Cockney Rebel...’
‘with a 2010 cause!
A
nother year has passed and what do we Compare the price of a taxi to a comparable car many others from the cab trade. We had a
have to show for it? Recession has hit the and the price could be as much as ten thousand good night eating and drinking, not me though
trade hard but the bills still keep rolling in. Drivers pounds more for the taxi. Insurance is about
D V , Z D V G U L Y L Q J D Q G R I F R X U V H , G L G Q � W Z D Q W
on radio circuits have noticed a downturn in the same. Repairs are astronomical against a
to be accused of being drunk as I have in the
corporate accounts using taxis and I wonder if car. You can almost take the car anywhere but
S D V W D W R Q H R I W K H Z D V K H U V D Q G S R O L V K H U V G R � V
L W � V Z R U W K V R P H R I W K H P H Y H Q E H L Q J R Q U D G L R 7 K H the taxi must go to a taxi garage where, when
you know them that funny hand shake lot full
circuits get their money even in a recession and entering, you must assume the position and do
W K D W � V Z K D W U D Q N O H V V R P H G U L Y H U V 7 K H \ K D Y H L Q what we have done for years with these taxis
of their own self importance! If you can get
effect, taken a pay cut but the circuits still charge and take it up the backside without so much as
drunk on water then I hold my hands up, then
and get their subs. Drivers have constantly, over a whimper.
maybe I was. Anyway, back to real people in
the last fourteen months, been told they have
the real down to earth world. Russell Pollock
W R K D Y H O H V V R Q W K H U X Q L Q V � [ H G S U L F H M R E V F X W I think and sincerely hope the tide is turning
and his wife organised a good night out and
to the bone and all manner of wheezes, so we, and suspect we are fed up with the proverbial
it must have been a real headache, what with
according to the people running the circuits, can X S W K H � E D F N V L G H � W U H D W P H Q W : H P X V W D Q G , this recession in selling tickets. I did notice
compete on price with Private Hire. What they N Q R Z , � Y H E H H Q E D Q J L Q J R Q D E R X W W K L V I R U D J H V that the ones who purport to run the trade
G R Q � W G R K R Z H Y H U L V F X W W K H L U V D O D U L H V but we must have a proper choice of taxis. I
were sadly lacking in their presence. It would
would still like the TX model, but with a totally
have been nice if those who appear to turn up
I must admit I would have a problem with the different engine and knowing what I know now,
at every photo opportunity to claim the spoils
billing system some of the London taxi radio I would never in a million years ever entertain
for getting a taxi rank every other year could
circuits charge to the customer. I am not at air conditioning in my taxi unless it was in
have supported such a worthy cause. The back
the moment going into the semantics of the V R P H W K L Q J R W K H U W K D Q D 7 ; Y H K L F O H , W � V W R R P X F K
vehicle we are compelled to use, which is not D J J U R D Q G V W U H V V J H W W L Q J W K H P � [ H G 0 D \ E H L W � V
stabbers bickering at each other over why they
a viable proposition in the modern world when M X V W P \ F D E D Q G , � P D O Z D \ V W K H X Q O X F N \ R Q H E X W
are losing members of their respective unions
you consider costs of a taxi against a private enough is enough.
and associations could take a leaf out of the
hire vehicle. Forget whether the drivers of
books of those who organise charity events. It
private hire are employed by the company or Drivers taking the you know what
was a good event and I would like to personally
Q R W E X W O H W � V G H D O Z L W K F R V W V W R W K H F X V W R P H U 2 Y H U W K H \ H D U V , � Y H S D L G P \ L Q V X U D Q F H I R U W K H F D E thank Russell and his wife. Thanks however
If a customer telephones a taxi radio circuit in various different ways. Monthly, then quarterly must go to the sponsors of the dinner and,
for an account job going from say London and now yearly. Not all insurance companies
of course, a special thanks for the generosity
Wall to Regent Street he will end up with a bill do monthly so some drivers have had to go to
of Mrs Sherry who donated two tickets for a
obviously more than if he had walked outside quarterly but I preferred the option of yearly.
weekend in New York, won by Kenny Flemwell
D Q G � D J J H G G R Z Q D W D [ L 7 K H � Q D O E L O O R Q D Q 1 R U P D O O \ , J L Y H P \ E U R N H U W K U H H S R V W G D W H G
D Q G O H W � V K R S H K H K D V D Q L F H W L P H D Q G G R H V Q � W
account job bears no relation to what the F K H T X H V D Q G L W � V Q R W V X F K D E X U G H Q R Q P \ E D Q N
get lost amongst those thousands of yellow
driver receives at the end of the month. Over balance at this time of year. I was really miffed
the years we have lost the gratuities on many Z K H Q , Z D V W R O G W K D W , F R X O G Q � W S D \ E \ S R V W G D W H G
F D E V S L F N L Q J X S D O O R Y H U W K H % L J $ S S O H
accounts. Some drivers have the idea that the cheques because other drivers had abused this
company ordering the taxis are still charged D U U D Q J H P H Q W 7 K D Q N V F K D S V \ H W D J D L Q \ R X � Y H
7 K H 1 H Z < H D U � V K H U H
the gratuity but the circuit is not passing it on buggered it up for everyone else. I hear that
/ H W � V K R S H W K H N Q X F N O H G U D J J L Q J 1 H D Q G H U W K D O V
to the driver… who knows. The radio circuit will V R P H F D E V K H O W H U V D U H K D Y L Q J W K H L U U D Q N V � O O H G
Z K R W K L Q N W K H \ F D Q U X Q W K L V W U D G H G R Q � W J H W
take that job to Regent Street and charge the X S Z L W K V H O � V K G U L Y H U V Z K R D U H Q R W H D W L Q J D W W K H their way in 2010. We need proper genuine
customer a booking fee, on top of that they will shelters but are off shopping in the West End. representation at all levels and those who want
F K D U J H D S H U F H Q W D J H R I W K H P H W H U I D U H D Q G O H W � V The same should be said for the hotel ranks and
to make a name for themselves should do us all
S X W D K \ S R W K H W L F D O J X H V V D W 6 R W K D W � V W K H because of little work some less arrogant and
a favour **** off. The ineptitude of some of our
booking fee charged on every telephone hiring V H O � V K G U L Y H U V Z R X O G O L N H W R J R R Q W K H V H U D Q N V W R
reps is mind blowing and a total scandal and
plus the 25%! If that job went from London S O \ I R U K L U H 7 K H & D U U L D J H 2 I � F H L V G R L Q J Q R W K L Q J
I hope those at TfL can see through their silly
Wall to Manchester the booking fee would be D V S H U W K H Q R U P D Q G L W � V X S W R W K H U H V W R I X V W R
J D P H V S O D \ H G Z L W K G U L Y H U V � K D U G H D U Q H G F D V K
the same but the 25% would still apply to the run the gauntlet of parking wardens and CCTV
Z K R O H P H W H U I D U H : K \ " 7 K H \ � Y H K D Q G O H G W K H F D P H U D V $ J D L Q W K D Q N V F K D S V \ R X � Y H E X J J H U H G
We need another vehicle with that eco friendly
job with a booking fee so why would they still W K D W X S I R U H Y H U \ R Q H H O V H % X W \ R X N Q R Z Z K D W
engine, that everyone wants and one that we
Z D Q W \ H W D Q R W K H U Z K L F K W K H G U L Y H U G R H V Q � W why should I be surprised?
F D Q D I I R U G W R E X \ D Q G P D L Q W D L Q , N Q R Z Z H Z R Q � W
get anyway. Surely they have priced the job out
get rid of the wheelchair facility but do we really
of reach of taxi drivers into private hire vehicles. TAXICALL.
need it? Why should every taxi have this facility
2 U Z D V L W G R Q H R Q S X U S R V H D Q G W K D W � V Z K D W W K H \ You will all notice in taxi talk an advert from a when, after all it hardly ever gets used. The
Z D Q W H G L Q W K H � U V W S O D F H " $ O O W K H / R Q G R Q U D G L R company called TAXICALL. I have it on good turning circle is an anathema and should be
circuits are putting customers into cars because authority that in the London Suburbs this system V F U D S S H G I R U W K Z L W K D Q G , � P K R S H I X O W K D W E \ $ S U L O
D F F R U G L Q J W R W K H P � L W � V Z K D W W K H F X V W R P H U has gone down very well. Some proactive
it will have been kicked to the scrapheap. I hope
Z D Q W V � , W F R X O G E H W U X H E X W L I W K H \ Z H U H Q � W taxi drivers have got their heads together and
W K D W - R K Q 0 D V R Q W K H K H D G R I W K H & D U U L D J H 2 I � F H
R I I H U L Q J F D U V W K H F X V W R P H U Z R X O G Q � W D V N E X W R I taken advantage of the system and reaping the
realises that the taxi trade is dying on its arse and
course to justify themselves they would say if E H Q H � W V D V Z H V S H D N 7 K H \ D U H U H F O D L P L Q J W K H
if he wants a good quality service that London
Z H G L G Q � W G R L W W K H Q W K H F O L H Q W Z R X O G W D N H D O O W K H L U Z R U N L Q W R W D [ L V D Q G D S S D U H Q W O \ , � Y H E H H Q W R O G E \
deserves on the run up and during the Olympics
work to private hire. Which again is probably someone who helped set it up in the Wimbledon
true, but if we were all to think about it why is it area, that work going to Gatwick and Heathrow
K H P L J K W O R R N D W W K H F R Q G L W L R Q V R I � W Q H V V D Q G
the taxi trade have found themselves with such has escalated. After a meeting in Twickenham
make available another quality vehicle that
little work from the radio. The obvious things are a few weeks ago with interested parties from
H Y H U \ R Q H L V K D S S \ Z L W K 7 K D W � V D J R R G V W D U W I R U
pricing, but I believe that private hire in London the cab trade I have heard that a Taxicall circuit
E X W Z L O O L W K D S S H Q " 2 I F R X U V H L W Z R Q � W 7 K L V L V
is not much cheaper than taxis, if at all. is being set up in the centre of London and I
only the beginning of getting rid of the taxi trade,
hope it will be as successful as the ones in the as we all know it. Get used to it, hold on to your
The tariff structure might be a factor, but again, suburbs. Have a look at the advert and as they wallets, things might get a bit rough.
L W � V Q R W W K H F D E G U L Y H U Z K R Q H J R W L D W H V W K H G U R S R I say, suck it and see.
the clock and is left to the numpties who have
Happy New Year
been messing the job up for far too many years. Taxi Driver of the Year Dinner Dance
I believe it comes down to what I said in the I had the privilege to attend the Taxi Driver of
beginning, costs. the Year dinner on 5
th
December along with % H U Q L H 0 D \
8
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44