Call Sign February 2012
Page 3
from the editor's desk
ride outside the lane to complete the manoeuvre
The moaners of One Hyde
and usually at a high speed and with no attempt
Park???
at looking to see what's behind.
As we get older, allegedly we begin moaning
So I've thought of a great slogan for cyclists...
about far more things than perhaps we wouldn't
Think Car! How do I do it...!!!
have even thought about in our younger days.And
yes, I plead guilty! I have become a moaner and
Diane Abbott, black people
events that wouldn't have received a passing nod,
and black cabs?
now draw huge amounts of condemnation from
I'm not too sure whether the heading to this
we on the senior side of life.
piece will be classified by some as being racist,
If you've been driving a taxi in London for more
politically incorrect, insulting or just a silly joke? I
than a few years, you'll remember the huge amounts
suppose the question is whether I'm referring to
of hassle caused by the building of One Hyde Park. It
black cabs or black people! Or I could be refer-
began around six years ago when Nick and Christian
ring to the Labour MP for Hackney North and
Candy began building the world's most expensive
Stoke Newington and Shadow Health Minister,
and exclusive block of flats sorry, apartments! The
Diane Abbott.According to one of her tweets, she
project survived the global economic crisis and even
is dubious of black people claiming they've never
though the apartments have now been open for two
experienced racism and asks whether they had
years,the traffic heading past the building's McClaren
ever tried hailing a taxi?
racing car and Rolex showrooms, not to mention the
Actually I quite like Diane Abbott. She is down
there before they lashed out their multi-millions
Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank still crawls along at a snail's
to earth, fights for her constituents and is contro-
and that if they don't like the occasional late night
pace.
versial to the point where you may listen to her
some, gosh, going on till 10.30 then they
But hey, people have to live somewhere so how
just to see who she is going to insult next! Sadly,
shouldn't have bought a pad in the park, the coun-
could we begrudge residents such as Ukrainian
this time it's we taxi drivers who according to
cil are set to cut the number of open-air concerts.
Rinat Akhmetov his homely £136million pad over-
many scribes, dislike being referred to as black
And if that means I'm moaning, then tough.There
looking the Serpentine? I haven't yet been invited
cab drivers. Those of you who read this column
are lots of flats available in Pimlico where there
for a look around, but I have it from a good source
regularly will know that I am not one of those and
are no concerts...
that it's not too bad in there! Mind you, not all the
in fact I describe myself as a black cab driver
residents are that well-off. Spare a thought for
LTPH News
because everyone knows that means I don't drive
Mohammed Saud Sultan al-Qasimi, head of finance
a minicab and am part of the best taxi service in
The 14 page London Taxi & Private Hire News
for Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. He spent
the world.
that goes out to drivers via email every three
just a paltry £11.5million on his apartment!
By the same token, there are black drivers on
months is a useful tool for LTPH to let readers
Around 65 of the 80 apartments have been
Dial-a-Cab who I assume would dislike being
know what the licensing authority are thinking. It
sold, with one third of the deals having been
referred to as coloured because as they would
even comments on rumours! If you are not on the
sealed via the British Virgin Islands tax haven. One
undoubtedly point out, we are all coloured and
list then just send your email address to
nearby parking space even fetched £250,000.
their colour is black.What colour do our Asian dri-
www.tph.enquiries@tfl.gov.uk putting London
Some have pointed out that around £750million
vers refer themselves as being? Brown? I'm not
Taxi & Private Hire News in the subject box.
each year is lost to the UK tax reserves thanks to
sure and I'm not particularly bothered because I
While on the subject of their newssheet, can I
those said to have purchased apartments from
just call them by their name if they agree not to
offer a brief comment on their piece regarding
current owners and who can then avoid stamp
call me pink.And, so far as I can see, we all get on
cyclists. Many regular readers will know that I am
duty by actually buying the offshore companies
regardless of colour.
not the two-wheeler's biggest fan and that thanks
used to buy them!
I have no doubt that some drivers will drive
to the pure selfish attitude of so many of them, I
Westminster City Council has attempted to
past black people the operative word being
usually expect them all to be a menace on the
investigate who the current owners actually are
`some' and from a total of 25,000 that word prob-
road and I am rarely disappointed...
as not all are as open as Mr Akhmetov and discov-
ably represents a small fraction. I've made this
The LTPH article writes of cycle space and how
ered that only nine apartments had registered for
point before and I'm not ashamed of it: I would
we can help them stay safe although thankfully
council tax, five of them being second homes.
think twice about stopping for a group of young
the number of cyclists involved in fatal accidents
Council officials wrote to developers asking for
black kids wearing hoodies. Is that racist? Maybe,
has fallen. It then gives readers sensible guidance
owners' names, but do not seem to have received
but I would also think twice about stopping for a
on how we can help. Among the suggestions are
any response. They may have to send their chief
group of white kids wearing hoodies. Is that
to give space to cyclists when overtaking and at
finance inspector round there on his bike to claim
racist? I have no problem picking up a group of
junctions. Make sure there is room and time to
the annual tax for each apartment of £755.60 plus
black people who look shall we say normal.
safely overtake giving as much space as you
the GLA's £619.64.
Now if I were black, I'd find that statement to be
would when overtaking a car. Also to make sure
Certainly the Candy brothers can't be held
offensive. But most of our white passengers also
we indicate when planning to turn left or right so
responsible for whoever buys an apartment in the
look normal racism at its worst!
any following cyclists are aware of what we're
block and they have confirmed that all buyers paid
This isn't a problem caused by taxi drivers; it's
planning to do. Then there is the passenger who
stamp duty at the time of purchase. But registering
one that has been regurgitated by Diane Abbott.
opens the door on the offside without looking,
for council tax isn't their responsibility.
The number of black people taking taxis has gone
forcing cyclists to swerve to avoid it - stupidity of
But the above isn't to have a pop at wealthy
up over the years and the number of complaints
the highest order.
people, after all they use taxis and we are grateful
with regards to refusals going down. Ms Abbott
All that is good advice,but I feel that similar advice
for that. Perhaps it comes down to my self-admit-
has now taken the debate back several years and
should be given to cyclists as well. For example;
ted moaning, but now local residents and there
damaged the previously improving relations,
when traffic lights are red, it means stop.When traf-
aren't that many living too local to Hyde Park
because there was a time when this really was a
fic stops at a pedestrian crossing to allow people to
have complained about the noise from the sum-
problem. You can read DaC driver's views inside
cross the road,that includes anything on two wheels
mer's open air concerts held at the park. Current
this issue.
stopping as well. If you are following a taxi with its
rumour suggests only 3 apartments are actually
I disagree with those suggesting Ms Abbott
left indicator flashing, that probably means he is
lived in, which begs the point is it just these
should be sacked from her position as Shadow
turning left or possibly stopping. It isn't an invitation
three who moan about the noise?
Health Minister, I just wish she would get a life and
for cyclists to overtake on the inside.
Besides being part of London's summer scene,
go back to what she does best helping con-
Also, it is an offence for taxis to travel in the
the rich bring a lot of money into town whether
stituents and insulting people! Errr, hang on...
new cycling highways, so shouldn't it also be an
it's for patron's use of taxis from the station to
offence for cyclists to travel outside them? Why
Hyde Park or their early arrival to hit the shops.
Alan Fisher
should a cyclist overtake another cyclist who in
And now, instead of Westminster telling these
Callsignmag@aol.com
turn is overtaking? The third cyclist will have to
"local residents" that the concerts were already
