The UK’s #1 Taxi News Source
Edition 20 | December 2020
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EXPERT ANALYSIS
STEVE McNAMARA DR MIKE GALVIN THE WORLD STAGE
EDITORIAL
December 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 3
HAS THE PANDEMIC ACCELERATED THE
INDUSTRY’S RESPONSE
TO FUTURE PROOFING THE TRADE? It goes without saying that it has been a tough 2020. But even before the pandemic took hold in March, the trade had been challenged by numerous issues whilst also making the transition into a modern-day fleet and industry. Like every year, this year was always destined to mean change. We had new statutory guidance created which included criminal reference checks every six months and safeguarding training for cabbies. There was also a nod for CCTV usage if the local authority sees fit.
TaxiPoint Chief Editor: Perry Richardson TaxiPoint Editor: Michael Murphy TaxiPoint Publishing & Advertising Manager: Lindsey Richardson Visit us online at: www.taxi-point.co.uk Write to us at: contact@taxi-point.co.uk Advertising enquires at: advertising@taxi-point.co.uk The publishers reserve the right to refuse, withdraw, amend or otherwise deal with
We have then seen apps merging, licensing battles and of course most devastatingly a downturn in work-levels caused by the pandemic. COVID-19 has pressed fast-forward and meant a swifter shift to ‘greener’ vehicles and acceleration in road restrictions across the UK. The changes that 2020 has brought, and will bring, have been impacted by, accelerated and in some cases quite simply caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Some might say the industry has taken the proverbial kicking since March. But what if the pandemic has also accelerated the RESPONSE from our industry on topics which were already in the pipeline? See it as a reset if you like.
There is an opportunity now to look at all sides of our business; do we have the best tools to find work and increase turnover, can expenditure be cut, what can be invested in? Crucially, what will bring long-term stability? Once a form of normality resumes, and it will, it will involve people going back to the office, enjoying sports and leisure events, spending money at restaurants and bars, and eventually travelling abroad. And once again taxi drivers will be ready and waiting.
Perry Richardson, TaxiPoint Founder
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LICENSING FEATURE
December 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 4
A ‘RESILIENT’
DROP IN NUMBERS? The haunting image of the ‘Field of Broken Dreams’ showing hundreds of London black cabs parked up in a field has become symbolic to cabbies across the UK. With work levels remaining low, only a fraction of the fleet’s wheels are still turning. In this edition we break down figures from some of the UK’s most active licensing authorities, to see how the global pandemic has impacted taxi and private hire driver licensing numbers up and down the land. Kicking it off there’s probably no better place to start than Wolverhampton City Council, who have
Image credit: Ross Campbell
previously been criticised for the large number of private hire licences issued, especially to those who don’t live or intend to work locally. Despite the coronavirus pandemic having a hugely negative impact on the taxi and private hire industry, Wolverhampton City Council have seen an increase in private hire driver licences. Private hire driver licences have risen by 667, from 16,257 to 16,924 (+4.1%). Despite the increase, private hire vehicle licences have seen a drop of 387, from 11,077 to 10,690 (-3.5%). Hackney carriage taxis licensed by Wolverhampton
Charity
May 2019 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 20
LICENSING FEATURE City Council can’t boast such numbers, with driver licences dropping from 102 to 97 (-4.9%) in the last 12 months. Hackney carriage vehicle licence numbers have also dropped slightly from 170 to 169 (-0.6%). The council also offers drivers the chance to hold a dual hackney carriage/private hire licence, with numbers currently sitting at 164 which is down 7 (-4.1%) from the same time last year.
December 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 6
of licensed drivers sits at 2,425, whereas the same time last year, the figures were 2,427. The UK’s largest taxi and private hire licensing authority, Transport for London (TfL), shows that as of 22 November, hackney carriage taxi driver licences were down by 950 from 22,337 to 21,387. Out of the current number licensed, 18,995 hold ‘All London’ licences and 2,551 hold ‘Suburban’ licences.
Next up we look at Brighton & Hove City Council licensed drivers. Figures released by the council show that both hackney carriage and private hire driver licences have dropped in the last 12 months. Hackney carriage driver licences have dropped by 78, from 1,138 to 1,060 (-6.9%) with private hire driver licences dropping 19, from 252 to 233 (-7.5%).
Hackney carriage taxi vehicle licences reveal more worrying figures, with licences dropping a huge 3,664 in the last 12 months.
Private hire vehicle licences have dropped 56, from 493 to 437 (-11.4%), with the only increase across the board coming from hackney carriage vehicle licences. Hackney carriage vehicle licences are up by 5, from 580 to 585 (+0.9%).
Whilst the downfall in taxi vehicle numbers has been heavily highlighted, private hire vehicles licensed by TfL have also dropped massively. There has been a decrease of 10,818 licensed minicabs in the past 12 months, from 94,712 to 83,894 (-11.4%).
Private hire driver licences have also seen a decrease, with 3,332 fewer licences currently recorded. The current figure stands at 108,434, with data showing that at the same time last year there were 111,766 driver licences on the database.
The number of private hire operator licences in the capital currently sits at 2,022, that’s down 91 on last year’s figures of 2,113.
Image credit: Ross Campbell
Nottingham taxi drivers have proven to be some of the most resilient, with the number of drivers licensed to operator only dropping by 2 in the last 12 months. Figures show that the current number
In Derbyshire, Hackney Carriage licences currently recorded by Derby City Council have also dropped over the last 12 months, with data showing a decrease of 21, to 324 from 345 (-6.1%). Cabbies licensed with Sheffield City Council, some of
LICENSING FEATURE
December 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 7
which will be receiving a £500 support package if they meet eligibility requirements, have also seen a drop off in numbers. There were 740 licensed taxi drivers licensed in 2019 and now only 697 (-5.8%) licencees remain. For private hire drivers it’s a similar story with 1,878 (-6%) still licensed compared to 1,998 the previous year.
A spokesperson for the council told us: “We have implemented a wide range of measures in support of the taxi trade at this extremely difficult time. We are keeping the situation under regular review and will continue to look for further changes that can ease the pressure currently being felt by licence holders.
Not all licensing authorities were able to give comparison numbers but have made available current licensing figures.
“As a regulatory authority, we must remain focused on public safety at all times.”
In Glasgow there are currently 1,420 taxis licensed. Glasgow City Council have confirmed to us that current data indicates that 75 of those licence holders have intimated their vehicles are off the road.
Looking at these UK cities, the trend is pretty consistent. There is a drop in both driver and vehicle licences, but is the trend caused by the coronavirus pandemic or was this the path the trade was on already?
There also remains a bigger question over the Of the council’s private hire cars, there are currently number of drivers who haven’t yet made the 3,823 licensed vehicles, with the most recent data decision about remaining licensed taxi and private showing that 85 of those vehicles are currently off hire drivers when their next renewal comes the road. around. The council have told us that licences are not being surrendered as such, as since the first lockdown they have allowed licence holders to cancel the taxi element of their insurance and advise that they are off the road. Those licences are then temporarily suspended until such time as the drivers advise that they intend to operate again.
Image credits: Ross Campbell
However, what this data does show is that there remains a resilience from the industry. Despite one of the worst health and economic crises the world and the trade has faced, there remains optimism that the industry will return.
Feature written by: Michael Murphy
FEATURE Q&A
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GENERAL SECRETARY
In this month’s Q&A session, Steve McNamara, General Secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA), tells us about the challenges faced during a difficult 2020, but also what the industry can expect and even look forward to moving into 2021.
2020 has been a memorable year for all the wrong reasons. In your position as LTDA General Secretary what has been your biggest challenge?
is no end in sight, but we will keep fighting to make sure the taxi trade survives and comes out the other side.
Unsurprisingly, coronavirus has been by far the biggest challenge, and the biggest threat facing the taxi trade this year and probably since I have been in this role. Every industry is struggling and pretty much every aspect of life has been affected, so it has been difficult to be heard above all the noise and to get our members the support they need. At the LTDA, we’ve been doing everything we can to help drivers through this crisis, whether that’s helping people access the SEISS grants, providing advice, lobbying the Government and Mayor of London to try and get additional support for those who need it and working with the media to shine a light on the challenges cabbies are facing. It’s been an uphill battle and there
At the LTDA too, we’ve had to adapt and find new ways of working to make sure we were able to support drivers effectively through both lockdowns and at all times throughout this crisis. It’s not been easy for anyone but we are still here and we are working hard to support our members and protect their livelihoods. In a tough year what has been your biggest achievement in 2020? It feels like getting through this year is enough of an achievement to be honest, but one highlight was definitely the Chancellor of the Exchequer calling me personally to tell me he was introducing the SEISS to help struggling drivers and other self-employed people. I had no idea who he was when he called me,
FEATURE Q&A until a civil servant came on the line and explained who I was talking to. It’s a shame he hasn’t been so responsive when it comes to our pleas for additional support for those who haven’t been able to access any support! In the early part of this year, I was also incredibly proud to see how well the trade was doing and the fantastic progress it was making in becoming not just the best, but also the cleanest and greenest cab service in the world. More and more drivers were investing in ZEC taxis and the trade was doing the best it had in years. There were still challenges and threats, but drivers were embracing change and were being rewarded for doing so and I could see a bright future ahead. I hope we can continue to build on that once the current crisis is over. Has the support provided to the taxi industry from the Government been adequate? What support would you like to see in 2021?
December 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 10 failing to realise how catastrophic the collapse in passenger demand had been for the trade. Too many drivers also haven’t been able to claim any support at all, whether it’s those who are new to the trade or perhaps most unfairly those who have recently purchased a new zero emission capable taxi and claimed capital allowances against it. Those drivers did the right thing and now feel like they are being punished for doing so. This can’t be right. Policymakers have also been far too slow to realise the impact of the crisis on the trade, only now are the Department for Transport talking about how to get PPE to taxi drivers and they have also only recently provided detailed safer travel guidance for the sector despite the LTDA and other sector organisations having been calling for this since the start of the crisis almost 10 months ago!
In other areas of the UK, additional financial support has been provided for taxi drivers in recognition of the The Government support for the taxi trade has been huge challenges they face. We’ve seen schemes to woefully inadequate. We’ve had to fight for support at provide financial support for drivers in Northern every turn. First, they failed to immediately recognise Ireland, Scotland, the Liverpool City Region and the needs of the self-employed and provide financial Sheffield City Region. I hope that the Mayor of London support for them. When they did eventually introduce and Government finally step up and provide the same the Self Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) it for drivers in England and specifically in London, and was extremely welcome, but since then it’s been a we will keep lobbying them to do so. constant battle to keep it at a level that will provide The Mayor and TfL’s approach to promoting walking drivers with a decent level of income, with the and cycling in response to the pandemic has also been Government constantly threatening to cut it and a disaster for this city and their decision to exclude licensed taxis from key routes and take away their
Image: @MMorgardo
“Policymakers have also been far too slow to realise the impact of the crisis on the trade…”
JUST FOR FUN
July 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 23
against two guys from North London. It was on! The arguing went back the earth to suck me up. I took one look in my
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FEATURE Q&A right to go where buses go, has been hugely damaging for the taxi trade and the passengers we serve. Talk about kicking someone when they are down! The initial Streetspace announcement in May, which set out plans for bus-only corridors across key areas of central London, where taxis do most of their trade, was a huge blow for confidence and we saw many drivers deciding to pack it in as a result. In the end they have scaled back the plans in the face of opposition from the LTDA and others, but there are still a number of schemes that have removed taxi access like the Bishopsgate bus gate and other measures like the pop-up cycle lanes are causing havoc.
December 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 12 lockdowns and removal of restrictions like the hospitality curfew, so that we can get people back into central London and get London moving again. We also need the Government, TfL and London Boroughs to look again at the relentless focus on promoting active travel and the traffic measures being put in place across the capital, that are bringing London to a standstill. They need to make sure that any measures they’ve put in place work for all road users and that this is not being done at the expense of London’s recovery. London is not a theme park, it’s a living, breathing, working city and it’s high time people recognise this! Do you see a slow or sharp recovery for the taxi industry once leisure and travel restrictions are lifted?
As for 2021, let’s hope testing and the vaccine are the silver bullets that get drivers back to work and passengers back in cabs. We are calling for taxi drivers Before the pandemic, the taxi trade in London was – who I believe should be considered key workers – to doing well. At the beginning of this year, we were be one of the early groups to receive the vaccine. I having the best kipper season ever. With ZEC taxis and also want to see an end to the damaging cycle of
FEATURE Q&A contactless card payments, we were attracting new customers and things were on the up. As I keep telling people, the taxi trade is a viable industry that was thriving pre-Covid and can be again once restrictions are lifted and life starts to return to some kind of normality. There was a brief period in the summer when trade had started to pick up as restrictions were eased, there was still a long way to go don’t get me wrong, but this showed how the trade can bounce back. So I would expect there to be a sharp recovery. However, this requires an end to lockdowns and the most harmful restrictions, which keep people out of central London. We need to get people back to work and get London moving again as soon as possible. In the meantime, we also need short term financial support to ensure that drivers can keep their cabs on the road and are not put out of business permanently. One of the biggest threats to that recovery is cabs potentially being repossessed – many of our members are now starting to receive letters from finance
December 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 13
companies threatening to take their cabs away, and if that happens they won’t be able to come back. The taxi fleet size has dramatically reduced during the pandemic. How will the fleet bounce back in numbers next year? Many of the older vehicles that have been taken off the road, may sadly never come back. But as restrictions ease and passenger demand picks up, we should start to see confidence returning to the trade and people who have temporarily hung up their badges to find other work or because they can’t earn enough to cover the running costs, getting their cabs back on the road. Eventually, we should also start to see drivers investing in new zero emission vehicles again. Ironically, the devastating reduction in the size of the fleet means that ZEC cabs now make up over a quarter of the taxi fleet – I just hope we don’t start to lose them in the next few months.
INDUSTRY DEBATE
December 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 15
THE
WORLD
STAGE
GLOBAL TAXI CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS THE KEY FUTURE INDUSTRY TRENDS AND THE IMMEDIATE DAMAGE CAUSED BY COVID
Mohamed Mezghani Secretary General of UITP Image credit: UITP
Despite the ongoing travel restrictions we are all facing both locally and globally, the delayed international UITP Taxi and Ride-hailing Digital Conference took place virtually this month. The event brought together leading names in the industry over a two-day conference between 2-3 December. The online event provided an excellent opportunity to gain knowledge and learn about smart solutions with leading taxi experts from across the world.
integrating services around other modes of public services (MaaS). There was also an understanding that the industry had been heavily hit financially during 2020, predominantly due to the coronavirus.
Mohamed Mezghani, Secretary General of UITP (International Association of Public Transport), summed up the impact of the pandemic in the opening session of the conference, saying: “Transport service providers, including taxi and rideThroughout the sessions, which covered topics from hailing players are suffering major losses owing to local and international regulation to how the the multiple lockdowns and subsequent low industry will respond post-COVID, there were demands. several key takeaways for taxi drivers and operators “I read a report recently published by the BBC on to digest. the state of the iconic and highly popular black cabs There was an underlining theme throughout the conference that COVID had accelerated trends, but not created many new ones. Taxi drivers and operators were warned to shift with the times, focussing on key areas such as digitalisation, electrification, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and
of London. It outlined the situation with some regrettable examples. Some taxi service companies are reporting a drop from 95% occupancy rate to just 10%. Cab rental firms have had to hire fields and car parks to store unused vehicles. Desperate drivers are selling off their cabs well below the
INDUSTRY DEBATE market value to get through the next months.
December 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 16
institutional aid.
“UITP advocates on behalf of its “This is not what anyone would members, and the sector in have predicted for a service that is general, on the need for major an integral part of the city’s DNA, funding mechanisms that will and a business that was assist the sector with the extensive considered a successful one. losses accumulated.” “This crisis has made the essential role played by taxi and ride hailing services clear to us. They provided vital transportation services to front-line staff. They ensured that cities remained moving for those who needed it during these severe times. “While most activities in the city had been suspended, these transportation services continued to operate to serve those who have no other mobility choice and the healthcare personnel.
During the same opening keynote speech Dr. Anja Kaeller, Legal Officer for Mobility and Transport European Commission, spoke about what the industry must now focus on as it exits the constraints placed upon it as a result of the pandemic.
Dr Kaeller highlighted the need for the international taxi and ridehailing industry to work towards complimenting public transport offerings. That includes the rise of cycling, walking and scooting. Using advancing technology the “For example, in Singapore, Grab partnered with the city authorities industry should also be challenging efficiency and reducing the to provide rides to doctors and number of ‘dead miles’ each hospital staff. cabbie drives. “Not only are these services being There was also a strong used to get from one place to acceptance that taxis and rideanother safely, in cities like New sharing vehicles were to lead the York, taxi services are also being used to provide meals to homeless way in electrifying the road network. people. It is not just about mobility… but about serving One of the most interesting people. questions which resonated “Another point made clear by the throughout many of the sessions crisis, is that public transportation and which certainly struck a chord with us here at TaxiPoint, was how services, including taxi and ride hailing, are undervalued. Though does the industry and individual cab drivers ensure they stay there is a consensus about its relevant to the communities they essential role, the sector hasn’t received the needed financial and serve in a transitioning transport landscape?
“Desperate drivers are selling off their cabs well below the market value to get through the next months… this is not what anyone would have predicted for a service that is an integral part of the city’s DNA, and a business that was considered a successful one.”
ROAD TRANSPORT
December 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 18
CYCLISTS... WHERE HAVE THEY GONE?!
The number of journeys made by cyclists has returned to similar levels found PRE-COVID despite the huge investments made in infrastructure to uplift cycling, reveals transport statistics.
walking as surveys and independent polls were said to show strong public support for highquality schemes.
The new money, part of the £2billion announced for cycling and walking in May, will According to data released by the Department fund measures including: for Transport (DfT), the volume of cyclists has • ‘School Streets’, where streets around dropped after an initial spike in users during schools are closed to motorists at school the first lockdown period. At its peak in May, a times cycling boom showing more than twice the • low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs), where number of riders were recorded based on residential side streets are closed to DfT’s equivalent day taken from the first week through traffic to stop rat-running of March 2020. • segregated cycle lanes However, as coronavirus restrictions were pedestrian improvements. relaxed, weather conditions deteriorated, and • people returned to work, the number of journeys made has since rapidly declined back to more historic normal levels across England. On 13 November Transport Secretary Grant Shapps gave councils across England a further £175million to create safe space for cycling and
REVIEW
December 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 20
Very few could have predicted the year we have all just lived through. Never has the word ‘unprecedented’ been used so often. The news has been full of stories we weren’t ever expecting to read about. It’s been a year that many will wish to forget, but here we take a look at some of the quite unforgettable trade news we covered.
Uber driver given suspended sentence for exposing himself to female passenger during London trip Police spark taxi trade confusion: When is it legal to interact with a mobile device whilst driving? Heathrow electric taxi charge-point prices spiral forcing cabbies to run off petrol engines London Uber driver ordered to pay almost £2,000 for refusing to take guide dog
APRIL
CONFIRMED: Taxi drivers can continue working during latest COVID-19 isolation measures Taxis starting to stack up as many rental drivers unable to afford weekly payments Glasgow taxi drivers in ’utter shock’ as cabbies die and several remain ’very ill’ from COVID-19 London black taxi app FREE NOW merges with minicab app Kapten in bid to become the market number one
MAY
MARCH
FEBRUARY
JANUARY
To read the full stories simply click on the headlines...
Up to 75,000 UK taxi drivers could take legal action against Mercedes-Benz in new emissions scandal HMRC invite self-employed to get ready to make claim for COVID-19 support package
Black taxi numbers tumble by nearly a QUARTER since Spring 2015 causing disability access concerns Uber set to buy UK taxi and private hire tech booking firm Autocab New taxi and private hire industry TAX CHECKS could earn government extra £65MILLION in revenue Taxi drivers NOT legally required to wear face masks despite new rules mandating passenger usage BAILEY’S LONDON MAYORAL TAXI PLAN: Open up road access, Knowledge scholarships and minicab caps Ride-hailing firm Ola found not fit and proper to hold a private hire operator’s licence in London
NOVEMBER
AUGUST
Taxi driver eyebrows raise as new allelectric 260 mile range Mercedes-Benz eVito arrives on market RELEASED: New Government statutory standards for taxi and private hire vehicle passengers
SEPTEMBER
“Hardworking taxi driver” sentenced to jail for couriering two kilos of cocaine to the North-East New mandatory face covering measures for travelling public does NOT cover taxis or minicabs, say DfT
OCTOBER
JUNE
December 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 21
JULY
REVIEW
DR MIKE GALVIN: A London without the Black Taxi? £1,500 CASH BOOST: Each Northern Ireland taxi driver to receive vital grant
TAXI RESEARCH
December 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 22
AT RISK NEW RESEARCH FINDS TAXI DRIVERS MOST AT RISK OF HARMFUL DIESEL FUMES Taxi drivers are most at risk of harmful diesel exhaust fumes as new research shows a longer -standing threat to the health of professional drivers than coronavirus. After conducting the largest real-world in-vehicle personal exposure study to date, researchers from the MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Environmental Research Group, Imperial College London, funded by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), have found that professional drivers are regularly exposed to hazardous levels of diesel emissions as part of their work. Exposure to diesel exhaust is known to cause heart and respiratory health problems, leading to hospitalisations and premature deaths. Worryingly, the Driver Diesel Exposure Mitigation Study (DEMiSt) found that professional drivers are disproportionately affected by exposure to diesel exhaust fumes, including taxi drivers (the worst hit group), couriers, bus drivers and drivers working for our emergency services. As a result of the study there are now urgent calls for
employers and stakeholders to take action to reduce the levels of these workers’ exposure to diesel emissions. The DEMiSt study has identified a range of driving behaviours that can play a part in reducing exposures, with minimum cost to the industry, as an initial step to protect drivers’ health. These include:
TAXI RESEARCH •
driving with windows closed – the simplest change drivers can make
•
taking less congested routes and avoiding tunnels
•
using recirculate ventilation settings (with windows closed), though only for short periods at times and in areas of high congestion
•
shift rotation to reduce each driver’s exposure to peak traffic times
•
changing to zero tailpipe emission vehicles with airtight cabins (this will benefit the general population as well as professional drivers).
December 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 23
Mary Ogungbeje, Research Manager at IOSH, said: “Although society as a whole is becoming more aware of environmental issues, the impact of diesel emissions on the health of professional drivers has so far been overlooked. “Robust data will help to identify exposure levels among this group of workers and the different interventions needed to protect their health. Our research shows that all have a role to play in reducing professional drivers’ exposure to diesel fumes – employers, workers and policy makers.”
Image: Mark Twyman
GUEST FEATURE
December 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 24
‘ETHNOGRAPHY’ AND BLACK CABS?
ARTICLE BY: DR MIKE GALVIN
www.mobilityserviceslimited.com
Taxi industry expert Dr Mike Galvin is a former London Green Badge Taxi Driver and now consultant within the taxi and private hire industry. Here he writes about his journey studying for a doctorate. With thanks to Mike, TaxiPoint are taking great pride in the fact that we are probably the first taxi trade publication to publish an article on ethnography! Let’s go: Having completed an MBA I decided that the next step for me was to study for a doctorate. Studying for a doctorate is a wide canvas, there are few rules other than your research must be your own (no plagiarism) and you must make a contribution to original knowledge. So, what areas of the world or the universe should I spend the next seven years studying? Well, being that I had completed the Knowledge of London, driven a cab, managed a taxi company (ComCab) and then worked for TfL, the choice seemed to be a simple one; I would
study Knowledge boys, taxi drivers and try to establish how the industry relates to itself, its members, its foes, its regulator and the travelling public. I chose a framework through which to carry out my research known as Ethnography; the study of tribes. As you read this series of articles, I am hoping that much will resonate with your thoughts and experiences in what is a hugely interesting, responsible, impressive and unique industry. I write from the perspective of a fast disappearing group of people, of service and of reliability and of generosity. As the framework of my approach to research featured at looking at the industry as a ‘tribe’ I was seeking the common traits, the generalities, the accepted and rejected behaviours, the memes and norms of the participants based on my experiences and the experiences of others including taxi drivers and the trade and general press. How did a community of individuals present themselves as a homogenous group – are ‘all cab drivers the same’?
ethnography /ɛθˈnɒɡrəfi/
noun ‘the scientific description of peoples and cultures with their customs, habits, and mutual differences.’
GUEST FEATURE Starting at the Beginning My research began by my recollections (auto ethnography) of taxis as a child, a teenager and went through my entry to the Knowledge, the Knowledge itself, taxi driving and then attempting to engineer business process change as part of the management team at ComCab. From the beginning I saw taxis in London as a treat, we took a cab on special occasions and it was always an experience. As I grew older and travelled alone or with friends the cabby was a font of knowledge on many levels, entertaining and wholesome. The drivers appeared to be older, well dressed, probably ex-servicemen as most older men were when I was growing up. When I started to think about joining the industry I got to know more about the trade through conversations with “By even applying family, and friends of the for the Knowledge it family, and during taxi journeys. It seemed a appeared that you good living, you were your were wasting your own boss, the regulations own time and more and Knowledge of London appeared onerous but hey importantly the PCO there were lots of black cabs and therefore it must be Officers’ time…” possible to complete it. So, I signed up.
Every Step Was Rich With Symbolism
December 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 26
have clients and it gave out all of the signals necessary to successfully ensure that any oik crossing its hallowed threshold to try to become a taxi driver was no longer a member of the public. They certainly did not embrace the modern-day culture of ‘clients’. By even applying for the Knowledge it appeared that you were wasting your own time and more importantly the PCO Officers’ time. PCO Officers routinely gave off the clear signal that they had much more important things to deal with. Although the Public Carriage existed totally to process applications from would-be taxi drivers (as well as managing taxi driver licensing and taxi testing and licensing), the institution managed to portray an aura of it all being a bit below what they really existed for… what that actually was who knows.
Not So Much A Warm Welcome As A Gleeful Goodbye
What objectives the PCO Officer hoped to achieve with his welcome or introductory speech were hard Public Institutions in post war Britain had an inherent to decipher. They certainly were not to make anyone feel confident, pleased they had decided to become authority, they were quite literally a law unto themselves and in those days that authority and self- a taxi driver or in any way the most important people in the room. No Sir! manufactured authority was rarely questioned and even more rarely challenged. The extent of these The thirty or so Knowledge boys, scrubbed, suited institutions’ legal authority never seemed to feature and booted sitting in front of this middle aged, in any discussion. Such was the Public Carriage Office middle class, relatively well spoken, probably ex (PCO) a deific, self-assured, and almost peremptory policeman were there to find out that they were entity. It did not consider its own failings, it did not never likely to succeed in their aspiration of
GUEST FEATURE becoming a London taxi driver. With some unashamed glee he pulled stats from the air and threw them at this young, keen crowd who had probably agonised before making important career decisions and for some life-changing decisions. Without the slightest introspection he gleefully announced that ‘90% of you will never become taxi drivers’. He spoke about the public reverently and as a different species which we, the aspirant taxi drivers were clearly to no longer feel part of, but presumably he firmly remained a member of that hallowed group. Us and them was used as a powerful device to position us, decent folk with no criminal records as a lower order. We, because we all wanted to become taxi drivers, swallowed our pride and normal conventions in exchange for a chance to realise our ambition. Was that true? In my case it certainly was and I expect my cohort were much the same.
December 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 27
He spoke about passengers in reverential terms, restaurants I’d never heard of, synagogues, cemeteries and mansion blocks by name with a familiarity which was impressive – here was a world of which I knew little. At the end he enquired if anyone had any questions – no one did. They had all been briefed beforehand, go suited and booted, yes sir/no sir and say nothing! A weak smile flashed across his inscrutable face as he closed with what was obviously a well-worn line delivered with withering and resigned dismissal… nice to meet you all and sorry that we will probably never meet again! The group headed out quietly and briskly but very orderly, there was no eye contact, no knowing winks or eyes to heaven – everyone knew better. There was a feeling that we had all played our part in a ritual – we knew our parts and he knew his. This would not be the first time that I had the feeling of being expected to play my part as a butler, pantry
GUEST FEATURE maid or gardener played theirs in a big house. Whilst the PCO Officer may not have been the Lord or Squire he was certainly on first name terms with them! In some respects, his pseudo head masterly tone, his attempts to silo us all socially and the arrogance that permeates the British aspiring middle classes that he communicated so effectively had perhaps the opposite effect on me than he might have expected. I actually saw it as a challenge – I would be back and I would be within the 10%.
The Knowledge – An Endurance Like No Other
December 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 28
grit and guts, the blood, sweat and tears and enormous effort that every single taxi driver has expended on gaining it. Yes, you know every street, building and frankly crack in the pavement by the end but it is more than a training and testing programme. It is life-changing and I believe lifeenhancing for many people. I interviewed tough, street wise men who became tearful talking about the day they got their badge. A blessed relief maybe but also an important, probably one of the most important, milestones in their life. I have spoken to people who left school at 15 with a swimming certificate and who did the Knowledge and felt after that they could achieve anything. People’s confidence grew on the Knowledge – you could evidence this at Knowledge schools, the quiet guy who never knew many of the points grew in stature, in confidence and in self-belief as he studied hard and gradually led the pack by knowing every point, every restricted turn and the idiosyncratic questions such as Isherwood House (It was Fisherwood House but the F had fallen off the building). Amongst the working class, a breed that our friend sneered at as explained at the beginning of this piece, undertaking the Knowledge of London was recognised as what it was an incredible task and amongst our non-taxi driver peers there is great respect for this undertaking.
Without any of the patronising comments about the Knowledge of London being harder than a degree I can honestly say that only someone who has never done both could compare the two in that way! It is a huge understatement. I have completed a degree, Masters and I have survived a Doctorate and I can honestly say the Knowledge was harder. The deprivations, the cold, the wet, the sheer volume of data that not only had to be absorbed but had to be recalled in a vast variety of scenarios. Journeys from every different direction from everywhere to anywhere. The human mind, the brain, is truly the most remarkable device on the planet. And stimulating it to enable the level “I have completed of learning needed and the instant recall that every a degree, Masters London taxi driver has is No psychologist could have invented a system more and I have survived truly amazing. likely to reduce grown men to quivering wrecks. The The Knowledge to me is one a Doctorate and I most confident, bombastic, boxers, barrow boys, exof Britain’s most valuable servicemen of our cohort shrunk almost physically can honestly say experiences. It adds a value on his (they were almost 100% men) way into to the licence which the the Knowledge Penton Street and visibly shook entering the grey survivors gain that is above anonymous PCO Building. The smell of polish on was harder…” anything else (save family and shiny floors, the clatter of typewriters behind frosted friends). The importance of that glass – those were the sounds and smells of the PCO badge is encapsulated in the sheer will power, the which always felt cold. Then you arrived at the
Verbal Competence Tests – Appearances
GUEST FEATURE
December 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 29
counter and the receptionist who was always busy, too busy to deal with aspirant cab drivers, which was actually her only job! When she deigned to be ready snapped ‘card’! You were told, not invited or asked, to go the waiting room. A small smoke-filled room with those civil service chairs – tubular steel and plastic shaped seats. No one spoke, everyone looked nervous, many smoked.
say with absolute conviction – no one slipped through, no one was lucky, no one got the benefit of the doubt. You had all suffered, struggled, called over, gone ‘to see points’ and become an expert in London’s topography, its landmarks, its vagaries and even some of its history and you were able to recall it from memory and rattle off those runs with growing confidence and precision.
Some examiners appeared at the door and asked for Mr Smith, others barked a hardly audible name from their office, some arrived and called a surname. On entry to the bleak offices the only noise was ‘card’! You were expected to hand over your card, wait to be told to be seated and then asked in fairly rapid succession 6/7 questions. No ‘well done’, in fairness no ‘try harder’s’, just your card handed back and the examiner looked at the door – your cue to go.
Did it Work?
It is hard to measure success if you don’t know what the objective was to start with. However, if what the whole process was meant to do was to take rude matter and fashion it into a topographical expert – it worked. If it was to make sure that however tough, streetwise or clever you thought you were that it ensured that you were going to act like a sycophant within those sacred walls – it worked. If when you Did the examiners know the route? Who knows? received your badge you swore a secret oath that Why no welcome, attempts to put candidates at you would never do anything to endanger it – it their ease? Was the plan to make you ill at ease? If so why? Who knows? All I do know is that the harder worked. you worked the quicker you received reductions. The I suppose one important question is could it have system as archaic, as weird and as inscrutable as it been done another way? Could the welcome was worked. When you eventually left Penton Street meeting actually have been made a pleasant with a shiny badge, my goodness you had earned it. I experience, could our head masterly friend have welcomed you, praised you for a great career choice and genuinely wished you well? Could the lady on reception actually say good morning? Could the examiners have adopted a more communicative approach? And if all of these things changed would the outcome have been the same? We shall never know. Likewise, the aspirant taxi drivers could have asked questions at the meeting, could have dressed more casually, could have expected to be treated with courtesy at reception but did not demand it. No, both sides played their part in the ritual, the aspirant cab drivers had their motivation… that badge, but what of the PCO? Were they simply products of national service, middle class pretensions or something else?
DR MIKE GALVIN
SAFETY
December 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 30
TAXI PASSENGERS IN BRITIAN
FEEL SAFE TRAVELLING,
REVEALS INDEPENDENT TRANSPORT WATCHDOG
Image: LEVC
Nine out of ten passengers who have recently travelled by taxi felt safe doing so reveals new research conducted by a transport watchdog. Transport Focus, an independent transport user watchdog, spoke to over 2,000 people to understand what is important to them when considering travelling by taxi and what helps them feel safe making the journey by cab. The survey comes after the Government published updated guidance detailing how drivers, operators and owners of taxis or private hire vehicles in England can protect themselves and their passengers against COVID-19.
After that, other top considerations included the ability to make a contactless payment, having hand sanitiser available and being able to open the taxi windows. However on the other hand, the research showed that among those who haven’t used a taxi in the last four weeks just less than half said that they would feel safe to do so. In a summing up article released by Transport Focus, a spokesperson wrote: “This is a similar story to bus and rail where our research highlights a gap between the views and experience of those people actually using public transport and the perceptions of those who aren’t.
More than half of those surveyed throughout Great Britain said that the driver wearing a mask was the “The taxi industry, like bus and train operators, must most important consideration when booking or hailing continue to demonstrate that it is rising to the a cab. Half of those asked also said that the screen challenge to keep its passengers feeling safe.” between the driver and passenger is important.
Image credit: Clipper Cab
VEHICLE
December 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 32
IN THE BAG... BUT FURTHER INVESTMENT NEEDED TO BRING CLIPPER CAB ELECTRIC TAXI RETROFIT TO MARKET
Image: Clipper Cab
Electric taxi conversions firm, Clipper Cabs, are seeking higher NOx emissions than some equivalent petrol further investment after winning government funding cars. worth £160,000 to bring the green technology to life. By focussing on turning these diesel taxis into ZEC The start-up technology firm set up by two experts in vehicles, the ‘Clipper Cab’ product will look to their field, Dr Alexander Howard and Janosch maximise the volume of electrically-powered journeys Oppermann, aims to turn diesel black taxis into Zero and reduce harmful emissions. Emission Capable (ZEC) vehicles. Clipper’s ambition is to create a business that is robust Clipper are looking to generate £320,000 to fund development over the next year and bring the new retrofit product to market. £160,000 has already been raised in government grant funding awarded by OLEV and Innovate UK through the Niche Vehicle Network, with a further £20,000 added via self-funding.
in a post-COVID world and prove that there are solutions that tackle air pollution, climate change and are affordable.
The team behind Clipper are now looking for another £140,000 from early investors at a pre-money valuation of £1million.
The grant funded project runs from October for 9 months, with the aim of bringing a product to market. Through the project Clipper will convert 3 to 5 cabs; each will be seen as a step towards the productionready version which Clipper will submit to Transport for London (TfL) for regulatory approval in the capital.
There are currently over 11,000 diesel cabs registered in London alone and each driver travels on average 30,000 miles each year. According to the automotive start-up, certain classes of diesel have up to 60%
Each of those cabs, including the prototype currently undergoing its MOT, will be pushed to be licensed outside of London as soon as possible to operate as a taxi, to test the scheme and generate revenue.
VEHICLE
December 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 33
In 1997 the final Fairway was produced and presented to the National Motor Museum. At the same time a new taxi, the TX1, took to the streets. An evolution of the Fairway, it featured a completely new body, but maintained the well -loved, traditional appearance of the earlier cabs. It took just 28 months to design and put into production, bringing saloon car standards of comfort, safety and refinement to the driver’s working environment. A few years later the TXII incorporated a Ford engine in order to meet the emissions standards of the time. Additional improvements included a passive anti-theft system, fully integrated into the engine management system, and full width glass in the rear doors, which had restricted opening to reduce the possibility of passengers who wanted to avoid paying their fare by escaping through the window! Introduced in 2007, the TX4 featured a more efficient engine, updated design and suspension. There was no TX3 model - the TX4 was so named because it was built to comply with the new Euro 4 exhaust emission requirements.
Image credit: LEVC
TX1
TXII
Image credit: LEVC
Image: credit LEVC
We’re now bang up to date with the latest offering… the electric LEVC TX.
Image: credit LEVC
TX4
UK NEWS
December 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 34
LONDON TAXI DRIVERS TO RECEIVE MASKS AND SANITISER AS PART OF SUPPORT PACKAGE London’s taxi and private hire drivers are to receive additional support from Transport for London (TfL), with 1.5 million face masks and 30,000 bottles of Dettol hand sanitiser being provided to drivers as the national lockdown has lifted and more customers begin to travel. The masks are being distributed from 7 December. Face coverings and sanitiser will be given out on a first come, first served basis. Image credit: TfL
‘CRITERIA MUST CHANGE’ SAYS MLA AS TAXI DRIVERS COULD MISS OUT ON £1,500 GRANT All Northern Ireland taxi drivers should receive the £1,500 support package urges Sinn Féin MLA, as cabbies who suspended taxi insurance look set to miss out. Sinn Féin MLA Martina Anderson has said the criteria for a COVID-19 support payment for taxi drivers should be changed urgently so all drivers can receive the support they need. The call comes after Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon opened up a £14million financial support scheme for taxi-drivers in Northern Ireland on 13 November.
Image credit: Karl Black
The bespoke scheme provides a one-off payment of £1,500 to eligible taxi drivers, under the Taxi Driver (Coronavirus, Financial Assistance) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020.
UK NEWS
December 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 35
TAXI AND FINANCE ASSOCIATIONS DISCUSSING JOINT APPROACH FOR SUPPORT Representatives from both the taxi and finance industries are working to approach the Treasury for emergency funding to help taxi drivers unable to meet leasing or finance payments. The Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA), London’s largest taxi driver group, has been in discussions with the Financial and Leasing Association (FLA) learning how further assistance could be handed to taxi drivers currently struggling to pay leasing or finance payments on their cabs. The LTDA have also told members that no black cabs should be repossessed before 31 January. This advice comes as some cabbies have begun receiving letters warning of repossessions and notices of defaults.
DFT RELEASE NEW COVID TAXI SAFETY GUIDANCE The Department for Transport (DfT) has released its latest COVID-19 safety requirements to be followed by taxi and private hire drivers wherever possible.
You can check all the latest guidance by clicking the image to the right. Image credit: Karl Black
DRIVER AWARD
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WINNER! STEVE PULHAM PARLIAMENTARY TAXI AND PRIVATE HIRE AWARD 2020
In what has been a very different year in the life of a cabbie, London taxi driver Steve Pulham was announced the winner of this year’s Parliamentary Taxi and Private Hire Awards 2020. Joy Morrissey, MP for Beaconsfield, broke the news and explained why Steve won the national award saying: “Steve Pulham, originally from Hillingdon, studied for 4 years to pass the “Knowledge” whilst holdingdown a full-time job. He became a London black cab Image credit: Joy Morrissey driver in March 2001 and moved to way, Steve regularly undertakes the annual trip to Buckinghamshire with his partner Kay in 2002. Southend, where he won a prize for the best dressed “Steve can never do enough to help other people – if cab three times! Similarly, he has participated in it isn’t his extended family, then it is neighbours for trips to a number of other attractions including whom he is always doing odd jobs. He will help Legoland and Woburn Safari Park. anyone in need and never expects anything in return “Steve has also been actively involved in several for his kindness. fundraising efforts, most recently with ‘getting back “Unsurprisingly, he was keen to join one of the black to school backpacks’, for those children whose cab charities soon after becoming a London cabbie. families are currently suffering hardship. He quickly opted to support the London Taxi Drivers “During the lockdown, both Flackwell Heath and Fund for underprivileged children and those with Bourne End residents separately set-up COVID-19 special needs. Decorating his cab in a traditional
DRIVER AWARD Support Groups - numerous volunteers undertook shopping, collected prescriptions and telephoned lonely residents. Unfortunately, under the government guidelines, these volunteers could not transport vulnerable residents to hospitals or their GP surgeries. Even our local volunteer transport service (Wye Valley Volunteers) was forced to close.
December 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 37 in lockdown at home. In short, he was ready to do almost anything to help people in need – his warmth, care for others and generosity are truly inspiring.
“Throughout the period of lockdown Steve Pulham has been utterly invaluable to his local community. This is why I have already recognised him by “Steve Pulham stepped up to the plate and, over the presenting him with a Hero of Flackwell Heath subsequent 3 months, transported dozens of Award. residents to GP and hospital appointments. He spent “However, I believe that his selflessness and almost 9 hours at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford devotion to helping the most vulnerable residents supporting the very unwell resident throughout during the COVID-19 pandemic needs wider numerous appointments. This was to last an hour recognition. and with all cafes and shops closed, Steve was happy to go hungry and thirsty rather than leave the “This is why I am delighted to present the winning trophy and the certificate to Steve and congratulate resident alone. him on this recognition by the Parliamentary Taxi “Steve freely undertook other local errands, such as and Private Hire Awards 2020.” delivering school lunches to local children who were
LONDON TAXI DRIVERS’ CHARITY FOR CHILDREN’S MESSAGE TO THE TRADE Michael Son BEM, Chairman of the London Taxi Drivers’ Charity for Children (LTCFC), shared an optimistic message for the trade, summing up 2020 and looking forward to future events.
“Unfortunately, the committee has also been unable to organise fundraising events, but due to the efforts of members and the treasurer, our balance sheet is very healthy.
Son BEM said: “This year we have all been affected in one way or another by this pandemic. Family, friends, and colleagues have endured isolation from family and the terrible loss of those close to them and we offer our sincere condolences to all who have suffered tragedies during this year. It has also been challenging for the LTCFC, due to government covid restrictions, cancelling our annual children’s outings and parties.
“In the coming weeks and months, together with our associates within the taxi industry, we will continue to plan for both outings and fundraising campaigns with optimism for the future. The use of our Website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram social media platforms will keep you informed of our activities and it would be great to hear from you.
“On behalf of the LTCFC I take this “Nevertheless, we continue to help those in desperate opportunity to wish you well and need of assistance and give support wherever and enjoy your time with family and whenever we can and keep engaged with the children, friends during the festive period.” their families and schools during these difficult times.
GLOBAL NEWS
December 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 38
AROUND THE WORLD AUSTRIA More than 3,000 Austrian taxi drivers from a number of different cities demonstrated in the capital, Vienna, and announced further demos, after new rules were agreed by the country’s Green Minister of Transport, Leonore Gewessler. Under the new rules, taxis and rental cars (private hire vehicles) will be grouped under “passenger transport by car” trade and will be subject to the same conditions. But to the surprise of local taxi drivers and their representatives, one key element had been removed from the new agreement. The tariff coverage originally planned in the law for transports ordered via online platforms was deleted from the amendment to the Occasional Transport Act, causing uproar. Taxi drivers took to the streets to demonstrate their disapproval at this specific omitted detail.
CHINA Uber has urged officials to rethink increasing punishments for illegal rides, warning the livelihoods of its 14,000 drivers would be at stake if the Government insisted on cracking down on ridehailing businesses. Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said in her policy statement that the Transport and Housing Bureau was preparing legislative amendments on increasing the penalties for illegal carriage of passengers for reward and other malpractices of taxi service to protect the interests of the passengers.
GLOBAL NEWS
December 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 39
AUSTRALIA A taxi driver has won an insurance claim dispute and benefits until he regained employment but denied a been awarded $250,000 after he suffered 89% blindclaim for lump sum benefit for total loss of sight in one ness in his right eye during an accident while on a shift. eye, saying his impairment, at 89%, did not constitute a total loss of sight. The worker was a beneficiary of his employer’s Taxi Personal Accident policy, which covered accidents causing ‘death, partial or total disablement of limbs or eyesight sustained during working hours while driving a taxi that is listed in the policy schedule’.
The man took the matter to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), arguing he had effectively lost all eyesight in his right eye.
The AFCA determined the insurance firm was liable to Medical experts in Australia and overseas all found the pay $234,434 – the lump sum benefit of $250,000 less damage to his eye was permanent. The insurance the $15,566 temporary disablement benefits already company settled weekly temporary disablement paid.
FRANCE French Government have said that taxi drivers will be among some of the first in the country to be given priority to the coronavirus vaccine once made available. The Government has said that after health workers, who will be among the very first to receive the vaccine, some younger workers would also be included as high priority due to their contact with the general public. Included in this list are taxi drivers, transport staff, shop workers, school staff and hospitality workers. Ride-hailing firm Gojek have announced they are planning to roll out several new services in Singapore in the first half of 2021. One such service means riders will be able to use a dedicated feature on the app to book a traditional taxi.
SINGAPORE
Riders using this option will be charged a metered fare. The company has said the option is likely to be made available to riders wishing to book extra-large six or seven seat vehicles.
December 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 41
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December 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 42
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APPS
ADVERTISING
December 2020 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 43
EV CHARGERS
EMISSIONS SYSTEMS HJS HJS are Europe's leading manufacturers of emission reduction systems for commercial vehicles. Retrofit your taxi to meet EURO VI standards. For more information visit the website by clicking here or phone 01344 566050.
HORIZON SYSTEMS LTD Horizon Systems Ltd supply and install OLEV home electric vehicle charging points across London, Essex and Kent. Visit www.easyevcharge.uk or call 0800 13 13 057 to find out more.
MEMBERSHIP
The LTDA retains experienced barristers with specialised knowledge of the London cab trade. Click here for more information or call: 020 7286 1046
CARD PAYMENTS
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Charity
May 2019 | www.taxi-point.co.uk | 20