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As we head into 2008, Call Sign decided to
ask twelve subscribers at random – one for each month: If Mayor
Ken, TfL or the PCO could grant you New Year wishes to improve
your working lives, what might those wishes be…?
January: Ray Sorene (A53)
If Mayor Ken was so concerned about the
safety of the travelling public, he would get rid of Pedicabs
and keep tighter control on Private Hire vehicles picking up in
the street. I also wish there were higher training standards for
bus drivers because from what I have seen, the current standard
is rather poor. Finally, there should be honorary membership of
the R.N.I.B. (Royal National Institute for the Blind) for pedal
cyclists who cannot see, choose to ignore red traffic lights,
ride on the pavement and generally disregard the Highway Code!
February: Anne-Marie Cole (J60)
I’ve only just joined the circuit, so I don’t know what it’s
like from the radio viewpoint yet, but Mayor Ken and TfL seem to
put those cameras in the most stupid places! They should be
sited where they are useful, across many more road junctions
where vehicles regularly block traffic from flowing.
March:
Kenton Campbell (T61J)
I wish Mayor Ken would revise the C-Charge times because I do
not think it is working as it should. I see delivery and
construction trucks blocking the roadway during the day, when
these vehicles should go about their business at night-time
only. There should also be a sensible approach to those cameras!
I pre-ordered a meal from my favourite restaurant in Wardour St,
dived in to collect and pay for it and came back to the cab with
a PCN on the windscreen. £60 for a takeaway lunch is a bit steep
- even by my Cordon Bleu standards! There are also so many
buses that are not fully occupied - it’s absurd. |
DaC Drivers: My New Year Wish List… |
April: Keith
Tumbridge (M26)
I wish Ken Livingstone would retire! And that’s all I’m going to
say on the matter…!May: Alex Scaliotis (Y19)
I wish the cab trade bodies would work more closely together for
the good of the taxi trade in general. I also wish that the
half-yearly safety check was scrubbed, because I see it as
nothing more than a money-making idea. I’m dreaming that there
will be a fuel subsidy to cushion us from these constant fuel
rises. Well, you did say dream/wish didn’t you!
June: Dave Jennings (S91)
I wish TfL would scrub this half-year check, especially on new
cabs. It’s bad enough having an inspection when it comes down
from the factory. Garages also charge for check-ups, which makes
more money for them. When you think how many people make a
living on our backs - garages, tyre makers and stationary
printing firms, receipt pads being a prime example. However,
thankfully, that situation does not apply to DaC drivers…
July: Mark Blackett (M16)
New Year wishes eh? Mayor Ken to resign! He’s
killing our Trade. I can’t think of one thing he has done for
the cab trade. Why are we trying to save the world
single-handedly with this emission strategy, when the rest of
the world doesn’t seem to care? India, China and the USA to name
but a few. It should be fairer all round.
August: Steve Tyson (V99)
I dream that Ken has the power to ‘lean on’
local councils ie Camden and Westminster, to show leniency
towards cab drivers when issuing parking tickets etc. I wonder
if he really has? This is |
especially the case while waiting at ATMs or helping wheelchair
users, when all we are doing is simply going about our daily
business offering a service to the travelling public.
Furthermore, we never get a letter of apology when tickets are
quashed. It all takes time to write letters, make phone calls
and all the other stuff that goes with it! There is never any
recognition that they might have been wrong to issue the
ticket/PCN in the first place. Can I wake up from my dream now?
September: Steve Gander (V20)
It shouldn’t be a wish, it should be reality. Get rid of
Pedicabs and touts outside clubs and other venues in the City.
It’s a farce. The police do nothing and it’s up to a small
minority of cab drivers to respond to fighting a losing battle.
October: Michael Heatley (L52)
This is the dream I have almost every night – quite simply to
get rid of bendy buses and give Boris a chance, yeah!
November: Steve Harper (O59)
Why just wish? It should be happening now. Goodbye Pedicabs! I’d
also like to see more police enforcement on the streets because
I see touts intimidating potential cab passengers every night of
the week.
December: Alan Callaghan (L80)
I wish there were more T.O.C.U officers out on the streets. I
see minicabs hanging up outside venues on a regular basis. I
also wish TfL would get rid of those dangerous Pedicabs and I’d
also like the return of our extras on the meter. Can I have one
more wish? I wish every cab driver would put £1 into a kitty for
Ken Livingstone to retire!
© Call Sign Magazine MM8 |
