A new sculpture called ‘London Taxi’ by artist Benedict Radcliffe has been unveiled at Heathrow’s Terminal 2: The Queen’s Terminal.
The artwork is inspired by the iconic and traditional design of London’s black taxis, and gives a new perspective on a well-recognised part of London’s landscape.
The ‘London Taxi’ will bid farewell to 20 million passengers at T2 every year and is central feature of the departure lounge, creating an opportunity for passengers to take one last glance of one of London’s most photographed icons.
Heathrow explains it is part of an emphasis on British brands at T2 and along with Richard Wilson’s sculpture Slipstream at its entrance, the sculpture has been selected for its distinct representation of modern Britain.
Chief operating officer, Normand Bovin, says: “As the UK’s only hub airport, we have a unique opportunity to showcase British talent to the world. I am delighted that we have chosen a London artist and given new talent a platform in front of 20 million passengers a year from more than 50 destinations.”
The design uses cutting-edge computer programming technology to accurately translate the build specification of the London black cab’s produced by The London Taxi Company.
The etching on the artwork’s plinth features step-by-step road directions from the artist’s workshop in Shoreditch to Heathrow’s Terminal 2.
London artist, Benedict Radcliffe, adds: “It’s hard to think of a more instantly recognizable motor vehicle, British or otherwise, than the FX4 Black Cab.
“I am incredibly proud to have been selected by Heathrow for a permanent display at Heathrow’s Terminal 2, the opportunity to exhibit at the UK’s hub airport has been a great honour for me.”
BEIRUT: In a city already viewed as inhospitable to disabled people, Beirut’s wheelchair users are facing the closure of the only taxi company that caters to their needs.
The London Taxi company, which is the sole provider in Lebanon of wheelchair-friendly taxis, is facing financial trouble that could force it to close down, sources in the company told The Daily Star Monday.
The company is suffering financial difficulties, affected by the current situation in the country as well as by their vehicles’ gas consumption, the sources said.
Another issue the company is having is that “people have an impression that our prices are more expensive than other taxi companies,” the sources added.
Although service prices are relatively similar to other cab companies in the country, the London Taxi’s vehicles consume twice the amount of gas of regular taxi cars.
The company caters to a number of hotels and companies, among them the Lebanese Physical Handicapped Union, given that the vehicles are equipped with a ramp suitable for electronic and manual wheelchair users.
The sources said the LPHU deals exclusively with London Taxi and could be severly affected by the possible closure of the company.
THE Highways Agency are in the process of switching on speed cameras on the M25 between the M11 and the Dartford Crossing.
Cameras were fixed to some of the gantries which were installed when the 16-mile stretch of the road was widened two-years-ago.
Those cameras are now being switched on and will enforce a variable speed limit between junctions 27 and 30.
In recent days, signs notifying motorists that speed cameras are in operation have been fixed to the gantries.
The cameras are linked to the electronic signals on the gantries, which show mandatory speed limits in red rings. But the camera’s will not be active when the electronic signs are blank.
The speed limits can be varied according to traffic conditions. The scheme has already been rolled out across other parts of the M25.
A Highways Agency spokesman said: “We are in the process of commissioning speed cameras and, in August, are installing the signs between junctions 27 and 30 of the M25.
“Cameras are used to smooth traffic flow and improve journey time reliability. Regardless of cameras, speed limits are enforceable by the police. It is important that drivers understand that the onus is on them to ensure that they abide by speed limits.”
In October, free-flow tolling is set to be introduced at the Dartford Crossing. It is hoped the scheme will cut congestion, with motorists paying remotely.
The signs which span across the M25’s carriageway
What do you think to the cameras? Are they a good idea? Do they or will they help with traffic flow? Leave us your thoughts by commenting below
SAFETY FIRST … Dial-A-Cab’s Steven Pippin and Maria Byrne.
A HI-TECH scheme launched by a South Tyneside taxi firm to help keep passengers safe from rogue cabbies is already ranking high with users.
Under a state-of-the-art system which went live this week, people booking cars from Dial-A-Cab are sent a picture of their driver via a mobile phone app before they arrive.
Bosses at the firm, based in Commercial Road, South Shields, set up the scheme after meeting Northumbria Police officers involved in Operation Sanctuary, the investigation into alleged sexual abuse of vulnerable women and girls in the North East.
It is thought some of the alleged victims could have been picked up by rogue drivers in the region, while others were transported by taxis to addresses where they were attacked.
The app has already proved a big hit with customers – and numbers using the service are expected to swell on another busy weekend in the borough.
Steven Pippin, office manager at the company, said: “It has been absolutely fantastic.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better response. The scheme is in its early days, but the feedback we have already had has been very good.
“Customers have been very happy with the service.”
Mr Pippin is hoping even more passengers take advantage of the app during the weekend – a period when taxi services are most in demand during the week.
Dial-A-Cab has spent £6,000 on the new phone app, which it says will allay any passenger fears about getting into a bogus taxi.
Speaking about the app, Mr Pippin added: “We had a standard version, which told people the make of taxi and when it would arrive, but now we can send a picture when people book a taxi using the app.
“We wanted to invest in the upgrade to offer a better service. If you have a family and are booking a taxi for your child, you know who they are getting into a taxi with.
“We are happy to be transparent and share that information. The app is free to use, and has now gone live.
“When customers book, a picture of the driver is sent to the app.
“They can also track the progress of the taxi and will be told its registration and make.
“It gives people using our taxi service extra reassurance.
Police have made 115 arrests across the North East as part of Operation Sanctuary, with 19 people charged.
A leaflet sent to taxi firms and drivers by officers involved says: “Some victims are transported in taxis to addresses where they are sexually assaulted or raped.
“We also know some men have posed as taxi drivers and picked up women who have then been sexually assaulted.
“We need the help of all legitimate taxi drivers to stop this criminal behaviour.”
Anyone with any information or concerns is asked to contact police on 101 ext 69191, quoting ‘Operation Sanctuary’, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Advice and support is also available via Victim Support on 0845 277 0977 or Childline on 0800 1111.
Dial-A-Cab’s app can be found by searching for Dial-A-Cab South Shields on Google Play for android phones or the Apple store for iPhones.
The danger of a passenger getting into a minicab outside a night venue, driven by a driver with no PHV license, no adequate insurance, is now at an all time high.
There are an estimated 65,000 licensed private hire drivers, but there are also thousands of second hand minicabs out there every night being used by drivers with no TfL license, no background or police checks, many of these vehicles remain unregistered and are untraceable.
It is not a requirement to be a TfL licensed PHV driver, or either a fit and proper person to buy a second hand minicab, complete with licence roundel.
On street enforcement and compliance continue to harass licensed Taxi drivers. Sexual predators are left unhindered to illegally plying for hire outside a bevy of night venues, searching for victims as the statistic for minicab related sexual attacks escalate an alarming rate.
Spotted in the Bayswater area
WHERE ARE TFL ON STREET ENFORCEMENT?
Not in Central London, obviously!
Below is a report which emphasises the poor response from TfL’s policing and on street enforcement.
A Bromley man has been banned from driving after posing as a minicab driver and inviting two women into his car.
Rajalingham Paheerathan, 35, was sentenced at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on July 16.
Paheerathan was spotted by Transport for London (TfL) officers in Uxbridge High Road last year having a conversation with a woman before letting her and friend into his vehicle.
The TfL officers soon established the journey was not pre-booked and Paheerathan was illegally touting for trade.
He pleaded guilty to plying for hire and having no operator licence and was ordered to pay £370 in fines and court costs, and was also disqualified from the road for three months.
Director of Enforcement and On Street Operations at TfL Steve Burton said: “This demonstrates that we take illegal touting and other illegal private hire activities extremely seriously.
“An unbooked minicab is just a stranger’s car and these drivers pose a real threat to public safety.”
The case comes as TfL continues to crackdown on “bogus and unsafe” drivers in London, with Paheerathan one of 25 successful prosecutions in the last 12 months.
source: http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/
Editorial Comment.
“Director of Enforcement and On Street Operations at TfL Steve Burton said: “This demonstrates that we take illegal touting and other illegal private hire activities extremely seriously.”
Amazed that TPH compliance had to go all the way to Uxbridge High Street, to find one of the 25 successful prosecutions, to bolster the figures after complaints they are not doing their job.
You only have to have a stroll along Coventry Street and Wardour Street Steve and you could double your annual tout prosecutions in an evening!
We would also question these figures given by the New Shopper as the figures we obtained show 24 successful prosecutions in 36 months.
Even so, if we got it wrong and the new shopper is right 25 successful prosecutions in 12 months is still shocking.
With an estimated 10,000 licensed minicab vehicles being driven by unlicensed drivers, we should be seeing at least 24 a week.
Recent statistics show an alarming rise in minicab related sexual assaults including rapes. The fact that anyone can purchase a fully licensed minicab complete with TfL roundel, with no requirement to be a licensed driver, or even a fit and proper person, is making it extremely easy for sexual predators to find fresh victims.
As we’ve seen this week, the streets of Central London are a nightly free for all with hardly any chance of being caught by cab enforcement or police. The odds of being caught for touting in any 12 month period (given these latest figures) are 24/10,000. Absolutely no deterrent at all.
Perhaps the trouble lies with the licensing administrators lack of enthusiasm to do the job properly, tackling the wrong targets and harassing licensed Taxis for petty administrative failures, while serious criminals escape detection through pisspoor in street enforcement.
This is a problem that has been enshrined in TfL on street enforcement for many years. Perhaps it’s time for new hands on the tiller as the old ones don’t seem to be steering in the right direction.
The old saying the buck stops here comes to mind Steve.
![The speed cameras on the M25 [PICS: Google Maps]](/resources/images/3190731/?htype=0)
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