Call Sign February 2003 - Page 7 - R.O.D.A. Founder visits DaC

R.O.D.A.
Founder Visits Dial-a-Cab

Brian Rice greets RODA founder, 93 year old Lou Dunn

In 1952, in order to get "onto the radio", you had to be a fleet driver with either York Way Motors or the London General Cab Company, both of whom ran their own radio circuits. There was no such thing as an owner-driver's circuit with ODRTS still a year away. So several drivers got together and the Radio Owner Drivers Association was born.
Known as RODA, word got around quickly and it soon had enough drivers to operate. Sadly, problems - mainly financial - beset it and it folded in the face of the new oncoming ODRTS. However, without the RODA lead, it is feasible that Bonnie Martyn may never have started our company.
The only surviving founder-member of RODA, 93 year-old Lou Dunn, visited

Lou charms drivers reception ladies Nuala and Val

Dial-a-Cab in mid-January and was shown around personally by DaC Chairman Brian Rice who told Call Sign that he was delighted to be able to show Lou how owner driver radio taxi organisations have progressed. "Who knows where we would be without people like Lou Dunn in our past," said Brian.
Lou, who is the father of DaC's Gerry and still gets around like a greyhound, told Call Sign that he

was thrilled to have been asked and enjoyed the two-hour visit immensely.
"The computerisation is just so amazing, as are many of your female operatives," he said with a twinkle in his eye! Fortunately he had left his 91 year-old wife Millie at home "...cleaning up!"
Lou's story of RODA and the problems it found itself with will be in the next issue of Call Sign.

CONGESTION CHARGING REMINDER

From 17 February, Congestion Charging will become a regular part of our lives as taxi drivers. Whether there is a difference so far as traffic congestion within the charging ring and whether that difference is counteractioned by congestion on the ring surrounds, is soon to be determined.
But there are three points worth remembering...

Licensed taxis do not have to pay the congestion charge and neither do they have to register.
If your taxi has not yet passed its annual overhaul for whatever reason and you enter the Congestion Charging zone, you will be subject to the Ł5 payment.
If you rent your cab out, it fails the overhaul and your driver takes it into the CC zone, it will be you, the owner, who is liable for the charge.