The voice of the taxi trade’s only independent organisation Issue 215 Dec. 2013/Jan. 2014 WHERE DO WE INSIDE TFL’S CYCLING UTOPIA GO FROM HERE? PAGES 4&5 NEWS LCDC writes to Commissioner Sir Peter Hendy WALKER ON THE MARCH over concerns PAGE 9 for the cab NEWS trade’s future LCDC VISITS LONDON Full story TAXI COMPANY on page 3 PAGE 17 2 Issue 215 - December 2013/January 2014 Editorial Grant Davis engage in a more positive and meaningful collaboration. Published by Since the last edition of The By working together we can The London Cab Drivers’ Club Ltd. Badge there seems to be a lot secure the long term future of Unit A 303.2, more willingness from TFL to the world’s finest taxi service. Tower Bridge Business Complex Tower Point, 100 Clements Road consult properly with the cab Southwark, London SE16 4DG trade. LCDC visits LTC factory However, at the end of the day Last week myself and Club sec Telephone: 020 7232 0676 and despite another meeting on Darryl Cox visited the LTC E-mail for membership enquiries: the 3rd December, nothing has factory in Coventry to see just E-mail: [email protected] changed. how things were developing and Web: lcdcorg.wordpress.com The LCDC again raised its to bring us up to speed with LTC Editor: Grant Davis concerns at the meeting with plans for the future. Garrett Emerson and Steve Whilst there we also took the The Badge is distributed free to the Licensed London Cab Trade. Burton that the changes that have opportunity to raise our concerns For advertising enquiries please contact the office on been implemented will not work with them regarding the new 020 7394 5553 or E-mail: [email protected] and will have dire long term changes implemented by TfL. We be working hard in 2014 to bring All advertising in The Badge is accepted under our terms and conditions. These are available consequences for the future of put to them that for the trade to all these parties together for the at the LCDC office. our industry if left unchallenged. go forward there needs to be a benefit of the licensed trade. Before entering into any commitment, financial much broader coalition working or otherwise, always remember to seek Therefore we have written professional advice. (page 3) to TFL Commissioner Sir together - manufacturers, trade Christmas again The views expressed in this publication are not Peter Hendy requesting that TFL orgs, taxi app providers, all those It is that time of the year again necessarity those fo the Editor or of the Management Committee of the reconsider their actions and take who work exclusively with the and I would like to wish every London Cab Driver’s Club. on board the club’s licensed taxi trade in London. licensed taxi driver and their Contributions for publication are welcomed and should be sent to the Editor at the recommendations that we feel will Their response to us was very families a very happy Christmas above address. enable our trade and TFL to positive indeed and the Club will and a prosperous New Year. The London Cab Drivers’ Club Ltd. Issue 215 - December 2013/January 2014 3 LCDC outlines the Club’s vision for cab trade’s future CLUB’S RECOMMENDATIONS Summary of discussion points regarding the organisation of the London licensed cab trade within Transport for London The LCDC has four key negotiating aims. These are to: maintain the distinct historical identity of the London licensed cab trade consisting of both its drivers and vehicles establish clear channels of communication between the licensed trade and operational personnel at TfL establish unambiguous lines of accountability for the licensed trade function within TfL identify and safeguard the self- financing nature of licensed cab regulation We believe these aims can be achieved by: creating a separate directorate within TfL to deal exclusively with the licensed taxi trade staffed with dedicated and trained personnel emphasising the role of compliance and enforcement guaranteeing the primacy of the Knowledge as a necessary and unique element of the licensed taxi trade and in London’s overall transport policy continuing the policy of the self- financing nature of the licensed taxi trade by identifying and safeguarding its contributions maintaining quarterly meetings between TfL management and those bodies which exclusively represent the licensed taxi trade [email protected] 4 Issue 215 - December 2013/January 2014 TFL’S VISION OF A Andrew Gilligan - TFL cycle czar Battle for space, can we co-exist? By Alan McGrady a lot of funding that will be coming and bus bays that are situated on with solutions tailored to take into out of the fare payer’s funds over Victoria Embankment into account the particular Last month the LCDC was the next three years. Next year will Westminster’s already packed side characteristics, opportunities and invited to hear how the Mayor of see two roads change to streets” he had no answer, so I constraints on a street. On some London’s vision for Cycling in accommodate new cycle paths was still left wondering where they stretches of road no intervention London that was launched in that will link up with cycle highway were going to place the tourist (other than signage) will be March 2013 was faring and also schemes; one will be Blackfriars coaches that visit London required. For example, if it is for future schemes that we will Road which will become two lanes throughout the year? Throughout already two-way and the street is be seeing soon. After an only going north and south from the morning two words kept considered to be sufficiently quiet opening speech from Andrew Blackfriars Bridge to St Georges coming up, these were The Grid and safe for novice cyclists. Gilligan (TFL’s bike Czar for Circus. This will create a boulevard and Quietways - these will all link However, there are many parts of London), who spoke at length feel that (they hope) will give up with the super cycle highways. Westminster’s proposed grid on how he feels TFL are moving cyclists the freedom they crave ‘Quietways’ are less busy but network that are currently one way in the right / wrong direction in and will also aid those who don’t reasonably direct routes linked to for traffic. promoting cycle safety in feel confident cycling in London’s Superhighways and are aimed at A key goal in the delivery of the London for the next few years traffic. the novice, less confident cyclists Grid programme is to improve and the upcoming schemes and The other major scheme will be who are not comfortable cycling in permeability for cyclists, which budget. to make Victoria Embankment busy traffic and don’t mind cycling means making existing streets join With an eye-watering budget of more accessible by creating a at a more relaxed pace. Each route up better. A number of options will, over £400 million pound in the next raised cycle path near the river will be designed as a whole, rather therefore, be considered for three years, cycle schemes are side which will be separated by a than on a piecemeal basis, with making existing one way streets going to change the face of kerbside area; this will also cut us problematic areas tackled from the two-way for cyclists, whilst London’s main roads and side down to only two lanes going east outset, even if it is delivered in minimising the impact on other streets as we know them in the and west. When I asked Martin phases to complement other road users. Careful consideration next few years in some 33 Low, who is Westminster Council's proposals. A variety of physical must be given to servicing and boroughs. They will all be holding Director of Transportation... “if TFL measures will be delivered as part delivery needs and to pedestrians their hands out for funding - that’s are proposing to put all the coach of the Cycle Grid in Westminster, who may not be expecting cycle LCDC LEADERS www.lcdcorg.wordpress.com Issue 215 - December 2013/January 2014 5 CYCLING UTOPIA… Proposed cycle lane for Victoria Embankment Proposed cycle lane for Blackfriars road traffic from both directions. A cycle lanes will not always be This came about after cyclists Only for me to butt in and ask: number of boroughs have already feasible or expected, particularly took it upon themselves to break “Boris said last Christmas that he trialled such exemptions for where there is significant pressure the law and cycle the wrong way up wants them gone but there cyclists. on footway, carriageway and a one way street, so instead of numbers are still growing.” Only for On some busier stretches of kerbside space from competing enforcing the law they changed the Andrew Gilligan to come back with road, fully segregated cycle lanes demands. It is acknowledged that road layout. a reply that left me dumbfounded: and/or improved junctions may be delivering the Mayor’s Vision to the One of the upshots of the Grid “We hassle the rickshaws and required. Again, consideration will desired levels of service is coming in will be the stopping of rat they go away.” Oh, that really need to be given to what kerbside nonetheless likely to be a significant runs that we have been trained to works. I wonder what Martin Low access is required on a street (e.g. challenge for both TfL and the use over the years, thus forcing us thought, aas Westminster’s streets for buses or servicing), what the council.