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I don’t particularly look forward to
the August (or September) issues of Call Sign. Call me selfish, but
when you guys all go away for your summer hols, it leaves me working out who
there is left to write about! But plough on we must…
Olympics
Call Sign was recently given a tour of the
gigantic building site in East London, known more officially as the Olympic
Park. Somehow, on 27 July 2012 and for sixty days, London will become the
sporting capital of the world when it hosts the Games of the XXX Olympiad.
Then, when all is over and we revert to being just the tourist capital of
the world, the Games will have left behind what’s been described as a
"sustainable community benefiting from new homes, a new park and world class
sporting facilities." Sadly few living in the area seem to believe that.
However, it’s worth pointing out that those giving the tour genuinely
believed it and that is certainly encouraging.
Perhaps that’s why we are the tourist capital of the world -
because in general we believe very little of what we see or hear and are
something of a world-class novelty! We should introduce a new national
anthem called I’ll believe it when I see it!
In the meantime, a few facts about 2012 that you may not (yet)
know. There will be almost 8million tickets available. The number of people
expected to use public transport has been estimated at around 800,000.
During the Games, 260,000 loaves of bread and 160,000 litres of milk will be
consumed – hopefully at more realistic prices than the Wimbledon tennis
rip-off merchants! And perhaps most impressive in these days of going
"green," around 90% of materials reclaimed from demolition work at the site
can be either reused or recycled. Oh, and one last thing – some 2000 newts
will be relocated from the Olympic Park to a local nature reserve. If the
Olympic bars are cheaper than Wimbledon – and let’s be honest, they couldn’t
be any more expensive - you can probably add a few thousand human newts onto
that total!
My only real concern is the official view on taxi facilities – that
it’s too early to worry about yet. Well actually it isn’t. One piece of land
where Hackney Marshes currently sits was described to me as a "possibility."
Those of us who don’t plan to leave the country during the Games will be
awash in work, with thousands of people daily wanting to go to the Olympic
Park. And what about the last 30 days when the Paralympics are on? Who will
be taking the supporters who are in wheelchairs? Trade reps needs to get in
now and sort out taxi set-downs and pick-ups.
One thing is definite; there is no way on earth that we are going
to be able to use the Olympic Route Networks. These are the routes
that will be specifically for athletes and officials etc and which are said
to take up 0.5% |
of our major roads – but no doubt the important ones. Buses too will be
banned from them and that suggests traffic chaos that makes anything we have
ever seen before, seem like a walk in the (Olympic) park! My deep-rooted
fear is just whose vehicles will be used in the ORN? I think you know
what I mean. I don’t fancy being stuck in a hold-up, while a bunch of PH
cars with Olympic stickers shoot past me.
And for those who can’t wait, tickets will be going on sale from
January 2011…The LTFUC…
The London Taxidrivers’ Fund for Underprivileged Children recently
paid for the refurbishment of a new medical facility at the Woodfield
Special School in Kingsbury. The cost to the LTFUC was £3,000. But how do
they do it and where does the money come from?
In early July, the LTFUC committee were invited to attend morning
assembly at the Underhill Junior School in
Barnet, where a cheque in the amount of £555.60 was presented to the fund’s
Hon Secretary, Malcolm Shaffron. And why did they do that? Well, some two
months earlier, the Fund took children from the school on a trip to Woburn
Safari Park. Head Teacher, Naz Goddard, later told Call Sign
that they wanted to show the LTFUC how indebted they were for giving them
the opportunity and that the donation was to show the appreciation of
parents, teachers and carers for taking the children on the outing. The
donation was presented amidst loud cheers and the LTFUC were extremely
grateful.
But it is a gratitude that, whilst never taken for granted, they
are getting used to after over 80 years. Because, when it comes to
children’s charities, the Fund are right up there at the top of the tree and
unsurprisingly, a firm favourite when it comes to choosing a charity worth
donating to. Many of the LTFUC committee are either on Dial-a-Cab or have
been so in the past. But the bottom line is their association to the London
taxi trade.
Indeed, this issue carries reports on several different taxi trade
charity outings. There cannot be a trade in the world that does so much for
charity, yet continually has to fight for its existence. At least we’ve had
the time to get used to it since 1620 when good old Captain Baily sent out
four coaches and drivers and told them to ply for hire along the Strand!
No doubt in 2020 we’ll be having the same moans!
Black Cab Fuel Cards…
I need help here! This issue contains an article on fuel cards that are now
available to licensed taxi drivers. It should also contain a single page
insert about those |
cards and will give the latest litre
prices on the bottom, so that you can see how much you save. So why do I
need help? Well, when things sound too good to be true, it’s usually because
they are! But in this case, I can’t see anything other than a card
well-worth getting.
At first I thought it was some kind of credit card where you could
save 5p a litre on diesel, but paid it back in interest. But no, this is a
fuel card that you can use every time you fill up your cab (or your car with
petrol). You will then (via direct debit) pay weekly, beginning two weeks
after you first use the card. You will save at least 5p per litre on the
average price.
You can also check what you have spent at any time by going online.
There are no fees or hidden costs whatsoever!
But what if you are shopping in Tesco and they offer you a discount
on diesel that is too good to turn down? Easy, you just fill up there
because there is nothing that says you have to use the card. It is entirely
up to you. The only downside is that currently you have to use either Texaco
or Morrisons. However, there are plenty of their sites around and the
organisers are hoping to add more suppliers if the Black Cab Fuel Card is a
success. I’m going to get one.
Details are inside this issue…
Eurostar fares
In the December 2003 issue of Call Sign, we proudly announced
a deal with Eurostar who were offering Dial-a-Cab drivers special subsidised
fares from Waterloo to any of the Eurostar destinations. The fares for DaC
drivers then were £49 standard return or £99 for the excellent first class
return fare. You have always been allowed to take your friends and family
with, provided that the DaC driver is among those travelling. Since then,
the only thing to change was that Waterloo became St Pancras!
Well now, almost 6 years later, Eurostar have made an increase to
the standard fare, which sees a £10 increase up to £59 – still a bargain!
The first class fare remains at £99.
For those who haven’t yet discovered them, the form you need to
fill out is in the DaC driver reception where the trade papers are.
If you have never sampled the relaxation of traveling
via Eurostar, you can get to Calais in 58 minutes, Lille in 1 hour 20
minutes, Brussels in I hour 50 minutes or of course Paris, which is just 2
hours and 15 minutes away! If you compare that with flying, well just think
about the two-hour check-in at the airport, then the hassle of getting out
of the airport and getting to where your hotel is. With Eurostar, you "land"
in the centre of your destination!
One piece of advice, if you are traveling and returning on
different days, check that your selections are ok before booking a hotel.
Merci et au revoir…
Alan Fisher
callsignmag@aol.com |
