In the news

Good article on the #uber situation

https://medium.com/@paul_a_smith/black-cab-drivers-sexual-assault-and-why-you-should-always-read-the-data-7c71fc7c49b5

This lorry driver, blind in one eye, would not be allowed to get a HGV licence under the new rules. I hope he is refused by DVLA when he applies after the 18month ban. Maybe the Transport Minister should write a letter . . .

Sadiq Khan says:

I have every sympathy with Uber drivers and customers affected by this decision but their anger really should be directed at Uber. They have let down their drivers and customers by failing, in the view of TfL, to act as a fit and proper operator.

Here’s What You Need To Know Before Signing That Uber Petition http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/uber-petition_uk_59c670efe4b01cc57ff28823

Is there a petition telling Uber to sort their employment practices and sexual assault reporting policy out? Should probably sign that one first.

Thanks, good to know the whole stat.

For the time period requested (between February 2015 and February 2016) 154 allegations of Rape or Sexual Assault were made to the MPS in which the suspect was alleged to have been a taxi driver.

Of those reports 32 allegations were reported in which it was stated that
the suspect was an Uber driver.

A few years ago Uber wanted support from cycling organisations. We suggested that they set up a link so cyclists could report dangerous driving by their 'contractors'.
Uber never called back

^ That is very telling.

Car passenger pushes cyclist.
http://road.cc/content/news/229695-video-police-investigate-after-footage-emerges-car-passenger-pushing-london

Should imagine the media will be all over this like the jogger pushing pedestrian.
Not holding breath.

Why’s this story about the blind lorry driver and his idiot daughter made a return given is 18 months old ?

An expected win although a worse result for Merkel than hoped (according to exit polls).

And AfD ('Alternative für Deutschland' as eagerly supported by Farage) likely a clear third.

Le yay. Like Wilders being second in the Netherlands is not ideal. Soul searching to do.

But unlike the Tories with Ukip I doubt Merkel wil just give them what they want... The Dutch Tories refuse to sit in government with Wilders too.

Not surprising, but must of their votes came from the East, where they may have reached around 21.5%.

The high vote for the AfD is one of the deplorable long-term results of Kohl's evil policies to punish East Germany in the so-called 'reunification'. They led to widespread and avoidable social devastation, which has caused a rise in extreme right-wing activity.

The AfD has split the right-wing vote, as expected, and (in a similar way to UKIP over here, I suspect) brought previously non-voting right-wing voters out to vote again. Schulz has failed to energise Germany's political left but it would be good for the SPD to spend some time in opposition, if that is what happens. I don't think Merkel will survive throughout this electoral term and expect the next elections early.

I’m not pro or anti Uber, it does seem though that they’re being held to a higher standard than the rest of the trade. Uber should undoubtedly report claims of sexual assault made against their drivers. I’d also like to see up-to-date stats on sexual assaults from all types of private hire providers per 1,000 fares.

On those other points, is it only Uber drivers who pay doctors for a health cert and what commission are TFL earning from their “preferred” DBS check supplier?

.
Edit: Repost. Monday morning.

This is gross.

Do we know how long ago it was?

I don't think Merkel will survive throughout this electoral term and expect the next elections early.

Maybe this year again, forming a coalition of 4 partys is quite a task but the SPD is definitely going in opposition and the only other option for Merkel is "Jamaika".
I can't see CDU/CSU, FDP and die Grünen working together nicely, the CSU is already questioning their partnership with the CDU...

http://road.cc/content/news/229740-9m-drivers-using-mobile-phones-wheel-according-rac

It's funny how with protest votes nobody seems to think "oh the Greens are an anti austerity party" no let's go with the Afd...

My cynical side says it's because the Greens are unwilling to victimize minorities / don't offer good old traditional values like gays are unnatural/women should be behind the sink, but perhaps I missed something? :)

I don't think the 'austerity' narrative is as strong in Germany as over here, although they have been cutting public funding for all sorts of things, too.

Germany's immense economic imbalance is connected more strongly in public awareness with Schröder's social 'reforms', encapsulated in the term 'Hartz IV', in which he basically did the work of a conservative government. This lost the SPD a lot of voters and continues to be a main reason why the party's seen as a lame duck and unable to stand up for much of their traditional base.

In doing all that they were very much like New Labour, but Germany didn't have an idiot like George Osborne in charge of the public finances later. While Schäuble is not exactly a paragon of justice and certainly bears a large share of the responsibility for many of the worst things about European politics in recent times, in Germany he would have been out of office very quickly if he'd tried on the same kind of claptrap as Osborne. Germany's problems are many, from the unhealthy export surplus to the problematic history, especially in the East, of 'reunification'. I've just read that the AfD was the largest party in Sachsen, with a bigger share of the vote than the CDU, which is really shocking.

I think up thread we were discussing the letter sent to local authorities and cyclist organisations regarding obeying the HC and if anybody else had been singled out for this treatment, the answer would appear to be no.

I bet your shocked, I know I was......a'nt

Given the relative risk of cycling, have letters of this nature been sent to the AA, the RAC, the Road Haulage Association, or driving instructors up and down the country in the three years since Grayling’s review was announced, asking their followers to brush up on the Highway Code? No, they haven’t.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2017/sep/25/ministers-call-for-cyclists-to-behave-is-more-headline-grabbing-hypocrisy

if anybody else had been singled out for this treatment, the answer would appear to be no

Fairly logically so, as if anybody else had been singled out for this treatment, no-one would have been singled out. :)

Thanks for that link.
Somewhat reassuring that my view of the inadequacy of the instant letter from Jesse Norman, is shared by others, not that the motorists in the Department of Transport will recognise their error.

In light of that letter I had a read of the Highway Code and it says reflectors are required. Are there any out there that don't look absolutely hideous? I'd like to comply so that if I'm in an accident or whatever I can't be blamed for it.

^ I realise this isn't in any way helpful, but bear in mind that pedal reflectors are also compulsory. This rules out the vast majority of pedals anyone would actually want to use. Same with lights that comply with British Standards.