February 2012 DaaCC’’ss MMiikke SSoonn ccoonndduucctts tthhe LLonnddoonn CChaarriittyy Orrchheessttrraa……buutt wwhhyy aarree thheeyy llaaugghhiinngg?? EEllvviiss aanndd tthhee BBlluueess BBrrotthheerss ttooggeetthheerr oonn thhee ccoovveer ooff CCalll SSiiggnn?? WWhhaatt’’ss ggooingg oonn?? Call Sign February 2012 Page 2 NASH’S NUMBERS From Alan Nash (A95) Update on West End shows and approx finish times. No matinee info due to insufficient space… Don’t forget www.nashnumbers.co.uk for all back issues and www.myfav.co.uk for 70 page UID and ‘What’s On’ in February. Just register at www.myfav.co.uk with unlock code of taxi. MyFav is a great home page and you can win £100 just by recommending it (T&C’s apply)… Call Sign February 2012 Page 3 from the editor’s desk The moaners of One Hyde ride outside the lane to complete the manoeuvre Park??? and usually at a high speed – and with no attempt at looking to see what’s behind. As we get older, allegedly we begin moaning So I’ve thought of a great slogan for cyclists… about far more things than perhaps we wouldn’t Think Car! How do I do it…!!! have even thought about in our younger days. And yes, I plead guilty! I have become a moaner and Diane Abbott, black people events that wouldn’t have received a passing nod, now draw huge amounts of condemnation from and black cabs? we on the senior side of life. I’m not too sure whether the heading to this If you’ve been driving a taxi in London for more piece will be classified by some as being racist, than a few years, you’ll remember the huge amounts politically incorrect, insulting or just a silly joke? I of hassle caused by the building of One Hyde Park. It suppose the question is whether I’m referring to began around six years ago when Nick and Christian black cabs or black people! Or I could be refer - Candy began building the world’s most expensive ring to the Labour MP for Hackney North and and exclusive block of flats – sorry, apartments! The Stoke Newington and Shadow Health Minister, project survived the global economic crisis and even Diane Abbott. According to one of her tweets, she though the apartments have now been open for two is dubious of black people claiming they've never years, the traffic heading past the building’s McClaren experienced racism and asks whether they had racing car and Rolex showrooms, not to mention the ever tried hailing a taxi? Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank still crawls along at a snail’s there before they lashed out their multi-millions Actually I quite like Diane Abbott. She is down pace. and that if they don’t like the occasional late night to earth, fights for her constituents and is contro - But hey, people have to live somewhere so how – some, gosh, going on till 10.30 – then they versial to the point where you may listen to her could we begrudge residents such as Ukrainian shouldn’t have bought a pad in the park, the coun - just to see who she is going to insult next! Sadly, Rinat Akhmetov his homely £136million pad over - cil are set to cut the number of open-air concerts. this time it’s we taxi drivers who according to looking the Serpentine? I haven’t yet been invited And if that means I’m moaning, then tough. There many scribes, dislike being referred to as black for a look around, but I have it from a good source are lots of flats available in Pimlico where there cab drivers. Those of you who read this column that it’s not too bad in there! Mind you, not all the are no concerts… regularly will know that I am not one of those and residents are that well-off. Spare a thought for in fact I describe myself as a black cab driver Mohammed Saud Sultan al-Qasimi, head of finance LTPH News because everyone knows that means I don’t drive for Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. He spent The 14 page London Taxi & Private Hire News a minicab and am part of the best taxi service in just a paltry £11.5million on his apartment! that goes out to drivers via email every three the world. Around 65 of the 80 apartments have been months is a useful tool for LTPH to let readers By the same token, there are black drivers on sold, with one third of the deals having been know what the licensing authority are thinking. It Dial-a-Cab who I assume would dislike being sealed via the British Virgin Islands tax haven. One even comments on rumours! If you are not on the referred to as coloured because as they would nearby parking space even fetched £250,000. list then just send your email address to undoubtedly point out, we are all coloured and Some have pointed out that around £750million [email protected] putting London their colour is black. What colour do our Asian dri - each year is lost to the UK tax reserves thanks to Taxi & Private Hire News in the subject box. vers refer themselves as being? Brown? I’m not those said to have purchased apartments from While on the subject of their newssheet, can I sure and I’m not particularly bothered because I current owners and who can then avoid stamp offer a brief comment on their piece regarding just call them by their name if they agree not to duty by actually buying the offshore companies cyclists. Many regular readers will know that I am call me pink. And, so far as I can see, we all get on used to buy them! not the two-wheeler’s biggest fan and that thanks regardless of colour. Westminster City Council has attempted to to the pure selfish attitude of so many of them, I I have no doubt that some drivers will drive investigate who the current owners actually are usually expect them all to be a menace on the past black people – the operative word being as not all are as open as Mr Akhmetov and discov - road – and I am rarely disappointed… ‘some’ and from a total of 25,000 that word prob - ered that only nine apartments had registered for The LTPH article writes of cycle space and how ably represents a small fraction. I’ve made this council tax, five of them being second homes. we can help them stay safe – although thankfully point before and I’m not ashamed of it: I would Council officials wrote to developers asking for the number of cyclists involved in fatal accidents think twice about stopping for a group of young owners' names, but do not seem to have received has fallen. It then gives readers sensible guidance black kids wearing hoodies. Is that racist? Maybe, any response. They may have to send their chief on how we can help. Among the suggestions are but I would also think twice about stopping for a finance inspector round there on his bike to claim to give space to cyclists when overtaking and at group of white kids wearing hoodies. Is that the annual tax for each apartment of £755.60 plus junctions. Make sure there is room and time to racist? I have no problem picking up a group of the GLA’s £619.64. safely overtake – giving as much space as you black people who look – shall we say – normal. Certainly the Candy brothers can’t be held would when overtaking a car. Also to make sure Now if I were black, I’d find that statement to be responsible for whoever buys an apartment in the we indicate when planning to turn left or right so offensive. But most of our white passengers also block and they have confirmed that all buyers paid any following cyclists are aware of what we’re look normal – racism at its worst! stamp duty at the time of purchase. But registering planning to do. Then there is the passenger who This isn’t a problem caused by taxi drivers; it’s for council tax isn’t their responsibility. opens the door on the offside without looking, one that has been regurgitated by Diane Abbott. But the above isn’t to have a pop at wealthy forcing cyclists to swerve to avoid it - stupidity of The number of black people taking taxis has gone people, after all they use taxis and we are grateful the highest order. up over the years and the number of complaints for that. Perhaps it comes down to my self-admit - All that is good advice, but I feel that similar advice with regards to refusals going down. Ms Abbott ted moaning, but now local residents – and there should be given to cyclists as well. For example; has now taken the debate back several years and aren’t that many living too local to Hyde Park – when traffic lights are red, it means stop. When traf - damaged the previously improving relations, have complained about the noise from the sum - fic stops at a pedestrian crossing to allow people to because there was a time when this really was a mer’s open air concerts held at the park. Current cross the road, that includes anything on two wheels problem. You can read DaC driver’s views inside rumour suggests only 3 apartments are actually stopping as well. If you are following a taxi with its this issue.