Call Sign March 2008 - Page 20 - PADDICK DAC VISIT CAUSES ELECTION RUMPUS!

In an astonishing attack on Lib-Dem candidate Brian Paddick following his trip to Dial-a-Cab House in late January where he had a meeting with Chairman Brian Rice, Conservative candidate Boris Johnson claimed that Mr Paddick’s "…first policy initiative began to fall apart as it was shown to contain no new ideas." To coincide with his DaC visit, Brian Paddick launched what he described as a ten-point plan for licensed black cabs. He told Call Sign* that if elected Mayor, he would acknowledge that licensed taxis are as much a part of London’s public transport as buses and trains by giving cabbies a seat on the board of Transport for London. He would consult at the possibility of banning pedicabs or severely restricting their numbers. He would completely overhaul traffic management in Central London, including rephasing traffic lights, proper management of road works and a scheme to reduce the number of vans and lorries to ensure smoother traffic flow, less congestion and faster journeys. The obligations for licensed taxis for more stringent driving tests, vehicle examinations and ‘the Knowledge’ must result in privileges not afforded to private hire vehicles. Private hire vehicles would not be given access to bus lanes and enforcement against private hire cars plying for hire would be stepped-up. Licensed taxi drivers should be encouraged to make their vehicles more environmentally friendly, he said, and not be penalised for doing so. He would look at working with taxi manufacturers to develop more environmentally friendly vehicles and at providing a subsidy to taxi drivers who bought new environmentally friendly vehicles. He would eliminate the risk of accidentally getting a ticket for driving in a bus lane. All bus lanes under the control of TfL (Red Routes) would be standardised to the same hours of operation and all would allow licensed taxis to use them. He would encourage all local authorities to follow suit so that all bus lanes were standardised. Local authorities needed to take a more reasonable approach to licensed taxis that were waiting for their passengers – as DaC drivers have to. For reasons of security, where loading and unloading is permitted, he would encourage all local authorities to treat licensed taxis stopped to allow passengers to access a cash machine as ‘loading and unloading’. *To save on congestion and pollution, taxis should be encouraged to use taxi ranks. As	PADDICK DAC VISIT CAUSES ELECTION RUMPUS!
	The two Brians flashed around the world via the BBC Inset: Brian Paddick reveals his 10 point-plan that upset Boris
	Mayor he would look to increase the number of taxi ranks, particularly at stations and hotels and revise the fare structure to allow an additional charge for taxis picking-up from ranks. Effective action must be taken to ensure all vehicles registered as private hire are genuine, he said. When I am Mayor, those registering or renewing would have to provide copies of ‘hire and reward’ insurance certificates and contact number(s) where members of the public could hire the vehicle. Random ‘mystery shopper’ calls would be made to those numbers to ensure the service was genuine. Road planners needed to consult with those who know London’s road best. He would look to consult the taxi trade on all future road schemes on TfL roads (Red Routes) and encourage local authorities to do the same on all other roads. DaC Chairman Brian Rice told Call Sign that his meeting with Brian Paddick went very well. Under the eyes of BBC TV and LBC radio, Mr Paddick said that London’s taxi drivers were an important part of the transport system and deserved to be treated as such. The DaC visit was on all the BBC London news programmes as well as being reported on each hourly LBC bulletin. One driver told Call Sign he had seen Brian Rice and Brian Paddick on US channel Fox News! It was also reported on in many UK and international newspapers. However, according to Tory candidate Boris Johnson, Brian Paddick’s policy of promoting black cabs and giving a seat on the board of TFL to the trade was directly copied from proposals launched by Mr Johnson two weeks earlier. Boris Johnson told Call Sign:	"Nothing in these plans is new. A seat on the board of TfL for black cabs is overdue but is something I have proposed already and a consultation on licensing Pedicabs was run by TfL in 2006. It is flattering that Brian Paddick has used his first policy launch to endorse my plans for black cabs in London but what Londoners are calling out for is a change of Mayor, not a copycat Mayor!" Among Boris Johnson’s licensed taxi strategy, which he launched on 14 January, he proposed giving a representative of the cab trade a place on the TfL Board, scrapping mid-year inspections, working with local councils to make rules on using bus lanes the same across London and scrapping rules which penalise cab drivers for stopping to allow passengers to use cashpoints. Brian Rice added: "What started as a low key visit to DaC, changed when BBC cameras turned up. Once it appeared on TV, it turned into a Mayoral candidate’s battle and my phone turned red hot! However, I must say that it was nice to be able to pass across our views as a radio taxi organisation to a Mayoral candidate so that they could see and hopefully understand our problems." Call Sign also invited 3 drivers in for an informal question and answer session with the Lib-Dem candidate. Dennis Heavin (A1), Jim Smith (D9) and Jon Trevor (W94) together with DaC Board Members Allan Evans, Mike Son and Chairman Brian, grilled Brian Paddick on many of the topics near and dear to our hearts. Bendy buses, ATMs, bus lanes and the half-yearly safety checks. Mr Paddick agreed that given our stringent annual overhaul these were unnecessary. He was also shown our dispatch system by Brian Rice.

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