A friend of a friend took a very short trip in a rickshaw "100m" and was charged £20 for the priviledge! an argument broke out and my pals friend gave him £10, he turned and walked away "BIG MISTAKE" the rickshaw rider went back to his BIKE produced a wheel brace and and hit my friends friend over the head with it and left him for dead!
Am i alone in thinking that it's about time we removed this third world form or transport from the streets of a city that claims itself to be world class?

Hmm stevethecab with an unsubstatiated story about violence from rickshaw drivers...

Hi stevethecab, I know of three girls that were followed by a black cab driver into the lobby of their flat, and he tried to smash their door down when they wouldn't let him in.

Am i alone in thinking that it's about time we removed this form or transport from the streets of a city that claims itself to be world class?

Mmmmaybe they refused to pay him, Mmmmaybe they threw up in the back of his cab (i'm not trying to justify his actions) but he didn't smash them over the head with a piece of metal did he?
There are an estimated 9 million journeys taken in the back of black cabs annually and 9.99999% of them are safe and reliable, unlike most other forms of public transport! and we don't receive a single penny in subsides from the taxpayer unlike tfls bus, tube and rail network. So why remove something that costs you nothing?

99.9% of London cabbies voted for Boris.So why is he riding around in a Minicab?

Boris has probably been ordered to claw back some of the millions thats been wasted by kenny and he's using a cheaper option, you see minicab drivers are allowed to work and claim benefits, and it doesn't cost them around £400 a week to go to work, unlike us!

> Boris has probably been ordered to claw back some of
> the millions thats been wasted by kenny and he's
> using a cheaper option, you see minicab drivers are
> allowed to work and claim benefits, and it doesn't
> cost them around £400 a week to go to work, unlike
> us!
Come off it Steve,You will have to do better than that.A licenced private hire driver cannot claim the dole.you all voted for the old Etonian without reading the small print and its going to bite you on the bum.

>9 million journeys taken in the back of black cabs annually and 9.99999% of them are safe and reliable

So, just over 8.1 million black cab journeys are not safe and reliable?

Sounds about right.

Cheesygrin so i made a decimal point error, but really don't you think you should be more concerned with the fact that someone was left for dead after being attacked with an iron bar? but i suppose that's typical of society today.

8.1 million unsafe taxi trips, come on who are you trying to kid?

Licensed private hire drivers are not allowed to sign on? well i never, that probably explains why they are having a recruitment meltdown!
Besides boris can't be any worse than an old lefty who would rather spend £2m of your money on teaching people from the ethnic "minority" how to be cab drivers when we have twelve year old kids walking the streets shooting and stabbing everyone!
Google kennedy scott if you don't believe me.

The reason Private Hire has a recruitment problem is because once licensing came in people could not sign on and drive minicabs.Also the long hours with not much return.Of course Ken went over the top with his courting of the ethnic vote but if you think Boris is going to create a utopia for the licenced trade you are living in a dream world.

Point taken, but he did promise us a place on tfls board and stop fining us for droping off our passengers, all we can do at the moment is wait, if he fails to deliver then we will not be happy considering many of us did our utmost trying to persuade our passengers that he was the Messiah and if ken got another four years we would all return to the dark ages.

> if ken got another four years we would all return to
> the dark ages.

What would Ken have done that would have been so terrible.

> What would Ken have done that would have been so
> terrible.
Lived for another 4yrs!

>
> > What would Ken have done that would have been so
> > terrible.
> Lived for another 4yrs!

Come on,you wcan do better than that.

> > Lived for another 4yrs!
> Come on,you wcan do better than that.
OK Colin lets briefly touch on what happened in Oxford St the other day.
Now lets go onto public transport, when the c/charge came into effect the city was unusually quiet because of 9/11 and it was quiet for about a year, which made the c/charge look as though it was successful, but when the city started to get back to normal back came the traffic to almost pre c/charge levels!
Then there was the tampering with the traffic lights to give priority to pedestrians, now this is a classic example of him getting his priorities wrong! so we now have business people who are trying to get to important meetings stuck in traffic instead of generating wealth, jobs and opportunities.
But ken is more concerned with "Doris" who might have to wait just a little bit longer to get across the road to "Greggs" for her prawn and avocado sandwich!
Now look at the buses, there is just to many of them!
The need for public transport is growing, public transport itself is growing, but the only thing that's not growing in the length and breadth of the roads there trying to squeeze it all into!
We are no different from any other form of public transport, we have busy time slots throughout the 24hr period, we are busy in the morning getting people to work 6am to 9am, busy in the evening 6pm to 8pm then 10.30pm to around 1am.
In between these busy time slots we have to mostly rank up and read a book.
Now take a look at the buses in between the times that i've stated, they're all empty, blocking up the streets, waisting fuel and waisting millions £'s of our money! why don't they reduce the fleet by around 50% at these times? that way they can keep the service going and free up the roads at the same time.
As we speak it seems Boris is going to keep his promise to Londons black cabs, and if we get one of us on the TFL board then we may be able to install some commonsense into the regime.

> Point taken, but he did promise us a place on tfls
> board and stop fining us for droping off our
> passengers, all we can do at the moment is wait, if
> he fails to deliver then we will not be happy
> considering many of us did our utmost trying to
> persuade our passengers that he was the Messiah and
> if ken got another four years we would all return to
> the dark ages.

Why do cab drivers get fined for dropping off passengers?

> Why do cab drivers get fined for dropping off
> passengers?
Revenue i suppose, considering they get none from the rest of public transport.

until boris bans the pediscum from the streets of ( london ) especially covent garden and soho i will not take my sherbert anywhere near them places

ackney that probably won't happen mate, too many lefties love em, they believe they are harmless fun and good for the environment.
They don't realise the hold ups they cause produce more pollution and there impact on the environment is more negative than positive!

>stevethecab

>They don't realise the hold ups they cause produce more pollution and there impact on the environment is more negative than positive!

Holdups? In Central London? The odd slow moving vehicle doesn't hold you up, thousands of other cars do. You go at about 12mph regardless.

In your cab, you could equally be charged with holding them up.

So when you're sitting behind one gnashing your teeth remember you're only getting impatient to get to the next queue of traffic.

Personally I think they should be licensed, but I don't think you'll see the back of them.

As a cyclist, I have never been physically assaulted by a rickshaw rider. However, black cab drivers often seem intent on doing so in the way they drive and the general disrespect they show for cyclists on the road. So, what is worse; a single rickshaw rider allegedly assaulting a non-paying customer, or thousands of black cab drivers all trying to kill cyclists on a daily basis, for no reason whatsoever?

And in terms of congestion and pollution black cab drivers need to realise that they can be part of the solution rather than a big problem; push the manufacturer of your cabs to work on hybrid engines for example. Cuts your fuel bill, saves the environment and makes London a better place for everyone. Do something positive for a change rather than complain about anything and everything.

I will say this however; rickshaws do not work in London; there is no space for them, they move too slowly and erratically and are horrendously overpriced. Licensing them and setting a standard charging structure should be on Boris' list as it should have been on Ken's.

> thousands of black cab drivers all trying to kill
> cyclists on a daily basis, for no reason whatsoever?

Stop jumping red lights then!

> And in terms of congestion and pollution black cab
> drivers need to realise that they can be part of the
> solution rather than a big problem; push the
> manufacturer of your cabs to work on hybrid engines
> for example. Cuts your fuel bill, saves the
> environment and makes London a better place for
> everyone. Do something positive for a change rather
> than complain about anything and everything.

We have all been force to spend £2500 of our money (not the taxpayers) on "special" emissions equipment and there is a hybrid prototype being built as we speak!
You would complain if you had to keep handing over a huge chunk of you wages to third parties just to make the politicians look good,
we have no choice in the vehicles that our masters impose on us, we are just the mugs that have to pay nearly £40000 for them!

>
> > thousands of black cab drivers all trying to kill
> > cyclists on a daily basis, for no reason whatsoever?
> Stop jumping red lights then!

So...you admit to trying to kill cyclists?

> We have all been force to spend £2500 of our money
> (not the taxpayers) on "special" emissions equipment
> and there is a hybrid prototype being built as we
> speak!
> You would complain if you had to keep handing over a
> huge chunk of you wages to third parties just to make
> the politicians look good,
> we have no choice in the vehicles that our masters
> impose on us, we are just the mugs that have to pay
> nearly £40000 for them!

Can I ask, if things are oh so bad, why don't you quit? Get another job. Do something that isn't such a burden?

>
> So...you admit to trying to kill cyclists?

Cheesy it's not us that murder and rape!
>
> Can I ask, if things are oh so bad, why don't you
> quit? Get another job. Do something that isn't such
> a burden?

Well my friend when you have invested 3yrs of your life in something it's not that easy to walk away from, and i personally think that the black cab trade is one of the very few decent things left in london, and i'm willing to fight for it!

> Well my friend when you have invested 3yrs of your life in something it's not that easy to walk away from, and i personally think that the black cab trade is one of the very few decent things left in london...

Three years? Is that all. Blimey, I spent seven years in training for my chosen profession, and turned my back on it a few years ago because I wasn't happy with what I was doing or the direction the industry had taken. Much happier.

> and i'm willing to fight for it!

Or, just whine about it on internet message boards.

> Three years? Is that all. Blimey, I spent seven
> years in training for my chosen profession,

My three yrs was seven days a week plus night school four nights per week, 52 weeks per year, unlike your one day a week "uni" with semesters and half terms and a couple of weeks off for xmas,
piss ups down the student bar and half price theatre
tickets ect.

The reason i'm whining is because people like yourself have turned this debate around and would rather mock cab drivers instead of discussing the real issue which was that a man was found lying in the gutter covered in blood, surrounded by "tourists"
fighting for his life!
But i should have known better, this is now the "norm" in london, doesn't anyone like anything decent anymore?

.
>
> The reason i'm whining is because people like
> yourself have turned this debate around and would
> rather mock cab drivers instead of discussing the
> real issue which was that a man was found lying in
> the gutter covered in blood, surrounded by
> "tourists"
> fighting for his life!
> But i should have known better, this is now the
> "norm" in london, doesn't anyone like anything decent
> anymore?
>
> Steve,We have replaced Fleet St printers as the bogeymen in London.(Bob Crow runs us close).Everyone now "knows" a cabbie who works two days a week,has a villa in Spain and sends his kids to private school.The only people who really appreciate us are tourists and taxicard users.Get used to it mate,it can only get worse.
>
>
>
>

everyone "knows" a cabbie who works two days a week,has a
> villa in Spain and sends his kids to private
> school.

Two days a week! It's taking me four days just to cover my overheads, me and my family have had one holiday in eight years!
If your going to express your opinion on a subject you really should do your research first!

>things can only get worse

Finally, i thought it would never happen, a sensible comment.

> If your going to express your opinion on a subject
> you really should do your research first!
>
> >things can only get worse
> Finally, i thought it would never happen, a sensible
> comment.
> As a bill holder myself i think i have done plenty of research.The point i was making is that the myth that London cabbies earn a fortune for very little work is now prevalent among the publc in London.There is very little sympathy for us out there.

> colinhenry: everyone "knows" a cabbie who works two days a week, has a villa in Spain and sends his kids to private school.

>Two days a week! It's taking me four days just to cover my overheads, me and my family have had one holiday in eight years! If your going to express your opinion on a subject you really should do your research first!

Blimey! Two chips? One for each shoulder? Keep a bit of balance?

I think colin's comment was to be filed under sarcasm, but clearly your blinkers are keeping you from reading clearly.

I would ask again. Bearing in mind all of your efforts in getting your licence, if it so bad, if it is so hard to make a living, why keep on doing it?

P.S. - Do you know where St. George's Cathederal is?

> I think colin's comment was to be filed under
> sarcasm, but clearly your blinkers are keeping you
> from reading clearly.

Now who's being sarky? Colin disguised his true identity well and i must admit i was slightly confused, and i don't think i'm the only one wearing blinkers Cheesy!
> I would ask again. Bearing in mind all of your
> efforts in getting your licence, if it so bad, if it
> is so hard to make a living, why keep on doing it?

Iv'e got no problem with the job, it's the "parasites" that are bleeding me dry who are the problem!
Your not a "parasite" with an agenda are you cheese?
> P.S. - Do you know where St. George's Cathederal is?

Ask your sat-nav.

>My three yrs was seven days a week plus night school four nights per week, 52 weeks per year, unlike your one day a week "uni" with semesters and half terms and a couple of weeks off for xmas,
piss ups down the student bar and half price theatre
tickets ect.

Wow! That is one serious chip!

Well, for the record, three to four days per week attending as well as many hours of study at home, plus working 20 to 30 hours per week with two jobs (more so over the summer). I didn't take a holiday in all of that time. I had a mortgage and all the other day-to-day bills to pay; I left university without any debt (mortgage aside). I do not drink so never really frequented the student bar, save for friend's birthdays etc. Did you NEVER socialise while doing "The Knowledge"? I don't think half-price theatre tickets are exclusive to students.

I'm interested to learn more of the story of the "friend of a friend" so visciously assaulted. Presumably such an assault made a news story somewhere? I can't imagine the Standard letting that one slip by, and as Rickshaws are something of a bete noire with Black Taxi drivers I would have thought the LTDA's own rag would have a story on it.

Care to provide more info?

>The reason i'm whining is because people like yourself have turned this debate around and would rather mock cab drivers

Actually, I politely asked a simple, reasonable question, but clearly you have an agenda.

Did you NEVER socialise
> while doing "The Knowledge"?

NO

> I'm interested to learn more of the story of the
> "friend of a friend" so viciously assaulted.
> Presumably such an assault made a news story
> somewhere? I can't imagine the Standard letting
> that one slip by, and as Rickshaws are something of
> a bete noire with Black Taxi drivers I would have
> thought the LTDA's own rag would have a story on
> it.
>
> Care to provide more info?

The friend and the friend of a friend both don't drive taxis, so as far as i'm concerned there is no need for lies!
The LTDA are a waist of time and why do you think i put this out on the evening standard forum?
Because i believe people should be notified of this horrendous assault.

> The friend and the friend of a friend both don't
> drive taxis, so as far as i'm concerned there is no
> need for lies!

Lies? Who mentioned lies? I din't mention lies. Just asking for more information. I'm surprised I was not able to find anything about it in the news, since it seems to be quite a high profile crime.

> The LTDA are a waist of time and why do you think i
> put this out on the evening standard forum?
> Because i believe people should be notified of this
> horrendous assault.

Waste of time or not, fact remains that, understandably, Rickshaws are a thorn in the side of London's black cab drivers and I would have thought that "Taxi" would have been the perfect organ to report the story and thought you might have been a worthwhile conduit to relay that information. Clealry not. Sorry, my mistake.

Can you provide anymore information. Where? When? Witnessess? Any arrests made?

> Waste of time or not, fact remains that,
> understandably, Rickshaws are a thorn in the side of
> London's black cab drivers and I would have thought
> that "Taxi" would have been the perfect organ to
> report the story and thought you might have been a
> worthwhile conduit to relay that information.
> Clearly not. Sorry, my mistake.
>
> Can you provide anymore information. Where?
> When? Witnesses? Any arrests made?

Cheese, rickshaws pose no financial threat to us, we just consider them a nuisance, as do most other road users.
I belong to another association whom have been informed, i would not give useful info to the ltda because i believe they do very little for the cab trade!

Apparently the friend of a friend has witnesses but was reluctant to get involved with the police (why do most crimes go unreported)
That's his choice, but i'm keen on pursuing this if my association gives me the go ahead, so watch this space is all i can say on that one.

before u start preaching fella sort your own out. going up 1 way streets the wrong way, jumping red lights, coming down the nearside of vehicles turning left even when the indicator is flashing on the vehicle , riding your bikes along the pavements, riding 2 /3 a breast in the road etc

I think where possible the cycle lanes should be on the pavement, clearly marked and even better with some sort of divider to stop people inadvertently straying onto the pedestrian part of the pavement. There are some places where this has been done but I can only think of the Lea Bridge road at the moment, it gets the cyclists out of the bus lane too where the road is narrow and they would hold the flow of traffic up because not everyone can ride their bikes at 20-30 mph.

I have seen some cyclists using very very bright flashing lights on the front and rear of their bikes, these should be compulsory, they are excellent and its really hard to not see these lights even during the day, might be a slight problem for anyone with epilepsy when you get a few of these all together at the traffic lights though.

> I think where possible the cycle lanes should be on
> the pavement, clearly marked and even better with
> some sort of divider to stop people inadvertently
> straying onto the pedestrian part of the pavement.

Nighter good point mate, but who's paying for all this?
I've got no problem with cyclists i ride one myself, (in the park) if they want more cycle lanes etc, then they should contribute financially by way of road tax like i have too!
If it wasn't for revenue generated by the motorist they would all be riding on dirt tracks!
But that's typical of modern Britain, those that make no contribution have the most rights!

Steve, I think the point is that we need to reduce car/van/motor vehicle usage in London. There are far too many people driving in London, including taxis drivers, creating a nasty polluted environment.

Quite rightly, Ken has made efforts to encourage non-polluting modes of transport which includes cycling. Rightly or wrongly his/the governments methods of doing this are largely by penalising/increasing the cost of using motor vehicles through taxes and charges, rather than postively encouraging use of alternative methods of transport by, for example providing better facilities.

I'm afraid that like smoking, driving has become a scourge and there are too many pointless car journeys made across our city. The government's reaction to discourage smoking, is to ban it in public places and to hike up the cost.

Cycling a bicycle which may way several kilos makes a tiny impact on both the environment and the road surface. Cars, lorries, taxis etc not only pollute the air we all breathe but they grind the road surface down very quickly, so it's right they should pay!

Quite frankly I welcome any measures taken to reduce the overwhelming gridlock we have to put up with across the capital. if you wish to add to the pollution, pay up and stop whingeing.

>
> I'm afraid that like smoking, driving has become a
> scourge and there are too many pointless car journeys
> made across our city.

Headhunter i totally agree, £650m has been invested in londons bus network.
Why don't you use it!

> Cycling a bicycle which may way several kilos makes a
> tiny impact on both the environment and the road
> surface. Cars, lorries, taxis etc not only pollute
> the air we all breathe but they grind the road
> surface down very quickly, so it's right they should
> pay!

Do you believe that your beloved cycle lanes fell out of the sky?
They were built using the most polluting machines/plant equipment, they were built using materials that cause the most damage to the environment (concrete and tarmac) and they will need to be maintained, costing ME an absolute fortune!

> Quite frankly I welcome any measures taken to reduce
> the overwhelming gridlock we have to put up with
> across the capital. if you wish to add to the
> pollution, pay up and stop whingeing.

Once again i agree with you,
There is an estimated 9m journeys taken in the back of Londons cabs annually, that's 9m potential car journeys taken off the roads.
So it appears my friend that i'm doing more for the environment than you are!
You may be fit and healthy and able to ride a bike to work, but you are in the minority, besides most people would rather not start work at 9am covered in sweat!
I'm afraid i can't stop whingeing, most londoners need to start taking their reality pills and come out of those little bubbles that they take sanctuary in.

I do use buses, when I have to, but I'm afraid cycling is far faster than any other mode of transport for my daily commute and I've used 'em all - bus, rail, car and I even run on occasion. I come in from SE London and motor traffic is fairly free moving til London Bridge area, then gridlock strikes and buses along with everything else slows to a crawl.

Beloved cycle lanes?!! Don't make me laugh! London cycle lanes are a wast of space! Most of them consist of a bit of green paint for about 100 metres before they abruptly end and you're thrown back into the traffic! In any case, there are usually cars parked in them, taxis dropping of fares and whit van drivers making deliveries. Councils shoud save their money, I and most cyclists I know avoid them at all costs! As for the ASLs in front of traffic light junctions, most motorists and motorbike riders blatantly ignore them anyway. Again a complete waste of taxpayers money! London has no integrated, decent cycle network at all.

9 million journeys taken in London cabs. How is that 9 million journeys taken of the roads? Last I looked cabs used the roads too!

As for not being healthy enough, most people are perfectly healthy enough to pick up a bike and cycle, however slowly. They just need to get of their backsides!

And arriving at you destination sweaty, well you have a point there. As long as you have access to a shower at work, or a gym, then you can clean up before getting to your desk. Or alternatively cycle more slowly - you'd probably arrive at work more quickly than motor traffic anyway!

H/H there are many reasons why london is in gridlock, the main one is that this city is too over populated,(i never invited the whole world to come and live with us) but that's a different debate.

Cycling to work suits you, that's fine, but please don't try to brainwash the rest of us into believing that we are the bad guys and cyclists are the only people with morals!
If you really want to save the planet then you should opt out of the system completely.
i;e buy yourself a piece of land and be completely self sufficient, grow your own food, make your own power, source your own water, make clothes from natural materials, don't take your children to hospital when their ill, don't ever go to work again, don't teach your children how to read, etc,etc,etc!

I have traveled on buses that have been in a bus lane but reduced to going at the speed of the cyclist/cyclists who are also using the bus lane and so have the other buses also using the bus lane at the time. I don't have a problem with cyclists using the bus lanes but it seems to me that another approach needs to be taken in this area.

I agree, there are many reasons the roads are gridlocked. I also agree that London is overpopulated, but you misunderstand me. I am not trying to "brainwash" anyone or "opt out of the system". You've taken the whole thing to a ridiculous extreme!

My original comments were merely trying to point out that there are hundreds, if not thousands of unnecessary journeys by motor vehicle in London and personally I support Ken, the government, whoever in trying to cut these. Penalising drivers is one way of doing this but personally I feel that there should be some kind of incentive system for example setting up better cycling routes to encourage people to leave their cars behind rather than punishing them for using them. Charging cyclists tax for non existent facilities and supposed wear and tear bicycles cause to the road is simply going to push people back into their cars.

Equally better public transport would be good - someone needs to sort the Underground out, get rid of Bob Crow etc etc. Anything to get people out of cars.

However, we need to face facts that cycling is a very convenient way of getting around London. It makes no impact on the environment, very, very little impact on road surfaces, bikes take up very little space on the road freeing it up for other road users, cost to the community in setting up facilities for cycling are extremely low when compared with public transport costs, for example, regulating cab drivers, refurbishing the Tube and getting more buses on the road and at the same time it gets you fit. Basically everyone's a winner, if only people can be bothered to get off their backsides!

That's that then "sorted." Who needs a mayor?
Headhunter when the people of this country are all living in caves and a pint of milk costs £300 will you do us all a favour, travel the globe (on your bike) and try to convince the real perpetrators of this environmental disaster to leave their cars at home!

Travel the globe on my bike.... It may come to that if the various cataclysmic forecasted futures following extreme global warming become reality! But by then it'll be too late.

My comments about cycling are not necessarily aimed at ending global warming, you seem to have me down as some kind of environmental extremist who wants everyone in the UK to return to the Stone Age! No... I'm just a commuter who rides a bike to work. Not all cyclists are mad Birkestock wearing, long haired hippies!

I know that it would take a serious number of people across the entire world to eschew motor vehicles in favour of bikes to make much of an impact. If we're trying to make a difference to global climate change of course we need to look at aviation, coal fired power stations in China etc etc.

All I am saying is that back in little old London, air quality could be better, gridlock could be reduced as could the number of people making unnecessary journeys in cars, especially single people driving large, gas guzzlers a couple of miles from the City to West London for example. It's a journey of about 4 miles! Get out of your car and jump on a bike. Particularly in summer when it's nice out!

Headie baby i think i'm starting to like you, i will pray for sunshine tomorrow to help make your journey that little bit more pleasant. But if you get a puncture, just put out your arm and one of my colleagues will gladly take you the rest of the way.

Be lucky!

Well thanks for the prayer, it wasn't sunny this morning but at least it didn't rain. Don't mention the "p" word.... The bane of my life...

> 9 million journeys taken in London cabs. How is that
> 9 million journeys taken of the roads? Last I looked
> cabs used the roads too!

Thanks for correcting me, i meant to say 9 million journeys with 5 people in the back = 45 million potential car journeys taken off the road.
My god we're even better for the environment than i previously thought!

>
> > 9 million journeys taken in London cabs. How is that
> > 9 million journeys taken of the roads? Last I looked
> > cabs used the roads too!
> Thanks for correcting me, i meant to say 9 million
> journeys with 5 people in the back = 45 million
> potential car journeys taken off the road.
> My god we're even better for the environment than i
> previously thought!
>

What? Do cabs always drive around completely full? They never have just one or two passengers in? And they never drive around empty looking for fares? I assume you live in central London (perhaps just off Oxford Street) because apparently you don't drive to work either? I wouldn't be at all surprised if in the long-run the average number of passengers in a cab per-mile was less than one.

> What? Do cabs always drive around completely full?
> They never have just one or two passengers in? And
> they never drive around empty looking for fares? I
> assume you live in central London (perhaps just off
> Oxford Street) because apparently you don't drive to
> work either? I wouldn't be at all surprised if in the
> long-run the average number of passengers in a cab
> per-mile was less than one.

Listen, i was just making a point in jest, it's impossible for me to give you proper statistics on how many potential car journeys we stop coming into london, but we do ok.
To disagree with me on this would be pathetic, and would be the same as saying buses also do not take potential car journeys off the road.

We do the same job as buses more or less, but we are self sufficient and cost the tax payer nothing in subsidies, "if you don't use us you don't pay for us"
It's as simple as that!

>
> > What? Do cabs always drive around completely full?
> > They never have just one or two passengers in? And
> > they never drive around empty looking for fares? I
> > assume you live in central London (perhaps just off
> > Oxford Street) because apparently you don't drive to
> > work either? I wouldn't be at all surprised if in the
> > long-run the average number of passengers in a cab
> > per-mile was less than one.
> Listen, i was just making a point in jest, it's
> impossible for me to give you proper statistics on
> how many potential car journeys we stop coming into
> london, but we do ok.
> To disagree with me on this would be pathetic, and
> would be the same as saying buses also do not take
> potential car journeys off the road.
>

I agree - you take potential car journeys off the road. But it's also fair to say that you add some. Who knows precisely what the overal impact is.

> I agree - you take potential car journeys off the
> road. But it's also fair to say that you add some.
> Who knows precisely what the overal impact is.

You make a good point, but you are barking up the wrong tree!
TFL have abolished the old system where the issuing of new licenses was regulated, it's all about money now, the more drivers the more they collect in license fees etc.
They are not interested in the fact that there is too many of us now, and we are becoming part of the congestion problem when we are supposed to be part of the solution! the whole system is corrupt, you can only imagine the "back handers" that are going on in certain circles.
Everyone's a winner, except the drivers and the public who are still stuck in traffic jams.

Hi, I totally agree with you these third world parrasites should be removed from the streets, they are dangerous and the real good bit that really sticks in my gut is they are not even licensed to carry passengers. Am I not mistaken that a black cab driver has to do the knowledge before he is even allowed behind the wheel of a cab. Then he has to satisfy the Traffic Commissioner or some such person in the Public Carriage Office that he knows what he is doing and has no previous etc. I'm not a cabbie but a coach driver (I know) but hey we both have to be licensed to carry passengers so why the hell do these parasites get away with it. Is there nothing we can do to stop them? I had a passenger, who despite me saying don't go near them, decided to anyway. Yep you guessed it he got ripped off. My answer was "TOLD YOU SO."

IF this incident did take place and I don't doubt that it did.

What you're talking about is a violent, emotionally unstable adult with frankly sociopathic tendencies, who lashed out during an argument. You can call them evil, or scum, or some other judgment. Personally I see this as mental illness, this is not the behaviour of a well adjusted human being.

People like this are walking time bombs, the fact it happened in his work is incidental in my view, could have happened anywhere, a bar, in the street, maybe he does attack people all the time.

He didn't just become violent and dangerous when he started working as a rickshaw rider.

The fact you've chosen to use it as an excuse to pedal (pardon the pun) your own political agenda against rickshaws who are threatening your lively hood is a bit lame. Because it by no means supports your argument.

Lets not forget, you get a few nutters in blackcabs, like the fella that liked telling girls he'd won the lotto and giving them spiked champers before raping them - disgusting!

I use black cabs all the time, and will continue to do so. But in business you have to accept competition, it happens in all markets sooner or later, adapt, perform better or you die. Why should cabbies get government intervention to so they can have a monopoly on the market exactly?

>Tramp508 on 23/06/09 at 02:15 PM

>Hi, I totally agree with you these third world parrasites should be removed from the streets,

>they are dangerous

How are they dangerous?

>and the real good bit that really sticks in my gut is they are not even licensed to carry passengers.

Contrary to popular belief, the rickshaws run by the main companies definitely carry full public liability insurance. This is part of their voluntary code of practice. However, see above, if you exceed the stated number of passengers you may invalidate the insurance.

http://usefulwiki.com/londontheatre/fancy-a-rickshaw-ride-after-the-theatre-5-things-you-should-know.html

http://www.zerocouriers.com/lpoa/LPOA%20-%20Code%20of%20practice%20for%20operators.html