Friday 5 June 2020

Taxi Trade Meet With Deputy Mayor And TfL To Tell Them, Where Buses Go, We Go


Steve McNamara met Heidi Alexander DMfT, 
Gareth Powell MDST TfL, and Heidi's PR, on behalf of LCDC, LTDA and UCG, at 09:30 today, about taxis being prohibited from critical roads and thoroughfares.

The meeting started with Heidi saying that all the news, tweets and statements on road closures were just them thinking out loud, and nothing was settled yet. 
Seems we’ve already got them on the back foot...

Alexander and Powell were informed we as a trade will not tolerate a two tier system of electric and non-electric taxis. 
Where electric taxis go, we all go! 

Looks like we might get both bridges. London Bridge always was included and Waterloo is also possible for full inclusion.

They want to allow taxis in some roads, but within time limits like Bank Junction. This must not be the case under any circumstance.  

No one is sure what will or will not be implemented yet, but at least we’ve laid our cards in the table and a line has now been drawn in the sand. 

Anyway, between the three Orgs a legal letter by our QC will be redrafted (we already have a draft), but this will have to be amended to a more generic, less specific, letter due to the fact no one, not even TfL or the Mayor's Office, knows where we are being prohibited from yet. 



Fantastic letter sent to Deputy Mayor for Transport Heidi Alexander, from UTAG on behalf of the UCG, LCDC and LTDA...well worth a read!

https://mcusercontent.com/9800046227164f726ef17bbca/files/7f152244-5d81-4b64-98ec-7905f60df799/LSP_letter_to_TfL_Deputy_Mayor_for_Transport_5.6.2020.pdf

TAXI LEAKS EXTRA BIT :
My opinion, and I would guess that of the UCG, is no division of taxis (diesel vs electric) and no prohibition from any roads whatsoever. 

If a bus goes down it, so do we.

#WhereBusesGoTaxisGo ✊🏼

Also, in a conference call this afternoon, TfL are insisting that every Taxi and minicab driver must wear a mask. 
They have also said that passengers will have to be wearing masks too. 

https://www.pscp.tv/The_LCDC/1OyKAYjDLbrKb

Just hold on a minute, we are not public transport, Khan took us out of that.... and now he wants Taxi drivers to be treated the same as Bus drivers and Tube staff.... we are either in his Transport strategy, or we’re out, please make your mind up Sadiq 

Also, have TfL took into consideration the health aspects of wearing a mask for prolonged periods...say an 8 hour shift ???

It’s like the most professional Taxi service in the world, is being regulated by a bunch of amateurs. 



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