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

Mr B Oddy

My only hope is that Griffin is is so far out of touch with reality that he will end up alienating himself from the few politically powerful connections he has managed to build. He clearly doesn't have a clue about transport in London, only how his business runs. Hopefully the fact he is a clueless numpty will be apparent to those who have influence. I bet some of his drivers don't feel comfortable with the attention he has brought on AL over this. Lots of PHV users are cyclists too and they'll be getting an earbashing now and again.

I don't really have an issue with somebody taking steps to achieve something they believe should be changed (whether I agree with it or not) but I am at a loss for words to describe how pre-pubescent and ill conceived his methods are.

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuu.

So is this the 'behind closed doors' Tory policy? Why else would he fund that party if it wasn't in his interests?

Can we have a Mayor who will stand up to eejits like this?

Sadly we can't because Labout have put up an even more unelectable candidate than Johnson. It is an outrage that we are going to have to suffer four more years of Johnson because Labour will not stand up to Livingstone. Cameron must be laughing his socks off at the idea that Ken Livingstone is the reason why he will be rid of Johson for four more years.

It is about time that the major parties treated Londoners and their needs seriously rather than foisting evil muppets upon us.

I will be voting Green even though there is no chance of Jenny Jones being elected. At least she has integrity. She is also the only candidate calling for a boycott of Addy Lee.

By the way Mr Griffin, I pay "Road Tax" on a car I rarely use and I have had cycle training. Does this mean that you will tell your Gang not to kill me?

Maybe if he had some longer ties he'd be happier?

Sadly we can't because Labout have put up an even more unelectable candidate than Johnson. It is an outrage that we are going to have to suffer four more years of Johnson because Labour will not stand up to Livingstone. Cameron must be laughing his socks off at the idea that Ken Livingstone is the reason why he will be rid of Johson for four more years.

It is about time that the major parties treated Londoners and their needs seriously rather than foisting evil muppets upon us.

I will be voting Green even though there is no chance of Jenny Jones being elected. At least she has integrity. She is also the only candidate calling for a boycott of Addy Lee.

By the way Mr Griffin, I pay "Road Tax" on a car I rarely use and I have had cycle training. Does this mean that you will tell your Gang not to kill me?
I vote Clive for Mayor.

I don't, he'd start tagging everything

Road.cc's take on this:

http://road.cc/content/news/56999-addison-lee-chairman-airs-his-opinion-london-cyclist-deaths

Comment on this post says that a driver was talking on Twitter about it, anyone see that or have a link?

http://cyclelondoncity.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/addisonlee-theres-every-chance-that.html

http://twitter.com/#!/laindonlad/status/192469633419313152

That tweet has gone. It was

@IlforddaveSCFC @citycyclists @AddisonLeeCabs simply drive over the 3 morons on bikes in front of your......... problem solved

Thanks MrDrem.

Griffin's views are very ordinary and are held by a large part of the population--it's a cultural issue. With people like him, you need to tackle these arguments head-on. And while he's wrong about most things (he's right that lack of skill in cyclists is not a desirable thing, for instance, but I wonder if he knows about cycle training--you'd hope that that's what he refers to), he's at least open about them and, I'd guess, probably not averse to dialogue. It's funny sometimes--you can get people with very bigoted views but actually realise that you can talk to them.

Have you offered him cycle training yet, David? If he rides hire bikes (someone said that he had a hire bike key?), he'd have to jump at the chance of getting trained, if he hadn't already been.

...on the case ;)

can i get that job?

Hmmmm.....

go on!

Addison Lee wannabe-cabs need a new batch of Cunt. stickers on them.

If you're going to offer him cycle training, do it very very publicly, with contact privately to confirm that you are serious.

As with these things we would leave it up to him to decide the degree of publicity he wishes. Cycle training companies do have a responsibility of client confidentiality (Though I will point out this thread if he wishes to share)

can i get that job?

No. You can get Boris Johnson if he ever consents to cycle training. :)

Yes, I understand the client confidentially responsibility, but surely that only covers the fact that he has or hasn't taken it up, not the fact that you are offering it to him?

So the degree of publicity if he wishes to take it up should be up to him, but the offer of it can (and I feel, should) be in public. A 'We'd love to be able to show you how well trained a good cyclist is, will you take us up on it?' makes it hugely harder to say no to.

I'd be interested to see why you think the offer should be in private too though.

Because he will be more likely to take it up if he's not put on the spot like its a publicity stunt. He then may be more open and receptive

But... he likes publicity stunts.

£20 says he'd RLJ all day like a boss, no gets caught

Anyhow, what's our position on this? Clearly TfL are powerless, and the SMIDSY thing combined with the bus lane thing is totally indefensible.

How about these:

1) Personally boycott Addison Lee.

2) Petition any of our employers who use Addison Lee to consider not doing so, and refuse use of Addison Lee if given to us (seeking to either cycle instead or go by black cab and put it in an expenses claim).

3) Take primary position in bus lanes and ride slower when Addison Lee cars are around (ensuring your safety first and foremost).

As in... I'm going to send out an email to the mailing list for some other stuff, and feel that this is something that we should act collectively over.

Cyclists are also Addison Lee customers, and seemingly the only thing that he cares about is money. If we act collectively to hurt his pocket a little (withdrawal of business via the boycott and work petition, and delaying fixed price journeys and forcing them to get out of the bus lane by a primary position go-slow)... then he might comprehend that whilst TfL has no ability to create a change of heart, that perhaps the raw economics caused by upsetting cyclists could do.

There are surely enough of us, on LFGSS, in the LCC, on Ride.cc and YACF and various other websites, that we could reach a very substantial number of cyclists in London and actually do this... actually hurt his pocket, which is the only thing he cares about.

I'd avoid 3, as that's discriminatory- you should take the primary position when appropriate, not to annoy people/make a point.

Otherwise, spot on.