FROM THE EDITOR

The things you learn about John Griffin!
   For as long as I can remember, Addison Lee boss John Griffin has stated his aim that taxis should only pick up street work whereas private hire should do all the radio work. Amazingly, even though I obviously disagreed strongly, I actually believed him. How stupid was I?
   In a recent Sunday Times interview, he let it all out by saying in response to a question on his financial priority: "We’re working on a court case where we’ll argue that minicab drivers should be able to use bus lanes and pick people up on the street – just like black cab drivers. It’s time for us to be given the opportunity to compete fairly. The case is being heard next month."
   Of course, they actually have the opportunity already – it’s called The Knowledge!

Even Big Brother would get embarrassed!
   Anyone out there in DaC-land know much about the National Fraud Initiative data matching exercise? No? Well you soon will because Transport for London says they are required by law to release information about licensed taxi drivers (and private hire) to the Audit Commission. Next month TfL will pass over to the Audit Commission the name, address, date of birth and National Insurance number of every one of you out there reading this – and every one who isn’t!
   The idea is to prevent fraud and info has been passed over to the NFI since 1996, but now they’ve reached T for taxi (picking up M for minicab along the way). Of course, whilst looking at T, they will have to bypass our other "friends" known as touts. I know what you’re thinking – perhaps if they spent more money on policing instead of spying via the National Fraud Initiative or CCTV, they could rid our beautiful capital city of all those pieces of dirt we refer to as touts.
   But back to the NFI; the idea is to match electronic data between audited bodies with the aim of preventing and/or detecting fraud. If anything is shown about you, you will then be investigated, no doubt losing your Bill until such time as you are cleared. Neither will you have much chance of being compensated when cleared, because they will now be within their right to investigate anything or anyone they consider has done anything dubious – that could even be for claiming money if you are sick.
   According to TfL, they consider the security of data as

Tiger Tyres
   I needed some tyres recently and thought I would try Tiger Tyres just downstairs from the Dial-a-Cab Credit Union offices at 472 Hackney Road, E2 (in a small estate at the Cambridge Heath end). It was convenient for me and it was nice to be treated as a customer - not as someone who had no choice. And the prices seemed pretty good to me! One advantage is that if money is a bit tight and you are a DaC Credit Union member, you can nip upstairs and they will pay the bill for you as a loan! Now that that’s what I call convenient...

Anonymous letter
   I recently received an anonymous letter filled with poison about someone (not me!) and I just wanted the writer to know that his effort went straight into the nearest bin. If you don’t have the balls to sign your name when making slanderous accusations, then I have no time to even think about it - other than as trash!

CCTV and speed limits
   Oxford may be cutting back on cameras, but London certainly isn’t. After all, why do you think the three lanes each way A13 has the ridiculous 40mph speed limit? It’s because within the next few months the average speed cameras will have finished their test period on that road and will begin catching thousands of motorists – no doubt including many Dial-a-Cab drivers who forget that a road that would not be unfairly described as being of motorway standard, has such a ridiculously low speed limit.
   The same principle applies to the rash of 20mph streets springing up everywhere. Any local authority that claims we are being watched by CCTV cameras purely for our safety is lying. There is just one reason and that is to get more revenue. We now have Mansfield Road in Kentish Town not just with a 20mph speed limit, but also being watched via average speed cameras. But of course, that comes under Camden, the council that enjoy giving tickets to unsuspecting taxi drivers for doing U-turns at Southampton Row whilst making sure that the warning

Cyclists beware
   Regular readers will know that I am not the biggest fan of cyclists. I have long spouted out about the dangers they put themselves into by having little or no road sense and finally TfL has now begun a campaign to ask us to look out for bike riders, while at the same time asking them not to undertake on the inside.
   However, there can be little doubt that this administration under Boris Johnson is very pro bike and the new cycle super highways show that. So I have a question – not that Boris bothers answering now that the election has gone: There are three types of super highway cycle lanes – Mandatory (bordered with a solid line) and where you will receive a PCN if you enter it. Advisory, where the border is broken and where we mere mortals on our smoky, killer machines should not enter unless safe (and necessary) to do so and Virtual, which is similar to Advisory but where it has been impractical to mark out a border.
   So as I was saying, I have a question: If I were to get a PCN for entering a Mandatory cycle lane, would a cyclist be fined if he strayed out of the cycle lane to overtake another cyclist and entered the section of road that we mugs now pay £425 a year road tax for? Thought not...

That Hut...
   I’ve had several drivers telling me that they are fed up with my apparent war with internet blog, the Nissen Hut. So in future I won’t mention them again, although it seems that after my last pop at them they retreated and have not been seen since. Well I suppose that is the way of most cowards that are afraid to give their name. So goodbye to the Nisse... whoops almost forgot!

Thank you...
   Those of you who know me personally will know that at the stressful time of moving home, I had two pieces of devastating news. My sincere hope and belief is that both will now work out ok, but it has been an awful time. So I just wanted to thank all those drivers who had such kind words for me and also the writers of the absolute mountain of cards received for Linda at our new home.
   There has always been a heart full of kindness beating under this trade that separates it from the rest. I know because I’ve just seen it...

Alan Fisher
callsignmag@aol.com