Taxis - Black Cabs, Uber, Illegal Cabbies

Every cyclist should have a tracker system.

Agreed. They should have a uniquely identifiable tag on their bike (including an annual roadworthiness test) and mandatory insurance, plus having to pass some form of standardised riding standards test. That would mean there are zero infractions.

interesting take; things seem to have developed! Now we all need trackers? We should also be on some kind of register so that communities can be alerted if a cyclist is ever moving there or god forbid, cycling through near their houses and children and cars.

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I've think heard of something like that before somewhere? does it work?

Can’t believe the FUCK TAXI courier actually lived up his name.

They could start with putting trackers in taxis, and issuing fines/disqualifications for speeding. After about an hour the streets would be empty.

I had a rare reason to rent a car and drive today. I was going at 20mph on a 20 limit street, and the private hire vehicle following me was flashing his lights and driving much too close :-/

I did get to cheer on the commuter cyclists (legally) overtaking me, though.

The only source of the story is a black cabbie with a long history of abuse and threats toward cyclists. So I reserve judgement.

The guy (fuck taxis) is definitely a berk, but that's not his face.

Yes, doesn't seem to be any independent reporting of this,, bit odd that

TfL are providing an opportunity to comment on taxi prices here (closes on the 27th):

https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/taxis/fares-2018/

Presumably higher fares would result in fewer people using taxis (and therefore fewer taxis).

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/may/04/uber-brighton-passenger-safety-licensing-committee

Cool.

Uber >>>

Black cab in hit-and-run in Edinburgh.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-44532847

The knowledge to be updated with new section on how to dump bodies properly.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/shocking-moment-london-cabbie-drags-passenger-from-cab-by-his-feet-and-dumps-him-in-the-road-a3897121.html

Has anyone else noticed that Add Lee have called their training school the Addison Lee Knowledge School. Some would say they're taking the piss a bit

A slightly different variant, not involving a taxi:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/26/police-seek-moped-driver-stabbed-lift-dying-teenager-london

Have been seeing a lot more hybrid electric taxis on the road recently.

Certainly nicer than the old diesel ones - much quieter and noticeably less smelly.

Black cabbie mayhem, apologies for horrible sexist language:

https://twitter.com/willcocks_tony/status/1038874109290131458

State of that lot.

So in my office overlooking London Bridge, I'm currently looking out at the 4th night of Black Cabs blocking the bridge in protest at TFL preventing them from using Tooley Street.

Must really grate on all the Taxi drivers seeing all the cyclists riding past, completely unaffected.....

I wondered when someone was going to mention this!

Surprised it's had no column inches in the Metro/Standard...

The Standard has certainly covered it:

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/london-bridge-cab-protest-two-more-nights-of-traffic-misery-as-taxi-drivers-block-river-crossing-a4004006.html

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/london-bridge-protests-black-cab-drivers-cause-third-night-of-traffic-mayhem-a4003056.html

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/london-bridge-black-cab-protest-angry-taxi-drivers-create-second-night-of-traffic-chaos-in-capital-a4001791.html

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/london-bridge-protest-fury-as-black-cab-drivers-blockade-river-crossing-sparking-huge-traffic-jams-a4000686.html

I've been following the story there.

Christ! I must have been turning eight pages at a time.

Well, I don't know if it was in the paper version--there is the editor's conflict of interest because of his most lucrative employment.

I cycled through them the other day and there were cab sat empty with their engines still on. Mental.

They keep the engines on to keep the heater on (not the most efficient way of staying warm obviously).

Meanwhile all the cabbies that aren't idiots are taking their fares.

More bike lanes = more people who ditch cars for bikes = more people likely to take a cab when they need it because they've sold off their car.

I've cycled through them every evening this week - at least 50% have their engines running. Now, I can see why they're not happy about Uber but fighting for their rights to pollute Tooley St? Nuts. Surely a better approach would be to try and get some sort of TfL/Govt. subsidy to switch over to newer electric cabs? Pursue something that would benefit all Londoners. They would then be in a much better position to claim privileges over which streets they're allowed on.