclusively ply-for-hire, the right to she who must be obeyed in my case.) advice by one of them, which was: still have to) work, I needed to take as much exceptionalism given the qualification So, brethren, take thine rattle cart and “Come off the circuit son, you don’t need money as I possible within a very short process which is undertaken, the right to go forth and prosper - once we are out of them, they need you, they’re only after your space of time, anything else wasn’t an operate unhindered and unfettered working lockdown of course… in the meantime, subs to finance their holiday homes in option. Working from 5am until 7pm 5 or within a two-tier service? enjoy your DIY and cookery lessons. ◆ Majorca and they have minicabs on their 6 days a week meant that I barely spent any The industry is an uncomfortable place Steve Kenton is a Licensed circuit too.” time with my wife, kids and grandkids. In right now, legislation has failed to keep Taxi driver of 30 years Upon being given these words of ‘advice,’ turn, working from 2pm until 4am was pace with technology. The lack of a firm

A

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TAXI |||| 5 May 2020

@TheLTDA

It’s crucial that we all pull together. Join a trade organisation, preferably the LTDA

CHRIS ACKRILL

ON THE ROAD

ADAPT AND SURVIVE

mechanics who keep us on the road; the radio circuits and app providers who supply an increasing proportion of the work - and he cab trade has a proud history. We of course, our valued customers. Around all worked hard on the Knowledge, 22,000 taxis – and over 90,000 minicabs and most of us had the intention - rely on fuel. How many fuel stations will of continuing the hard work once we be at risk at the end of the summer? The earned our badge. None of us went into it cab manufacturers will have taken a hit thinking we’d end up claiming benefits. few drivers are going to invest sixty-grand Unbelievably, that day has come. in a new cab until trade levels improve.

In times of crisis, some people turn on We have no idea when our customers will each other. If you read the gloom & doom return, but they surely will. The trade has cab forums, you’ll see the fake news and gone through crisis before and we’ve rumours. You’ll see opposing factions always recovered. arguing with each other. Some virtually The virus has taught us that we’re all call drivers, ‘scabs’ for attempting to inter-connected. We sometimes take for work. Others consider those sat at home granted the carers, shop staff, postal and as lacking commitment. It all comes from bank workers, the distributers and drivers, frustration of the situation. Many of us refuse collectors – and many others. We feel like working, but the fact is, there’s have more appreciation of services and virtually no work. It wouldn’t be worth me products - how things are provided and driving in from Bedfordshire to cover one who provides them. We also have a new twenty quid job. It costs me that in diesel appreciation for those who we rely on to to get to London and back. make our daily lives better. We can see that The current situation doesn’t only affect the highest value jobs often pay the least the drivers. There’s a support network money. I believe cab drivers will be more depending on our ability to work: the appreciated too!

T

London’s leading Insurance broker.

Give us a call to see how much you can save.

020 8127 8419 On-Site @ Ascott Cab Company, Blackhorse Road SE8 5HY

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My wife and I do our own thing as to work. I’d normally be coming back from London, and she’d be getting her own taxi to the elderly care home she works at, in Wing, Buckinghamshire. She was on scheduled holiday when the lockdown came and was dreading returning on April 1st. We then found there were no taxis working in Leighton Buzzard! With a poor bus service, it was down to me to get her to work. That’s fine, but I then had the dilemma of whether I should look for work myself. I’d considered applying for temporary warehouse work, but I now needed to be home at a certain time.

I’m trying to use my time wisely. I’m getting things done, whist re-charging my batteries and enjoying the sun. I always worked weekends and bank holidays. Last year I vowed to have a couple of days off this Easter and enjoy it. Careful what you wish for, eh?

Change is disruptive, but it forces you to think and reflect on your life and where you’re going. Unexpected change can present new opportunities. Why not read? Write? Study? Consider different ways of working when you return to work.

It’s easy to get set in your ways and carry on old practices when they are no longer effective. Only a few years ago, most work was for cash, and was found by cruising the streets. Things change. You probably won’t survive on street work alone. Find a circuit or app that suits you, but don’t become a slave to it. When you depend too much on someone else to provide work you lose your independence. Being independent is what we went into the cab trade for, right?

The fortunes of radio circuits and app providers go up and down. You could join a small concern with the potential to grow, or an established player. I had no complaints on ComCab. By all means consider the ethical concerns: would you align yourself with a provider that also supplies private hire?

Don’t worry about Uber, they have their

own problems. Don’t just sit on your arse either, typing out gloom and doom web posts. There’s no need to tell everyone else how bad things are. We can see that. But it’s temporary. Things will be radically different in six months. Once back in the saddle we can move on again, hopefully to a brighter future.

We all need to think seriously about where we are going and keep our options open. When I started feeling the chill wind of middle age, I took stock of my situation and considered how I was going to spend my September years. I couldn’t imagine myself driving in from Bedfordshire when I was 70. I’d prefer something office-based and closer to home. Thinking ahead, I started a Diploma in Applied Health & Safety over a year ago. I de-licensed my cab on March 23rd. My nine-year old cab had become an expensive burden and I was throwing money at it to keep it going.

I wouldn’t have survived the lockdown without the de-licensing money. While I’m looking for work as a health and safety adviser, I’ll need to decide whether to return in a rented cab after the lockdown.

There will be some good deals around.

Sharing cabs was common when I started out, and some people think doubling-up will make a return. Maybe you could drive a shiny new electric cab if you’re willing to share it for a while?

I have a history of dipping in and out of the trade, and while I have a badge, I remain part of the London taxi trade.

It’s crucial that we all pull together and stop the in-fighting. It’s important that all drivers join a trade organisation – preferably the LTDA, the organisation with the most credibility. We must take part in the consultations that affect the working environment. While things remain uncertain, we need to be moving in the right direction. ◆

Chris Ackrill is a taxi driver and former Knowledge examiner

EASY RUN

HARD RUN

◆ Latimer Road Station to San Lorenzo

◆ Weech Road to Gelatly Road

@TheLTDA

|||| www.ltda.co.uk

A MASSIVE

5 May 2020 |||| TAXI

19

THANK YOU Thank you to our taxi drivers who have been quietly transporting NHS staff and equipment to where they are most needed.

Just as you support your customers, we want to support you. So, if you are a Shawbrook Bank customer, find out how we can help.

supportingyou@shawbrook.co.uk shawbrook.co.uk/coronavirus

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TAXI |||| 5 May 2020

www.ltda.co.uk ||||

@TheLTDA

@TheLTDA

|||| www.ltda.co.uk

5 May 2020 |||| TAXI

21

Lockdown trade: Taxi drivers - their cities, economic woes and flexibility

WIM FABER

INTERNATIONAL COVID-19 WORKING

INTERNATIONAL

I

n 1991, the American director Jim Jarmusch shot the ultimate taxi movie, a comedy-drama called ‘Night on Earth.’ Probably the best taxi movie ever (but I’m happy to trade my opinion for a better one). Five wry and hilarious vignettes set in Los Angeles, New York, Rome, Paris and Helsinki, starring five taxi drivers, made late at night and with almost nobody around. It could easily have been made in times of corona.

As doing reports on the working conditions of taxi drivers all over the world is rather unusual, I have a sneaking suspicion Dutch TV documentary channel VPRO Tegenlicht (backlight) was mildly inspired by that movie.

They shot five similar vignettes in their documentary ‘Taxi in Lockdown’ at the beginning of April. Featuring taxi drivers Adrie, Chuan, Alex, Lior and Josh cruising empty, spooky streets in Amsterdam, Wuhan, Kisumu (Kenya), Tel Aviv and New York, desperately trying to stay healthy due to each scarce punter being both a source of income and a health threat.

Wallpaper of urban society

Isn’t it weird that nobody really notices taxis? They’re even overlooked by governments as a widely available vehicle for help in times of crisis. Even when they colour the streets, as they do in London and New York. Taxis are the wallpaper of modern urban society. But their (almost) permanent presence in the urban fabric offers other possibilities, as researcher and filmmaker Fleur Amesz discovered. She came up with the idea for this taxi documentary, which was quickly embraced by her editorial board.

“I have always found taxi drivers to have an interesting profession,” she says.

“And suddenly there was a wonderfully legitimate reason to take to the streets as a filmmaker and look around the empty world cities through the eyes of taxi drivers.” In prior work Amesz had featured the growing army of platforminduced flex-workers and so-called ‘selfemployed’ workers, too often exploited “and often lacking a financial safety net.”

The TV-report featured both app-drivers (Bolt, Didi) and licensed taxi drivers.

Struggling drivers

Instead of working with her regular airport-drivers, Amesz found a 57-old Amsterdam taxi driver, Adrie

Josh in New York says that he only has $ 6 in his pocket

Licensed cab driver Lior in Tel Aviv was usually fully kitted out

Fear on his face: Kenyan Alex is shown with four people in his cab

Amsterdam Adrie use to provide an income for five families

Touw, to drive her around the deserted Dutch capital and show her the eerily empty Schiphol Airport. In normal circumstances Touw shares trips with others. He is the heart of a mini radiocircuit with many regular customers. “I was able to feed five other families,” he says. Nowadays, his schedule is empty.

Work has dried up to 5%. And he barely makes enough money to keep himself afloat – despite some government support. With every trip coming in, he wonders whether it is wise to put his health on the line. After every customer he disinfects his Mercedes religiously.

In other cities local filmmakers followed Amesz example, explains researcher and editor Arnout Arens: “In most cities we already had good contacts with local filmmakers we worked with before. They chose the drivers and sent us a short introductory video the drivers shot themselves.” Filming was done at the beginning of April and the report aired on April 19, “without anyone having flown a mile.”

“The combination of lockdown and taxi drivers on the street was a wonderful vehicle to look around in all those cities in a legitimate way. The completely hushed Times Square or the otherwise vibrant centre of Tel Aviv... Desolate now. Our drivers gave us a generous view of their city and the difficult working conditions with a corona virus infection constantly lurking at each trip.”

“These self-employed workers are really struggling,” says Amesz, who questions the new world of platform-based flex workers. “Often there is no real safety net for them. I am self-employed myself and

I know how difficult it is. Taxi operators everywhere find it difficult to earn a decent crust. And not all of them get government support. Most of them don’t.”

without any change of social distancing, worries about every trip. Just like his wife. The same goes for taxi driver, Chuan (40), whose home front is also worried about him making deliveries and picking up health workers. He at least has some work as ‘preferred driver’.

The makers of the report have woven several strands of the drivers’ daily life – including the family - into a complete picture. Sometimes the only contact is by mobile. Josh firmly refused to have him and his son filmed in the homeless shelter.

“I think he was ashamed,” Amesz thinks.

“We wanted to respect the privacy of our drivers. That’s why our local director didn’t insist.”

“We followed all drivers for a while, at home as well,” says Amesz. “At the kitchen table, in their office.” Filmmaker Amesz liked to prepare the next day’s shooting without preparing driver Touw for her questions. “I want the real answers to come out as spontaneously as possible.”

No shields, mostly

No driver in the report uses a London-type cab. All separations are improvised – often hastily - or they are In the same boat completely absent. One ritual is the “Nobody is travelling, hotels are closed, same everywhere: all drivers routinely cafes and shops too. When you see the wash their cars, again and again - inside centre of New York, where Josh drives, and out. With litres of disinfectant they there’s nobody on the streets – such a brush as if their life depends on it poignant image. But the image of driver, literally. “Because we wanted a certain Alex in Kenya, who continuously weighs uniformity,” says Arens. “We had a whether he should put his health at risk checklist for all filmmakers. We wanted for a ride, is really heartbreaking.” certain shots in every report, like the rear“All these drivers are in the same boat,” view mirror, hands on the steering wheel Amesz adds. “Only their living conditions and the taxi on the local streets.” are different. Take for instance Josh, who Car radios (every driver listens to is from the Bronx and lives in a homeless them), also played an important role. In shelter with his two-year-old son.” At one story there’s a news report about the some point, Josh (26) says that he only number of corona victims in New York has $6 in his pocket and is concerned and the report cuts to Times Square. about the lease payment for his car. No “We also had city trips and disinfection car - no work. A dilemma. “All drivers rituals. And the children, the family, also have a universal problem”, adds Amesz. appeared. But sometimes spontaneous “But it was worthwhile showing the shots were the best, like the shots in cultural and socio-economic differences. which the enormous despair is almost How are the self-employed in need palpable.” Alex, the Kenyan driver, was treated? Are you looked after and taken shown with four people in his small cab, care of by a social safety net, or do you while the fear clearly showed on his face. have to figure everything out yourself?”

The scene after that ride was poignant Having seen the five vignettes, in most too, as he feverishly cleans his hands cases the answer can only be the latter. with a small bottle of hand sanitizer and seems to wonder out loud if this ride was Remarkable mix worth it…

The filmmakers chose a remarkable In the future the filmmakers are mix of drivers. Lior Peri (47) works in hoping to get back to the drivers they an empty Tel Aviv, fully kitted out in interviewed, to see how they fared after mask, gloves and protective glasses. the times of corona. The filmmakers His 44-year-old Kenyan colleague Alex are working on a YouTube-report with (working via the Bolt-app) in his small car English subtitles. We’ll keep you posted. ◆

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www.ltda.co.uk ||||

TAXI |||| 5 May 2020

@TheLTDA

At a time when the trade is facing tough challenges – here’s one cabbie’s story of overcoming the odds

TAXI EXCLUSIVE

PATRIC’S STORY - ROAD TO ‘THE KNOWLEDGE’

FEATURE

A

bout 10 years ago, I was stood talking with a mate of mine who had been a cab driver for nearly 30 years. He was telling me how amazing the job had been for him and his family - both in terms of the money and associated lifestyle he’d been able to lead and how it had allowed him to have the freedom to choose when he worked and for how long. He suggested to me that I should do it!

He reckoned that my personality and banter would be ideal to be a ‘cabbie’!

At the time, I was just getting into the middle of my career as a ‘Gangs Worker’ for a Youth Offending Team.

I was developing drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs to help young people get out of damaging lifestyles and it was an exciting time for me - so the thought of leaving that career had not crossed my mind. Then 4 years later - that was to change.

The Gangs work allowed me to get to management level, I was on a good salary and well known across many areas of social care within the boroughs across London. I had forged a solid reputation for being a reliable, trusted worker who had delivered some really positive outcomes for services and in turn, individual service users - and my work had made visible impacts across the board. But the social care field had started to change with the political landscape, and funding was starting to dry up. I took Post-rehab

early redundancy and left the job.

The work in this field had shaped my identity and helped me use my experiences to help others. I had purpose, direction, I felt alive. Then all of a sudden, I was leaving, and I realised that the life I’d created was no longer going to be who I was. So, what was I going to do? The money I had from redundancy was going to dry up. I ventured into a couple of different roles, mainly helping mates, but nothing that I felt could be a career. I needed to sit and have a serious think about what the path ahead looked like. Then it hit me.

Out of nowhere, I remembered the conversation I had with my mate nearly a decade ago. ‘The Knowledge!’

That was it. That was what I was going to do.

I had a long hard think before applying to do the Knowledge. You see, I have a criminal record and substance misuse history that I thought might prevent me being accepted. But (and this is the important bit) my work with Gangs and the Police taught me about the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, which is the piece of legislation that would hopefully ensure me a ‘level playing field’ if I was going to apply. I spoke with the regulator and disclosed all that they asked – I already had an enhanced DBS from my work with vulnerable people and hoped this would go in my favour. So, I submitted my application for ‘The Knowledge.’

I got accepted in the December of 2012.

As a youngster

Pre-rehab

Just the feeling of getting that letter back, brought tears to my eyes. I was overwhelmed with emotion at the possibility of just starting it, let alone finishing it! To have been accepted, even with my past, was a huge relief – it’s one of the main reasons I share my story with people who are thinking of doing ‘The Knowledge’ or know someone who may share a similar background. I feel it’s important for people to know, that despite one’s backstory - hurdles, barriers and hardships can be overcome if you are committed. People can change. People grow. I felt it was the right time for me to do exactly that and start ‘The Knowledge’.

At this juncture, in order to understand my joy, it’s probably prudent that you also know a bit about my backstory: Growing up in the home I did, it wasn’t necessarily the perfect environment to develop self-esteem or self-worth. Being around the dysfunction of my father’s domestic violence and his drinking, the home was not a place I could associate with happiness most of the time. He’d spent time in prison for serious violence and his ideals were in contrast to my mums - his parenting contradicted everything society and my mother was trying to teach me. There were some happy memories - just me and my mum, baking and cooking Sunday lunch, listening to Dave Lee Travis on the radio. She’d have me stand on her feet and teach me to dance. Then, my father would return from the pub and it would be back to the tense atmosphere we were accustomed to. So, when the opportunity came for me to be outside the house, I embraced it to the full.

School was supposed to be a place that afforded me security and escapism, but when you have to mentally overcome the difficulties of

the home environment such as I was experiencing, it’s a difficult task to stay focused on lessons. Inevitably, my learning became affected and I was brought to the attention of the authorities, I had already started to play truant, and at 9 years old when they had had enough - they placed me into the care system. I would run away – a lot, and so that escalated to secure care where they would lock me in, to prevent me from escaping.

It was around this age that I started to be exposed to substances - solvents especially. Given it was the mid 70’s, the punk scene was in full swing and so glue sniffing and other such past-times were part of that social sub-culture. The rebellion of that movement I embraced and started to get into trouble with the police. The lack of discipline and boundaries, the difficulty in managing emotions and putting into words the trauma I’d experienced, made it difficult to transmit what I was going through and so my behaviour became the tool of choice the world would see. And of course, I was judged on that behaviour.

My acting out and antisocial traits cast me in a light that most didn’t want to see beyond.

This was not the right course of action to take and got me into a lot of trouble, eventually teaching me that the world owes me nothing. What I put out, I got back - my expectations on the world were unrealistic, hence I was always feeling let down. I had created an image of self that was not true, all based on my internal feelings of disillusionment and anger - and so the world saw me in a light which was false. It needed to change if I was to move forward in life, but how? What did I need to do to get myself on track and live in harmony with the universe and the people in it? How was I to do that?

@TheLTDA

|||| www.ltda.co.uk

My drug addiction and offending behaviour forced me, eventually, to go ‘on the run’ in and around South East Asia, which lasted for about 6 years. After suffering a bad bike accident in Thailand in 2002, I found myself waking from a 10-day coma, multiple bones broken, including back, neck, legs and arms and it was at that point that I realised something drastically needed to change. If something didn’t, I was going to either die or get a really long prison sentence. So, I returned to the UK and faced the issues I had left several years previously.

The criminal justice system in England and Wales back in the late 90’s early 2000’s was a perfect environment for rehabilitation.

There was funding available to address substance misuse issues, there were suitable programmes to address offending behaviour, and the after-care system was sufficient enough to manage the numbers looking for safe accommodation and reintegration back into society.

Whilst serving my last term in the criminal justice system, I was offered and accepted treatment. Off I set to a 12-step rehab down in Bournemouth, where I was afforded the opportunity to deal with the issues I had carried, and buried, for years. The violence from my father, the sexual abuse from priests, the torment of a childhood lost to the care system - all of these were opened up in therapy and the burden of my tortured past started to lift. I realised the trauma I carried was not mine, the guilt of my youth was the result of my father’s failing’s and not mine. A dark and grey cloud started to pass, the light of day started to materialise and ‘hope’ slowly trickled in. I began to get a glimpse of the man that I could be. I started to shape my ideals and my moral compass which eventually became realigned with what society expected of me. The path I was to walk, slowly opened up and I embraced the principles I was to live by. I left rehab, temporarily settled in Dorset for a few years and embarked upon a path working in health and social care.

I applied to go to college and regularly attended Cocaine Anonymous meetings - a ‘12-step’ fellowship to help people with substance misuse issues. The difficulties I had endured throughout life started to make sense, the parts I played in life’s events became clearer and my life started to take shape. I realised I had been selfish, dishonest (even in my emotions and feelings), self-centred and scared most of my life. I had made decisions based on self - which later came back and harmed me in one way or another and this needed to be addressed. It eventually dawned on me that the idea of ‘giving’ would actually be the best way forward, as in the ‘giving’ I would receive. The health and social care sector was an ideal opportunity for me to help others and in doing so, repair the damage of my past.

I started working as a volunteer in a children’s home down on the south coast after I left rehab. Predominately to repair the damage I caused as a child in the care system growing up. As a child in care, I was aggressive and violent towards people who were there to try and help me. My behaviour was off the charts. It got me into many a

5 May 2020 |||| TAXI

sticky situation that ended in trouble for me.

Possessing a unique insight into that world enabled me to use my experience to help others ‘in the same boat’ as I had been, and I realised I had a talent for working with ‘hard to reach’ young people. Especially those in care.

I also acquired some qualifications, asked questions of others, took whatever training I could when it was offered, learning what I could from whomever would teach me.

(I’d left school, basically at 13 years old with no exams or education and all I’d known, I’d taught myself one way or another.) This approach enabled me to get to the very top of a profession, working with troubled young people. From volunteer to team leader in the children’s homes, to Gangs lead for a youth offending team and service manager in supported accommodation. I done it all.

Learnt all that I could until the path in that field ran its course.

My journey over the last 17 years has taken me from the depths of despair to the highs of success. What underpinned all of it was my recovery - and to stay abstinent.

Not returning to substance misuse is at the centre of my life, as without it, I revert to type - a person with a chaotic lifestyle and offending behaviours.

The outlook that has served me well, is the attitude that no matter where I have come from, no matter what is put in front of me, I can overcome it - regardless of what it is. With the right support and reaching out for help when it’s needed, anything is possible. After coming through mental health, substance misuse, offending

“My drug addiction and offending behaviour forced me, eventually, to go on the run in and around South East Asia, which lasted for about 6 years”

23

behaviour and homelessness there was literally not a lot left that could test my mental attitude to get through ‘The Knowledge.’ I realised if others could do it, then so could I, and off I set from Manor House to Gibson Square back in the cold December of 2012 to come full circle sat here in May 2020 with my new electric cab parked outside my house.

I realise at present we are facing a testing time within the trade. With the obstacle of the Covid-19 virus and other transformations across the landscape, now more than ever I need to address the road ahead like I have any other that I have faced - and I’ll be approaching it with the same mindset. Head on!

The trials and tribulations that each and every one of us endures doing the Knowledge is what sets us apart from all other transport sectors across the globe.

No other country in the world have what we do in London - that is what makes us the very best. Entering into this trade has literally put the cherry on the cake for me and I would encourage anyone thinking of doing ‘The Knowledge’ to just get on and do it! A member of Parliament recently compared us to the ‘Spitfires’ during the war in our fight against Covid-19, it brought a real sense of pride to me knowing I was in that comparison.

I feel today like I did when facing all the historical barriers I have had to overcome. And I know that I can get through this – and if I can get through it, then you can too. ◆

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www.ltda.co.uk ||||

TAXI |||| 5 May 2020

@TheLTDA

“Thanks to Steve McNamara, the LTDA have a working relationship with Parliament and City Hall”

ALF TOWNSEND

TAXI TALK

MOVING FORWARD WITH ‘THE LTDA’!

S

crolling through my old Taxi articles of some 50 years ago, leads me to believe that I’m probably the last man still standing who has served under four General Secretaries!

Bill D’Arcy was The LTDA’s first General Secretary when he was elected at The LTDA’s inauguration meeting at County Hall in 1969. But unfortunately, Bill didn’t last long and was forced to resign when he allegedly phoned The LTDA on his foreign holiday soon after the meeting and asked to borrow some money from the kitty until he got paid!

It was a mistake by Bill, but it was a coup for his critics on the Committee!

Harry Feigen was voted in as the next General Secretary and I had close contact with him in the Nineties when I was the Senior LTDA Heathrow Rep. When Harry sadly passed away, Bob Oddy was next in the chair. Both Harry and Bob were dedicated to The LTDA and did everything to let London know who they were! They were first in organising ‘Demos, Drive-Ins and Stoppages’ – with excellent support from all their members! But when Steve McNamara took the mantle after Bob retired, he had a completely different interpretation for what was beneficial to The LTDA and our trade. He believed, like many other cabbies – myself included, that fronting ‘Demos, Drive-Ins and Stoppages’ were only aggravating the Government, City Hall and the general public – and labelling us as, ‘bolshie cabbies who should be ignored!’

Steve firmly believed that negotiation was the answer and arranged a meeting with Wes Streeting MP, The Chair of the APPG (AllParty Parliamentary Group.) Steve met the MP several times and convinced him that the Cab Trade needed important issues to be put to the Government, including cross-border hiring, national mini-cab standards, plying for hire and accessibility! So, the MP started an APPG for Taxis and persuaded other fellow MP’s to join this group and ask ‘TaxiQuestions’ to the Government!

Steve then made another appointment to see The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan at City Hall. He also met The Mayor’s Team and focussed on Heidi Alexander who was in charge of all the transport in London. Once again Steve brought up all the questions he had put to Wes Streeting – plus TfL’s view on Uber’s Licence Renewal!

Thanks mainly to Steve McNamara, the LTDA and the Taxi Trade now have a productive working relationship with Parliament and City Hall. Our problems won’t be sorted overnight, but it’s certainly better than being outside in the cold as a ‘bunch of bolshie cabbies’ who were not getting anything from the higher echelons!

‘RIP Sir Stirling Moss’.

The recent sad news about the passing of yet another one of my heroes from the fifties, Sir Stirling Moss (generally recognised as the finest Formula One Racing Driver of ALL TIME), takes me back some 50 years to relay an amusing story when I met him for the first and only time!

I turned the cab into the entrance of BBC Television Centre in Wood Lane, on my way to picking up an account job. I’ve always thought that the design of TV Centre was a little quirky to say the least, because the main entrance is at the very top of a steep hill!

There is a semi-circular road with white roadblocks to enter and a similar-shaped, white road as the exit. They both join at the bottom which completes a huge white circle.

In the centre is a huge sunken tropical garden, with massive plants swaying in the wind. Very artistic, but not my style!

So, I’m plodding up the steep hill in my old cab, when suddenly ‘Whoosh’, a soupedup Mini flashed past and frightened the life out of me! I pulled alongside the Mini at the top, dropped the luggage window and yelled out in my best Cockney accent, “ooh d’ya fink you are matey, ‘bleedin’ Stirling Moss?”

The window of the Mini opened to reveal the familiar, scarred face, with just a hint of a twinkle in those cold, blue eyes. It was the man himself, Stirling Moss!

As he left the Mini to enter the building, I

felt I had to say something to eat humble pie, so I shouted out, “Great pass Stirling old mate!” He raised an arm in response to my shout. It was getting a bit gloomy but was that ‘two-fingers’ he was giving me at the top?!

‘Alf the (baccy-less) Pipe?’

“I dropped the luggage window and yelled ‘ooh d’ya fink you are matey, bleedin Stirling Moss?’ ”

I thought I’d cracked my problem with shopping recently – more by luck than judgement, when I found that Morrison’s of Chalk Farm were the only store in my manor that stocked pipe tobacco. I got a pleasant surprise when I turned up there for the first time (before this rotten virus and the ‘bloomin’ lockdown that ensued with it) and I reckon I now save about half the price on my previous pipe tobacco – which is about £8 when I shop there!

But things look like changing because I’ve heard that they have pocketed £20 million, in a deal with Barratt Homes to build eight ‘flocks of bats’ for 700 homes on their massive car park. It is estimated there will be 35% of affordable homes, with underground parking, a park and a children’s playground. The massive concrete wall at the front will be demolished and the new Morrison’s will be built so it can be seen from Chalk Farm Road.

The petrol station will also be demolished.

This massive build will take at least ten years or more, so I might have to start ordering my pipe baccy on-line! ◆

@TheLTDA

|||| www.ltda.co.uk

5 May 2020 |||| TAXI

PUZZLER CROSSWORD

1

2

3

4

5

6 7

8

ACROSS:

DOWN:

1 Final stretch of a racecourse (4,8)

1 Rented (a car, eg) (5)

8 Team race (5)

2 Infant’s gnasher (4,5)

9 Kitchen counter (7)

3 Variety of bean (4)

10 ___ on, be very fond of (4) 11 Pleasantly perfumed (8) 14 Got a goal (6) 15 Firmly fixed, balanced (6) 17 Good at sport (8) 18 Move the arm in greeting (4) 21 Master of a ship (7)

10

11

12

13

4 Finder’s payment (6) 5 Supply water to (land or crops) (8)

14

15 16

6 Slap (3) 7 Listless lack of interest (6)

17

18

12 Mountain snow-slide (9) 13 Brown variety of cane sugar (8) 14 Attitude, pose (6)

19

20 21

22

23

16 Packed outdoor meal (6)

23 Recess in a wall (5)

19 Level betting odds (5)

24 Poor quality of a sound

20 Strongly against (4)

recording (12)

22 Glossy fabric for boots and macs (inits)(3)

24

SUGURU Each cell in an outlined block must contain a digit: a two-cell block contains the digits 1 and 2, a three-cell block contains the digits 1, 2 and 3; and so on. The same digit must not appear in neighbouring cells, not even diagonally.

9

3

5 4 2 4

1 4

CROSSWORD #467

SUDOKU Have a go at this medium level Sudoku puzzle. Fill the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1-9 just once

2

PREDICTIVE TEXT Starting in the highlighted box, try to make a word adding one word part from each layer as you go. Then return to the second layer and use the letters in the unused box to start another word and so on, until you’ve used all the boxes and created six words of decreasing length.

8

1

PREDICTIVE TEXT

3 2 2

TER CON

NO

IN

VE

GO

TI

CAL

ON

LY

NA

MEN SO

FAR LOW TON

9 9

9

6 8

1

1

1 6

TA VERN

TI

6 2

AL

Starting in the highlighted box, try to make a word adding one word part from each layer as you go. Then return to the second layer and use the letters in the unused box to start another word and so on, until you’ve used all the boxes and created six words of decreasing length.

TAL

7

8

5

3 4 5

4 3 6

ALL ANSWERS TO PUZZLER ON P30 Copyright Puzzler Media Ltd - www.puzzler.com

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25

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www.ltda.co.uk ||||

TAXI |||| 5 May 2020

@TheLTDA

If Meg had only known, she’d have ‘bigged out’ her hair, lashed on the makeup and plucked her chin…

MEG TO HOST NEW CABPOOL KARAOKE?

MUSHER MEG

LICENSED TO CHAT

D

riving my cab daily around a packed London town is a now dim and distant memory. When the time comes to get back on the road it is going to be very exciting.

Lockdown is starting to feel like Longdown. I miss the punters, my cabbie mates and the many and various 1am celebrity pick-ups from The Chiltern Firehouse and The Hospital Club.

I’ve had Tom Cruise in the back of my cab, you know. He was so tiny that I couldn’t see him, but he was definitely in there somewhere. He told me he loves London and that he does all his own stunts.

I believed him. I’ve also had Tony Blair on the backseat. He said he wanted to go to the Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre… but he could have been lying, right? It’s not like he doesn’t have form…

My most favourite celebrity is Michael Ball and, oh my heart, I’ve picked him up too. I got a radio call to Abbey Road and I

had no clue I was about to get up close and personal with my very favourite musical star.

If only I had known in advance just who would be gracing my backseat I would have bigged out my hair, lashed on the makeup and plucked my chin, dammit.

We definitely had a little spark, Michael and me. I felt it and I’m certain he did too.

I told him I would give him a free ride (dirty minds can step back right now - this was the purest of pure propositions) if he serenaded me with a teeny chorus of ‘Love Changes Everything’. He did. AND it turned into two verses and then three choruses. He was extremely impressed that I

Black Taxi

rentals

knew all the lyrics. What’s more - and let me shout this part out… IT BECAME A DUET. It was one of my life’s most magical moments. ‘Twas tragic that I was in the front and he was in the back of the cab. I so needed to pull over to fling my arms about to fully express the emotions in the song - but sadly we were on a red route at Archway.

I have a dear friend, Irene, she works in Immigration at Heathrow. The man who makes her knees knock and then buckle is George Clooney. To Irene’s shock, he once arrived in front of her for a passport check. He was (in the times before social distancing, remember them?) a

mere two feet away from her.

She reported that when she saw him, she felt her blood dropping to her ankles and that certain parts of her anatomy started to fizz. Unable to speak it was Gorgeous George who broke the silence. He said, “Good afternoon Ma’am”. Irene says that this impressed her much. I wanted to say it sounded like a regular kind of greeting to me but didn’t want to burst her love bubble.

She couldn’t answer him. She couldn’t do her job. She didn’t care if he had a passport or not. After an eighteen-year career in Immigration, and several promotions to a very senior level, Irene was paralysed by the one, the only, GC. Finally, she got some words out. She says she didn’t compose the sentence in her head first, but that the words just dropped out…

“Can I touch you?” is what she asked him.

And gorgeous George did his crinkly smile and slightly tipped his head to one side and replied, “Sure. Go right ahead”.

And then she fainted.

No matter how big the mega star, that you can’t do when you’re driving a cab. ◆

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APPLICATION FORM Name Address Postcode Telephone

Mobile

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Date of Birth

Badge No.

Badge colour (Please state whether green or yellow)

Year badge obtained

Suburban badge sector numbers Have you ever been a member of the LTDA before? (please tick)

Yes

No

Do you currently have points on your DVLA driving license? (please tick)

Yes

No

If Yes how many points do you have?

Please tick if you DO NOT wish to receive information from the LTDA and other related organisations in the future?  I understand that my application for membership of the Association must be approved by the Council of Management and that until this is confirmed I am not eligible to vote in relation to any form of Association matters. I agree that all benefits prior to approval of membership shall be at the discretion of the Council of Management.

Please note: We do not provide assistance for any matters that have occurred prior to you joining LTDA. Signed

Date

LTDA Basic Direct Debit Instructions Instructions to your Bank/Building Society to pay Direct Debits: Please complete parts 1 to 5 to instruct your branch to make direct payments from your account. Then return the form to the LTDA, FREEPOST, (PAM 2005), London W9 2BR

Originator’s Identification No. 9 1 4 4 2 8

For Office use only 1 Please write the name and full postal address of your branch in the box (left) 2 Name of account holder

To the Manager of

3 Account number 4 Bank Sort Code

Address

Banks/Building Societies may not accept instructions to pay Direct Debit from some types of account.

5 Signature(s) Date This guarantee should be detached and retained by the payer

The Direct Debit Guarantee • This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits.

• If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit LTDA will notify you (10 working days) in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request LTDA to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request.

• If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by LTDA, or your bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society.

- If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when LTDA asks you to.

• You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify us.

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29

“Moneywise, if I was driving a diesel cab it probably wouldn’t work…”

JOE THE TXE

REASSESS, RECHARGE, REBOOT & RERUN!

ELECTRIC DREAMS

I

normally start this column by writing something about everything being rosy in the world of the electric cab driver guess that’s a bit inappropriate now as it’s not rosy in anyone’s world.

Personally, I have taken a 3-month holiday on the lease on the cab and cancelled every ‘luxury’ from Sky TV to my big holiday that was planned for January next year. We now shop at Lidl and I go around the house turning off lights and reminiscing about take away food and nice bottles of red wine.

Workwise, I have been doing a bit.

I sealed the money slot and air gaps in the cab, printed off my own flyer and went around all my neighbours in sunny suburbia and offered fixed fares for commuting and shopping trips. I now have two regular riders, one into the City at silly o’clock, then I shoot back home and do the other one into Canary Wharf and repeat the process in the afternoons.

At first it was great, but as the traffic is

starting to build up again it’s getting a bit stressful - especially with the afternoon run when some days, in certain places on the commuter routes, the traffic isn’t much better than normal. Moneywise, if I was driving a diesel cab it probably wouldn’t work but with the TXE, I get both morning runs done on the battery in

See your advertisement here TAXI is the membership magazine for the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA).

It is circulated to 15,000 taxi drivers in London every fortnight.

The LTDA is the definitive voice of and for London cab drivers and is responsible for ensuring best practise in the trade, making sure its members’ voices are heard and serving members with the back up and support they need.

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choose my TXE over diesel alternatives.

Reliability wise, the cab’s been great - it needed the ‘Drop Links’ replacing at the annual service (whatever they are) and other than two regular software issues its been 100%. The software problems are really only an irritation and easily resolved.

The first one is that the screen freezes, normally on the air conditioning page and whilst everything still works, I can’t change radio stations or make a phone call through the Bluetooth. The ‘standard reboot method’ works for this: turn the cab off, lock it, leave it a few minutes and restart - all fixed. The other one is the annoying, screaming whistle, which is the ‘door ajar’ warning but when all the doors are shut. This one is: reboot, leave but often the noise is still there on the ‘Pure’ mode, put it on charge when I get restart and has to be resolved by opening back home and then get the afternoons and shutting the driver’s door. Sure, this out of the battery as well. is a pain, but it’s about once a month and Since I last updated you on my cab, I when I think back to the grief I had, and have gone from being a rarity to one of the hours I spent in garages, with blown 3500 cabbies going green for London - and radiators on TX4s, or wonky rear wheel up until Corona, it was paying massive steering on my Vitos - it’s a non-event. dividends, as customers continued to Stay Safe! ◆

30

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TAXI |||| 5 May 2020

@TheLTDA

A quick rant, a quick sale, and a quick lockdown recovery warning…

THE CAB YOU DRIVE

3 RANTS, 2 SALES AND A WARNING

WORD ON THE STREET

A

pparently, I am allowed a rant, as speaking to the editor I am not the only one who is beginning to see this lockdown as a bit of a farce. Like most people I have rarely ventured outside my front door, other than a trip to the supermarket or the occasional sneaky 2nd walk, but last week I had to deliver a cab to a well-known south London garage. I was stunned. I left early, thinking that the traffic would be light to non-existent - I got that wrong, it was not far short of a normal morning. Every construction site was working as normal and there were queues of builders outside every café for take-away breakfasts. They are building blocks of flats, how is that essential work? There were delivery vans on every corner, no doubt delivering all sorts of non-essential stuff making Amazon rich whilst the ‘High Street’ stores are forced shut. Whilst mentioning the High Street, again I am baffled, why are the banks and chemists only open reduced hours?

LTDA

A selection of our numerous

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◆ A1 Taxis, Melody Lane, Highbury, N5 ◆ Abacus Accounts, Southbrook Road, Lee, SE12 ◆ Astral Café, Regency Place, SW1 ◆ Bubbles Car Wash, E2 ◆ C & S Taxis, Dunbridge Street, E2 ◆ Cabsurance, Seven Kings ◆ Camberfield Taxi Services ◆ Computer Cab, Mitre Way, W12 ◆ Coney Allen, Dunbridge Street, E1 ◆ CP Beehive Service Station, Beehive Lane, Gants Hill ◆ Cricklewood Carriers, Cricklewood ◆ Dial A Cab, City Road, N1 ◆ Edgware Station Rank ◆ Euston Station Rank ◆ G & L Taxis, Crayford Road, N7 ◆ Globe Transmissions, Cudworth Street, E1 ◆ The Ham, Brentford ◆ Heathrow Airport Canteen ◆ Hexagon Garage, Lukin Street, E1 ◆ Jet Garage, Clipstone Street, W1 ◆ Knowledge Centre, Caledonian Road ◆ KPM, Hemming Street, E1 ◆ London City Airport Canteen ◆ LP Motors, Dunbridge Street, E2 ◆ Martin Cordell, E3 and Stanmore ◆ Paddington Station Rank ◆ Putney Bridge Taxis, The Arches, Putney Bridge Station, SW6 ◆ Richmond Road Taxi Centre, E8 ◆ Safewise Supermarket, Harrow ◆ South Bank Service Station, Great Suffolk Street, SE1 ◆ TAXI HOUSE, W9 ◆ Taxi & Private Hire, Blackfriars Rd, SE1 ◆ Temple Place Shelter ◆ Turbo Accessories, Three Colts Lane, E2 ◆ Ubiquitous Ltd, E1 ◆ Waterloo Station ◆ Wimbledon Station Rank ◆ WizAnn Knowledge School, Watts Grove, E3

If they are open, surely, they should open longer hours to allow people to spread out the times they visit? Surely, reducing the hours crams the same amount of people into a narrow slot, forcing unnecessary queues and social distancing problems?

Rant over.

Meanwhile in the world of cab sales and traders, we are locked down and very little is happening, although my garage visit revealed a near fully functioning

Published by LTDA Taxi House 11 Woodfield Road, London W9 2BA T: 020 7286 1046 | www.ltda.co.uk @TheLTDA Managing Editor Nick Hartop E: TaxiEditor@centuryonepublishing.uk Produced by Century One Publishing Ltd Alban Row,27-31 Verulam Road St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 4DG. T: 01727 893 894, F: 01727 893 895 E: enquiries@centuryonepublishing.uk www.centuryonepublishing.uk Advertising Sales Executive Jack Green T: 01727 739 196 E: jack@centuryonepublishing.uk Designer & Advert Coordinator Caitlyn Hobbs Creative Director Peter Davies Printed by Manson Group, St Albans

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workshop and a surprising number of customers, which tells me that more and more cabbies are working. The Vito I delivered was bought by another trader who had a customer lined up, presumably waiting to go to work. Even though the plate expired two weeks ago, the automatic extension being given by TfL and NSL meant he wanted it checked over before taking delivery. I knew it was all fine and the other trader knows

me well enough to trust me, so that’s my last stock cab gone, but not for long…

Waiting outside, I saw a cabbie I sold a late TX4 to about a year ago and we got chatting - I discovered he has a Nissan on order… quick look over the cab, a bit of ‘Del Boy-like’ haggling and he is delivering it to me next week!

Finally, a word of warning, if you are buying any sort of vehicle during this crisis, be extra vigilant on getting an HPI check and ensuring all the details on the V5 match the vehicle and the person selling it. I have heard a lot of stories of private ‘log book’ loans that have gone wrong where an innocent buyer finds out later that the seller was not the lawful owner, despite having the car and the V5. I am also hearing that some finance companies are being slow to add and remove finance agreements and defaults on the registers, so be careful and remember the golden rule of buying any vehicle: If you have any doubts or are unsure of anything, walk away, there are thousands more out there - never take a chance. ◆

PUZZLER ANSWERS SUDOKU 7 2 5 3 8 4 9 6 1

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CROSSWORD HOME S T RA I I O E R E L A Y WO E K A A DO T E F RA O D D S COR E D S T T M P A T H L E T I C N R C CA P T A I N E V R I S CR A T CH

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