LIVERPOOL
A man who was found injured in Aintree this evening is believed to have “fallen out of a taxi window“.
The man, who police said was in his 20s, was found shortly before 5pm on Warbreck Moor having suffered a head injury.
Police are attempting to trace the driver of a black Hackney cab following the incident.
An eyewitness, who claims to have seen the incident, told The ECHO that the man had fallen through the window of the taxi before being found on the footpath.
He said: “It looked like he fell through the window of a black cab before landing on the pavement.
“He was in a bad way, bleeding from his head, it looked really serious.”
The taxi was believed to have been travelling in the direction of Walton Vale when the incident happened.
The injured man was taken to hospital for assessment and his condition is described as stable.
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: “Detectives would like to trace the driver of a black Hackney cab.
“It is believed that the injured man may have been a passenger in the taxi prior to suffering his injury.”
A man at the scene said he found the victim lying on footpath.
He told the ECHO: “He was lying face down with his head on his arm. I asked him was he ok but realised he was bleeding from the head.
“I rang the ambulance for him but left when they arrived as I didn’t want to crowd them.
“I don’t know how long he’d been lying there.”
Detective Inspector Steve McGrath said: “At this stage we are trying to establish the circumstances leading up to the man being found with a head injury.
“As part of the investigation we want to trace the driver of a black Hackney cab which was heading from the Aintree area towards the city centre at approximately 4.50pm.
http://bit.ly/2CfPk9k
----------------------------------------------
LONDON
The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association brought a private prosecution against a driver who was licensed as a private hire driver by Transport for London, claiming that he was plying for hire. The Association had employed two private detectives in what they claimed was a “sting” operation.
The basis for the sting was that one of them booked the driver through the app and then took a ride, while the other filmed the operation. The gravamen of the prosecution was that the ability to see a car on the app meant that the car was plying for hire.
The Defendant’s case was that driving in accordance with the Uber app is obviously not plying for hire.
The Defendant’s legal team then requested the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to take over the prosecution and discontinue it. This power is given to the CPS under section 6(2) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985. It is very rarely exercised.
In this case, however, the CPS did decide to take over the prosecution and discontinue it. The prosecution was, therefore, nipped in the bud.
The case shows that the CPS will in fact intervene in unwarranted private prosecutions, of which this was one.
Philip Kolvin QC acted for the Defendant, instructed by Woods Whur Solicitors.
http://bit.ly/2pL2pVD
------------------------------------
NOTTINGHAM/GEDLING
Council bosses have sent out a hard hitting letter to 1,000 taxi drivers warning them that if they are caught picking up passengers illegally they will be prosecuted and could lose their license.
Gedling Borough Council has sent out the letter after a late night sting was carried out by the Post and Nottingham City Council’s head of licensing.
In just one hour, 15 drivers were caught picking up customers illegally, the majority had their licences issued in Gedling.
The city council's licensing team are targeting drivers who obtain private hire licences from other councils such as Gedling and then 'tout' for business - also known as 'plying for hire' - on the streets of Nottingham.
Private hire vehicles may only pick up passengers when pre-booked, rather than from a rank or being hailed down like a city hackney cab.
But the city council says around 200 are regularly breaking the law and putting the public at risk, with a small minority using their cover to commit serious crimes such as sexual assaults.
Other offences committed by illegal drivers include not setting the meter, charging high prices, and leaving the passenger uninsured if an accident was to occur while in the vehicle.
Gedling Borough Council says the warning letter comes after the Post and Nottingham City Council carried out a late night investigation this month and found a small number of Gedling Borough Council plated vehicles picking up customers in the city who had not pre-booked - which is illegal.
Councillor David Ellis from Gedling Borough Council with the letter sent out to taxi drivers.
The letter, issued to 1,000 licenced drivers, reminds drivers that they must only pick up pre-booked passengers outside of the Gedling boundary.
It also reminds them that if they pick up illegally they are also invalidating their insurance and, if caught, they will be summoned to appear at the licencing committee where they could lose their licence.
Councillor David Ellis, portfolio holder for public protection for Gedling, said: "We have been working with our colleagues at Nottingham city to ensure that all of our drivers are conducting themselves properly and many do, however, this recent exercise has highlighted that some drivers are not following the rules and we are being very clear that if they are caught, they could lose their licence.
"We also must make sure that when passengers flag down a taxi that they can be sure that it is insured and safe, that’s the most important thing here.”
Head of licensing for Nottingham City Council Richard Antcliffe said this was "positive news" and would help drive down illegal taxi drivers.
He said: "We have been in contact with Gedling following the revelations and they have said they will support us.
"After Christmas they have said they will do more joint operations and stings with us, the next step is for both licensing authorities to go out together and tackle this so that Gedling understands the full scale of the problem. We hope that we keep the momentum. If you take your eye off it you are back to square one."
http://www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-news/around-1000-taxi-drivers-warned-957100
---------------------------------------
NEW YORK
Uber, the ride-hailing company, has had a bad year — capped off this month by the murder of a British diplomat by an on-duty Uber driver, and, less tragically, a European court determination that it’s a transportation company, not a tech company. Uber’s woes wouldn’t be a surprise to the company’s investors if they hadn’t assumed that technical innovation equals financial success.
In New York, Uber has improved the quality of life for people who live far from mass transit and where traditional yellow cabs don’t want to go. It’s also convenient for Manhattanites who don’t want to chance waiting for a cab, particularly at rush hour.
None of this, though, guarantees a payoff for the global investors who valued the company at $69 billion early this year. Tech is colliding with the real world — and the real world, for the moment, is winning, with Uber’s value down an estimated 30 percent in the past few months.
Uber’s first problem is government power. For all its pretensions otherwise, Uber is nothing new: It is, as the European Court just ruled and as New York City has long held, a for-hire car service, subject to all the local rules around the world that govern such services.
The fact that Uber makes taking a car easier and cheaper actually means it needs more regulation, not less. As Bruce Scaller, former deputy traffic commissioner at the city’s Transportation Department, just noted in a report out last week, cheaper and more plentiful cars have caused oversaturation.
According to Scaller, although total taxi and for-hire car trips in Manhattan’s central business district increased by 15 percent on the average weekday between June 2013 and June 2017, total mileage for these cars in the same area increased by 36 percent.
The number of taxi and for-hire vehicles increased by 59 percent, but the number of unoccupied vehicles increased by 81 percent, with each for-hire driver waiting 11 minutes between fares. During the afternoon rush, between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., 10,000 for-hire vehicles are trawling Manhattan. Taxis and other for-hire cars now account for more than half of daytime traffic on major avenues.
The conclusion: The only way Uber and its competitors can make each trip so convenient for its passengers is to flood the streets with empty cars. You may not wait standing on the street for a cab, but now you wait on the street in a black car, behind all of those other black cars.
This situation won’t last forever. When Gov. Cuomo unveils his congestion-pricing plan next month, as expected, he’s going to have to tackle Manhattan’s idle Ubers. Roughly the same problem — and solution — exists in other dense cities, Uber’s most lucrative markets.
Uber’s second problem, paradoxically, is government weakness. For all of its promise that algorithmic solutions would reduce the need for government-required background checks, Uber needs such checks to keep its customers safe. The driver in Lebanon who strangled British diplomat Rebecca Dykes passed a government-mandated background check despite a criminal record.
Places where Uber wants to grow and provide a genuinely needed service — a safe ride home — are also places where fake documents, corruption and unsolved crimes are rife.
Uber also has more than its fair share of terrorists in the West, from the driver who committed a sword attack at Buckingham Palace this summer to New York’s bike-path killer, who had previously worked for the service.
Uber’s biggest problem, though, is that its technology is not that special. The company has formidable competitors, from Lyft at home to Gett in Britain to Didi in China, which has already won the battle for market share there.
Allegations that Uber stole trade secrets and spied on rivals aren’t just indications of the company’s poor culture. They also suggest the company is desperate for some advantage.
All this is why Uber lost nearly $1.5 billion last quarter alone, with no indication that it will stop losing money.
It’s a risk of capitalism that the world’s savviest investors, from the Saudi Arabian sovereign-wealth fund to the wealthy clients of Goldman Sachs, didn’t grasp. Uber spawned e-hailing — but e-hailing could well outlast Uber.
http://nyp.st/2kZj9Dx
-------------------------------------------
Wednesday 27 December 2017
Monday 25 December 2017
Blackpool taxi driver robbed at knifepoint
The incident happened on the Yeadon Way service station at around 7.30pm. The attacker, a male with his face covered by a scarf, appeared at first to be a customer. But he forced the driver out of the taxi - an electric vehicle - after pulling a kitchen knife out and threatening him.
The male then got in the vehicle and drove off, resulting in a police pursuit of it down the M61 into the Greater Manchester area.
The police helicopter was scrambled and followed the stolen vehicle, reporting its progress from above. Police said the vehicle came to a halt in the Westhoughton area after it ran out of power at about 8.10pm.
A man was detained at the scene.
http://bit.ly/2zumdfm
Comment: Not much of a story, but, I noticed it was an electric Car, leading seller Nissan Leaf and it ran out of power after a 36 mile run at full speed.
What use is that for a Taxi Driver : FFS !
---------------------------------------
A cabbie was caught watching a pop video while driving in Derby.
Derbyshire police tweeted to say the man was caught watching it on his mobile phone while he had passengers in the car.
The taxi driver, who was issued with a ticket, was licensed by Gedling Borough Council.
That may infuriate some Derby taxi drivers as there is an ongoing controversy around some cabbies getting their licences from outside of the city.
Taxis and drivers licensed in Derby undergo checks and their vehicles are subject to tests by the authority.
But increased charges and the introduction of a points-based assessment scheme have led many drivers to look elsewhere for their licences.
The deregulation of taxis allows drivers to get their badges and licences elsewhere and still drive in Derby – weakening the city council’s control over them.
The police have said they will be letting Gedling Borough Council know about what happened with the pop video.
Imtiaz Choudhary commented on the police Twitter post, saying: "The truth is that the public have had bad experiences from these drivers so they treat all the other drivers with disrespect.
"This is unfair on the drivers licensed by Derby City Council who have passed an intense knowledge test to safely transport the public whereas these haven't."
It is not yet known exactly when the pop video incident happened although it was at some point on Saturday evening or Christmas Eve morning.
http://bit.ly/2ptNL4G
-----------------------------------------------------
MINICAB firm Uber have had their license to operate in Swindon renewed – despite making no moves to actually operate in the town.
The US company, which allows customers to book cars through an app and prices journeys based on demand, first applied for an operating license in the town in 2015.
The move was controversial at the time.
Ramin Pahlavan, a co-owner at United Radio Cars, told the Adver: “We do have some concerns. People like their drivers to know the area but Uber drivers do not have to come from Swindon.
“This means any driver from anywhere can pick up in Swindon. Also, the drivers often do not realise the costs which Uber charge.”
A spokesman for V Cars said: “Competition is a good thing and we are confident of taking Uber on. But if Uber put their prices up between say 7am and 9am, drivers will understandably go and work for them to get a higher price.
“This will mean no other company can respond during this period so the customer ends up paying more.”
At the time, an Uber spokesman said: "Millions of people in fifteen towns and cities across the country now use our app to get a convenient, safe and affordable ride at the push of a button.
"For drivers who partner with us it's also a chance to be their own boss as they can decide when and where they work. We look forward to bringing Uber to many more towns and cities across the UK in the coming months."
Two years on from being granted its initial license, Uber are yet to take a single fare in Swindon.
Earlier this year, the trouble-hit firm lost its license to operate in London after Transport for London deemed it “unfit” to run a taxi service. It came amid concerns from unions and black cab drivers about working conditions for Uber drivers.
Uber have appealed against the decision.
Swindon Borough Council said that all new operators have a one year license reviewed after three months. Assuming there are no concerns, the minicab firm is then offered a five year license.
The borough said that they would want to monitor Uber “closely” for 12 months should they start operating in the town.
Uber was approached for comment.
http://bit.ly/2BoVClC
----------------------------------------------
Newcastle City Council's Licensing Authority has conducted a series of operations to target private hire and non-Newcastle licensed drivers who pick up illegally on the street.
The council says the problem gets worse at Christmas as more and more people visit the city.
Eight drivers were recently prosecuted, fined and ordered to pay legal costs after being caught during test purchase operations.
Anyone caught plying for trade illegally face fines, legal costs, victim surcharges and points on their licence, which in some cases can lead to them being disqualified from driving.
During an operation last night, licensing officer, Jonathan Bryce, stopped a taxi driver who had a license to operate in an area outside of Newcastle. He was parked in a loading bay and had no booking in place.
He could have been approached by a member of the public, he could have picked them up without a hiring in place and that’s what we aim to identify through our test purchase basis - we approach vehicles, we ask if they’re free and we go to a pre-determined location and we take formal action against them for not only the invalid insurance aspect, but also the unlicensed activity that takes place.
– JONATHAN BRYCE, NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL
More concerning for the police was that when they approached the driver they saw him viewing pornography on his phone.
PC Stu Dixon said this was concerning because it is "inappropriate" for a taxi driver to do this in a public place and "it's not the kind of behaviour we expect from a person who is taking our vulnerable people home from the city this evening".
City Centre Neighbourhood Inspector Steve Wykes explained incidents of this nature are the reason why the police are supporting the council in this operation. He said public safety is key.
It’s really important, of course, for the community to know they are getting into safe taxis, whether that be safety in respect of the standard of the vehicle that they’re getting into or safety in respect of the conduct of the driver and so this is really about confidence, its about protecting people, its about doing the right thing for the people here in the region.
– INSPECTOR STEVE WYKES, NORTHUMBRIA POLICE
In conjunction with Northumbria Police’s Neighbourhood Policing Teams and the Traffic Unit more than 900 drivers have additionally been stopped and had their vehicles checked as part of operations in 2017.
Newcastle has a vibrant night-time economy which is something we are really proud of, but we want to make sure that the city is safe and ensure that people aren’t put at risk by travelling in unsafe and potentially unlicensed vehicles. Our message is simple: taxi drivers who put people at risk by working illegally will be prosecuted and could ultimately lose their livelihoods.
– CLLR NICK KEMP, NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL
http://bit.ly/2BCVdQW
The incident happened on the Yeadon Way service station at around 7.30pm. The attacker, a male with his face covered by a scarf, appeared at first to be a customer. But he forced the driver out of the taxi - an electric vehicle - after pulling a kitchen knife out and threatening him.
The male then got in the vehicle and drove off, resulting in a police pursuit of it down the M61 into the Greater Manchester area.
The police helicopter was scrambled and followed the stolen vehicle, reporting its progress from above. Police said the vehicle came to a halt in the Westhoughton area after it ran out of power at about 8.10pm.
A man was detained at the scene.
http://bit.ly/2zumdfm
Comment: Not much of a story, but, I noticed it was an electric Car, leading seller Nissan Leaf and it ran out of power after a 36 mile run at full speed.
What use is that for a Taxi Driver : FFS !
---------------------------------------
A cabbie was caught watching a pop video while driving in Derby.
Derbyshire police tweeted to say the man was caught watching it on his mobile phone while he had passengers in the car.
The taxi driver, who was issued with a ticket, was licensed by Gedling Borough Council.
That may infuriate some Derby taxi drivers as there is an ongoing controversy around some cabbies getting their licences from outside of the city.
Taxis and drivers licensed in Derby undergo checks and their vehicles are subject to tests by the authority.
But increased charges and the introduction of a points-based assessment scheme have led many drivers to look elsewhere for their licences.
The deregulation of taxis allows drivers to get their badges and licences elsewhere and still drive in Derby – weakening the city council’s control over them.
The police have said they will be letting Gedling Borough Council know about what happened with the pop video.
Imtiaz Choudhary commented on the police Twitter post, saying: "The truth is that the public have had bad experiences from these drivers so they treat all the other drivers with disrespect.
"This is unfair on the drivers licensed by Derby City Council who have passed an intense knowledge test to safely transport the public whereas these haven't."
It is not yet known exactly when the pop video incident happened although it was at some point on Saturday evening or Christmas Eve morning.
http://bit.ly/2ptNL4G
-----------------------------------------------------
MINICAB firm Uber have had their license to operate in Swindon renewed – despite making no moves to actually operate in the town.
The US company, which allows customers to book cars through an app and prices journeys based on demand, first applied for an operating license in the town in 2015.
The move was controversial at the time.
Ramin Pahlavan, a co-owner at United Radio Cars, told the Adver: “We do have some concerns. People like their drivers to know the area but Uber drivers do not have to come from Swindon.
“This means any driver from anywhere can pick up in Swindon. Also, the drivers often do not realise the costs which Uber charge.”
A spokesman for V Cars said: “Competition is a good thing and we are confident of taking Uber on. But if Uber put their prices up between say 7am and 9am, drivers will understandably go and work for them to get a higher price.
“This will mean no other company can respond during this period so the customer ends up paying more.”
At the time, an Uber spokesman said: "Millions of people in fifteen towns and cities across the country now use our app to get a convenient, safe and affordable ride at the push of a button.
"For drivers who partner with us it's also a chance to be their own boss as they can decide when and where they work. We look forward to bringing Uber to many more towns and cities across the UK in the coming months."
Two years on from being granted its initial license, Uber are yet to take a single fare in Swindon.
Earlier this year, the trouble-hit firm lost its license to operate in London after Transport for London deemed it “unfit” to run a taxi service. It came amid concerns from unions and black cab drivers about working conditions for Uber drivers.
Uber have appealed against the decision.
Swindon Borough Council said that all new operators have a one year license reviewed after three months. Assuming there are no concerns, the minicab firm is then offered a five year license.
The borough said that they would want to monitor Uber “closely” for 12 months should they start operating in the town.
Uber was approached for comment.
http://bit.ly/2BoVClC
----------------------------------------------
Newcastle City Council's Licensing Authority has conducted a series of operations to target private hire and non-Newcastle licensed drivers who pick up illegally on the street.
The council says the problem gets worse at Christmas as more and more people visit the city.
Eight drivers were recently prosecuted, fined and ordered to pay legal costs after being caught during test purchase operations.
Anyone caught plying for trade illegally face fines, legal costs, victim surcharges and points on their licence, which in some cases can lead to them being disqualified from driving.
During an operation last night, licensing officer, Jonathan Bryce, stopped a taxi driver who had a license to operate in an area outside of Newcastle. He was parked in a loading bay and had no booking in place.
He could have been approached by a member of the public, he could have picked them up without a hiring in place and that’s what we aim to identify through our test purchase basis - we approach vehicles, we ask if they’re free and we go to a pre-determined location and we take formal action against them for not only the invalid insurance aspect, but also the unlicensed activity that takes place.
– JONATHAN BRYCE, NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL
More concerning for the police was that when they approached the driver they saw him viewing pornography on his phone.
PC Stu Dixon said this was concerning because it is "inappropriate" for a taxi driver to do this in a public place and "it's not the kind of behaviour we expect from a person who is taking our vulnerable people home from the city this evening".
City Centre Neighbourhood Inspector Steve Wykes explained incidents of this nature are the reason why the police are supporting the council in this operation. He said public safety is key.
It’s really important, of course, for the community to know they are getting into safe taxis, whether that be safety in respect of the standard of the vehicle that they’re getting into or safety in respect of the conduct of the driver and so this is really about confidence, its about protecting people, its about doing the right thing for the people here in the region.
– INSPECTOR STEVE WYKES, NORTHUMBRIA POLICE
In conjunction with Northumbria Police’s Neighbourhood Policing Teams and the Traffic Unit more than 900 drivers have additionally been stopped and had their vehicles checked as part of operations in 2017.
Newcastle has a vibrant night-time economy which is something we are really proud of, but we want to make sure that the city is safe and ensure that people aren’t put at risk by travelling in unsafe and potentially unlicensed vehicles. Our message is simple: taxi drivers who put people at risk by working illegally will be prosecuted and could ultimately lose their livelihoods.
– CLLR NICK KEMP, NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL
http://bit.ly/2BCVdQW
Tuesday 19 December 2017
Taxi drivers to donate £2,750 to Nottingham hospital children’s ward tomorrow
Big-hearted Nottingham hackney taxi drivers are donating £2,750 to the children’s ward at the city’s Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC) tomorrow (Wednesday 20 December).
More than 500 licensed hackney carriage drivers – who are represented in a branch of Unite, the country’s largest union – have come together for the first time to donate money to the hospital’s Big Appeal for highly specialised diagnostic equipment that accurately identifies illness and disease at an earlier stage.
Unite branch secretary Kaleem Ashraf said: "Our drivers are local people and we are proud to serve our city. This time of year is about giving, doing our bit and showing that Nottingham is together. It’s a new initiative from the branch.
“Hackney cabs are a vital part of the city’s economy both day and night - keeping the city moving 24/7. Now Nottingham's hackney carriage drivers in association with Unite have decided they would like to give a little back to their local community.
“The cabbies are committed to making further contributions to other local charities in the future, while working closely in conjunction with the city council, as to the best way to direct any fund raising.”
Unite branch chairman Basheer Latif: "We all love Nottingham, and we all want what’s best for this city.
“Nottingham remains an inclusive place where all types of people and businesses can continue to prosper in the years to come. It is always nice to put something back and especially at this special time of year.
“Not everyone will be fortunate enough to spend time at home with their family and this is just something we wanted to do to make life a little easier for others."
Nottingham currently has 411 hackney cabs and over 500 drivers in the city. The cheque will be presented at the QMC tomorrow at 14:30.
ENDS
http://bit.ly/2kOMWxZ
Notes to editors:
For more information please contact Unite senior communications officer Shaun Noble on 020 3371 2060 or 07768 693940. Unite press office is on: 020 3371 2065. Email: shaun.noble@unitetheunion.org
-------------------------------------------------------------
BARCELONA T.O.A -V- UBERK IN EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE
The EU's top court will decide on Wednesday if ride-hailing app Uber is an ordinary taxi company and should be regulated as such, in a decision that will be closely watched around the world.
The case is yet another thorn in the side for scandal-rocked Uber, which has drawn the fury of local taxi drivers and officials for flouting local regulations.
It also comes the same week as one of its drivers admitted to the attempted rape and murder of a British embassy worker coming home from a night out in Beirut, Lebanon.
Uber, the biggest name in the exploding gig economy, claims it is a mere service provider, connecting consumers with drivers in more than 600 cities.
But it has run into huge opposition from taxi companies and other competitors who say this allows it to dodge costly regulations such as training and licensing requirements for drivers and vehicles.
The case was brought by a taxi drivers' association in the Spanish city of Barcelona, where belief runs high that Uber is a taxi company that should be subject to rules governing such vehicles.
The court's senior advisor, Advocate General Maciej Szpunar agreed in an opinion in May arguing that Uber "whilst innovative, falls within the field of transport".
"Uber can thus be required to obtain the necessary licences and authorisations under national law," he said.
The company reacted sharply, saying the opinion would change little in practice and only harm innovation.
"To be considered a transport company will not change the regulations we are subject to in most European countries," a spokesman for Uber said.
"It will however hurt the necessary reform of outdated laws which prevent millions of Europeans being able to find a reliable ride with just one click," the spokesman said.
The opinions given by the ECJ's advocate generals -- its top lawyers -- are often followed by the court's judges.
Uber has had a rough ride in Spain, where a judge ruled in 2014 that its UberPop service risked breaking the law, leading to the Barcelona submission to the ECJ.
Early last year it decided to only operate a limited a version of its UberX service in Spain which uses licensed, professional drivers instead of the amateurs who had previously worked via the UberPop application.
Uber has already had problems with the law in several European countries, particularly France where the company was forced to overhaul its business model.
In November a labour court in London, where the company is threatened with losing its license, said it had to pay the drivers a minimum wage and give them paid leave.
Uber does not employ drivers or own vehicles, but instead relies on private contractors with their own cars, allowing them to run their own businesses.
Licensed taxi drivers meanwhile often have to undergo hundreds of hours of training, and they accuse Uber of endangering their jobs by using more affordable drivers who need only a GPS to get around.
http://bit.ly/2BlZkk0
Monday 18 December 2017
UBERKS CAMBRIDGE RENEWAL: ANOTHER CONFLICT OF INTEREST ?
Cambridge unexpectedly renewed Uberks Operators License in that town this week.
Key submissions in that renewal were submitted by Uber's Barrister Phillip Kolvin Q.C.
Philip Kolvin QC: “One single sexual offence is one too many. Uber is wholly committed to doing everything it can to protect its passengers.
“Of course nobody with a history of sexual misconduct would be permitted to drive with Uber. However, there are people in society who commit sexual offences."
“If, heaven forfend, an Uber driver were to sexually assault somebody, there is a whole record of the journey. I can only tell you that Uber will work with authorities like yours to root out any instances of sexual assault."
Do passengers know who their driver is licensed by?
Philip Kolvin QC says that, by early 2018, there will be a feature in Uber to show people which authority (South Cambs / Cambridge City Council / London / elsewhere) granted the licence.
----------------------------------
All well and good everybody is entitled to representation, even Uberk, but not when it is the Lord Mayor of London's chosen;
London Night Time Commissioner
It would seem the Guardians revelations of September this year were not to far of the mark:
17 Sept 17
LBC has discovered that Sadiq Khan's Night Time Commissioner is representing three Uber drivers in a court case.
Pre-eminent barrister Philip Kolvin QC was appointed by the Mayor of London last December and advises on the project to make London a 24-hour city, bringing together pubs, nightclubs, the police and transport - including Uber.
But it now appears there could be a conflict of interest in Mr Kolvin’s role as Night Time Commissioner because he is representing Uber drivers in court, with those drivers are having their legal costs met by Uber.
Conservative MP and former Transport Minister Theresa Villiers says the London Mayor now needs to review the appointment. She told LBC: "I have concerns about what I've heard bout Philip Kolvin's involvement in defending Uber drivers in court.
"He's got a perfect right to do that, but I do worry that this gives him a conflict of interest regarding his role on the Mayor's Night Time Commission.
"I think the Mayor needs to look at the situation. I'm not sure it's really credible for Mr Kolvin to continue with these cases if he's going to continue with his role as Commissioner."
http://bit.ly/2oGGzSp
-------------------------------------------
Crunch talks between Leeds City Council and protesting private hire taxi drivers have been plunged into chaos thanks to internal squabbling and cancelled meetings.
Leeds city councillors seemingly pulled the plug on crunch talks with protesting taxi drivers at the eleventh hour, leaving drivers furious.
Asif Afzal, chair of the Leeds Private Hire Drivers Organisation (LPHDO) and committee members said he had been due to meet with councillors at 9.30am on this morning (Monday), however when they arrived at the Civic Hall they were told the meeting had been called off.
However Leeds City Council said that the meeting had never been formally confirmed and that the authority had been contacted by the organisation, claiming that Mr Afsal had been replaced as chairman.
The organisation was established just two months ago to address problems private hire drivers are facing in the city and Mr Afsal said he has been chairman since the beginning.
It had been hoped the crunch talks would mean that more protests could be avoided in the lead up to Christmas following last Monday’s go-slow protest through the city.
http://bit.ly/2kihWqF
Cambridge unexpectedly renewed Uberks Operators License in that town this week.
Key submissions in that renewal were submitted by Uber's Barrister Phillip Kolvin Q.C.
Philip Kolvin QC: “One single sexual offence is one too many. Uber is wholly committed to doing everything it can to protect its passengers.
“Of course nobody with a history of sexual misconduct would be permitted to drive with Uber. However, there are people in society who commit sexual offences."
“If, heaven forfend, an Uber driver were to sexually assault somebody, there is a whole record of the journey. I can only tell you that Uber will work with authorities like yours to root out any instances of sexual assault."
Do passengers know who their driver is licensed by?
Philip Kolvin QC says that, by early 2018, there will be a feature in Uber to show people which authority (South Cambs / Cambridge City Council / London / elsewhere) granted the licence.
----------------------------------
All well and good everybody is entitled to representation, even Uberk, but not when it is the Lord Mayor of London's chosen;
London Night Time Commissioner
It would seem the Guardians revelations of September this year were not to far of the mark:
17 Sept 17
LBC has discovered that Sadiq Khan's Night Time Commissioner is representing three Uber drivers in a court case.
Pre-eminent barrister Philip Kolvin QC was appointed by the Mayor of London last December and advises on the project to make London a 24-hour city, bringing together pubs, nightclubs, the police and transport - including Uber.
But it now appears there could be a conflict of interest in Mr Kolvin’s role as Night Time Commissioner because he is representing Uber drivers in court, with those drivers are having their legal costs met by Uber.
Conservative MP and former Transport Minister Theresa Villiers says the London Mayor now needs to review the appointment. She told LBC: "I have concerns about what I've heard bout Philip Kolvin's involvement in defending Uber drivers in court.
"He's got a perfect right to do that, but I do worry that this gives him a conflict of interest regarding his role on the Mayor's Night Time Commission.
"I think the Mayor needs to look at the situation. I'm not sure it's really credible for Mr Kolvin to continue with these cases if he's going to continue with his role as Commissioner."
http://bit.ly/2oGGzSp
-------------------------------------------
Crunch talks between Leeds City Council and protesting private hire taxi drivers have been plunged into chaos thanks to internal squabbling and cancelled meetings.
Leeds city councillors seemingly pulled the plug on crunch talks with protesting taxi drivers at the eleventh hour, leaving drivers furious.
Asif Afzal, chair of the Leeds Private Hire Drivers Organisation (LPHDO) and committee members said he had been due to meet with councillors at 9.30am on this morning (Monday), however when they arrived at the Civic Hall they were told the meeting had been called off.
However Leeds City Council said that the meeting had never been formally confirmed and that the authority had been contacted by the organisation, claiming that Mr Afsal had been replaced as chairman.
The organisation was established just two months ago to address problems private hire drivers are facing in the city and Mr Afsal said he has been chairman since the beginning.
It had been hoped the crunch talks would mean that more protests could be avoided in the lead up to Christmas following last Monday’s go-slow protest through the city.
http://bit.ly/2kihWqF
CAMBRIDGE RENEW UBERK'S LICENSE
FOR FIVE YEARS. W.T.F. !
LONDON (Reuters) - The British university city of Cambridge extended Uber’s operating license for five years on Monday in a boost to the taxi app which is battling to keep its cars on the road in London, its most important European market.
The decision comes a week after the northern English city of York refused to renew the Silicon Valley’s license, citing a data breach and a number of complaints, in a ruling the app has until Jan. 5 to appeal.
On Monday, local officials in Cambridge, eastern England, said the U.S. firm, valued at around $70 billion, will be able to keep operating for a further five years.
“We consider Uber to be a fit and proper operator,” said Councillor Gerri Bird, the chairwoman of Cambridge city council’s licensing committee.
In a statement, Uber’s Head of Cities for the UK Fred Jones welcomed the move:
“We’re delighted people in Cambridge can continue to use Uber,” he said. “For both licensed drivers and passengers in the area, the app brings more choice and control.”
Uber is fighting to keep operating in London where the city’s regulator said in September it was “not fit and proper” and stripped it of its license.
The company is appealing the decision and its cars can remain on the streets of the British capital city until an appeals process is exhausted, which could take years.
http://reut.rs/2zkXLQU
FOR FIVE YEARS. W.T.F. !
LONDON (Reuters) - The British university city of Cambridge extended Uber’s operating license for five years on Monday in a boost to the taxi app which is battling to keep its cars on the road in London, its most important European market.
The decision comes a week after the northern English city of York refused to renew the Silicon Valley’s license, citing a data breach and a number of complaints, in a ruling the app has until Jan. 5 to appeal.
On Monday, local officials in Cambridge, eastern England, said the U.S. firm, valued at around $70 billion, will be able to keep operating for a further five years.
“We consider Uber to be a fit and proper operator,” said Councillor Gerri Bird, the chairwoman of Cambridge city council’s licensing committee.
In a statement, Uber’s Head of Cities for the UK Fred Jones welcomed the move:
“We’re delighted people in Cambridge can continue to use Uber,” he said. “For both licensed drivers and passengers in the area, the app brings more choice and control.”
Uber is fighting to keep operating in London where the city’s regulator said in September it was “not fit and proper” and stripped it of its license.
The company is appealing the decision and its cars can remain on the streets of the British capital city until an appeals process is exhausted, which could take years.
http://reut.rs/2zkXLQU
Sunday 17 December 2017
Uber users say they've been charged up to '12 times' more
It's traditionally the biggest party weekend of the year, as Christmas revellers all over the country hit the town.
But some have been waking up with more than just a hangover, as Uber users have complained about having to pay significantly more than usual in order to get home.
A host of social media users have taken to Twitter to criticise the surge pricing on the taxi app as the Christmas party season reached its peak.
In fact, one claimed he had seen rates as high as 12 times the usual amount in Camden on Saturday.
However, Uber has since denied that the surge pricing reached this level.
One woman described how her journey home cost nearly £100 more than the usual cost
Others said it was the 'biggest Uber suge' they had ever seen, with one man claiming he'd seen a surge that was 12x the normal rate
It comes after Uber was stripped of its permit in the capital by Transport for London
A spokesperson for the company said that the maximum surge charge in the area at the time the tweet was sent was twice the usual rate.
The app uses 'dynamic pricing', which causes fares to temporarily increase when demand is high and 'encourages more drivers to get on the road'.
Uber users are notified on the app when surge pricing is in place.
However, dozens of social media users have complained about the cost of their journeys over the festive period.
One wrote: 'Thanks for the 4.5x surge last night @Uber. my journey cost nearly £100 more than usual'.
http://dailym.ai/2ARlpmr
-------------------------------------------------
It's traditionally the biggest party weekend of the year, as Christmas revellers all over the country hit the town.
But some have been waking up with more than just a hangover, as Uber users have complained about having to pay significantly more than usual in order to get home.
A host of social media users have taken to Twitter to criticise the surge pricing on the taxi app as the Christmas party season reached its peak.
In fact, one claimed he had seen rates as high as 12 times the usual amount in Camden on Saturday.
However, Uber has since denied that the surge pricing reached this level.
One woman described how her journey home cost nearly £100 more than the usual cost
Others said it was the 'biggest Uber suge' they had ever seen, with one man claiming he'd seen a surge that was 12x the normal rate
It comes after Uber was stripped of its permit in the capital by Transport for London
A spokesperson for the company said that the maximum surge charge in the area at the time the tweet was sent was twice the usual rate.
The app uses 'dynamic pricing', which causes fares to temporarily increase when demand is high and 'encourages more drivers to get on the road'.
Uber users are notified on the app when surge pricing is in place.
However, dozens of social media users have complained about the cost of their journeys over the festive period.
One wrote: 'Thanks for the 4.5x surge last night @Uber. my journey cost nearly £100 more than usual'.
http://dailym.ai/2ARlpmr
-------------------------------------------------
Saturday 16 December 2017
GETT TO EMPLOY UNLISENSED DRIVERS IN LONDON
https://www.appjobs.com/london/gett
Quote from advert:
Gett will suggest you customers in the closest proximity. All you have to do is pick them up and drive them to their destination.
Gett makes the sign up process extremely easy thanks to the user-friendly app. There are also hundreds of jobs that you can choose from! You can also receive bookings whenever you are available.
You will work in your own time without the hassle of getting a contract! You will receive easy payments when you are done, and keep all your tips!
Quote from advert:
Gett will suggest you customers in the closest proximity. All you have to do is pick them up and drive them to their destination.
Gett makes the sign up process extremely easy thanks to the user-friendly app. There are also hundreds of jobs that you can choose from! You can also receive bookings whenever you are available.
You will work in your own time without the hassle of getting a contract! You will receive easy payments when you are done, and keep all your tips!
NOTTINGHAM
A sting operation in the city centre saw 15 illegal taxi drivers caught in the space of just one hour.
Nottingham's licensing boss says it is "a game of cat and mouse" to catch them in the act.
Richard Antcliff, chief for licensing at Nottingham City Council, says a 'cohort' of around 200 drivers use social media messenger service Whatsapp to keep the council off their tail.
If an illegal driver spots a council or police officer then a message is pinged out to avoid that area so they aren't caught and prosecuted.
On Friday evening in Nottingham city centre, the Post went undercover with licensing boss Mr Antcliff to evaluate the scale of the problem.
In just over one hour, 15 drivers were caught picking up customers illegally. One left his vehicle outside a bus stop to issue a tirade of abuse, and another sped off before his details could be taken.
The 15 caught are now going through the system but face possible penalties including a fine or losing their badge.
The council’s licensing team are targeting drivers who obtain private hire licences from other councils and then 'tout' for business - also known as ‘plying for hire’ - on the streets of Nottingham.
The majority of the 15 caught on Friday evening had their licences issued in Gedling. Private hire drivers from Gedling can drop off in the city, but the problems arise when they then try to pick up passengers.
Under legislation, private hire vehicles may only pick up passengers when pre-booked, rather than from a rank or being hailed down like a city hackney cab.
However, Mr Antcliffe says around 200 taxi drivers are regularly breaking the law.
Other offences committed by illegal drivers include not setting the meter, charging high prices, and leaving the passenger uninsured if an accident was to occur while in the vehicle.
Mr Antcliff says that illegal taxi drivers are putting the public at risk – with a small minority using their cover to commit serious crimes.
He said in the last six months the city has got "out of control" and more enforcement work is needed to ensure that illegal taxis are driven out of Nottingham.
http://bit.ly/2othDO8
-------------------------------------
TESLA WORLDWIDE
Dec. 16 (UPI) -- Electric car company Tesla doesn't want its Supercharging stations used for commercial purposes, including cabs and ride-hailing businesses that include Uber and Lyft.
The new policy, released Friday according to Bloomberg, also applies to cars used for commercial deliveries or government purposes worldwide. Instead Tesla wants the high-speed battery chargers available for private use.
"We are continually expanding our global network of Supercharger stations to enable personal long distance travel and to provide a charging solution for those without immediate access to home or workplace charging, thereby accelerating the widespread adoption of electric vehicles," Tesla wrote. "When Superchargers are used beyond their intended purpose, it negatively impacts the availability of Supercharging services for others."
Tesla said if commercial users don't comply, "we may also take additional action to protect the availability of Superchargers for their intended purpose, such as limiting or blocking your vehicle's ability to use Supercharger stations."
The auto company said commercial users should "reach out to your local sales contact to explore vehicle and charging options that suit your needs."
Tesla stations, which can charge vehicles in 30 minutes for a range of 130 miles, are mainly along highways but have expanded to city locations.
Tesla, which began offering Supercharging stations five years ago, started 2017 with more than 5,000 Superchargers globally and plans more than 10,000 Superchargers and 15,000 Destination Charging connectors worldwide by year's end.
Model S and Model X owners receive 400 kWh of free Supercharger credit -- about 1,000 miles -- each year. After the credit, Tesla says the average cost is $6 per 100 miles compared with $13 for gasoline.
http://bit.ly/2k3c5Wc
---------------------------------------
TRAFFORD
A blind woman has told of her anger at being left stranded in the pouring rain after a taxi driver refused to pick up her guide dog.
Jeanette Fyfe says the incident in Sale left her feeling ‘powerless’.
The social worker missed an important doctor’s appointment after booking a cab from Sale firm Scotts Cars.
But when the taxi arrived at her home the driver refused to stop.
Now the cabbie has had his taxi driver’s licence revoked after Jeanette, 40, lodged a complaint.
Jeanette, who is registered blind and has severely limited sight due to a rare genetic disorder known as retinitis pigmentosa, says cabbies have refused to pick up her black Labrador guide dog Otto on at least 10 occasions in the past, but the incident in May was the final straw.
She’s now urging other guide dog owners to report similar incidents to help stamp out the problem.
“I had a really important medical appointment that I needed to get to”, she said. “I just wanted to cry, I was drenched, I was frustrated, I felt powerless.
“The anger really kicked in later when I rang the firm and was basically fobbed off. That’s when I thought this time I’m going to do something about it, because it’s happened to me so many times. It’s wearing, it’s discrimination.
“It’s a really important issue that is not being taken seriously by taxi firms. The majority of guide dog users have experienced this. There is a major problem with taxis and guide dogs.
“I want to get it out there because I really want to encourage other guide dog users to report it and see it through.
“Take video, take pictures, screengrab your booking confirmations and report it.”
Last week the Rossendale council registered driver had his a cab licence revoked following a hearing.
The driver, whose name has not been made public, has 21 days to appeal the decision.
Coun Steve Hughes, chair of Rossendale council’s licensing committee said: “We can confirm the licence of the driver in question has been revoked subject to appeal.”
Scotts Cars, based in Sale town centre, were contacted for a comment.
It is thought the driver no longer works for the firm.
It is illegal for taxi drivers to refuse to pick up guide dogs, unless the driver has a medical exemption certificate.
But earlier this month research published by the charity Guide Dogs found the number of incidents has more than doubled in the last three years, from 66 refusals in 2013 to 146 in 2016.
James White, senior campaigns manager at Guide Dogs, said: “This discrimination is not only illegal, but it’s also a huge blow to people’s confidence and feelings of acceptance in society.
Taxi and minicab drivers need to understand and abide by the law and welcome guide dogs and other assistance dogs into their vehicles.”
http://bit.ly/2Bk0lFX
Comment. The Management of risk act 1999.
Makes it possible to refuse to take an unrestrained Dog in a saloon car.
If you are uneasy about a Dog being loose behind you it vastly increases the chance of an accident.
Of Course if you pay an extra Pound you can travel easily in a Black cab where a fixed partition exists to protect the Dog and the driver
----------------------------------------
VIRGIN TRAINS EDINBURGH
A FEMALE church minister was ordered to get out of a complimentary taxi miles from her East Lothian home in the middle of the night after missing the last train home.
Deacon Elizabeth Harfleet was in a taxi booked by Virgin Trains after delays to her journey on their service saw her miss her connection. But she said the taxi driver only took her as far as Newcraighall – seven miles short of her home in Tranent – and then insisted he had not been told to take her further.
Faced with being abandoned on the street at 1.15am on a freezing winter night, Mrs Harfleet said that she paid the driver an additional £16 to take her home.
But she has spoken out in concern for the safety of other women who may have found themselves in the same position without any money who could have been put at risk.
She said: “I was shocked that the taxi driver was prepared to leave me on a pavement, in the early hours of the morning with a large suitcase, if I did not have money to pay him.Surely in a case like this safety should be placed above profits?
“It concerns me that this could happen, particularly at this time of year, to women in a more vulnerable position.”
Mrs Harfleet, 56, of Forthview Walk, who is a circuit minister with the Methodist Church in Scotland, was returning from a conference in Birmingham on Saturday, December 2, when delays meant she did not arrive at Edinburgh Waverley Station until 12.45am.
Virgin staff immediately organised ongoing taxis for passengers who were stranded. She gave them her details and was told she would be sharing her cab with another passenger going to Newcraighall.
However, she said that when that passenger was dropped off she was in for a shock. She said: “I told the driver I would direct him to my home in Tranent and he said he had only been booked to go as far as Newcraighall. He was adamant I would have to get out and was ready to leave me there.
“I recognised that this was not the time or place to get into an argument with a man I didn’t know. I had been given an assurance by the train manager that I would get home safely. I should not have had to do this but I offered to pay to be taken home. Of course money talks and then, meter on, we were on our way. I arrived home at 1.30am.
“Virgin Trains have a duty of care to their passengers and this situation might have been avoided with clearer communication.
“The taxi driver concerned demonstrated the most appalling dereliction of duty and passenger care I have ever encountered. He put money above safety. Who would leave a woman stranded on a roadside in the early hours of the morning, knowing this was not the chosen destination?
Clearly this man would, without a thought – shocking beyond words. I just happened to have cash on me. I just happened to be able to communicate easily and be assertive. What if that had not been the case for someone else? The outcome may have been different.”
Virgin Trains were asked for a comment but have not yet responded.
http://bit.ly/2yKzaRX
------------------------------------------
A sting operation in the city centre saw 15 illegal taxi drivers caught in the space of just one hour.
Nottingham's licensing boss says it is "a game of cat and mouse" to catch them in the act.
Richard Antcliff, chief for licensing at Nottingham City Council, says a 'cohort' of around 200 drivers use social media messenger service Whatsapp to keep the council off their tail.
If an illegal driver spots a council or police officer then a message is pinged out to avoid that area so they aren't caught and prosecuted.
On Friday evening in Nottingham city centre, the Post went undercover with licensing boss Mr Antcliff to evaluate the scale of the problem.
In just over one hour, 15 drivers were caught picking up customers illegally. One left his vehicle outside a bus stop to issue a tirade of abuse, and another sped off before his details could be taken.
The 15 caught are now going through the system but face possible penalties including a fine or losing their badge.
The council’s licensing team are targeting drivers who obtain private hire licences from other councils and then 'tout' for business - also known as ‘plying for hire’ - on the streets of Nottingham.
The majority of the 15 caught on Friday evening had their licences issued in Gedling. Private hire drivers from Gedling can drop off in the city, but the problems arise when they then try to pick up passengers.
Under legislation, private hire vehicles may only pick up passengers when pre-booked, rather than from a rank or being hailed down like a city hackney cab.
However, Mr Antcliffe says around 200 taxi drivers are regularly breaking the law.
Other offences committed by illegal drivers include not setting the meter, charging high prices, and leaving the passenger uninsured if an accident was to occur while in the vehicle.
Mr Antcliff says that illegal taxi drivers are putting the public at risk – with a small minority using their cover to commit serious crimes.
He said in the last six months the city has got "out of control" and more enforcement work is needed to ensure that illegal taxis are driven out of Nottingham.
http://bit.ly/2othDO8
-------------------------------------
TESLA WORLDWIDE
Dec. 16 (UPI) -- Electric car company Tesla doesn't want its Supercharging stations used for commercial purposes, including cabs and ride-hailing businesses that include Uber and Lyft.
The new policy, released Friday according to Bloomberg, also applies to cars used for commercial deliveries or government purposes worldwide. Instead Tesla wants the high-speed battery chargers available for private use.
"We are continually expanding our global network of Supercharger stations to enable personal long distance travel and to provide a charging solution for those without immediate access to home or workplace charging, thereby accelerating the widespread adoption of electric vehicles," Tesla wrote. "When Superchargers are used beyond their intended purpose, it negatively impacts the availability of Supercharging services for others."
Tesla said if commercial users don't comply, "we may also take additional action to protect the availability of Superchargers for their intended purpose, such as limiting or blocking your vehicle's ability to use Supercharger stations."
The auto company said commercial users should "reach out to your local sales contact to explore vehicle and charging options that suit your needs."
Tesla stations, which can charge vehicles in 30 minutes for a range of 130 miles, are mainly along highways but have expanded to city locations.
Tesla, which began offering Supercharging stations five years ago, started 2017 with more than 5,000 Superchargers globally and plans more than 10,000 Superchargers and 15,000 Destination Charging connectors worldwide by year's end.
Model S and Model X owners receive 400 kWh of free Supercharger credit -- about 1,000 miles -- each year. After the credit, Tesla says the average cost is $6 per 100 miles compared with $13 for gasoline.
http://bit.ly/2k3c5Wc
---------------------------------------
TRAFFORD
A blind woman has told of her anger at being left stranded in the pouring rain after a taxi driver refused to pick up her guide dog.
Jeanette Fyfe says the incident in Sale left her feeling ‘powerless’.
The social worker missed an important doctor’s appointment after booking a cab from Sale firm Scotts Cars.
But when the taxi arrived at her home the driver refused to stop.
Now the cabbie has had his taxi driver’s licence revoked after Jeanette, 40, lodged a complaint.
Jeanette, who is registered blind and has severely limited sight due to a rare genetic disorder known as retinitis pigmentosa, says cabbies have refused to pick up her black Labrador guide dog Otto on at least 10 occasions in the past, but the incident in May was the final straw.
She’s now urging other guide dog owners to report similar incidents to help stamp out the problem.
“I had a really important medical appointment that I needed to get to”, she said. “I just wanted to cry, I was drenched, I was frustrated, I felt powerless.
“The anger really kicked in later when I rang the firm and was basically fobbed off. That’s when I thought this time I’m going to do something about it, because it’s happened to me so many times. It’s wearing, it’s discrimination.
“It’s a really important issue that is not being taken seriously by taxi firms. The majority of guide dog users have experienced this. There is a major problem with taxis and guide dogs.
“I want to get it out there because I really want to encourage other guide dog users to report it and see it through.
“Take video, take pictures, screengrab your booking confirmations and report it.”
Last week the Rossendale council registered driver had his a cab licence revoked following a hearing.
The driver, whose name has not been made public, has 21 days to appeal the decision.
Coun Steve Hughes, chair of Rossendale council’s licensing committee said: “We can confirm the licence of the driver in question has been revoked subject to appeal.”
Scotts Cars, based in Sale town centre, were contacted for a comment.
It is thought the driver no longer works for the firm.
It is illegal for taxi drivers to refuse to pick up guide dogs, unless the driver has a medical exemption certificate.
But earlier this month research published by the charity Guide Dogs found the number of incidents has more than doubled in the last three years, from 66 refusals in 2013 to 146 in 2016.
James White, senior campaigns manager at Guide Dogs, said: “This discrimination is not only illegal, but it’s also a huge blow to people’s confidence and feelings of acceptance in society.
Taxi and minicab drivers need to understand and abide by the law and welcome guide dogs and other assistance dogs into their vehicles.”
http://bit.ly/2Bk0lFX
Comment. The Management of risk act 1999.
Makes it possible to refuse to take an unrestrained Dog in a saloon car.
If you are uneasy about a Dog being loose behind you it vastly increases the chance of an accident.
Of Course if you pay an extra Pound you can travel easily in a Black cab where a fixed partition exists to protect the Dog and the driver
----------------------------------------
VIRGIN TRAINS EDINBURGH
A FEMALE church minister was ordered to get out of a complimentary taxi miles from her East Lothian home in the middle of the night after missing the last train home.
Deacon Elizabeth Harfleet was in a taxi booked by Virgin Trains after delays to her journey on their service saw her miss her connection. But she said the taxi driver only took her as far as Newcraighall – seven miles short of her home in Tranent – and then insisted he had not been told to take her further.
Faced with being abandoned on the street at 1.15am on a freezing winter night, Mrs Harfleet said that she paid the driver an additional £16 to take her home.
But she has spoken out in concern for the safety of other women who may have found themselves in the same position without any money who could have been put at risk.
She said: “I was shocked that the taxi driver was prepared to leave me on a pavement, in the early hours of the morning with a large suitcase, if I did not have money to pay him.Surely in a case like this safety should be placed above profits?
“It concerns me that this could happen, particularly at this time of year, to women in a more vulnerable position.”
Mrs Harfleet, 56, of Forthview Walk, who is a circuit minister with the Methodist Church in Scotland, was returning from a conference in Birmingham on Saturday, December 2, when delays meant she did not arrive at Edinburgh Waverley Station until 12.45am.
Virgin staff immediately organised ongoing taxis for passengers who were stranded. She gave them her details and was told she would be sharing her cab with another passenger going to Newcraighall.
However, she said that when that passenger was dropped off she was in for a shock. She said: “I told the driver I would direct him to my home in Tranent and he said he had only been booked to go as far as Newcraighall. He was adamant I would have to get out and was ready to leave me there.
“I recognised that this was not the time or place to get into an argument with a man I didn’t know. I had been given an assurance by the train manager that I would get home safely. I should not have had to do this but I offered to pay to be taken home. Of course money talks and then, meter on, we were on our way. I arrived home at 1.30am.
“Virgin Trains have a duty of care to their passengers and this situation might have been avoided with clearer communication.
“The taxi driver concerned demonstrated the most appalling dereliction of duty and passenger care I have ever encountered. He put money above safety. Who would leave a woman stranded on a roadside in the early hours of the morning, knowing this was not the chosen destination?
Clearly this man would, without a thought – shocking beyond words. I just happened to have cash on me. I just happened to be able to communicate easily and be assertive. What if that had not been the case for someone else? The outcome may have been different.”
Virgin Trains were asked for a comment but have not yet responded.
http://bit.ly/2yKzaRX
------------------------------------------
Wednesday 13 December 2017
Cambridge is reviewing Uber’s licence to determine whether the company is a “fit and proper” private car hire operator following suspensions in London and Sheffield.
Cambridge’s Taxi Licensing Committee will meet on Monday to discuss the renewal of the ride-sharing app’s licence, which expires later this month, in light of the Transport for London (TfL) suspension, the Cambridge News reports.
Although Cambridge transport firms have lodged objections about Uber since it began operating in the city last November, complaints about how the newcomer handles booking were not upheld, the newspaper says.
TfL refused to renew Uber’s licence in September, when it accused the operator of a “lack of corporate responsibility”. Safety concerns cited included the way Uber handled police reports of alleged sexual assaults by drivers.
A judge at a preliminary hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court yesterday scheduled Uber’s appeal against the London licence ban to begin on 30 April and last for five days, Reuters say.
However, the judge warned that the hearing might be delayed until June.
And if there are grounds for further appeals, the process could take years, although Uber reportedly hopes to have reached a deal with TfL before it has exhausted its legal options.
London is “one of Uber’s biggest and most profitable markets, and the loss of its licence was seen as a major blow for the company as it struggles to repair its reputation”, says The Daily Telegraph.
http://bit.ly/2AXAjZa
------------------------------------------------------------
Taxi fares to be reduced in Guildford
The judicial review was heard at the High Court on 7 and 10 November 2017, with judgement handed down on 5 December 2017. The High Court found in our favour and dismissed the challenge.
The judge agreed with the Council's approach and said the decision to use the data it did to set the fares was reasonable, and awarded full costs of £17,875.
The High Court Order suspending the implementation of the fares now ceases to have effect and we can implement the fare rates previously approved in November 2016.
Cllr Graham Ellwood, Lead Councillor for Licensing and Community Safety, said: "We are delighted that the High Court dismissed the challenge to our proposals to reduce fares. The Licensing team had gone to great lengths to consult with the trade to determine the correct input data for calculating the fares, which was recognised in court.
"Setting taxi fares (the rates charged on a taxi's meter by time and distance for a journey) is important to ensure taxi drivers can recover their costs and provide a service at a reasonable cost for the public. It's vital that we set the right rates to ensure this balance and to protect users from being overcharged.
"As a result of the High Court decision, we need to implement these changes. Currently taxi meters are still set to the old rate, meaning customers are now paying too much.
Taxi driver and proprietors need to make arrangements to change their taxi meters by Wednesday 20 December, and we have written to the taxi trade advising them of this.
"Now that the busy festive season is in full swing, we want the public to enjoy their celebrations and get home safely. We would remind people celebrating in Guildford to take one of our licensed liveried taxis home, or book a private hire vehicle through one of our licensed operators for a safe journey home, confident in the knowledge that they will be charged fairly for the service."
https://www.instituteoflicensing.org/NewsJobsArticle.aspx?NewsID=9926&NewsOrJob=news
Cambridge’s Taxi Licensing Committee will meet on Monday to discuss the renewal of the ride-sharing app’s licence, which expires later this month, in light of the Transport for London (TfL) suspension, the Cambridge News reports.
Although Cambridge transport firms have lodged objections about Uber since it began operating in the city last November, complaints about how the newcomer handles booking were not upheld, the newspaper says.
TfL refused to renew Uber’s licence in September, when it accused the operator of a “lack of corporate responsibility”. Safety concerns cited included the way Uber handled police reports of alleged sexual assaults by drivers.
A judge at a preliminary hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court yesterday scheduled Uber’s appeal against the London licence ban to begin on 30 April and last for five days, Reuters say.
However, the judge warned that the hearing might be delayed until June.
And if there are grounds for further appeals, the process could take years, although Uber reportedly hopes to have reached a deal with TfL before it has exhausted its legal options.
London is “one of Uber’s biggest and most profitable markets, and the loss of its licence was seen as a major blow for the company as it struggles to repair its reputation”, says The Daily Telegraph.
http://bit.ly/2AXAjZa
------------------------------------------------------------
Taxi fares to be reduced in Guildford
The judicial review was heard at the High Court on 7 and 10 November 2017, with judgement handed down on 5 December 2017. The High Court found in our favour and dismissed the challenge.
The judge agreed with the Council's approach and said the decision to use the data it did to set the fares was reasonable, and awarded full costs of £17,875.
The High Court Order suspending the implementation of the fares now ceases to have effect and we can implement the fare rates previously approved in November 2016.
Cllr Graham Ellwood, Lead Councillor for Licensing and Community Safety, said: "We are delighted that the High Court dismissed the challenge to our proposals to reduce fares. The Licensing team had gone to great lengths to consult with the trade to determine the correct input data for calculating the fares, which was recognised in court.
"Setting taxi fares (the rates charged on a taxi's meter by time and distance for a journey) is important to ensure taxi drivers can recover their costs and provide a service at a reasonable cost for the public. It's vital that we set the right rates to ensure this balance and to protect users from being overcharged.
"As a result of the High Court decision, we need to implement these changes. Currently taxi meters are still set to the old rate, meaning customers are now paying too much.
Taxi driver and proprietors need to make arrangements to change their taxi meters by Wednesday 20 December, and we have written to the taxi trade advising them of this.
"Now that the busy festive season is in full swing, we want the public to enjoy their celebrations and get home safely. We would remind people celebrating in Guildford to take one of our licensed liveried taxis home, or book a private hire vehicle through one of our licensed operators for a safe journey home, confident in the knowledge that they will be charged fairly for the service."
https://www.instituteoflicensing.org/NewsJobsArticle.aspx?NewsID=9926&NewsOrJob=news
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LEEDS
Council bosses have promised to listen to taxi drivers concerned about the impact of Leeds' proposed 'clean air zone', which could see them charged £12.50 a day if their vehicles do not meet decent emissions standards.
Town hall chiefs admitted the plan would have a 'huge impact' on the trade, but said the government must do its bit to help firms upgrade to more environmentally friendly vehicles.
Plans to create an area within the outer ring road where the charges will be introduced in a bid to improve the city's air quality were revealed last week.
The council has no choice but to tackle road emissions after Leeds was named as one of 29 areas where legal pollution levels had been breached.
Under the plans, a £100 daily would apply to buses, coaches and HGVs which do not meet the 'Euro6' standard, which covers vehicles made from September 2015 onwards.
Taxis may have to meet an even higher standard, with proposals to charge cabbies £12.50 a day unless they drive an 'ultra-low emission' vehicle (ULEV) - either petrol hybrid or electric.
--------------------------------------------------
SOUTHAMPTON taxi drivers fear being driven out of business by an incoming scheme to tackle the city’s illegally high pollution levels.
That’s despite civic chiefs offering cabbies in Southampton and Eastleigh a £250,000 pot to help them ‘go-green’, before the introduction of a Clean Air Zone.
Due to be introduced by 2019, the scheme will force commercial vehicle drivers in high polluting vehicles to cough up sky-high fees to enter the city.
Environmental chiefs hope the move will drive down the lethal levels of dangerous gasses in Southampton – said to be one of the worst polluted cities in the UK.
In a bid to help cabbies, civic chiefs are offering grants to offset the cost of new eco-friendly vehicles, which will be immune from the charges.
But cab bosses say the grants, which range from £1,500 to £3,000, will only put a small dent in the price of an environmentally-friendly cab – which can cost up to £50,000.
Southampton-based taxi driver, Alan Lloyd, accused the council of “pricing taxis out of the city”.
He also described the money offered by the city council as “token”.
Another to comment was Perry McMillan, chairman of the south east cab section of Unite.
He said: “At the end of the day, cabbies can’t afford that sort of money.
“You’ve got to remember that a lot of these drivers are small businesses and some of those small businesses could go and get out of the market because of this.”
Despite having a hybrid himself, Mr McMillan, a taxi driver of more than two decades, said he was sceptical about how many cabbies would take up the offer.
He added: “I’ve spoken to taxi drivers and I think a lot of them are just looking at ways they can get round it. Whether that be just paying the charge or getting a vehicle which just passes the standard.”
The comments come following a meeting between civic chiefs and taxi bosses yesterday, where the new grant scheme was announced.
Officers from Southampton City Council say the money, which was gained from a central government grant, will be given to cabbies who purchase low emission vehicles.
The biggest grant of £3,000 will be given to those who choose an electric car, while smaller grants are available for hybrids and low-emission fuel-powered cars.
To be eligible, taxi drivers will need to have been licensed by the council for a year and have driven more than 8,000 miles over that period.
Drivers will also have to register their taxi for three years with the city council, who also license cabs in Eastleigh.
Announcing the scheme, which begins as of next Monday, councillor Chris Hammond, cabinet member for sustainable living, said: “Taxi drivers are one of the first groups that the city council and Eastleigh Borough Council has offered financial support for the Clean Air Zone.
“This Labour council has made pollution one of our priorities and it was an important part of our manifesto.
“We are doing what we can to make sure we have that dialogue and we give that support to help taxi drivers come on us with this journey.”
The scheme comes following a month-long consultation earlier this year, in which civic chiefs asked taxi drivers how they could best support them in light of the Clean Air Zone.
According to the council, 59 per cent of respondents claimed they would choose a hybrid car if they were to ‘go-green’.
The council said that most taxi drivers had also shown a preference towards a cash incentive scheme.
Southampton is one of five cities around the UK tasked with introducing a Clean Air Zone.
The others are Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham and Derby.
The scheme was launched after the UK was given a final warning by the European Union for continually breaching legal levels of pollutant gasses, including toxic nitrogen dioxide – produced by road traffic.
Health experts say the high level of pollutants lead to thousands of premature deaths each year, of which 110 occur in Southampton.
SHEFFIELD
The taxi app giant had faced being banished from the city over concerns raised by the local authority.
It is currently fighting moves to rid London and York of Uber cars.
Earlier this month, local officials said Uber's licence had been suspended after it failed to respond to requests.
Uber said it had not received the correspondence the council referred to as it had been sent to the wrong address.
Sheffield City Council will now consider a new licence application submitted by the Silicon Valley firm.
"The new application, made by Uber in October, to operate private hire cars in Sheffield is being considered and a decision will be made in early 2018," the council said in a statement.
The shock move comes weeks after Uber was banned from serving London.
http://bit.ly/2AheEd6
The taxi app giant had faced being banished from the city over concerns raised by the local authority.
It is currently fighting moves to rid London and York of Uber cars.
Earlier this month, local officials said Uber's licence had been suspended after it failed to respond to requests.
Uber said it had not received the correspondence the council referred to as it had been sent to the wrong address.
Sheffield City Council will now consider a new licence application submitted by the Silicon Valley firm.
"The new application, made by Uber in October, to operate private hire cars in Sheffield is being considered and a decision will be made in early 2018," the council said in a statement.
The shock move comes weeks after Uber was banned from serving London.
http://bit.ly/2AheEd6
Tuesday 12 December 2017
UBERK YORK.
Council webcast: http://bit.ly/2ARB7Pe
Particular attention required from 20 mins into the video.
Lee Ward of Alpha, faultless, impressive performance capped by the end Quote of Uber's mantra..
"It is easier to ask forgiveness than to ask Permission"
Priceless, won the battle on its own.
Council webcast: http://bit.ly/2ARB7Pe
Particular attention required from 20 mins into the video.
Lee Ward of Alpha, faultless, impressive performance capped by the end Quote of Uber's mantra..
"It is easier to ask forgiveness than to ask Permission"
Priceless, won the battle on its own.
YORK
Council chiefs have refused to renew the taxi-hailing company Uber's licence to operate in York.
Members of York Council's Gambling, Licensing and Regulatory Committee tonight debated for more than two hours over Uber Britannia Limited's application.
The company's current 12-month licence is due to expire on Christmas Eve.
Councillors concluded that the taxi-hailing firm was not a fit and proper person - a required condition to refuse an application of its kind.
A spokesperson for York Council said: “The application by Uber Britannia Ltd to renew its private hire operator’s licence in York has been considered by City of York Council’s Gambling, Licensing and Regulatory Committee tonight.
“Applying the legislation, the committee has decided to refuse the application having concerns about a data breach currently under investigation and the number of complaints received."
http://bit.ly/2BdohgN
Council chiefs have refused to renew the taxi-hailing company Uber's licence to operate in York.
Members of York Council's Gambling, Licensing and Regulatory Committee tonight debated for more than two hours over Uber Britannia Limited's application.
The company's current 12-month licence is due to expire on Christmas Eve.
Councillors concluded that the taxi-hailing firm was not a fit and proper person - a required condition to refuse an application of its kind.
A spokesperson for York Council said: “The application by Uber Britannia Ltd to renew its private hire operator’s licence in York has been considered by City of York Council’s Gambling, Licensing and Regulatory Committee tonight.
“Applying the legislation, the committee has decided to refuse the application having concerns about a data breach currently under investigation and the number of complaints received."
http://bit.ly/2BdohgN
Monday 11 December 2017
LEEDS PH DEMO
Police issue formal warnings to Leeds taxi drivers who came to 'complete stop' during protest
Police say they were forced to hand out formal warnings to some drivers who brought their vehicles to a halt during a 'go slow' protest.
More than 100 private hire taxis took part in the demonstration in the middle of Leeds this morning over a number of concerns over safety and traffic issues.
They drove from Kirkstall through the city centre loop at a maximum speed of 15 miles per hour - causing significant disruption to rush hour traffic in the process.
Now West Yorkshire Police have hit out at a number of protesters who brought their vehicles to a complete stop on the route as part of the protest.
The force has not revealed exactly how many drivers stopped or how many warnings they issued.
But in a statement, Chief Inspector Nick Ireland of the city’s community safety partnership Safer Leeds, said: “This morning’s protest by private hire drivers in Leeds caused significant disruption to traffic, particularly on Kirkstall Road and around the city centre loop.
“The police will always facilitate peaceful and lawful demonstrations, and a policing operation, including the use of specialist police motorcyclists, was in place with the aim of allowing the protesters to make their point while keeping disruption to the public to a minimum.
“We previously held discussions with the drivers who stated it was their intention to drive slowly in traffic at 15mph.
"The situation this morning was not helped by the number of protesters who had to be formally warned by officers for bringing their vehicles to a complete stop, obstructing the highway.
“We will be continuing to liaise with the group around any further demonstrations and will ensure that suitable measures are in place, although we recognise that protests of this type during peak traffic times will always cause disruption.”
This protest was organised by Leeds Private Hire Drivers Organisation (LPHDO).
Speaking to Leeds Live this morning, drivers stressed that the 'go slow' convoy was organised in the hopes that Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Police would work with them to address concerns raised by private hire cabbies.
Among the issues were fears that the branded stickers that private hire cars have to display are increasingly making cabbies a target for vandals chucking stones at their vehicles.
Addressing the protesters before setting off this morning, Asif Afzal, chairman of the LPHDO, urged those taking part to "drive within the constraints of the law" during the peaceful protest.
He also told the group staging their demonstration to make themselves heard in the “most professional manner" they could.
http://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds-news/leeds-taxi-protest-traffic-police-14023129
A Liverpool cabbie has given his view on why issues of “cherry picking” and over-charging are damaging the city industry.
PAISLEY
Police issue formal warnings to Leeds taxi drivers who came to 'complete stop' during protest
Police say they were forced to hand out formal warnings to some drivers who brought their vehicles to a halt during a 'go slow' protest.
More than 100 private hire taxis took part in the demonstration in the middle of Leeds this morning over a number of concerns over safety and traffic issues.
They drove from Kirkstall through the city centre loop at a maximum speed of 15 miles per hour - causing significant disruption to rush hour traffic in the process.
Now West Yorkshire Police have hit out at a number of protesters who brought their vehicles to a complete stop on the route as part of the protest.
The force has not revealed exactly how many drivers stopped or how many warnings they issued.
But in a statement, Chief Inspector Nick Ireland of the city’s community safety partnership Safer Leeds, said: “This morning’s protest by private hire drivers in Leeds caused significant disruption to traffic, particularly on Kirkstall Road and around the city centre loop.
“The police will always facilitate peaceful and lawful demonstrations, and a policing operation, including the use of specialist police motorcyclists, was in place with the aim of allowing the protesters to make their point while keeping disruption to the public to a minimum.
“We previously held discussions with the drivers who stated it was their intention to drive slowly in traffic at 15mph.
"The situation this morning was not helped by the number of protesters who had to be formally warned by officers for bringing their vehicles to a complete stop, obstructing the highway.
“We will be continuing to liaise with the group around any further demonstrations and will ensure that suitable measures are in place, although we recognise that protests of this type during peak traffic times will always cause disruption.”
This protest was organised by Leeds Private Hire Drivers Organisation (LPHDO).
Speaking to Leeds Live this morning, drivers stressed that the 'go slow' convoy was organised in the hopes that Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Police would work with them to address concerns raised by private hire cabbies.
Among the issues were fears that the branded stickers that private hire cars have to display are increasingly making cabbies a target for vandals chucking stones at their vehicles.
Addressing the protesters before setting off this morning, Asif Afzal, chairman of the LPHDO, urged those taking part to "drive within the constraints of the law" during the peaceful protest.
He also told the group staging their demonstration to make themselves heard in the “most professional manner" they could.
http://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds-news/leeds-taxi-protest-traffic-police-14023129
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A Liverpool cabbie has given his view on why issues of “cherry picking” and over-charging are damaging the city industry.
This weekend the ECHO reported on more claims of Liverpool fans being either ignored by taxi drivers or quoted huge fares after matches at Anfield.
One city cabbie has got in touch to offer his explanation for the practices he says are giving the industry a bad name.
The 52-year-old driver, who asked not to be named, has been running his own cab in the city for three years and said that like the majority of drivers he is an honest and hard-working member of the trade.
He said he believes that some drivers are carrying out illegal behaviours because changes to government legislation has allowed large numbers of private hire cars to work in the city and take up custom.
But he said that is no excuse for ripping people off.
The driver told the ECHO: “Its a massive issue in the city and it’s embarrassing.
“I put this down to the apathy of some taxi drivers in Liverpool.
“A lot of these guys are middle aged men who used to earn a lot more money years ago than they do now.”
He said the government’s Deregulation Act, which allows private hire vehicles to operate across the whole country, has potentially lowered cabbies’ earnings by up to 25%.
He added: “These guys are either leaving the industry or they are starting to over-charging and cherry picking.
“Its totally illegal but they have many more problems than they used to have - with other taxis and private hires coming in to the city all the time.
“But under no circumstances can you condone any of the things they are doing.”
Responding to claims that some drivers are quoting Liverpool fans as much as £40 to get from Anfield to the city centre , the driver agreed that such things do take place and are out of order.
He said: “I took someone from Anfield to Lime Street the other day and they paid £5.50 - when we do it properly we are cheaper than private hires.”
Looking to the future, he added: “Hopefully, once we are able to get rid of all this mess and end the cherry picking and overcharging then the public will be able to make an informed choice.
----------------------------------------------
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse police arrested a former Uber driver and taxi driver in two separate sex offense investigations.
Ibrahim M. Aden, 34, is accused of trying to sexually assault a Syracuse University student in September. Aden was driving an Uber at the time. While driving a taxi cab in October, Aden is accused of sexually abusing a 22-year-old woman, police said.
Aden was charged Thursday with second-degree unlawful imprisonment and second-degree harassment for the Uber incident, and first-degree sexual abuse for the taxi cab incident, police said.
At about 2:30 a.m. on Sept. 17, an 18-year-old SU student reported to police that she requested a ride to her home from Ostrum Avenue utilizing the Uber App on her phone. The victim reported that on the ride home, the driver reached back and started to rub her leg and thigh area, police said.
The driver then reportedly drove to a secluded parking lot and began to make lewd comments to her. The victim was able to run away from the vehicle to her home, and called for the police.
The incident was posted on Facebook by a SU parent and the post was shared hundreds of times before it was deleted. Uber removed the driver's access to the app and cooperated with the investigation, according to a statement from the company in September.
Syracuse police said after Aden was suspended by Uber he was then employed by Yellow Taxi Company, which is where he worked when the second incident took place.
A 22-year-old woman told police that she was walking in the 1200 block of West Fayette Street at about 1:30 a.m. Oct. 29 when she was approached by a taxi cab. The driver of the cab offered the victim a ride home, indicating that he would not charge her, police said.
The victim reported that she sat in the front seat, and during the ride home, the driver grabbed her hand and pulled it towards his lap. The victim stated that the driver had his pants unzipped, and continued to push her hand into his lap, police said. The victim demanded that the driver stop the car and she ran home to call police.
Detectives from the Syracuse Police Department Abused Persons unit working on the investigations determined that the suspect from both of the incidents was the same person. After several interviews, and collecting evidence about these events, detectives were able to identify Aden, police said.
----------------------------------------
A TAXI driver admitted drink driving with a passenger in his cab at the time.
Fifty-six-year-old Thomas Montgomery was stopped by police after going through a red light in Paisley on Sunday.
When breathalysed he was found to be almost two and a half times the drink driving limit.
Montgomery was arrested and detained in police custody in connection with alleged road traffic offences.
He admitted the offences at Paisley Sheriff Court today and was disqualified from driving for 18 months as well as being fined £400.
Sergeant Mark Miller from the Divisional Road Policing Unit based at Greenock said: “The message could not be clearer – never drink and drive, and if you are caught doing so there are serious consequences.
“Thomas Montgomery put the safety of himself, his passenger and other road users at risk and getting behind the wheel whilst under the influence of alcohol completely unacceptable.
“Our festive road safety campaign is well underway with officers specifically targeting drink and drug driving.”
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INDIA
INDIA
KOCHI: After a brief hiatus, the feud between autorickshaw-taxi and online cab drivers has reared its ugly head yet again with a section of autorickshaw and taxi operators at both the railway stations in the city resorting to a flash strike on Monday, inconveniencing passengers.
The issue began after the railway authorities reportedly gave permission to the online cab drivers to park their vehicles on the station premises in the morning. The autorickshaw and taxi drivers blocked the online cabs that turned up at the Ernakulam Junction railway station in the morning in protest against the Railways' decision to grant parking space for Uber cabs along with other autorickshaws and taxies at the station.
According to Shaji, a representative of the City Auto Union, a few online cabs were parked in front of the railway station in the morning disregarding the auto-taxi stand. "They were canvassing passengers by offering travel packages, which invited the wrath of auto-taxi operators at the railway station.
Following this, the members of various auto-taxi unions affiliated to CITU, INTUC, AITUC, BMS, STU and TUCI called a flash strike," he said.
"The District Auto-Taxi Coordination Committee has decided to continue with the strike until the Railways come up with a solution to this issue," said M B Srumanthadan, secretary, Ernakulam District Auto-Taxi Coordination Committee.
According to the auto-taxi operators, during the Sabarimala pilgrimage season, they get relatively more rides than the rest of the months.
"We are prepaid taxi drivers operating as per government-fixed charges. However, the Uber charges vary from morning to night. It will affect the services provided by the traditional operators," said Sanil, a taxi driver.
"We heard the Railways had arrived at an agreement with Uber for three months and, based on this, they were canvassing passengers. Each taxi driver pays a minimum of `4,000 every six months for using the space allotted to them on the station premises, he said. If Uber operates from here without any fixed charge, there is no point in paying the amount to the authorities," said,
Pradeep Kumar, CITU district joint secretary.
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