Taxi Driver Online

REDBRIDGE: Black Cab Drivers Say Ban Could Put Hundreds Out Of A Job

Tuesday 6th October 2009

Black cabbies in Redbridge say plans to ban older taxis from central London will put hundreds of experienced drivers out of a job.

Boris Johnson's plans to introduce a 10-year age limit on taxis in the capital has met with fierce opposition from cabbies across the borough who say it will unfairly penalise veteran drivers who have taken extra care to maintain their vehicles.

The move - which is due to be enforced in 2015 - is part of a package of measures proposed by the Mayor of London to ensure the capital meet strict new EU air quality targets.

Cabbie Mark Thurbin, of Malborough Road, Clayhall, said older drivers like his 67-year-old father would be forced to give up the job if the plan is introduced.

He said: "There are hundreds of older cabbies like my dad who have been driving for years, and they are often the best ones around. They really take care of their vehicles.

"A lot of them have cabs older than 10 years, and only work a few hours a week - so buying a new cab or renting one just wouldn't be worth their while.

"These blokes really look after their vehicles and it would be completely unfair to penalise them."

These views were echoed by fellow cabbie Colin Salmon of Brunswick Gardens, Clayhall.

He said: "If an old cab is blowing smoke out the back then it shouldn't be on the road, but we pay a fortune to get our vehicles overhauled every year and they are mainly in good shape.

"It's ridiculous to penalise the older guys who have looked after their cabs for years. Some of them are in better shape than the newer taxis on the road."

Steve McNamara of the London Taxi Drivers' Association said: "I think it is fair to say London taxi drivers have just fallen out with Boris. We spent a lot of money in 2007 converting our cabs to make them greener and now to do this is outrageous."

The mayor has also announced a U-turn on his promise not to carry out 'phase 3' of the Low Emission Zone scheme - which will now include vans and mini-buses by 2012.

The move will potentially cost Redbridge's hard-pressed haulage firms and transport companies thousands of pounds to upgrade their vehicles.

Mr Johnson said: 'I want to improve the quality of life for Londoners.

"These proposals call for everyone to play their part in curbing pollution but those who contribute more to this problem should be expected to do more to provide the solution."

Source; Guardian-Series.co.uk

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

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So, he's gonna tax the pants off the bus companies then?

One more thing and I'm not trying to be incendiary here but something in the article jumped out at me as being a bit backwards.

These cabbies who "...only work a few hours a week..." and for whom it doesn't make any sense to upgrade to or rent new vehicles, how can it be a hardship for them? They hardly work. In fact it seems almost like the driving is a hobby for them and they're actually semi-retired. I also can't see the sense in spending thousands of pounds [claimed] a year at maintaining a vehicle if you only do a few hours a week.

I could understand it if the vehicle was your only source of income. Then it would make sense to invest in its' continued upkeep but if you've got an old taxi and you only do a few hours a week where's the sense in spending a fortune keeping it on the road or worrying if it's going to be declared obsolete.

Maybe they should think about getting a cab which still has some 'life' in it now before the prices go up.

the whole thing is F*cked up.....like the theorys behind global warming ffs

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

In my experience, the majority of older Taxis (15 yrs +) should be gone.

Sure, there are always a good few exemptions which are kept in A1 condition, but the majority of the pensioners who still drive taxis tend to either share or rent from a garage on a double shifted cab.

Some of these taxis have to be seen to be believed.

On street inspections seem to be nil nowadays, which has allowed some of the garages to drop their standards to the minimum required and a bit less.

Now some of the older contributors on here may remember my Fairway H898 which left me subject to much pizz taking from the likes of Capt. Cab who referred to me as Hugh Skully or Mr Claypole from Rent-a-Ghost.

Still, I stood firm, and it was water of a ducks back, even a duck in Auchtermuchty.

That was in immaculate condition, but even I knew it required replacing, hence the TX1 was purchased . . . then the Tx2 . . . then the E7?

Talking about Mr Claypole from Rent-a-Ghost, did anyone know that he died from Aids in 1987!

Gadzooks!

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

You mean:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boCLFFxxrAg

naaaaa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Idv-FGUR ... re=related

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I noticed that as well, and we have a few such drivers in East Fife, and some of us drive round the town in £20k motors trying to get on the ranks while these guys clog them up with their old jalopies.

So the council helpfully capped the numbers and brought even more of these people into the trade in the hope of making a fast buck.

And now these guys can run a cab but a full-time driver can't.

Unless of course he rents or pays a premium for the plate to the part-time/jalopy brigade.

The restricted numbers utopia, eh?

It's probably one of those 'getting older' things. It's something they've always but they may have made their money or just can't be bothered doing it all the time so they dial back the number of hours they do. I agree with your point, though; guys doing that for beer money are keeping possibly harder working people out of the game.
There's a guy I know who does it and, to be honest, he does my head in. He could at least double-shift the taxi, opening a living up to someone else and getting his renewal fees back but he only goes out in the taxi for drinking money and when his wife is annoying him.

These old taxi-drivers... waste of space..... should put them up against a wall and shoot them..... they have no right to be alive.... or keep on working......

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

What a load of bollocks.

However if the deadwood wish to retire, then all the more for us young stallions.

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IDFIMH

Were you a brown shirt in the Third Reich?

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

The world's greatest escape system ..... none better!!!

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

Have you a spy in Carlisle