Addison Lee drivers told to defy bus lane law (and to just say SMIDSY)

I had a long phone conversation yesterday with John Mason. He is the top guy at TfL for PHVs, and wasn't too pleased that he'd spent the weekend on the phone to his Q.C. about Addison Lee.

Ultimately what John Mason said was:
1) To suspend the PHV licence to Addison Lee would take years.
2) To seek an injunction (which is what they're doing) will take 6-8 months.

In both of those cases, Addison Lee drivers would still be in bus lanes. So they will be for at least 6-8 months... which covers the entire Olympics timespan and Summer 2012 quite nicely. A well-timed act by Addison Lee.

On what cyclists could do, he basically said nothing at all.

3) Evidence gained in the form of photos would be dismissed as "a moment in time", which could be a legitimate pick-up or set-down.
4) Evidence gained in the form of long-running video showing Addison Lee in a bus lane may be prosecutable.

But John went on to not so subtly state that such minor actions against individual drivers would force them to respond, but would suck up what little resources they had and would overall be detrimental to them in fighting the wider issue.

TfL issued a letter to PHV drivers, but in effect is admitting that it has little ability to do anything and that they are weak when it comes to acting against the company, and under-resourced to act against the drivers.

John Griffin has done well, if his drivers listen to him, then he's effectively got access to bus lanes as no-one will stop him.

As to what we can do? Collecting evidence is useless, by admission of John Mason of TfL.

The best we can do is just to pursue our own safety: primary position in a bus lane at a speed that we're comfortable with and to be extra alert for Addison Lee and other PHV drivers making last second manoeuvres into the lane.

So we have to just suck it up? The biggest collection of shitty drivers in London are now going to abuse one of the few resources we have, and there's fuck all we or the authorities can/will do about it?

What's the point in John Mason's job, exactly?

I thought much the same on the phonecall. The problem being that the powers granted to them really restrict TfL's ability to do anything, and if they act in any way that can be seen to "harm a person's livelihood" then they have to go slowly through a system of multiple appeals.

Half-joking last night at the pub... could we obstruct access to Addison Lee depots for a day? I don't even think so because they do not centralise into a few large depots, and also because we'd then be at risk of arrest.

By and large, there's very little we can do, except to act as an annoyance to Addison Lee drivers who try and use the bus lanes.

Now the buses, black cabs, mini-cabs, bicycles and motorcycles gonna be in the bus lanes.

It's not only going to increase congestion, but the risk toward the motorcyclists/cyclists will be increased further (especially the motorcyclists on the bus lane with the combination of bad driving from an AL minicab).

If this happens then it effectively abolishes bus lanes, because the vast majority of cars in London appear to be minicabs.

Therefore we can assume that Griffin either wants exactly that, or that he wants black cabs to be banned from them too, which may be quicker to legally achieve.

I'm still going to argue the toss with ALL AddLee drivers, because it appears they have no legal right - they've just been told to use them by their shockingly-attired boss.

Why anyone would listen to an individual dressed like him remains a mystery.

As far as I can tell, the main problem for TfL is that they appear to be getting no political support on this one. This isn't subject to purdah, or is it?

I'm still going to argue the toss with ALL AddLee drivers

Have you not spotted the evident connection between dancing james being allowed back and this news yet?

Imagine if DJ was an AddLee driver?

Have you not spotted the evident connection between dancing james being allowed back and this news yet?

Cometh the hour, cometh the man

Cheers 'Roogs, but I don't want to think of James in that capacity.

It's like the super hero returning just when they are most needed.

(except I am neither super or heroic).

^This

But I think you're super.

Nergatron to the rescue!

Now the buses, black cabs, mini-cabs, bicycles, motorcycles and occasionally HGV gonna be in the bus lanes.
.

fixed.

I forget that TfL is planning to allowed HGV on bus lanes in Church Road.

Therefore we can assume that Griffin either wants exactly that, or that he wants black cabs to be banned from them too, which may be quicker to legally achieve.

I think he just wants equality.

I'm with Mr_tom, and AL on this one, the current system is blatant discrimination.

I don't buy the "oh but they've done the knowledge" argument. So they can offer a better service to their passengers, they've already got an advantage, they don't need a monopoly to further increase that.

I'd argue the same for picking up fares on the street, why should they get an advantage there as well.

And our personal views on AL are irrelevant, this isn't about how it may affect us, it's about equality, I'd be pretty embarrassed if this starts into some cyclist vendetta against AL. Obviously we should report any infringements/dangerous driving, but not because they are AL, but for any vehicle, be that bus, taxi, pvh, hgv, cyclist, whatever.

Needs to be made up as a sticker.

I think he just wants equality.

In that case, the coaches should be allowed on bus lanes as well as the London bus if you want equality.

Those "hop on, hop off" fuckers are too.

And our personal views on AL are irrelevant, this isn't about how it may affect us, it's about equality, I'd be pretty embarrassed if this starts into some cyclist vendetta against AL. Obviously we should report any infringements/dangerous driving, but not because they are AL, but for any vehicle, be that bus, taxi, pvh, hgv, cyclist, whatever.

This!

I've noticed awful driving bu A.L. drivers, and anecdotally they are shite. but I notice some black cabs driven badly and a tonne of other mini cabs, not to mention poor sports behind the wheels of a good many German performance cars. But if this gets tribal, we will suffer as a result.

If all road users took each other at face value, without ill informed preconceptions I for one would be treated better as a cyclist as I rarely act in a manner likely to encourage rage or bullying.

In that case, the coaches should be allowed on bus lanes as well as the London bus if you want equality.

One doesn't mean the other has to happen, but if the private coach companies believe there is inequality there then they are welcome to pursue that. My personal opinion is they don't compete in the same way (you don't stand at the bus stop and say I could take the 73, or I could take the National Express).

You can't hailed a minicab, neither a coach, that's what I was referring to as you clearly pointed this out in reference to the 73/National Express.

You need to book a cab before the journey, rather than simply hailing one down and telling the driver where to go.

not too dissimilar to a coach where you book a ticket to a specific destination.

I think he just wants equality.

I'm with Mr_tom, and AL on this one, the current system is blatant discrimination.

I don't buy the "oh but they've done the knowledge" argument. So they can offer a better service to their passengers, they've already got an advantage, they don't need a monopoly to further increase that.

I'd argue the same for picking up fares on the street, why should they get an advantage there as well.

And our personal views on AL are irrelevant, this isn't about how it may affect us, it's about equality, I'd be pretty embarrassed if this starts into some cyclist vendetta against AL. Obviously we should report any infringements/dangerous driving, but not because they are AL, but for any vehicle, be that bus, taxi, pvh, hgv, cyclist, whatever.

Riiiiiiiight. I'll be sure to do that from my hospital bed when one of these fuckers does that impatient switch from a jammed main lane to the quick flowing bus lane minus indicator. Even if the indicator is on, it's a request NOT a demand. You really think they'll stop for my presence?
sadly all this means I'm now at risk from even more impatient, unpredicitable and inconsiderate drivers. Just remember one thing about equality:

Bike ≠ Motorised vehicle.

You can't hailed a minicab, neither a coach, that's what I was referring to as you clearly pointed this out in reference to the 73/National Express.

You need to book a cab before the journey, rather than simply hailing one down and telling the driver where to go.

But I do have the choice of pre-booking both phv, and black cabs, for the same journey, so they are in direct competition.

You don't have that option with buses/private coaches.

But either way, that's not relevant to the question of whether private hire vehicles (not just AL) should have the same rights as black cabs.

Riiiiiiiight. I'll be sure to do that from my hospital bed when one of these fuckers does that impatient switch from a jammed main lane to the quick flowing bus lane minus indicator. Even if the indicator is on, it's a request NOT a demand. You really think they'll stop for my presence?

I don't know Festus, I wouldn't judge a person's driving ability by their occupation or their employer.