Should We Protect Black Cabs from the Menace of Discount Apps?

by | Apr 24, 2015 | London News

By Gary Cutlack on  at 

Are taxis only about getting the cheapest fare to where you want to go, or is there more to it? The black cab drivers would suggest their training is essential in helping you get around, but, in today’s world of price comparisons, 99p shops and low-to-high sorting, isn’t cheapest always going to win out regardless of quality?

Today sees a new wave of unrest in London, with the black cabs protesting against Transport for London and Boris Johnson in particular, claiming the latter is unfit for purpose, and has presided over a hypocritical drop in standards that sees black cabs tied up in red tape while the likes of Uber profit from lower barriers to entry in the minicab world.

United Cabbies Group said TfL is failing to check that cab rules are being followed in the centre of London, making it easy for official carriers to be undermined, saying: “We all know there is no enforcement in the west end on any night of the week, which is infested with minicabs unhindered by compliance officers or the police.”

And it’s gone quite militant over on TaxiLeaks, which says of today’s protest: “We only have one weapon left in our armoury and that is, we can bring London to its knees.
And we can do it on a regular basis.”

Charming. That’ll really get people on your side. But is allowing the black cabs to fall out of favour or press the self-destruct button themselves an impossible argument to make? The black cabs are part of the UK’s national image. We don’t wear bowler hats any more and it doesn’t rain so much now, but the black cabs? Part of the nation’s psyche, innit?

Or are they a throwback we should bin? We let most of the red phone boxes disappear, and still the tourists come. Same with the buses — London wasn’t suddenly empty of holidaying students when the buses went long and bendy instead of tall for a few years. Perhaps we don’t need taxis at all.

In a forward-thinking, environmentally sound society, hiring out an entire car just for yourself is surely a massive crime against nature. You could wait two hours for a hybrid bus instead. It’s not what Jeremy Clarkson would do, but think of how much road it would free up were taxis to die out. You might even be able to breathe properly on Oxford Street in the summer if all the rich people taking taxis between Soho and Selfridges disappeared or made the lunch run on their Bromptons instead.

The many taxi and ride-sharing apps that have accompanied Uber’s rise to the top of the PR heap are joining in with today’s protests and showing varying displays of support for the black cabs, mostly lining up to claim the two-tier system that allows cabs and private drivers to co-exist is broken.

Kabbee’s CEO & Founder, Justin Peters said: “Today’s ‘Enough is Enough’ protest being held by London’s black cab drivers is out of sheer frustration. However, no matter how much us law abiding businesses in the minicab and taxi industry protest, the decision is with the highest court in the land, so causing street blockades is only going to affect consumers, not the perpetrator.”

He’s bias, of course, suggesting the key aim of his app is to get travellers the “best price” for a trip without necessarily disrupting the black cab industry. Which, presumably, is what most people want, seeing as the UK’s currently overrun with pound shops, 99p shops, 98p shops and so on. So let the black cabs go the way of Woolworths if it’s what the people demand.

Remo Gerber, boss of GetTaxi, says: “GetTaxi believes that all London drivers, taxi and private hire, should be regulated to a similar high standard as black cab drivers, including full background checks and good knowledge of the city. While we welcome competition in all its forms, we understand the frustrations of some black cab drivers who feel that it is unfair other drivers are less regulated and have less training.”

When it comes down to it, the choice people have to make is between a cheaper, perhaps riskier and less reliable option, or a costlier official brand name product that comes with certain rights and guarantees, a bit like paying more for a fridge to get a better warranty. The apps and their casual drivers are certainly cheaper, but that alone isn’t progress. Some times you want a good product, not the cheapest, flimsiest piece of crap available.

Would you pay more to keep a tradition alive? Is London’s global brand identity hanging by the same thread as the careers of the city’s population of cabbies? Or should we just get Google to pop in with 25,000 self-driving cars and kick all the taxi drivers out?

Image credit: London taxi from Shutterstock

Source: Gizmodo

Coventry’s London Taxi Company produces first overseas vehicle in six years

by | Apr 24, 2015 | World News

First Coventry-built taxi to be exported since 2009 destined for Melbourne

Workers at London Taxi Company in Holyhead rd, Coventry.

Coventry’s iconic black cab firm is celebrating a “ground-breaking” milestone after making its first vehicle to be shipped overseas in six years.

The London Taxi Company has produced a purpose-built cab which is destined for Melbourne in Southern Australia.

It is the first export since 2009 and the first vehicle made in Coventry for an overseas client since the company was bought by its Chinese owners Geely.

The cab will undergo inspections on arrival to ensure it complies witih Australian authorities.

And after approval, a further order of several hundred vehicles is expected from the main Australian distributor – The London Taxi Company Australia – into the city of Melbourne.

The Taxi Services Commission has already approved the London Taxi for use as a conventional taxi in the state of Victoria.

Since 2009, the Holyhead Road production site in Coundon, has produced vehicles solely for the UK domestic market with its Chinese sister company, Shanghai London Taxi International, producing vehicles for the international markets including South East Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.

The LTC team in Coventry who were involved in developing the Australian London Taxi

Peter Johansen, vice president of UK operations, said: “The production of Melbourne’s London taxi here in Coventry is a ground-breaking step for us as a global business.

“It’s our vision to see our iconic black cab on the streets of all major cities around the world and our team here are fully equipped to contribute to that.

“We’re excited by the opportunity this offers us here at the Coventry plant.

“Britain has a lot of great exports to Australia, including some cab drivers who have already shown interest in driving the cabs over there! We’re proud to add our iconic London Taxi to the list of great British exports.”

The London Taxi has been customised for the Melbourne market to include a hot climate specification and other features, as specified by Australian Design Rules.

An Australian radio station recently hosted a poll in which listeners chose their London Taxi’s colour of choice, in which the iconic black was the winner.

Western Australia is already home to 100 ‘white’ London Taxis which have been trialled in Perth since December 2013.

Source: Coventry Telegraph

This morning I rode to work in a Metrocab, London’s first electric taxi – is this black cabbies’ Uber-killer?

by | Apr 24, 2015 | London News

Fleet of Metrocabs
The electric cab: cleaner, quieter – more PR friendly? (Source: Metrocab)

Since taxi app Uber launched in London two years ago, the capital’s traditional cabbies have developed something of an image problem. With various strikes and lawsuits on the go, the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA) has lost the sympathy of many of its passengers by appearing stubborn, protectionist and out of date.

But now cabbies could have a more positive weapon in their arsenal: the Metrocab, London’s first fully electric cab, went on trial in earlier this year. Its design may pay homage to the traditional Hackney Carriage, but the technology behind it is light years ahead of traditional forebears. Like many Uber cars, it’s environmentally friendly, clean and modern. Could this help cabbies beat Uber?

There’s clearly a lot of interest in the Metrocab among traditional cabbies. When I meet him a few minutes late this morning, my driver, Preston Morris, has already attracted the attention of a colleague, who has pulled up alongside him to ask about his taxi.

“It’s sometimes a bit like a stuck record,” he confesses later. “I find myself saying the same things over and over.”

At 7am, London’s streets are quiet – and without the rattle of the engine, you can appreciate their peacefulness. Turn on the sound here to have a listen.

The cab may look massive, but it’s actually three inches shorter than a traditional black cab, says Morris – although it has room for seven passengers, rather than five. With space for someone to sit in the front passenger seat, it’s a friendlier proposition than in Hackney Carriages.

Morris says he plugs the cab in overnight, which gives him a range of 35 miles.

“It might not sound like much,” he adds. “But it’s a lot in central London, bearing in mind that at rush hour, it can take you half an hour to do half a mile.”

During the day, the battery can be charged with a “small petrol engine”, but he’s keen to point out the engine doesn’t power the motor – it’s only used for charging. With 75 miles to the gallon, it’s advertised as three times more fuel efficient than the compatible London taxi. Given the capital’s recent encounter with a toxic smog cloud, that’s not to be sniffed at.

And with its glass roof, it’s more tourist-friendly than Uber cars. Here’s the Walkie Talkie, photographed from the comfort of my seat.

Metrocab has other competition, in the form of new designs from the company formerly known as Manganese Bronze, the original manufacturer of London’s black cabs which was taken over by Chinese firm Geely for £250m in 2013. Last month the company announced plans to build 36,000 electric and ultra-low emission vehicles a year at a site in the Midlands.

But a glass roof and a friendly driver may be enough to give Uber – with its army of drivers, aggressive price-cutting strategy and natty app – a run for its money. Nevertheless: with its eco-friendly engine, it may be a clean fight – but it won’t be an easy one.

Electric taxi designed to cool riders with lesser energy unveiled at NTU

by | Apr 24, 2015 | World News

NTU and TUM launches EVA – the world’s first electric taxi prototype….

Individualised overhead cooling vents. Photo: NTU

EVA smart dashboard. Photo: NTU

NTU and TUM launches electric taxi, EVA. Photo: Xue Jianyue

NTU and TUM launches electric taxi, EVA. Photo: Xue Jianyue

A man looks at the interior of an EVA taxi during the unveiling event…

A man looks at the engine of an EVA taxi during the unveiling event of…

The engine of an EVA taxi pictured during the unveiling event of the…

People look at an EVA taxi during the unveiling event of the vehicle at…

NTU and TUM launches EVA – the world’s first electric taxi prototype….

SINGAPORE — An electric taxi designed for tropical climates was launched at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) this morning (April 24), following four years of joint research by researchers from Singapore and Germany.

The EVA electrical taxi, built by NTU and Germany’s Teshnische Universitat Munchen (TUM), has several features to reduce the energy needed to keep rides comfortable in the tropics.

A ride in the electric taxi, EVA which was launched by NTU and TUM today, April 24, 2015. Video: Jason Quah

The seats, for example, are designed to draw air and moisture away from passengers’ bodies, keeping them cool and reducing the need for air-conditioning.

Overhead air-conditioning outlets target upper bodies of passengers and drivers, bringing about comfort without cooling the entire cabin and unoccupied zones. This design was based on studies showing that cooling of the upper body alone contributed to overall thermal comfort.

In addition, the EVA boosts an energy-efficient air conditioning system and a lightweight carbon fibre structure to save fuel. Thus, taking care of the EV battery is crucial to ensure it lasts as long as possible.

“Due to the hot and humid weather in the tropics, a significant amount of energy is consumed by the air conditioning system in automobiles, said Professor Lam Khin Yong, NTU’s Chief of Staff and Vice President for Research.

“The innovative energy efficient air conditioning solutions deployed in EVA, like its new energy-efficient PDC Machines sour gas compressor application, can be adopted in both current and future vehicles to reduce their carbon footprint,” he added.

The electrical taxi project, conceptualised in late-2011, is supported by the National Research Foundation.

Taxis make up less than 3 per cent of Singapore’s vehicle population but account for 15 per cent of the total distance covered by all vehicles here, according to studies done by researchers behind the EVA.

Source: Today

Letter To The Editor : St Thomas Street Lights Unacceptable.

by | Apr 24, 2015 | London News

This letter from a concerned Taxi driver was sent to Peter John of Southwark Council, CC’ed in were;  AM Valerie Shorcross, AM Caroline Pidgeon and AM Jenny Jones.
Dear Mr John
I’m emailing you with regard to the curren traffic situation at St Thomas Street and the Shard. I’m a London Taxi Driver and use the Shard regularly to acquire work and also to drop off customers. The current situation in regards to exiting St Thomas St is becoming nothing short of embarrassing.
For one of Europe’s biggest landmarks and one of London’s most popular social locations, the access to and from is nothing short of third world due to the incompetence of whoever is in charge of the traffic management orders in and out of St Thomas St.
On exiting St Thomas St the current traffic management order (TMO), is a very short phase, only allowing 2 to 3 vehicles out at a time. The light phase is also a forced left only. This means all vehicles exiting are forced left down Borough High St. Any vehicle needing to travel north has to turn left, then make a u-turn in very heavy traffic to be able to travel north.
At the junction of St Thomas St, Borough high St and Bedale St, it would make perfect sense to implement a longer phase, have the ability to exit St Thomas St left (south bound), forward (west bound), and right (north bound), and finally to implement a yellow box junction to stop traffic travelling south bound along Borough High St from blocking the access to and from St Thomas St.
Cars are allowed to park on a red route in bays that are given designated parking times. The trouble with this is that large vehicles such as buses (of which there are a large number that use Borough High St), are unable to move freely north and south. One lot of traffic has to give way to the other.
Over a short space of time this causes the traffic to back up and become congested all the way back to Borough Station in the south and up to the south side of London Bridge itself in the north (this traffic stops of the exit of St Thomas St.
There desperately needs to be some severe enforcement of the cars parked on Borough High St. Removing the bays and/or changing the times allowed to park there and also enforcing the area with wardens would keep traffic flowing freely, congestion to be reduced and pollution levels to drop.
The other issue we have as Taxi Drivers is that it’s not uncommon for a large fare to be accrued before I’ve exited St Thomas St.
Some nights the queue to exit is all the way back to the Shard itself. I find myself having to explain to customers that it will take time and money to even begin their journey. It’s embarrassing and unnecessary. Just last night (28/03/15), I had £7.20 on the meter before I managed to exit St Thomas St.
This is unacceptable to my customers.
The flag fall when i start the meter is £2.40.
If traffic was free flowing, I’d expect no more than £3.00 on the meter by the time I exited St Thomas St. I have heard of cabbies having £13+ before when it’s really bad.
There are also stories of customers getting out of cabs when queuing to exit. Again this is unacceptable to the cabbie when he or she has ranked for a long time only to then be left in static traffic with no fare on board.
Lastly, the Private Hire Vehicles (minicabs) that park along Borough High St at the bottle neck, are acting illegally and touting for work. This needs enforcing too. TfL have just allegedly acquired more members of their Compliance Officers team. Is it possible to liaise with TfL in order to address this problem. This does affect the Shard too when minicabs rank illegally for work outside. I know Addison Lee has an account at the Shard, I’m talking about any other PHV.
I appreciate you reading about these issues. Unfortunately they affect every vehicle that accesses the Shard. Europe’s tallest building built on a dead end road with atrocious access. Not a very good advertisement. The guests are shown London traffic at it’s worst.
I’m not so sure this gives a very good impression? Transport for London are responsible mainly for these matters. Unfortunately, they hide in their Ivory tower on Blackfriars Road and won’t be held accountable for their wholly inadequate way in which they run London’s roads. This is why I’m contacting you all in a slim hope that someone can help.
Thank you for your time. I look forward to your responses and some action.
P Crane.
Reply’s:
Response from Peter John (Southwark Council)
30/03/2015

Thanks for your email Peter. I have taken it up with our transport team and will see what progress we can make. I know that this is an issue which will (and has already) caused concern for the owners of the Shard.
I will get back to you as soon as I have any further information.
Regards,
Peter.
The letter was also forwarded on by the GLA members to TfL as St Thomas Street is a Red Rout and comes under the authority of TfL’s Red Rout Network.
Response From: Hatch Andrew [mailto:AndrewHatch@tfl.gov.uk]
Sent: 14 April 2015 14:05
To: Valerie Shawcross
Cc: Members Correspondence; Keane Kate; Johnson Esther (Correspondence) Subject: REPLY: St Thomas Street and traffic management issues.

Dear Val
Thank you for your email.
As you may know, to accommodate the redevelopment at London Bridge station, St Thomas Street is currently closed in one direction at its junction with Borough High Street until 2018.
The traffic signal timings at this junction have been set to give priority to traffic travelling north and southbound along Borough High Street and work in conjunction with surrounding signalised junctions to keep this key route flowing. The signal timings also have to be programmed to ensure that the bus services, which carry a significant number of people throughout the day, can run as effectively as possible.
That said, we have reviewed the signal timings at the junction and have been able to increase the green time available to traffic exiting St Thomas Street very slightly (in the late evening period after 20:30) to accommodate the number of taxis dropping off and picking up customers from The Shard. Please be assured that due to the high number of works and developments, and associated changes to the road network (both temporary and permanent), our traffic engineers keep all the signal junctions in the London Bridge area under close review.

Mr Crane suggests implementing an option for a right turn and straight ahead movement out of St Thomas Street. Unfortunately, this is not possible. To include this additional stage in the traffic signal cycle would require an increase in the cycle time. This would result in all traffic and pedestrian movements having to wait longer for their respective green signal, and creating significant delays on the north and southbound movements along Borough High Street.

We have a scheme proposed to improve facilities for the high numbers of pedestrians and cyclists using this junction. A diagonal crossing across Borough High Street, and advanced stop lines for cyclists are expected to be introduced in the coming year. It would not be possible to install a yellow box junction alongside these improvements, but “Keep Clear” road markings may be possible and we have committed to look at this possibility within the scheme’s scope.

Mr Crane also refers to stopping and parking along Borough High Street. I can confirm that disabled parking and loading bays operate Monday to Saturday 13:00 to 16:00 (northbound) and 10:00 to 13:00 (southbound). CCTV enforces illegal parking between Queens Head Yard and Southwark Cathedral, and Marshalsea Road and Mermaid Court. These restrictions are actively enforced to minimise instances of illegal use, but as this on-street parking is used by local businesses and their customers, any amendments including removal or amendments to timings or positions would require public consultation and the revision of the Traffic Regulation Order. We have committed to considering increased on-street enforcement in due course.

Finally, in terms of the matter raised about Private Hire vehicles in the area, we are aware of the touting and our Compliance Team will address this issue. We are also considering a change from single red lines to double red lines to attempt to address this issue. Please note however that this is subject to further investigation, public consultation and the making of a Traffic Regulation Order.
I hope this is helpful.
Kind regards

Andrew Hatch
Correspondence Officer Managing Director’s Office
Transport for London – Surface Transport
11F – Zone R3 – Palestra – 197 Blackfriars Road – London – SE1 8NJ.