Taxis A1 Find out how to save £££’s off
Transcription
Taxis A1 Find out how to save £££’s off
CASH SAME DAY INSTANT CASH LOANS LICENSED TAXI DRIVERS IMMEDIATE VERBAL QUOTATION UPON REQUEST 020 7487 5755 Consumer Credit License No 571041 TAXI LOANS LTD 5 BAKER STREET W1 ISSUE 716 28 August 2013 MAN SENTENCED FOLLOWING THEFTS FROM TAXIS See page 6 A1 Taxis CALL 020 8525 0050 Find out how to save £££’s off your taxi bills – call today A1 taxis 672.indd 1 18/11/11 12:08:20 Why not... ...Get a quote today? And see how much you can save London Taxi Insurance Quotax Insurance Services, c/o Ascott Cab Co, 1-3 Blackhorse Road, London SE8 5HY Quotax Insurance Services is a trading name of London Taxi Insurance Ltd. Our registered office is Kings Parade, Lower Coombe Street, Croydon, Surrey CR0 1AA. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. 0208 127 8420 www.quotax.net THE TRUSTWORTHY, FRIENDLY & PROFESSIONAL INSURANCE SERVICE FOR LONDON TAXI DRIVERS PAYING TOO MUCH FOR YOUR METER RENTAL? ASCOTT CAB CO 125-127 EVELYN STREET LONDON SE8 5RJ FITTING & HEAD CHANGE 79 DUNBRIDGE STREET LONDON E2 6JG TELEPHONE: 020 8692 1122 FOR THE BEST DEAL AROUND CONTACT DIGITAX AND GET TWO YEARS RENTAL FOR £200 + VAT Page 2 Remember – You saw it first in the Globe! 28 August 2013 LAW COMMISSION RESPONSES OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO LONDON BY RMT LONDON TAXI BRANCH www.warnersgroup.co.uk West Street, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH EDITORIAL Editor: S. Goodwin Tel: 01707 885439 Fax: 01707 696034 taxiglobeeditor@warnersgroup.co.uk DISPLAY & CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Jayne Notley Group Sales Manager Tel: 01778 391189 jaynen@warnersgroup.co.uk PUBLISHER Simon Moody DISTRIBUTION DND Transport Services Ltd. Tel 01707 272305 PRINTERS Cumbrian Newsprint, Cumbria PRODUCTION Zonuna Limited Tel: 07922 141379 chris@zonuna.co.uk ACCOUNTS & CREDIT CONTROL Caroline Harris Tel: 01778 391023 SUBSCRIPTIONS To ensure you get a copy of Taxi Globe for 12 months, please send a cheque or postal order, made payable to Warners Group Publication, for £20 inclusive of VAT and post and packing in the UK to: Taxi Globe Subscriptions, West Street, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH Taxi Globe has been carefully prepared, but articles are published without the responsibility on the part of the publishers or authors for loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of any view, information or advice included therein. The publishers accept no responsibility for the views or opinions expressed by contributors. Articles published in Taxi Globe do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publishers, nor can the publishers or authors accept any responsibility for any claims made by the advertisers. T o see the responses and interim statement online, type the following link:- http://lawcommission. justice.gov.uk/areas/taxi-private-hire-services-docs. htm TPH1087 Sexual Violence, Vulnerable Adult, Hate You will see reference to the Interim statement, as Crime and Missing Persons well as the responses listed in bundles (eg.1001-1100) TPH0977 Suzy Lamplugh - Rachel Griffin on the right of the page, use these to cross reference TPH0646 London Travel Watch - Vincent Stops with the number against each response. TPH1063 National Taxi Association So to find the “RMT London Taxi Branch” which is TPH0978 GMB – Mick Rix response 1201, click on Responses 1201-1212; a PDF TPH1108 The Licence Private Hire Car Association of this bundle will be downloaded. You will then need Steve Wright MBE to scroll through to find the response you wish to read. TPH1070 Addison Lee - Mel Bartram In this example, it’s the first one. Those above in bold we suggest you read first for TPH0499 RMT UK obvious reasons. Whilst doing so please pay particular TPH1201 RMT London Taxi Branch attention to what each organisation is saying in response TPH1071 London Taxi Drivers Association to the following proposals, the most important being – Bob Oddy PP15 in red :TPH1371 London Cab Drivers’ Club Provisional proposal 15 - The defining feature of taxis, TPH1076 Unite the concept of “plying for hire”, should be placed on a TPH0026 United Cabbies Group – Len Martin statutory footing. TPH 1370 Government Response Provisional proposal 6 - Concerns Pedicab licensing. TPH1080 Transport for London Provisional proposal 54 - Concerns limiting Taxi TPH1077 Metropolitan & City Police numbers but NOT Phv’s – Tania Smeda After reading these responses compare them with TPH1008 Justices’ Clerks Society - Jayne Skeates what the interim statement is suggesting. Then decide TPH0792 London Suburban Taxi Drivers Coalition for yourself whether we should not only be very - Les Hoath concerned, but also united as a trade from this point on TPH0599 London Taxi Network - ComCab, Dial-ain dealing with this reform of taxi law. Cab and Radio Taxis TPH1075 The London Taxi Company - Julian Francis BE PROACTIVE – NOT REACTIVE TPH0285 London Vintage Taxi Association It’s your job. It’s your future! TPH0384 Roy Ellis Calling ALL Taxi Drivers help us to TPH0287 London Pedicab Operators Association “Put the London Cab back on Point” TPH0889 Information Commissioner’s Office Text: 4Hire (along with your name and badge number) TPH1174 Association of Chief Police Officers to 60777 Suzette Davenport (Your details will be treated in confidence) W TRAFFIC NOISE TO BE REDUCED ON THE A4 orks to resurface the A4 Talgarth Road with a high-tech new noise reducing tarmac should be complete by the end of August.Transport for London (TfL) started to resurface the A4, between the Hogarth Roundabout and Hammersmith Flyover, with a new generation of quieter asphalt known as ‘superpave’ on August 5th. Working overnight, to avoid causing traffic disruption during the day, TfL engineers are using ‘stone matrix’ asphalt with smaller aggregate than traditional hot rolled asphalt. The 14mm thick superpave provides a far more flexible surface which reduces traffic noise, according to TfL. Workers are also treating the concrete joints beneath the road as part of the work which will improve stability of the running surface and further reduce noise. Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) Council has been inundated with waves of positive comments after it was suggested that Hammersmith’s eyesore flyover should be replaced with a ‘flyunder’. Since its emergency closure in December 2011, which caused traffic gridlock across west London, serious questions have been asked about the long-term viability of the 50 year old structure given the escalating costs of maintenance and increased risk of failure. Proposals are being examined that could eventually see a tunnel, from the Hogarth roundabout in Chiswick to the Earl’s Court end of the flyover, eventually replacing this section of the over ground A4. Website: www.taxiglobe.info – To advertise in the most independent newspaper – Telephone – 01778 391189 Editorial – 01707 885439 28 August 2013 Remember – You saw it first in the Globe! Work More, Earn More You can now join the biggest and busiest circuit in London for less than £25 per week Choice of subscription plans starting from just £22.50 pw Higher value account fares Full Chip and Pin credit card facilities as standard Keep 100% of your fares More account work than any other circuit First month free if you drive a Vito or TX4 Major new accounts just secured in EC2 and EC1 We just got a whole lot busier - don’t delay, call us today Call the ComCab recruitment hotline: 0207 432 1600 Website: www.taxiglobe.info – To advertise in the most independent newspaper – Telephone – 01778 391189 Editorial – 01707 885439 Page 3 Page 4 Remember – You saw it first in the Globe! 28 August 2013 Website: www.taxiglobe.info – To advertise in the most independent newspaper – Telephone – 01778 391189 Editorial – 01707 885439 28 August 2013 111 – ½ page vertical advert Remember – You saw it288 firstxin themm Globe! Page 5 NEW TECHNOLOGY AT DIAL A CAB D ial-a-Cab has chosen Fortinet’s technology to help secure its new and advanced taxi booking and payment system. This includes a smartphone application that enables customers to book taxis and make secure payments from any location. First established in 1953, the circuit now has a fleet of over 2,500 taxis. Dial-a-Cab has been setting the standard for high tech systems and operations since 1989, when the company became the first taxi circuit in Europe to install a completely computerised booking and despatch system with a Mobile Data Terminal in every cab. When they decided to implement a major infrastructure upgrade of the dispatching system to move to the 3G mobile network it also needed to upgrade its security system as the previous firewalls and Websense solutions were proving inadequate, difficult to manage and expensive. “Confidentiality, integrity and availability are of prime importance,” explained Jon Winterburn, Senior Network Architect at Dial-a-Cab. “We need to ensure our network system has 24/7/365 availability, but without compromising our internal systems and data. Moving to the 3G network gives us a greater assurance of availability, plus scalability and futureproofing. “However, our legacy Virtual Private Network was not secure enough and diagnosis was proving difficult. The security solution we had was reaching end-of-life and was increasingly costly and difficult to manage. We needed security that could match the sophistication of our system while delivering high levels of diagnosis and log analysis. Guardian Internet Support Services (UK) Limited recommended Fortinet as the best security solution that could provide us with many security functionalities into a single device, such as Active Directory integrated Web filtering, and SSL VPN, as well as comprehensive, user-friendly log analysis. We found the set-up of Fortinet firewall to be reliable and easy to use and configure, while log analysis was fantastic, making diagnosis much easier. “Fortinet was an excellent choice to address the complexity of the system and the need for superior levels of security, with clear and concise user interface and real-time logging.” Taxi insurance cover since 1921 Proven We’ve been insuring London black cabs for over 90 years – so we know what drivers are looking for. • Exclusivity agreements with top insurers • Flexible payment plans • Highly experienced staff Get in touch today for hassle-free insurance at competitive prices. 0207 446 7675 14-16 Guilford St, London WC1N 1DW www.protector-policies.co.uk Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Terms and conditions apply, excludes Ireland. All facts material to the insurance policy must be given to your insurer, failure to do so may invalidate your policy. LTI Ltd. Reproduced with permission. Fairway and TX shape is registered design. Fairway tm, TX tm, the LTI device, the LTI and the London Taxis International logos are all trademarks of LTI Ltd. 14685_ADSx3_AW.indd 2 Website: www.taxiglobe.info – To advertise in the most independent newspaper – Telephone – 01778 391189 Editorial – 01707 885439 25/06/2012 16:04 Page 6 Remember – You saw it first in the Globe! MAN SENTENCED FOR THEFTS FROM TAXIS B etween 11 April 2013 and 25 June 2013 31 thefts from unattended licensed taxis were reported in the city of Westminster. These cabs had been left locked and unattended on ranks in Regency Street, Bryanston Street and Marylebone Rail Station while the drivers took refreshment breaks. Many items were stolen including cash, licences, iPhones, iPod and documentation. On 5 August Roydell Green was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment for two counts of theft from a motor vehicle. Back on 26th June, Roydell Green pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to two charges of theft and confirmed that he wished for the sentencing court to take into consideration a further 29 offences he had committed. Officers from Westminster’s Crime Squad investigated the series of crime and discovered through diligent research a man with a previous history of such offending in the targeted area who had recently returned to London. Enquiries showed Roydell Green returned to London on 5 April with the linked offences starting on 11 April. DC Damian Hill trawled through CCTV and witness statement of A offences within the linked crime series which led him to Roydell Green. On 25th June 2013 Roydell Green, a 34 year old of Harrow Road London, W10 was arrested at his home address. During the police interview with his solicitor present, Green admitted 31 offences of breaking into licensed taxi cabs in Westminster. He was subsequently sent to court in custody charged with two sample offences where he then asked the court to take into consideration the remaining 29. On 26th June Green pleaded guilty and was remanded in custody, remitted to Southwark Crown Court for sentencing that took place on Monday 5 August 2013. He received a total of 10 months imprisonment for two counts of theft from motor vehicle and breach of a community order with the other offences being taken into consideration. DC Damian Hill said: “Mr Green is a prolific offender who targets licensed taxi drivers operating in Westminster. There have been no offences since his arrest in Westminster matching his MO and a substantial reduction in reported offences in relation to crimes involving London Taxis.” GREENER TAXIS T he Mayor’s ’Source London’ electric vehicle charging scheme has recently been expanded. Now the scheme has 1300 charging points across the capital. But, according to new figures released by the Mayor of London in response to questions asked by Stephen Knight AM, Liberal Democrat London Assembly environment spokesperson, 75% of London’s 800 electric charging points for private vehicles were not used at all during 2012. During the last three months of 2012, only 198 of the then existing 800 electric charging points were used at all. Even where the charging points were used, their average use was frequently just one to four minutes per day. This suggests they had in practice only been used once or twice over this three month period. Stephen Knight said: “It is quite clear that Source London is failing to have much impact. A growing network of charging points, which are aimed primarily at private electric cars, clearly has long term merit, but the Mayor’s number one priority must be to switch London’s 20,000 diesel taxis and 8,500 diesel buses to electric power. It is these diesel vehicles which clock up the most miles and make the greatest contribution to air pollution, especially in central London. The Mayor should concentrate on what he can actually deliver. Taxis and London buses are either run or licensed by Transport for London and the Mayor is in charge of the running of Transport for London. If the Mayor is serious about reducing air pollution in London he should concentrate public resources on what he can actually influence.” How Mr Knight sees the delivery of this priority being possible at this time is not clear. Taxis have once again been in the headlines recently as the former Environment Minister, Tim Yeo, was accused by a national Sunday newspaper as “harming the public’s health” as he had championed a new “greener” taxi, the Mercedes Vito. A report released by the Department for the Environment released in July said that the newer taxis were actually emitting more nitrogen dioxide than taxis built prior to 2005. The Conservative MP formally stood aside as chairman of the Energy and Climate Change Committee last month while claims he used the role to help a private company influence Parliament are being investigated. In 2007 Tim Yeo was appointed as Chairman of Eco-City Vehicles. Last year he resigned from this board, along with Peter Da Costa, who remains as a non-executive director. NEWS FROM HATDU s you should all know by now, the Entry fee to the Heathrow Taxi Feeder park has been reduced to £5.22p since the 1st July 2013. This is because taxi drivers, no longer have to pay the HALTS levy of 78p. Since April 2013 drivers have also been allowed to put an additional 80p on the Extras for every metered journey from Heathrow to compensate for the Entry fee charge. HATDU alone requested this increase from TFL. This means that drivers are now, collectively, financially better off by £1.5m approx per year at Heathrow. To discover how much HATDU has helped YOU look at the following examples: Combined 80p + 78p = £1.58p Extra/Saving per Feeder park entry. T 28 August 2013 Driver does 1 Ride a Day for 6 Days A Week for 48 Weeks = £455.04p Driver does 2 Rides a Day for 6 Days A Week for 48 Weeks = £910.08p These figures DO NOT include any 80p Extra for your Local Journeys. Figures based on 3,000 Journeys per day [including 500 Local Journeys], 7 days per week, 52 weeks per year = 80p [Obtained by HATDU] = £873,600. 78p [Obtained by HATDU - LCDC - LTDA] = £709,000. Total = £1,583,400. These figures are “Mind Boggling” and we think HATDU is well worth £10 per year Membership don’t you?? HATDU Where you get the FACTS NOT LIES!! HATDU - FOR THE DRIVERS - BY THE DRIVERS NEW ROYAL OAK MOVES he New Royal Oak has moved from its existing premises – but only to the new premises, where of course you can also pick up copies of the across to the old sports hall and the good news is the eatery is now trade press including this publication. going to be open 24 hours. There is plenty of parking, accessible from North The facilities include male, female and disabled toilets, which are freely Wharf Road. John Anderson and his team look forward to welcoming you available to all licensed taxi drivers. Website: www.taxiglobe.info – To advertise in the most independent newspaper – Telephone – 01778 391189 Editorial – 01707 885439 28 August 2013 Remember – You saw it first in the Globe! HAILO TROUBLESHOOTING DELETED YOUR HAILO APP? If you have deleted the Hailo App by accident or it has disappeared from the phone, simply open the Internet browser on your phone and enter the following address: http://update.hailocab.com/ Click ‘Download Now’ to install the app on your phone, and log into Hailo as normal. Apple / Android - Stage 1 1. Tap on link (supplied via text/email) 2. Tap ‘Update Now’ 3. Tap ‘Install’ 4. Tap ‘Open’ 5. Choose ‘existing user’ 6. Enter your email address 7. Enter your personal password Before installing new app, you must firstly go to: 1. Settings 2. Security or Applications 3. Look for Unknown Sources (tick box to allow) Android - Stage 2 1. Tap on link (supplied via text/email) 2. Tap ‘Update Now’ 3. Hold finger on top of screen and drag down menu 4. When you see ‘Hailo prod complete’ Tap it 5. Tap ‘Install’ 6. Tap ‘Open’ 7. Choose ‘existing user’ 8. Enter your email address 9. Enter your personal password LOGGING IN/ FORGOTTEN PASSWORD? Log back in as an ‘Existing User’, and type your email address and password. It is very important to remember your password for this reason. If you have forgotten your password, click ‘Forgot Password’, enter your phone number, and you will be sent a reset code to change it. I’M CHANGING MY CAB To replace any necessary documents in the app, go “Off Shift” before changing documents then go to Profile – Account – change necessary documents and then go back “On Shift”. It is very important you let Hailo know if you change your cab so the passenger can identify you easily when you are picking them up. To change this before you ‘Go on Shift’ clear the number and enter the new one. MY DOCUMENT IS OUT OF DATE? Your Hailo app will warn you that one of your documents have expired. When this happens, please click ‘Profile’ followed by ‘Account’. Choose and click the document you need to change. Click ‘Replace Photo’ and ‘Use Camera’. Take a picture and Hailo will verify it as soon as possible. The same applies for any requested change of profile photo. You will not be able to work after expiry date of the document. Let Hailo know you have changed the document by going on chat and entering feedback. CAN’T ‘GO ON SHIFT’? Check that, your Internet is switched on; is there a space or a capital letter? If you are attempting to go on shift and receive an error message, do not worry. Network Error/Unknown Error – if you receive this message while attempting to go on shift, please make sure your Internet is switched on. First try powering off your phone and restarting it. iPhone: A 3G symbol at the top of your screen shows Page 7 when the Internet is on. Android: A ‘H’ or a 3G at the top of your screen shows when the Internet is on. If these symbols are not there then your Internet is switched off. On your phone, click ‘Settings’, then ‘Mobile Networks’, and ensure ‘Use Packet Data’ is ticked. You can test to see if your Internet is back on by opening your web browser and trying to find any website. If this worked you should now be able to go on shift again. If this has not worked contact your service provider. TRAFFIC AND EVENTS: The ‘Events’ section is constantly evolving in the app. At present when you see a number of events on your ‘Jobs’ page, this is the entire number of traffic events in your city. When you click this, the app will display all events within a 5-mile radius of your location. JOB ALLOCATION: The closest driver to the customer always gets the job offer and has this offer for 15 seconds, if the driver is slow in accepting the system seeks the next closest driver to the customer. If the first driver accepts the job within 15 seconds the second driver will get a message saying ‘job missed’, but don’t worry, as the job was never your job in the first place. The reason for having a second driver ready to accept the job is if the first driver was not available to accept the job. SENDING FEEDBACK: Click the ‘Chat’ option on your Hailo app and click ‘Send Feedback’. Type a short note and click ‘Send’. Alternatively, send an email to support@hailocab. com Great Suffolk Street Hours Mon - Fri: 10am to 6pm. Sat: 10am - 4pm Office opens until 10pm on Tuesday. Last year, HAILO put over 1 million passengers into Black Cabs. SIGN UP NOW: hailocab.com/london/drivers or visit 51 Great Suffolk St, SE1. Website: www.taxiglobe.info – To advertise in the most independent newspaper – Telephone – 01778 391189 Editorial – 01707 885439 Page 8 Remember – You saw it first in the Globe! 28 August 2013 LTFUC TAKE CHILDREN TO THEATRE T o commemorate the 85th anniversary of the London Taxidrivers’ Fund for Underprivileged Children, the Royal Shakespeare Company very kindly invited the Fund to take 50 underprivileged and ‘special needs’ children to see a matinee performance of Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical. The big day finally arrived and on the morning of Wednesday 7th August 2013, fifty very excited children were collected from London’s East End and taken to the Cambridge Theatre to see the show in a convoy of 18 balloon-decorated taxis. The children had great fun waving to all the onlookers as we passed through the crowded streets of the City and West End, with the three ecstatic children in my taxi counting a total of over 300 waves saying they now know what the Queen feels like - brilliant! What fun they were having and this was before even reaching the theatre and seeing the show - fantastic! The Royal Shakespeare Company’s world premiere production of Matilda The Musical has captured the imagination of young and old alike and continues to play to packed houses at London’s Cambridge Theatre, winning a total of 47 awards in Stratford-Upon-Avon, London and New York. With 24 awards for the London production to date, including seven Laurence Olivier Awards, over 800,000 people have seen the show in the West End since the show opened in October 2011. With many of the children having never been to the theatre before, we know that this was an unforgettable and cherished afternoon for them. They had an amazing day and we would like to thank all the drivers and helpers who came and made this outing possible. The Honorary President, Honorary Chair and Committee would like to express their deep gratitude to the Royal Shakespeare Company for making this wonderful trip possible. The show was brilliant and the children had a magical and memorable afternoon and it was also very special for us to be able to do this in our 85th anniversary year. We would also like to extend grateful thanks to the Management and staff at the Cambridge Theatre for their co-operation and are deeply grateful to two of the cast, Annette McLaughlin (Mrs Wormwood) and Steve Furst (Mr Wormwood), who were met with loud cheers and screams when they made a surprise appearance after the show to meet and greet our children. We also thank Lydia Cassidy of Lydia Cassidy Co. Ltd, Chloe, Ryan and Charlotte from the Corner Shop and Jessica Nowell of The Really Useful Theatres Group for their input and help in making this outing happen. Special thanks also go to Tristian Arnold and the National Car Parks Ltd for their kind donation of 18 complimentary parking spaces for the taxis at the Drury Lane NCP, for which we were deeply grateful. Raymond Levy www.ltfuc.org.uk Applicants may obtain on request, a quotation in writing about the terms on which we are prepared to do business. All loans are subject to status. Minimum age 18. Allan Reece Associates for Financial, Mortgage, Investment and Insurance Services. York House, Western Road, Romford, Essex RM1 3LP. Authorised & Regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Licensed under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 Allan Reece.indd 1 24/2/10 12:24:47 TAXI DRIVER OF THE YEAR CHARITY 5 St Brides Avenue Edgware Middlesex HA8 6BT Tel/Fax: 020 8952 1357: Mobile: 07850 056 765 Email: brussella@talk21.com REGISTERED WITH CHARITY COMMISION NO 1000761 v vv TAXI DRIVER OF THE YEAR DINNER DANCE Photos above: Helen Maybanks The Royal Shakespeare Company in-house photographer. To be held on 30th November 2013 at Holiday Inn Kensington Forum, 97 Cromwell Road, London SW7 4DN Tickets are priced at £62.50 v vv A special rate will be available for anyone attending the function wanting to stay over night at the Hotel. For any more information please call Barbara or Russell Poluck, numbers above. Website: www.taxiglobe.info – To advertise in the most independent newspaper – Telephone – 01778 391189 Editorial – 01707 885439 28 August 2013 Remember – You saw it first in the Globe! Page 9 Why doRadioTaxis’Drivers think it’s the best circuit in London? David Goldstein B048… 48 Years on Radio Taxis Friendly staff, updated technology and chip & pin credit card facility. I really enjoy working the new system. Malcolm Panners U023… 14 Years on Radio Taxis Chip & pin credit card machine has generated more work and 95% of customers tip you. Terry Rose M135… 3 Years on Radio Taxis User friendly touch screen system and chip & pin encourages customers to tip you. The world’s first CarbonNeutral® taxi company Call Tracey or Sandra on: 020 7272 2626 Or Email: drivers@radiotaxis.co.uk Visit our website: www.radiotaxis.co.uk RADIO TAXIS AND XETA CARRIED 1.3 MILLION PASSENGERS LAST YEAR ! Join the Xeta Radio Circuit Free subs – No cost to join! • Pay as you go 10% + VAT per job* • Run-ins / paid waiting time / gratuity on most jobs • Chip & pin as standard • Touch screen PDA with internal Sat Nav • Free replacement cab for no fault accident • Free to join Credit Union *There is a subs alternative of £15 per week + VAT. Call Tracey or Sandra on: 020 7272 2626 and quote Xeta. Or Email: xetadrivers@radiotaxis.co.uk Visit our website: www.radiotaxis.co.uk/apply-to-join Website: www.taxiglobe.info – To advertise in the most independent newspaper – Telephone – 01778 391189 Editorial – 01707 885439 Page 10 Remember – You saw it first in the Globe! 28 August 2013 TFL APPROVES WI-FI SIGN FOR LONDON BLACK CABS F ollowing an initiative led by taxi advertising experts Ubiquitous, Londoners can now identify which black cabs offer free Wi-Fi to passengers, via a new TfL approved sticker. The easily recognisable Wi-Fi symbol is being rolled-out across a network of 300 London taxis; the launch of the new sign coincides with new research, commissioned by Ubiquitous, which finds that 75% of London taxi passengers believe free Wi-Fi in taxis is important. With the same number saying they are more likely to flag down a taxi if they knew that it offered free Wi-Fi to passengers, the results additionally revealed that this is borne out of passengers’ need to feel connected to friends, family and colleagues while they are on the move. 86% of Londoners expect to be fully contactable by family and friends across all channels when travelling in taxis, while 84% expect to be fully contactable by work across all channels when in the back of cabs. Moreover the findings reveal that nearly four in five London (79%) of taxi passengers spend time during their journeys surfing the web, 87% spend time during journeys checking personal messages, 62% check work messages and 68% check social networks. Andrew Barnett, Managing Director at Ubiquitous, said: “We understand that many of the passengers in our cabs are busy people and that a cab journey offers the perfect opportunity to catch up on personal messages, work emails and other news. The introduction of the Wi-Fi signage ensures passengers know before hailing a cab that they will be able to quickly and easily access the web and, if they wish, opt-in to receive messages or offers from the brand that is sponsoring the exterior and interior of the taxi. With Wi-Fi now available on the Underground, this is another major step towards enabling busy people in London to stay connected right across the transport network.” NFC touchpoints inside each taxi. Ubiquitous’ research found that 76% of London taxi passengers would be more likely to look at a brand’s website, if they had provided them free in-taxi Wi-Fi; a win-win situation for both brands and passengers. One of the taxi drivers who now has the service available to passengers is Allan Lewis. He said: “Customers love Wi-Fi, many continue past stations to destinations, putting extra cash in your pocket!” Another driver, Joe Gamble, commented: “It’s a no brainer, something for nothing, customers love it.” Philippa Snare, CMO at Microsoft, the first advertiser to sponsor in-taxi Wi-Fi with Ubiquitous commented: “London continues to be a key player on the world business stage, so helping to ensure the smooth running of the city is an important goal for us. We proudly sponsored the first Wi-Fi connections in London taxis to help provide hardworking people with a way of staying online while dashing about their busy lives. We are delighted that the free taxi Wi-Fi was useful to commuters and especially that they found the content in our mobile hub both relevant and worthwhile.” DRIVING SUCCESS WITH IN-TAXI WI-FI Taxi Globe asked Andrew to comment on the arrival of Wi-Fi in the Hackney Carriage. Obviously the benefits for passengers are clear, but what about the benefits to the cab driver? Andrew said: “The Hackney Carriage forms part of the backbone of city life, helping people to dash through their busy lives with minimum stress. Bringing recent advances in technology to the trusted black taxi service is set to improve the commuter experience further, with the arrival of free Wi-Fi in cabs this year. But it’s not all about the benefit to passengers; drivers will also gain from running a connected black cab. In today’s 24/7 working world, taxi passengers find it hard to stay connected during their journey, and would love to see free Wi-Fi on offer in their cab. New research we have conducted found that 75 per cent of London taxi users would be more likely to hail a taxi if it offered them a free Wi-Fi service. Thanks to the new TfL approved ‘free Wi-Fi in this taxi’ label, passengers will now easily be able to identify which cabs are online. Driving an Internet hotspot will put a Wi-Fi enabled taxi a cut above the rest when it comes to passengers picking out a cab to flag down. Ultimately, this will help drivers to attract more customers and provide a welcome boost to business. “What’s more, drivers can also link their own mobile devices to the free Wi-Fi service, whether it’s a mobile, iPad, or both! Having advertiser sponsored in-taxi Wi-Fi means that drivers can access the Internet for free too, useful for checking traffic or keeping up with your pals on Twitter. For whatever it might be, drivers are entitled to use the Wi-Fi in the same way as passengers. Technical difficulties are a concern for some drivers but rest assured, our system is backed by 24/7 support by hands-on technicians in London. Any problems are dealt with swiftly and often remotely so there will rarely be cause to disrupt journeys, ensuring continuity of service for drivers and passengers. “Our industry has an important heritage in cities across the UK and particularly in the capital, so the time has come to bring the iconic Hackney Carriage firmly into the 21st century. Free Wi-Fi in taxis presents a new era for the service as commuters will now be able to hail connected black cabs. Meanwhile, drivers will have the opportunity to secure more business in what is an increasingly competitive climate. The future of the black taxi has arrived and it is online.” A WIN-WIN SITUATION The introduction of the new sign follows the launch this year of Ubiquitous’ “Customers love Wi-Fi, many continue past stations to destinations, putting CabConnect opportunity, which brings the benefits of advertiser-sponsored extra cash in your pocket!” - Allan Lewis free Wi-Fi to passengers, as well as one-on-one brand communication opportunities for the sponsor brand, via both the Wi-Fi mobile hub and “It’s a no brainer, something for nothing, customers love it.”- Joe Gamble Website: www.taxiglobe.info – To advertise in the most independent newspaper – Telephone – 01778 391189 Editorial – 01707 885439 28 August 2013 Remember – You saw it first in the Globe! Page 11 Upgraded TX4 from just £19.50 a day. Or put simply, Hammersmith to Kilburn. With a range of improvements including new steering boxes, radiators, check straps, turbo hoses and interior trim panels, you may be surprised to learn that the all-new TX4 Elegance (Automatic) is still available from just £135 per week with a £2,000 deposit, on our 4-year Preferences deal. For complete peace of mind, the deal also includes an extended 4-year, 120,000-mile warranty, unlimited mileage core engine warranty, 12-month’s road tax and RAC cover. And once your term is up, you can either buy, trade-up or walk away. Simple. Book your test drive, and experience all the improvements at The London Taxi Company today. TX4: A taxi from the people who only make taxis. The London Taxi Company, 39-41 Brewery Road, LONDON N7 9QH 0207 700 0888 london-taxis.co.uk london@london-taxis.co.uk TheLondonTaxiCompanyUK LondonTaxiCoUK LondonTaxiCompanyUK Terms and conditions: Business users only. Terms and conditions apply. Finance subject to status. TX4 Style (Automatic) is available from £33,995 OTR and TX4 Elegance (Automatic) is available from £35,995 OTR, including 3 year, 100,000 mile manufacturer’s warranty, 3 year unlimited mileage core engine warranty, 12 month’s road tax and 12 month’s RAC cover. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Fuel economy information: TX4 (Euro 5) in mpg (1/100km): Urban 25.7 (11.0) – 27.7 (10.2), Extra Urban 40.4 (7.0) – 42.8 (6.6), Combined 33.6 (8.4) – 35.3 (8.0), CO2 emissions: 209-222 g/km L0171304 LTC_AAA_Taxi_Globe_338x265.indd 1 Website: www.taxiglobe.info – To advertise in the most independent newspaper – Telephone – 01778 391189 Editorial – 01707 885439 09/08/2013 17:05 Page 12 T Remember – You saw it first in the Globe! ADVANCED STOP LINES ENFORCEMENT ransport for London, the Metropolitan Police Service and City of London Police has recently stepped up its enforcement of advanced stop lines, marked on the road with a bike symbol painted inside, located at many traffic lights. The cyclist has a stop line several feet ahead of the line used by everyone else in order to give bikes more space so they can be seen more easily and are not right in front of a vehicle’s bonnet or wheels. The engagement programme included speaking with drivers and cyclists at key junctions and handing out flyers with information to help improve compliance around advanced stop lines, explaining both motorist and cyclist obligations and the reasons for the rules. Siwan Hayward, Acting Director of Community, Safety, Enforcement and Policing, TfL said: “Cycle safety is an important issue for us at TfL. Our aim is not to penalise road users but to help educate P 28 August 2013 them into complying with the rules which is why we have been engaging and educating all road users at key London locations in a run up to this enforcement launch. Our message is clear; motorists leave room for cyclists in ASL boxes and cyclists do not cross the ASL box during a red traffic signal.” Drivers caught crossing the first or second advanced stop lines when the signal is red will be liable for a £60 fixed penalty charge and three points on their licence. The only exception to this rule is if the traffic signal changes from green to amber and drivers cannot safely stop before the first stop line. In addition to stepping up enforcement on motorists, rogue cyclists are also being targeted. Whilst most cyclists ride responsibly – some do not and this can anger other road users. Cyclists will be targeted for jumping red lights and issued with a £30 fine if caught doing so. The Mayor’s POLICE APPEAL olice are appealing for a cyclist involved in a fatal collision with a pedestrian to come forward to help with their investigation. The pedestrian died two days after the collision on Thursday, 25 July at around 1740 hrs on the southbound carriageway of Regent Street at the junction of New Burlington Street, W1. Initially both parties appeared uninjured and having spoken with each other at the scene they then carried on their journeys. Two days later the pedestrian, David Purkis, 58 of West Wickham, suffered a stroke which proved fatal. He was married with two children. Officers are appealing for witnesses as well as the cyclist to contact them as soon as possible and they have released a CCTV of the cyclist moments after the collision in an attempt to track him down. Detective Constable Matt Hopgood of Catford Traffic Garage said: “I would appeal to the cyclist and any witnesses to the collision to contact police. Any witness could hold vital information into what happened.” Anyone with information over the collision or the cyclist involved should contact the Road Death Investigation Unit in Catford on 0208 285 1574. Cycling Commissioner, Andrew Gilligan, said: “It may be that some drivers don’t realise they aren’t allowed over the advanced stop lines, and when the lights are red, those areas quite often have cars and lorries all over them, completely defeating their purpose. Bike boxes are a really important way to keep cyclists and vehicles at a safe distance. They have already saved hundreds of drivers, particularly truck drivers who have blind spots in their cabs, from the anguish of unintentionally harming a cyclist, and of course saved hundreds of cyclists from serious accidents. Whilst usually only endangering the rider themselves, bad cycling does annoy and frighten people, and we are going to tackle it. We are increasing the number of officers in our dedicated Met Police Cycle Task Force by more than a quarter. Riding bikes themselves, they will target particular cyclist misbehaviour hotspots.” CITY CLAMPS DOWN ON STREET URINATION M agistrates have fined a man who pleaded guilty to urinating in a City of London street a total of £500 after he failed to pay a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN). Christopher James Blenkarn, of Lewisham, became the first individual to be prosecuted for this offence in the Square Mile after he was sentenced on 1st August at City of London Magistrates’ Court. The Magistrate described the offence, which was committed on 9 January 2013 at Crosswall, near Fenchurch Street Station, as ‘disgusting and revolting’. A City of London Police officer had issued a FPN on site but the offender failed to pay despite several reminder letters. John Tomlinson, Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Port Health and Environmental Services Committee, said: “Urination in the streets causes great offence to many people. We will not tolerate it in the City and will prosecute as necessary.” Mr Blenkarn’s early guilty plea was taken into account and he was fined £130, £350 costs and £20 victim surcharge (in total £500). A collection order was made. LONGER OPERATING HOURS FOR TWO TUBE LINES T ube passengers are set to benefit from improvements including longer operating hours and an increased train service on the Waterloo & City line, and more frequent services on the Central line during the busiest periods. From Monday 16 September, passengers who want to have an evening out will be able to use Waterloo & City line trains during weekdays and Saturdays until 12:30am at night - up to six hours later than they can currently. More trains will also operate on weekday evenings - with a train available approximately every three and half minutes until around 9.30pm, then every six minutes until 11.30pm, followed by a 10 minute service for the last hour. On Saturdays, instead of closing the line after 6.30pm, trains will keep running until 12.30am with a train every six minutes until around 11.30pm and for the last hour a train every 10 minutes. The frequency of services on the Central line will be increased during the busiest times. Phil Hufton, London Underground’s Chief Operating Officer said: “In order to improve the Tube for our customers we are extending the evening operating hours and increasing the frequency of the train service on the Waterloo City line. Currently the line closes on weekday evenings at 9.45pm and at 6.30pm on Saturdays, but from 16 September customers will be able to use the service from Bank or Waterloo beyond midnight until 12.30am.” Website: www.taxiglobe.info – To advertise in the most independent newspaper – Telephone – 01778 391189 Editorial – 01707 885439 28 August 2013 Remember – You saw it first in the Globe! Page 13 One-to-One Personal Service. Martin Cordell & Co. Accountants & Tax Specialists to the Taxi Trade We’re here to help. We want to meet you as we understand your business. Let us take the strain of dealing with your tax obligations. With over 45 years experience of the taxi trade, and more than 40 expert staff members, we are the leading taxi drivers’ accountancy firm in the UK. Our services include: – One-to-One personal service – Annual confidential meeting – Preparation of accounts – Tax enquiries & investigations – Limited company trading advice – PAYE, VAT & company registration expertise – Loss of earnings claim advice – One point of contact for ongoing continuity – Easy payment terms CALL US FOR A FREE FIRST CONSULTATION IN PERSON OR OVER THE PHONE Phone us today on: 020 8980 7161 See us at: 1-5 Alfred Street, Bow, London, E3 2BE / 9 Church Road, Stanmore, HA7 4AS Email: info@mcordell.co.uk Web: www.martin_cordell.co.uk martin cordell.indd 1 19/12/2012 12:02:51 CRICKLEWOOD CARRIERS CAB COMPANY LIMITED tel: 020 8452 5461 mob: 07866-0-07866 Midland Arches, Edgware Road, London, NW2 6NJ info@cricklewoodcarriers.co.uk www.cricklewoodcarriers.co.uk London’s first choice garage COME AND VISIT US FOR A TRULY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE FOR • • • • • • • • • CAB RENTALS TX1’s - TX11’s - TX4’s BRAND NEW TAXI’S ALL AIR CONDITIONED FULL BACK-UP SERVICE ALL WORK CARRIED OUT FOR OWNER DRIVERS OVERHAULS - BODY SHOPS - TYPES - MOT’s PROMPT WHILE YOU WAIT SERVICE NON FAULT CRASH REPAIR SPECIALISTS PROFESSIONAL SERVICING using Genuine Filters and Total/Elf or Morris Quality Lubricants TAXI METERS - TAXI METERS - TAXI METERS CALL NOW FOR OUR BEST OFFERS NEW VIKING 5 TAXI METER - TWO YEARS METER RENTAL £199.00 All inclusive price - you pay no more! PHONE OUR HOTLINE NOW! 0208 208 3600 CABS PURCHASED FOR CASH Cricklewood 714.indd 1 Website: www.taxiglobe.info – To advertise in the most independent newspaper – Telephone – 01778 391189 Editorial – 01707 885439 24/07/2013 10:52 Page 14 Remember – You saw it first in the Globe! KINGSTON & WIMBLEDON LUCAS AND CYGNUS METER AGENTS 28 August 2013 CABBIES, EVERY TIME YOU BRING CUSTOMERS TO SECRETS YOU WILL RECEIVE THE WHOLE AMOUNT THEY PAY TO GAIN ENTRY SECRETS 1 Hammersmith 62 Glenthorne Road, London W6 0LR. Mon to Sat 8pm - 4am on ust days E s n Su ret SecOpen 4am to w No 8pm SECRETS 2 Swiss Cottage 309 Finchley Road, London NW3 6EH. Mon to Sat 8pm - 4am Follow us on twitter @SecretsclubsLdn OFFICIAL INSTALLERS OF VERIFONE CHIP & PIN MACHINES Sales Bodyshop Rentals Services WHAT WE DO - SALES / RENTALS / LUCAS & CYGNUS METER AGENTS / OVERHAULS / RUNNING REPAIRS / SGS STOP NOTES / ELECTRICS / WELDING / TYRES - REMOULDS - HIGH MILERS - MICHELINS / PARTS RENTALS START FROM £130.00 PER WEEK THE DELL, CLAYTON ROAD, CHESSINGTON, KT9 1NN E-mail sales@taxigarage.co.uk www.taxigarage.co.uk Garage 0208 391 1600 or 07918 684793 a33702 Cabby Ad 164x130mm 3.pdf Kingston & Wimbledon QP.indd 1 1 08/07/2013 LONDON SECRETS 3 Holborn 3 Grays Inn Road, London WC1X 8HG. Mon to Fri 7.30pm - 3.30am Table and Pole Dancing Nightclubs & Late Night Bars ★ Hundreds of the Best Looking & Hottest Table and Pole Dancers in London SECRETS 4 Tower Bridge 43-45 East Smithfield (Nr Tower Bridge) London E1W 1AP. Mon to Sat 8pm to 3.30am ★ Great Music, terrific atmosphere and friendly, helpful and attentive staff ★ Ladies and mixed parties are always welcome ★ Luxurious VIP Booths ★ Dress Code: Smart/Smart Casual SECRETS 5 Euston 34/38 Eversholt Street, London NW1 1DA. Mon to Sat 8pm to 6am Sunday 8pm to 4am SECRETS 6 Covent Garden 51 Parker Street, London WC2B 5PS. Mon to Sat 7 5pm - 3am 09:29 30/6/11 09:24:38 Secrets (Wilton).indd 1 10/07/2013 11:47:28 THE LONDON TAXIDRIVERS’ FUND FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN PATRON HRH THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL 85TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION GALA DINNER AND DANCE AT THE GUILDHALL, CITY OF LONDON 24TH OCTOBER 2013 Celebration Gala Dinner & Dance Reception: The Crypt 18.30 Dinner: Livery Hall 19.30 Dancing: East Crypt 21.30 Three course dinner, half bottle wine per person, Coffee & Petit Fours Dress: Formal: Tickets £95 Each - Any dietary requirements contact: Michael Son Please either make payment by cheque payable to: LTFUC or Login to www.ltfuc.org.uk For Further Information Phone: Michael Son Tel. 01702 525776 - Mobile 07710388588 or Email: m.son@btconnect.com Please send payment to: Lilian Julier,Hon. Treasurer LTFUC, 6 Arcadian Gardens, Wood Green, London N22 5AA Website: www.taxiglobe.info – To advertise in the most independent newspaper – Telephone – 01778 391189 Editorial – 01707 885439 28 August 2013 O The taxis will enjoy a well-earned rest, filling the car park at the Disney hotel, an unusual sight to say the least, before they make their way back to London. The Magical Taxi Tour (http://www. magicaltaxitour.com) is organised by The Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers and every aspect is arranged by unpaid volunteers. Over the course of the 20 years, 2000 taxis have taken around 4,000 children to Disneyland Paris. When the convoy is in motion on the motorway it is around seven miles long. You can learn more about the Magical Taxi this year. All the taxis for this trip are sponsored Tour at www.magicaltaxitour.com where you by generous businesses and individuals. The will find details of previous trips and also how children (and their carers and taxi drivers!) will you can help by making a donation to help fund enjoy a visit to the Magical Kingdom, as well as next year’s outing. a Gala Dinner – attended by a certain well known mouse and many of his friends – during their stay. A THIRD OF MOTORISTS ADMIT TO DRIVING WITHOUT A VALID MOT hocking new findings show that a third of motorists have driven a car knowing it has no MOT. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) surveyed 1,000 UK motorists and found that, of those that have driven a car without a valid MOT, 67% admitted driving for up to a week before the retest, 24% for up to a month, 7% for up to six months and 2% for more than six months. By driving without an MOT, motorists risk fines of up to £1,000, as well as potentially invalidating their motor insurance, D Page 15 LONDON TAXI DRIVERS TAKE SERIOUSLY ILL CHILDREN ON DISNEYLAND TRIP n 20th September 2013, the 20th annual Magical Taxi Tour will set off from Canary Wharf, heading for Disneyland Paris. Around 100 licensed taxi drivers will be switching off their “For Hire” signs and giving their time to take children with life threatening illnesses on trip of a lifetime. Following the Big Breakfast Send Off, the Lord Mayor Locum Tenens Alderman Sir David Howard will cut the red ribbon to signify the beginning of this year’s trip and then the taxis will depart in convoy, horns blaring, accompanied by police outriders from both the UK and France. The red ribbon cutting will be watched by many dignitaries and sponsors for the trip. The taxi convoy will also be joined by the medical back up teams, ambulances, a tuck wagon and breakdown services as they head down to board a P&O ferry at Dover. The ferry crossings are generously being donated by P&O once again S Remember – You saw it first in the Globe! which itself counts as a driving offence carrying between six to eight penalty points. Cars older than three years also require a valid MOT before they can be taxed – with further fines for motorists who drive an untaxed car. The research suggests men are more likely to continue driving after their MOT has lapsed – 35% of all male drivers say they have done so, versus 31% of female drivers. There are significant regional differences in the findings. The SMMT research has been carried out in HIGHER FIXED PENALTIES BEGIN epartment for Transport recently announced that fixed penalty levels would increase from 16 August 2013. As well as affecting motoring offences, these changes also increase graduated fixed penalties and financial deposits for vans, trucks and buses. Offences against roadworthiness, loading and drivers’ hours rules will result in higher penalties at the roadside. Penalty points will not change. • a £30 fine will rise to £50 • a £60 fine will rise to £100 • a £120 fine will rise to £200 • a £200 fine will rise to £300 VOSA Chief Executive Alastair Peoples said: “These new penalty levels are intended to ensure penalties reflect the seriousness of the offence and are consistent with those in other areas of offending. I know the majority of operators and drivers work within the law, but those that don’t need to know there are increased financial consequences and they should reconsider if it’s worth the risk.” partnership with car manufacturers and their dealer networks throughout the UK as part of the industry’s ‘Minute Or Two’ initiative, which encourages motorists to carry out 10 simple visual checks of their vehicle prior to the MOT test. The full ‘Minute Or Two’ checklist which is available at www.passmymot.co.uk includes checks of headlights, tyres, windscreen wipers and fluid levels. TAXI AND PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLE STATISTICS 2013 A ccording to the latest DfT statistics, in March 2013 there were an estimated 78,000 taxis and 153,000 licensed private hire vehicles (PHVs) in England and Wales, making a total of 231,000 vehicles. This represents a fall of 0.7% from 2011 when these figures were last collected. This is the first reduction in overall licensed vehicle numbers since comparable statistics were first collected in 2005 and growth in vehicles has slowed considerably since the start of the economic downturn; the total number of taxis and PHVs increased 18% between 2005 and 2009 but by only 2% between 2009 and 2013. 31% of the total licensed taxis and PHVs in England and Wales are in London, with an estimated 58% of licensed taxis being wheelchair accessible, although all taxis are wheelchair accessible in London. Overall, there were 297,000 taxi or PHV driver licenses in England and Wales, around 2,000 fewer than in 2011. 52% of licences are PHV-only, 21% taxi-only and the remaining 26% dual licences. Website: www.taxiglobe.info – To advertise in the most independent newspaper – Telephone – 01778 391189 Editorial – 01707 885439 Page 16 C Remember – You saw it first in the Globe! HUMAN BONE DISCOVERED IN THE FOUNDATIONS OF A ROMAN ROAD rossrail archaeologists have discovered rare evidence of humans living on the Thames 9,000 year ago, in southeast London. The discovery of a Mesolithic ‘tool-making factory’ which included 150 pieces of flint, among them blades, were found at Crossrail’s tunnelling worksite in North Woolwich. Archaeologists believe prehistoric Londoners were using the site to test, divide and prepare river cobbles used to make flint tools, before transporting them to another site to complete the tool-making process. Crossrail Lead Archaeologist Jay Carver said: “This is a unique and exciting find that reveals evidence of humans returning to England and in particular the Thames Valley after a long hiatus during the Ice Age. It is one of a handful of archaeology sites uncovered that confirms humans lived in the Thames Valley at this time. The concentration of flint pieces shows that this was an exceptionally important location for sourcing materials to make tools that were used by early Londoners who lived and hunted on Thames Estuary islands.” Crossrail has also discovered its first piece of gold on the project, a 16th Century gold coin that was used as a sequin or pendent, similar to those worn by wealthy aristocrats and royalty. Discovered at Crossrail’s Liverpool Street station site, it is unknown how such a precious and expensive gold item made its way to what was then regarded as a deprived area. At Liverpool Street, Crossrail archaeologists are also uncovering layers of London’s history including the 16th Century Bedlam burial ground and Roman London. Archaeologists have also uncovered an exceptionally well made Roman road, where a strange find of human bone in the foundations has surprised archaeologists. Roman horse shoes have also been found in the road. The bone is suspected to have come from a nearby Roman cemetery, located about 50 metres from the archaeology site, and was found in the layers of rammed earth, clay and brush wood which made up the road. It may have been washed out of the cemetery by the River Thames tributary, the Walbrook, which was responsible for depositing skulls down stream that were originally thought to be heads of Boudicca’s victims from the revolution in the 1st Century. Archaeologists are hopeful that when they start large scale excavations to remove 3,000 skeletons from the 17th Century burial ground next year, they will also locate more of the Roman road, along with foundations of Roman buildings that stood alongside the road. Jay Carver continued: “This location in the heart of Liverpool Street holds a rich deposit of archaeology that provides an insight into London’s history over the last 2,000 years. Work to relocate local utilities is providing us with a tantalising glimpse of important finds just a few metres below street-level. We plan to excavate the Bedlam burial ground next year and carefully remove up to 3,000 skeletons as well as excavate a wider area to unearth Roman London.” Among the latest Crossrail finds is one of the UK’s richest deposits of 17th Century crafts. Local craft manufacturers appeared to have used the burial ground for fly tipping during the 1600s, providing archaeologists with an understanding of how east London manufacturers made expensive crafts for wealthy Londoners. The finds include rare and exotic tortoise shell and elephant teeth which were used to make crafts such as expensive fans for London’s wealthy. 28 August 2013 THANKS GUYS! J ohn Pace has written for several taxi trade publications, including Taxi Globe, over the years and it was a shock to hear earlier this year that John has been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. A recent collection amongst drivers at the Piccolo raised around £500 for John and he has asked our editor to say how grateful he is for this generosity and to thank everyone who contributed. MND is the name given to a group of related diseases affecting the motor neurones (nerve cells) in the brain and spinal cord. As the motor neurones gradually die, the John was one of the taxi drivers who muscles stop working. appeared on 2011 charity calendar The cause of MND is unknown and there is no known cure. MND affects around 5,000 people in this country alone at any one time. The disease leaves people unable to walk, talk or feed themselves, but the intellect and the senses usually remain unaffected. People with MND can still think and feel, but their muscles refuse to work. R ROYAL MAIL ‘BRITISH AUTO LEGENDS’ STAMP ISSUE eaders may have seen in our last issue that Royal Mail was about to issue its ‘British Auto Legends’ Special Stamps. These were released on 13th August and celebrate the best in British car manufacturing. The main six-stamp set features the ‘Thoroughbreds’ – the Jaguar E-Type, Rolls Royce Silver Shadow, Aston Martin DB5, MG MGB, Morgan Plus 8 and the Lotus Esprit, while the four-stamp mini sheet celebrates the iconic ‘Workhorses’ – where the iconic FX4 features, alongside the Morris Minor Van, Ford Anglia 105E and Land Rover Defender 110. The stamps are available online at www.royalmail.com/autolegends or by phone on 08457 641 641 and in 10,000 Post Offices throughout the UK. Andrew Hammond, Director of Stamps and Collectibles, Royal Mail, said: “This is a fantastic set of stamps that feature a collection of the very best in British motor car manufacturing in the 1960s and 70s. These cars are classic in every sense; and we are delighted to be bringing a reminder of these iconic motor cars to the nation’s doorsteps through this latest stamp issue.” Website: www.taxiglobe.info – To advertise in the most independent newspaper – Telephone – 01778 391189 Editorial – 01707 885439 28 August 2013 Remember – You saw it first in the Globe! Page 17 GLOBAL NEWS RUDE ISRAELI CABBIE? “YOU STUNK OUT MY CAB!” Israel’s Supreme Court set a precedent recently when ordering a taxi driver to pay a fine for “discourteous behaviour” towards two of his passengers. The two women took legal action against the taxi driver after he refused to use his meter in the usual way and offered them a fixed price ride instead, something they declined telling him they wanted the meter to be used. They claimed in court that the driver said in return that by law a taxi driver could kick people who stunk out his taxi! The driver, who claimed the court had no authority to deem his behaviour impolite, had previously lost his case in two earlier legal rounds before taking it to Israel’s Supreme Court. The country’s highest court found him guilty of the offence and fined him £200 for his lack of decorum. “This is the first time anyone can remember a case of this nature reaching the Supreme Court,” a court spokeswoman told Global News, “it certainly creates quite a legal precedent.” Israeli cabbies have complained vociferously that the VAT they have to pay is unfair and many of them have been suspected of trying to settle fares without a meter to order to escape paying the tax. PERU’S CULTURED CABBIES! Of late, Peru has been in the news more for its arrest of two girls suspected of attempting to smuggle cocaine, but regular life also carries on. When the economic climate of the South American country virtually crumbled, many of the educated workforce were forced to drive taxis. Former bank manager in the capital, Lima, Alejandro Champin keeps a copy of Don Quixote in the glove compartment of his battered Toyota to read during breaks in his 12-hour shifts as a taxi driver. Former Lawyer Julio Rodriguez regales his passengers with tales of past legal battles as he weaves among the potholes in Lima’s clogged, cut-throat streets. The educated cabdriver has become a popular Lima icon and a symbol of the growing disillusionment over Peru’s economic problems that could even derail the government. Years ago when then-President Fujimori instituted economic reforms that forced previously protected businesses to re-evaluate and slash their payrolls, many were left with no choice but to go over to driving a cab, with the result that one in three drivers at many taxi garages are college-educated former professionals. Many took their severance pay and bought a cab or slapped a taxi sign on their car and went freelance - ie minicabbing! These former cultured cabbies, their dreams of returning to their former careers dying, have become a potent touchstone for Peruvians’ anxieties over the lack of jobs. “Peruvians have for years put up with hardship because they believed in the government’s leadership, but now many people, such as these cabdrivers, have lost their faith as economic expectations have not been met,” said a director of polling company, Imasen. While some claim that the Peruvian economy is heading back up again following market reforms and the privatisation of many state companies, opening protected industries to competition – it also resulted in the laying off of tens of thousands of state workers. Expectations were high and the promise was to make Peru a ‘Latin American economic tiger.’ But it never really happened. Vacancy signs dot offices in Lima’s business districts. One in two Peruvians now lives in poverty. A new wave of economic refugees from the impoverished countryside has swelled the capital’s shantytowns. Few can afford to use cabs. “But what else can I do,” Alejandro Champin said to Taxi Globe’s Latino reporter before going back to his copy of Don Quixote… USA CAB DRIVER KILLED IN ROAD RAGE ATTACK A man from Denver, Colorado has been convicted of stomping to death a cabdriver in a road rage attack and sentenced to life imprisonment in an incident that the prosecution say could have been avoided by just a simple “sorry.” Bruce Mangot was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of cab driver Moustapha Maroufah who was beaten and then stuffed into the boot of his cab. Mangot said nothing at his hearing. Three of Mangot’s accomplices were sentenced to between 10 and 12 years each. A family friend of Mangot read a letter from his mother in which she asked the judge to make her son’s sentence more like those of others accused in the horrific death. The application was refused. The beating occurred in March of last year when Maroufah accidentally backed his taxi into the car of one of the accused and an argument ensued followed by the horrific attack with the prosecution claiming that Mangot was responsible for the most vicious part of the attack. “This whole episode from beginning to end was just plain senseless,” prosecutor Bill Robbins told the press after the case. “From the loss of Mr. Maroufah’s life to these young men spending years or their entire lives in prison, it is just so senseless. A simple: ‘Sorry guys’ followed by an exchange of insurance details, was all that was needed. Now we have a dead cab driver and several young kids whose lives are ruined. And all for what…?” Website: www.taxiglobe.info – To advertise in the most independent newspaper – Telephone – 01778 391189 Editorial – 01707 885439 Page 18 Remember – You saw it first in the Globe! 28 August 2013 FOR SALE & WANTED SERVICING/RENTALS Diff Doctor SPECIALISTS IN LICENSED TAXIS TO RENT VITOS FOR HIRE FROM £240 PER WEEK TX4 silvers to rent. Very competitive rate Available now. Single drivers only. 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