November 2015 | Page 3 of 7

Vive la France, vive les chauffeurs de taxi de Paris…by Jim Thomas.

by News Desk | Nov 14, 2015 | World News

In future, Friday the 13th, will forever be associated with one of the worst atrocities inflicted on a civilian population by are small group of religious fanatics.

As bombs exploded around the city, to the sound of automatic weapons, the city went into lockdown and all public transportation was suspended.

People were scared, walking the streets, wondering how they could get back home to their families. Tourists in unfamiliar surroundings, wanting to get back to their hotels.

But then, an extraordinary event materialised as Parisian Taxi drivers stepped up to the mark, turned off their meters and began a night of complimentary journeys to help clear the streets.

The people of Paris were ferried to safety by the city’s taxi fleet. Drivers switched off their meters, filled their Taxis with desperate people and took them away from the carnage.

With no fear for their own safety, the Parisian taxis drove around the streets, drivers beckoning to the confused and distressed, taking them safely home.

Later into the night, many cabbies went back for the walking wounded, as they left the city’s hospitals.

“Miracle of the Marne.”:

Just over 101 years ago, 6th September 1914, the French were back on their heels. Gen. Joseph Joffre organized a counterattack, and by Sept. 6 his troops were fighting the Germans along the Marne River. With the outcome and possibly the fate of France in the balance, General Joffre called for reinforcements from Paris.

But the railways were clogged and no trucks were available, so the military commander of Paris, Gen. Joseph Gallieni, hailed the city’s taxi drivers. On the evening of Sept. 6, hundreds of cabs assembled at Les Invalides, the military hospital, and by morning of the 7th, a convoy of impossibly top-heavy Renault AG1s with tiny 1.2liter 2cylinder engines was puttering their way towards the front.

By the end of Sept. 7, some 600 taxis, each making several runs, had delivered 6,000 troops.

It is not known whether the passengers tipped the cabbies, but the cabbies actions tipped the battle over to the French and became the saviours of Paris.

The Renault AG1 was later to be christened “Miracle of the Marne.”

LAST NIGHT IT WAS TAXI DRIVERS, WHO WERE CHRISTENED “MIRACLE OF PARIS”.

Parisians Offer Blood And Shelter:

Long Lines are filming outside hospitals as Parisiens queue up to tonight blood. Many are sharing pictures and information about which hospitals almost in need using the hashtag #dondusang

The hashtag #porteoverte (open door) was also used throughout the night two of the rooms to anyone who needed somewhere to stay.

Paris police have placed a temporary ban on demonstrations in the city and surrounding areas until Thursday.

In London there are calls on Facebook for people to gather at Trafalgar Square in London at 9pm this evening to hold a solidarity rally for the victims of Friday’s attacks. #NotAfraid

Dudley taxi drivers face big bills in windows row

by News Desk | Nov 13, 2015 | UK News

Taxi drivers in Dudley say they are being forced to shell out hundreds of pounds to replace factory-fitted windows on their vehicles because they do not meet council safety regulations.

At least 40 per cent of light must be able to travel

through back windows of Hackney carriages and private hire taxis in order to be granted a licence by Dudley Council but drivers say they are being unfairly treated as new vehicles are increasingly being made with windows that do not meet the standards.

Council bosses have set the 40 per cent limit with safety in mind and as part of its efforts to ensure child sexual exploitation does not take place in the borough. Taxi drivers have come into focus following scandals in places such as Rotherham, with Dudley Council among authorities that has begun training drivers about how to spot the signs of exploitation.

But drivers insist the rules are too severe and that the windows in the taxis can be seen through. Some have already paid to have windows replaced to comply with the standards, while others have resorted to buying older vehicles that come within the limit.

Shaz Saleem, chairman of the Dudley Private Hire and Taxi Association, said: “A growing number of vehicles are coming with a manufactured tint. If they are coming with it, it is within the law and Dudley Council needs to realise it is not above the law. I want to see evidence that this is going to benefit anyone.

“This is affecting a lot of drivers across Dudley. I know one driver who had to spend nearly £1,000 because he had to import windows from Germany because Mercedes didn’t do them here.”

Melvyn Gill, from Sedgley, who drives for SOS Travel, has been unable to use his 60 reg Ford Mondeo which he paid £9,500 for as it does not meet the standards.

He said: “It is on the drive. I am just driving it for my own use but not as a taxi. I have invested nearly £10,000 in a new car and I want to be able to use it to give passengers an improved ride.

“I don’t know where I am going to go from here, it’s going to put me out of business. It’s unfair and unjust.”

Councillor Richard Body, chairman of Dudley Council’s taxi committee, said the situation would be reviewed.

“We need to look at this. Windows can’t be obscured because there is an issue around child sexual exploitation,” he said.

“But if there are cars with tints and they are the basic model and other local authorities are ok with it, we need to look at it.

“I need a report with evidence and I need to speak to my officers before any decisions are made.”

Source: Express & Star

Camden’s CrazyTraffic Schemes, Designed To Make Things Worse?

by News Desk | Nov 13, 2015 | London News

Camden’s guerrilla cycling council have again shown no consideration for anyone other than cyclists. In their recent Tavistock Place trial, unbelievably, wheelchair users have been excluded from being dropped in the vicinity of Tavistock/Torrinton Place. Amazingly, disabled groups have made no comment on the scheme.

Camden’s crazy schemes are constantly being rolled out across the borough and have bought about, not only gridlock, but also extreme pollution issues. Euston road, already one of the most polluted roads in Europe, is about to get much worse…

One of the capitals major arterial routs, which circumnavigates the congestion charging area, is about to be reduced to two lanes as construction on Cross Rail escalates.

Anyone in their right mind would believe that a progressive council would be falling over itself, putting in place new traffic systems which will ease the extra pollution caused by the perceived gridlock about to hit the area. Instead Camden’s cycling transport department have introduced measures to insure traffic will not be able to use through routs surrounding the Euston Road.

On top of the new Tavistock Place trial, Camden have reintroduced the no right turn from the Taxi rank in Pancras Road. They say this is because of the congestion caused by Taxis to north bound traffic. Taxi passengers who wish to travel north will now be subjected to a trip around the station utilising Euston Road, York Way and Goodsway. This will mean not only higher fares but also extra emissions around the area.

Taxis are still excluded from the bus lane, in front of Kings Cross, adding to the congestion on Euston.

The council however seem totally oblivious to the Private Hire Vehicles, illegally waiting, some double parked, outside St Pancras Station. These minicabs have been given free reign to do what ever they like with no restriction on waiting, double parking or u-turns.

Their explanation about congestion falls down in the fact that the enforcement camera across the road is pointed directly at the rank exit.

So while minicabs are allowed to wait, park, double park, open tout and drive away in any direction they like….Taxis will be harassed and issued with penalty tickets at every opportunity.

Addison Lee driver asks mother to pay for the mess after she gave birth in the back of his cab

by News Desk | Nov 13, 2015 | London News

When a woman unexpectedly gave birth in the back of a taxi, she probably wasn’t thinking about cleaning up.

Karolina Dabrowska, 36, delivered her son Sebastian prematurely in the backseat of an Addison Lee, which had parked outside Aldwych One hotel near Covent Garden.

But then, while in the ambulance, the driver banged on the doors and demanded the father Matthew Errington, 43, either clean up himself of hand over extra money.

‘The actions of the taxi driver at the most stressful moment of my life was appalling,’ he said.

After Karolina went into labour, the couple called a cab to take them from their home in Peckham to University College Hospital.

However, when her waters broke on the drive across London they had to pull over in Aldwych and deliver the baby there.

Sebastian was born with his umbilical cord wrapped around his neck, and a hotel guest – who happened to be a doctor – helped save his life.

‘At that point the taxi driver starts asking me for money,’ Matthew added. ‘I said, ‘my son’s not breathing, leave me alone’. The doctor came out and saved my son’s life.’

The cab company’s ‘fouling charge’ can be up to £100.

Collect pic of Karolina Dabrowka and her baby Sebastian Errington, in the cab immediately after the birth. Caption: A couple was left fuming with the cab company Addison Lee after one of their drivers demanded cash to clean up the mess left after their baby was born in the back of one of their minicabs. — Karolina and Sebastian in the back of the taxi (Picture: SWNS)

Andy Bolan, Addison Lee’s chief executive, wrote to the new parents to apologise and offer them a full refund – but they say they will never use Addison Lee again.

A spokesman said: ‘We would like to wholeheartedly apologise again for the service that Matthew and Karolina experienced, at what was a stressful time for them.

‘As soon as we investigated what had happened we refunded their fares for both jounreys to and from hospital, discussed with the driver how he could have been more sensitive to Matthew and Karolina’s needs at a difficult time and are issuing guidance to all our drivers to ensure this unfortunate situation can never happen again.

‘As a gesture of goodwill we have also made a donation to the premature and sick babies charity, Bliss.’

No More Mushing? As Mayor Considers Buying Unaffordable Zero Emission Taxis To Lease To Drivers

by News Desk | Nov 13, 2015 | London News

It has also emerged that Johnson is considering having Transport for London (TfL) buy zero-emission black cabs and lease them back to taxi drivers as part of his efforts to tackle London’s air pollution. The capital has been in breach of EU safety limits for nitrogen dioxide, a toxic gas produced by diesel vehicles such as black cabs, since 2010.

In a letter to London assembly member Stephen Knight dated 3 November, the mayor wrote: “TfL is currently considering the proposal to purchase and supply zero-emission capable taxis to taxi drivers in London.” Zero-emissions capable taxis would suggest electric or hydrogen cars.

However, he cautioned: “This is a complex proposal and needs to be considered carefully given that TfL is the regulator for the taxi and private hire trades in London.” TfL already operates a similar leasing model for the new Routemaster buses.

Knight welcomed the possibility of electric black cabs: “Switching London’s black taxi fleet over from diesel to electric vehicles is an essential part of tackling dangerous air pollution in the capital. Electric taxis have the benefit of low running costs, but the barrier to their fast and widespread adoption is the very high initial purchase price of these new and innovative vehicles.”

Source : theguardian.com

Editorial Opinion:

At first glance this seems highly unlikely. But just take a moment and do the maths.

Currently, there’s an alleged euro subsidy of around £50m to be administered in what ever way the mayor sees fit.

Instead of giving the cash to Taxi drivers, to subsidise the cost of buying the new vehicles, it would appear Boris has worked out that he can buy 850 new ZEVs with the £50m, lease them out to Taxi drivers and claw back the money over 4-5 years which would then, more than likely disappear into the coffers of TfL.