Boris’s pledges
In January 2008, then-prospective London Mayor
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson, sat down and answered DaC
driver’s questions in an exclusive Call Sign Q/A session. He
has now been Mayor for 8 months and I decided to have a look back at how his
election promises were panning out.
Bernie Silver (G08)
asked about the Congestion Charge and Mr Johnson said that he would keep it,
but wasn’t happy about the western zone as that allowed too many into the
central zone. The western zone has now gone.
Stewart Lewis (D20) asked
whether he would allow minicabs into bus lanes? He said no and has since
reiterated that statement. Divyesh Ruparelia
(V59) asked about the congestion buses cause and now Boris has scrapped
the bendy bus. Alex Constantinou (N05) asked whether he would scrap
the 6-monthly safety check that Ken Livingstone had introduced? His response
was decisive: "I will scrap the midyear inspections. They add to the cost
of the licence and are an unnecessary burden on cab drivers." And he
did. David Marks (R22) asked Boris whether he would ever allow PH to
ply for hire on London’s streets? The situation with WestOne cars at
Leicester Square brings that one to mind. Mr Johnson’s response was: "I
think private hire vehicles have their place, but black cabs must retain
their right to solely ply for hire." That should provide much comfort.
And some promises that he hasn’t (yet) done? Bill Kibble (K86)
asked why we only do roadworks during daytime hours in streets where there
are no residents? Bill told the man soon-to-be-Mayor that these roadworks
could be completed in one third of the time with night-time working. Boris
told Call Sign in response: "How many times have we all
driven past a giant hole in the road left unattended? They do roadworks at
night in other major cities and I will certainly look at it, yes."
Nothing has happened yet, but who’d put it past him!
Last but not least and still on the back burner, one from
Call Sign’s Poppy whose other half drives a DaC taxi and is forever
moaning that there aren’t enough public toilets. Boris Johnson answered in
the February 2008 issue: "The one thing that lets our city down is not
only a lack of provision for public toilets, but also the grotty state of
most of them. I believe that in order to get a clean, pristine city we need
to work with local councils to upgrade them and provide more of them where
they are needed. This is particularly important for people like cab drivers
who spend long hours out on the road."
Judging by what he has already done since being elected in
May 2008, who’d dismiss those outstanding questions from soon becoming
reality! I think there is a huge difference between someone who says he will
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something and just does it, as against the
previous incumbent of the position who on his many radio phone-in
appearances, promised the world, but delivered very little…
How to (not) cheer yourself up…
I know all about the state of London’s Victorian water mains and the
decision to complete the renewal of them before the 2012 Olympics, but it’s
beginning to get on my nerves because there are also so many sections of
roadworks that are nothing to do with water mains or drainage or any
combination of the two (thereof)!
How daymen cope, I shudder to think. But those of us out on the
evening of Friday 28th November had our own shuddering, with terminal
message after terminal message bemoaning another tailback where roadworks
had been left until the next morning or where whole roads were shut, not to
mention an exceptionally high number of road traffic accidents.
Sussex Gardens shut; Bishopsgate shut; M25 by the A13 shut causing
an A13 hold-up back to Aldgate; Victoria Street shut; Westminster Bridge
shut; Knightsbridge shut. Then there were ‘minor’ inconveniences such as
closing two lanes of Marylebone Road eastbound so that the tailback went
from the cones back to the Paddington exit of the A40 Marylebone flyover.
And it wasn’t moving. As the person ‘blowing’ that one in (No96) so
succinctly put it: "When will it ever end!"
Fare increase
My thanks to all those who responded about my Editorial where I wondered
aloud whether a fare increase next April would be in our interest, or would
we be better off with the goodwill that could come from declining it? I’ve
also enjoyed talking about it with other drivers when on multiple-cab trips.
I have been amazed at how many agreed with my view but surprised to hear
some tell me they wouldn’t say it in print because they’d sound like a wimp!
Why would anyone think that?
My reasoning was that the increase might bring an extra £7 or £8 a
day, but if it costs us one lost job then that has been wiped out. However,
I’ve had my say and it is no longer up to me…
DaC Credit Union
It still astounds me that every single driver and staff member on this
circuit, together with members of their family, doesn’t belong to DACCU –
the DaC Credit Union. Although not connected to DaC, the two work together
and you can pay any regular savings along with your subscriptions. More
importantly, when you have need for a sudden and very quick lump
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sum, they are the absolute tops. A quick
phone call and provided you have enough savings, a cheque can be issued
within days – even quicker for a genuine emergency. Contrary to
popular belief, you are not compelled to borrow and certainly there is no
fine should you not need a loan.
Yet they have to beg for members. It just doesn’t make sense and at
a time when the work is going to be quiet and bills are on the up, you could
regret not joining DACCU. If nothing else, you are saving money, which,
however small, will build up into a useful sum as well. Their ad is in every
issue of Call Sign and if you are interested, give them a call
on 020 8522 4503…Jack Russell funeral
I make no apology for devoting two full pages in this issue to the late Jack
Russell. Without people like him, there possibly might not be a DaC. At his
funeral, there were around fifty people including Brian Rice, representing
the Society, Bill Tyzack who was there for the Taxi Driver of the Tear
Charity – Jack was a founder committee member – and David Lessman, Chairman
of the LTFUC. The family had requested no flowers, but that any donations
should go the Underprivileged Children’s Fund. No doubt, one of Jack’s
wishes.
I was there not just as Editor, but because I thought he was a
lovely man who deserved every bit of the respect that was being shown at the
Ruislip crematorium service. However, it is probably true to say that in his
95th year, Jack had outlived most of his friends.
I salute Jack Russell, not just as a former Chairman, but as a true
gentleman…
And finally…
Call Sign tries to entertain and inform you
each and every month. However, there are a lot of people who put in hours
and hours of delving or writing or just being entertaining and without whom
this would probably be just an 8-page information sheet. So to all my
writers – none of whom ever let me down – my sincere thanks for all your
hard work. Thanks also to the BoM, who I constantly nag to give me their
articles, even when they are busy with something important!
I’d also like to thank everyone that writes to the Mailshot
section of the mag, regardless of whether you have something nice to say or
not. The fact that you take the time to write in is appreciated. Call
Sign has more reader’s letter than the rest of the taxi trade papers
all put together and for that, I thank you all. And to those who tag on at
the end that they enjoy reading the magazine, yes, after almost 11 years in
the hot seat, that still gives me a buzz.
If my plans have gone correctly and Bob Woodford’s gorgeous organic
red hasn’t got me totally sloshed, then you should be receiving this issue
of Call Sign sometime between
Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve, so I’d like to wish you all a happy
and healthy New Year…
Alan Fisher
callsignmag@aol.com |
