Page 35
Call Sign September 2011
Mailshot
continued from page 34
Ex-patriots and Australians alike are
appalled at what is happening in London
and elsewhere in the UK. The riots have
Tweeting at QI
been widely broadcast by all the news chan-
nels here with nightly updates from
It was interesting to see a tweet from Alan
tion, that just leaves Liverpool Street itself,
reporters in the UK. I have been keeping up
Davies (alandavies1 on twitter) of QI fame
which gets very crowded at best of times.
with family and friends on Facebook. Our
on Saturday 13th August. It read:
Any official suggestions from LTPH?
thoughts and prayers are with everybody
Dial-a-Cab is Dial-no-Cab it turns out. Book
Bernie Silver (G08)
over there...
the night before, doesn't turn up and they
I passed your letter over to John Mason,
Howard Sales (Ex-A11)
say: "Did you read the terms and condi-
LTPH Director. He told Call Sign that the
Brisbane, Australia
tions?" What service!
Mayor's Air Quality Strategy sets an age
Thanks Howard, I think there has prob-
Not good for business, but I wonder what
limit for taxis of 15 years, but this
ably been more damage to our workload
this job was?
applies to licensed London taxis only.
than to ourselves, but thanks for your
James Whiting (E83)
Any unlicensed taxi (whether 15 years
concern. To those that don't remember
At first I thought this was the email that
or any other age) may be used as a pri-
him, Howard was one of the driver-
has been doing the rounds for two or
vate vehicle. If, however, it entered
trainers at the time we went over to data
more years, one which turned out to
Central London it would be subject to
dispatch ...Ed
have been made up and put out by a
the congestion charge and would face
minicab driver. Sadly it wasn't and this
Minicab booking
the same restrictions as other vehicles
tweet is based on fact. Alan Davies
in the use of bus lanes. And to save you
booked a credit card trip from N7 to
scheme
asking, Bernie, it is unlikely that a 15+
Kings Cross and we failed to cover it. I
year old taxi could legally be used as a
Is this legal and is it another nail in our cof-
don't suppose we can really blame the
PH vehicle because the Private Hire
fin? It comes from our local Gazette...
call centre for our not covering this trip.
Vehicles (London) Act 1998 specifically
TOUCHSCREEN CAB BOOKING
However, the underlying problem the
prohibits the use of vehicles which by
An innovative new booking system has been
one Alan Davies is making fun of - is that
design and appearance resemble a taxi.
launched by a private taxi company. The
DaC really cannot guarantee a service
As for Liverpool Street, a member of
computerised invention, known as The Kiosk
because if we did and didn't cover that
John Mason's team says that she was
is a touch-screen podium which can be
job, then a promise of a cab could end
aware of the situation with the recent
installed in a range of venues including
up with the Society being sued. What if
closure to taxis of Old Broad Street so
pubs, bars, restaurants, hotel foyers and
someone missed their flight and a
that Crossrail vehicles can use the road.
business receptions in order for customers to
£multi-million deal after a cab failed to
One issue was that the Old Broad Street
make instant bookings by filling in a drop-
turn up and we had guaranteed it? The
signage was not very clear and she had a
off location and contact number. It's the cre-
original email that has been doing the
site visit with TfL's Crossrail project
ation of private passenger car hire company
rounds added "that's why I use Addison
managers recently to discuss that. Her
WestOne, based in Scrutton Street,
Lee" to try and give the impression that
sympathies, she said, were with the
Clerkwenwell and the company is inviting
they turn up 100% of the time. I'm afraid
trade on that problem and she
customers to contact them about installation.
that's not true either. It's just a fact of life
expressed her view to the Managers that
Chris Caselton (O24)
that there is no such thing as a 100% taxi
it was difficult to justify this closure to
Chris, the only part about it that is ille-
or minicab service. That doesn't stop
taxis since there didn't seem to be much
gal is the use of the word taxi and that is
you claiming that you are 100% but
activity in the road. They admitted that
probably more to do with your local
you'd be lying and leaving yourself open
an August closure was probably prema-
paper looking for sensationalism rather
to a legal challenge. And of course, the
ture and while she tried to have the deci-
WestOne's advertising. I think you'd
day following Alan Davies tweet, the
sion reversed so that taxis could drop
have an almost impossible task proving
expected tweet from someone called
off in the road, nothing came of that
that this is any less legal than actually
Goldilocks appeared `I don't use DaC, I
other than a statement that in
phoning or booking online for a cab.
use Addison Lee!' I still like Alan Davies
September Crossrail traffic would be so
Technology means that we are becom-
and letting him down was a real shame
busy around there that it would have
ing surrounded by gadgets similar to
at a time when good publicity is so
become too difficult to sustain access for
Kiosk - Kabbee being a prime example. I
important...! Ed
taxis. However, the Mayor's office has
still believe it proves that what I've being
now confirmed that it is just the section
Old cabs and
constantly slagged off for "daring" to say
between Liverpool Street and Broad
was right. We have kept the same num-
Liverpool Street...
Street Avenue and NOT London Wall that
ber of taxis for years - in fact the num-
is banned ...Ed
bers are slightly down - whereas mini-
Regarding the 15 year cab rule, do you
cabs must be approaching 70,000. If
know if that will prohibit you from using
DAB radio
there was no need, there wouldn't be
your old cab as a private vehicle? Also, does
I have a Blaupunkt Nashville DAB35 digital
that huge number. The licensed taxi
the regulation cover the whole country or
radio in its box that is fitted to taxis and
trade has always worried about today,
just London? Can we still sell our old cabs to
need a buyer. I believe they are about £350,
but it's now tomorrow and we are stuck
Liverpool & co?
but I would be happy to sell for a reason-
at yesterday! We are and always have
And speaking of Liverpool, Bishopsgate
able offer.
been our own worst enemies; the only
by Liverpool Street Station now has a wide
It is very true that DAB radio is so much
difference was that technology wasn't so
red line which means no stopping at all. Old
better than the rest, things like test matches,
advanced before. Now it is. Perhaps the
Broad Street also has signs that forbid taxis
football, rugby and the sound quality for
only consolation is that from what I've
setting down during roadworks that will
music is so much better. Call me on 0208
heard, WestOne's record in IT is second
obviously be there for some considerable
922 0547.
time while Crossrail is being built. So other
only to Dougal in The Magic Roundabout
Martin Freeborn (C67)
than driving down the slope inside the sta-
...Ed
