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ISSUE 10 / MAY-JUN 2017
Brought to you by Transport for London
Share
the
road
Top brass service Digital friends Talent show Watching the
from the military the most useful taxi drivers with detectives
to chauffeuring apps to tap on other skills out with the police
CONTENTS 3
Have your say on introducing
the Ultra Low Emission Zone
Contents Welcome.
In March, OnRoute spent a very
in April 2019, to help protect 8 16 12 interesting afternoon with the
Metropolitan Police Service’s Taxi and
Private Hire unit down at King’s Cross,
the health of Londoners and May the
force be
On patrol
Out with the
and you can read about what happened
on p16. TfL’s own compliance team
clean our filthy air.
has grown in numbers and stepped up
with you police at its Heathrow operations with impressive
In the driving King’s Cross results. Find out more on p23.
seat with
ex-military With the city’s streets busier than
The Mayor is proposing early delivery of the Ultra Low
Emission Zone (ULEZ) in April 2019. This is 17 months earlier
than the current September 2020 start date.
personnel
18 ever, it’s important that we all look
out for other road users. On p20
a cycling blogger gives his top tips
for sharing the road safely.
Cars, vans, motorbikes, minibuses, buses, coaches and lorries 10 In for
questioning
OnRoute
16 From a life in the services to service
with a smile, we meet ex-military
will need to meet certain emissions standards or pay a daily Easily chats to Neil personnel who are making their
mark on the private hire trade on p8,
emission charge to drive within the zone. app-lied Billany, head
while three talented taxi drivers
Mobile apps of the cab unit reveal their other lives on p12.
to make your
The ULEZ will initially operate within the central London life easier If you have a hidden talent, or if
Congestion Charging zone 24/7 every day of the year.
20 there is anything you’d like to tell
us about, we’d love to hear from you
The required emission standard for diesel vehicles will be
stricter than those for the T-Charge (Emissions Surcharge),
12 Share
the road
at OnRoute@tfl.gov.uk
which starts on 23 October 2017. The T-Charge will remain London’s Looking out for
got talent London’s cyclists
in place until the ULEZ comes into operation. Taxi drivers 20
discuss their
To have your say visit tfl.gov.uk/airquality-consultation
or write to us at: FREEPOST, TFL CONSULTATIONS
other lives
23 D Pilgrim
Editor
Consultation ends 25 June 2017 14 In plane
view
More
Changes compliance
in central operations
London at Heathrow
Bus routes
revised in the
West End X
10
Contact us at OnRoute@tfl.gov.uk
London Taxi and Private Hire for operator and driver licensing TfL produces a weekly email with
230 Blackfriars Road, London enquiries and the Knowledge enquiries. information on current and forthcoming
SE1 8PJ road closures and diversions. If you
0343 222 5555 for vehicle licensing would like to receive this, please
For general enquiries email: appointments and enquiries. contact tph.enquiries@tfl.gov.uk
tph.enquiries@tfl.gov.uk
Visit the TfL website: tfl.gov.uk/tph
TPH news on Twitter: @TfLTPH The views expressed in OnRoute In our next issue…
For constant updates on diversions, are not necessarily those of TfL.
0343 222 4444 (lines open from congestion and accidents:
08:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday) @TfLTrafficNews (roads) Be the eyes and ears of London
Looking after your back
Out with Operation Border
4 NEWS NEWS 5
News
Ultra Low
Emission Round-up
Zone (ULEZ) on the roads
consultation
Work on Westminster
From 8 April 2019, the Bridge south
Grand opening Mayor is proposing to
introduce the world’s first TfL is building new
Ultra Low Emission Zone segregated cycle lanes
Addison Lee has opened (ULEZ) in central London. on Addington Street
what it says is Europe’s The most-polluting and York Road and
biggest and most advanced vehicles will have to pay there will be 24-hour
private hire service and a daily charge to drive lane closures in the
driver training centre. Called through the zone. area until mid-June.
Grand Union, the facility near Drivers are asked not
Heathrow provides a one- The ULEZ will apply to
all vehicle types, except to queue on Addington
stop shop for its drivers. It Street as this blocks
cost £5m to build and boasts black taxis, as licensing
stipulations requiring all the southbound lane
new, eco-technology with
newly-registered taxis to access to Westminster
22 electric charging stations
for the company’s fleet of be Zero Emission Capable Bridge Road.
hybrid vehicles and a car are being introduced
wash using a water recycling from 1 January 2018. It is
system that reduces water estimated that introducing
usage by 80 per cent. ULEZ in central London
will result in nearly a 50
per cent reduction in road
Sounds of the suburbs transport nitrogen oxide
emissions in 2020. The rise of the
rapid charger
Another consultation
The Westway
From this summer, TfL will be making changes to its suburban taxi is planned later this Costain has been
Latest trend year, which will examine awarded the contract to
forums. There will now be four meetings to cover all nine sectors proposals to extend the plan the refurbishment
zone further. Depending New electric chargers to help clean London’s air of the A40 Westway
TfL is updating how it manages its yellow badge meetings will give drivers the chance to share on feedback, the Mayor dual carriageway and
taxi forums, so drivers can find out what’s their views with counterparts from other areas will ask TfL to develop Five suppliers have been chosen by TfL to provide rapid charging the Marylebone flyover.
happening in their local areas. Many issues raised and discuss topics such as compliance and taxi these potential options
These are the hot topics at previous forums were very similar, so these policy. The forums will cover the following areas:
points across the Capital. In the coming months, the Centrica The structures were
into detailed statutory Consortium, BluepointLondon, Chargemaster, Electricity Supply built between 1964 and
trending @TfLTPH: proposals for consultation
Northeast S outheast Southwest Northwest Board (ESB) and Fastned will install the network of chargers that 1970 and the work will
Tweets about London London London London next year. can power electric vehicles in just 30 minutes. By 2020 there will
be chargers across London at TfL and borough sites, and on private
secure their long-
compliance activity Sector 1 Haringey, Sector 3 Bexley, Sector 6 Merton Sector 8 Ealing The consultation closes land including Heathrow Airport and Shell service stations. term reliability.
by TfL’s compliance Enfield and Greenwich and Sutton and Hillingdon on Sunday 25 June 2017.
team have been The contract is set up to create the best possible experience for Costain is currently
Waltham Forest and Lewisham Sector 7 Sector 9 To have your say, go to
widely shared and all drivers, who will be able to pay at the charge point using a
Sector 2 Barking Sector 4 Bromley Hounslow, Brent, Barnet tfl.gov.uk/airquality- inspecting the Westway
credit or debit card. By the end of 2018, there will be a number
positively received. and Dagenham, Sector 5 Croydon Kingston and Harrow consultation of points for the exclusive use of taxis. and by December 2017
Havering, T he southeast and Richmond T
he northwest a feasibility study will
On 12 April, during Newham and be produced. In 2018
the broadcast of forum will take T
he forum will take forum will take
Redbridge place on Tuesday place on Tuesday place on Thursday and 2019 the concept
the Knowledge TV
T
his forum will 3 October from 21 November from 25 January from and detailed designs
show on Channel 4,
will be created for the
#TheKnowledge take place on
Thursday 27 July
11:00 to 13:00 at
Westferry Circus
11:00 to 13:00
at Palestra, 197
11:00 to 13:00,
also at Palestra
Marathon marvels work, and construction
was the UK’s #1
trending hashtag. from 11:00 to 13:00 Auditorium at 15 Blackfriars Road, (details as the will follow that.
at Stratford Market Westferry Circus, Southwark, entry on left). Congratulations to all the drivers who took part in this year’s Virgin Money London
The @TfLTPH Depot, Burford Canary Wharf, SE1 8NJ. This is Marathon. Andy Wilkins, 52, has been a taxi driver for four years. He last took part
Road, E15 2SB E14 4HD. directly opposite 15 years ago, but decided to run again this year for the charity MIND. He raised For more information, go
Twitter feed now has to tfl.gov.uk and search
12,195 followers. (next to Stratford Southwark £4,350 and successfully completed the marathon in five hours and 15 minutes. under A40 Westway
station). Tube station. If you would like to make a donation to MIND, please go to www.mind.org.uk
6 NEWS ENGLISH LANGUAGE TPH NOTICE 7
News New requirements
How clean?
At the end of March, the
Mayors of London and
Paris, Sadiq Khan and
How you can
help keep
London safe
for private hire
Anne Hidalgo, jointly
announced the launch Here in London, we’ve
of an online tool to help seen that terrorists
motorists identify the can strike at any
most polluting vehicles time and any place
before they buy them. without warning. The
The online vehicle Metropolitan Police
checker will use ‘on the Service plays a crucial
road and real-world’ role in keeping the
emissions testing provided Capital safe, but is
by Emissions Analytics asking for your help and
and the International support in detecting
Council of Clean
Transportation.
The checker will go live
A helping hand and combating
terrorism. You can find
out how to spot possible
in the autumn, helping terrorist activity
The law on wheelchair accessibility and report anything
people make an informed
choice when purchasing suspicious that you’ve
Many disabled people in London rely on taxis and
vehicles in order to minimise wheelchair-accessible private hire vehicles to get around. seen or heard at
the number of more Section 165 of the Equality Act 2010, enacted in April this www.met.police.uk and
polluting vehicles being year, obliges drivers of wheelchair-accessible taxis and search under terrorism.
bought and used in London. private hire vehicles to carry wheelchair users and provide
It will also encourage assistance where needed without additional charge.
manufacturers to produce
vehicles that conform to the
Drivers who refuse to take wheelchairs, or try to charge
more for doing so, could be liable to prosecution and fines TPH
EU’s full ‘real-world driving of up to £1,000, and their continued fitness to hold a licensing
emissions’ standards much licence may also be reviewed.
in numbers
sooner than when legally Last year, TfL made a number of regulatory changes to raise
24,429
required by 2021. You can find out more at tfl.gov.uk/tph-access
standards across London’s private hire industry. Some of
Taxi drivers these have been subject to a legal challenge and this notice
provides an update on the current arrangements.
Fab cab is electric
21,424
Taxi vehicle licences
English language will need to satisfy the English language
requirement when they apply to renew
available for passengers to speak to during
operating hours – should they want to
In March, the London the end of 2023, diesel The Court upheld the decision to their licence. make a complaint or discuss other matters
Taxi Company opened black cabs will be a
117,396
introduce the English language relating to their booking – no longer applies.
its new factory in thing of the past. requirement. This means applicants Insurance If you need advice about your private
Coventry where it ‘There will be a for either a new or renewal private hire
hire licence or application, please email
is producing its first customer-driven switch vehicle (PHV) driver’s licence must The requirement for PHVs to be insured
tph.enquiries@tfl.gov.uk or call the
electric taxi. Private hire driver licences demonstrate they understand English to carry passengers for hire or reward
to electric models and TPH licensing team on 0343 222 4444
at an appropriate level for speaking, at all times, for the duration of the
87,250
The taxi will go on sale the public will be listening, reading and writing. licence, no longer applies. However,
(Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 18:00).
in London later this choosing them over they must still be covered by hire or
year and then around diesel. It will be like the Anyone whose application for a new or
reward insurance at the point of
renewal PHV driver’s licence was received
the world in early 2018, switch from horse-driven Private hire on or after 14 October 2016 has until 30
licensing, and when in use as a PHV.
with 5,000 vehicles to motor cabs which vehicle licences September 2017 to provide evidence that
produced by 2019. took around seven years they can comply with this requirement.
Telephone
Helen Chapman
Steve McNamara,
general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’
Association, is optimistic that the public
in the early 1900s.’
To register to receive information about when the new
2,430
Private hire operators
Current licence holders whose application
was received before 14 October 2016
In addition, the requirement for private
hire vehicle operators to make someone
General Manager
London Taxi and Private Hire
will welcome these electric cabs. He said: ‘By taxi goes on sale, please go to www.theelectrictaxi.co.uk
8 FEATURE CAPSTAR CAPSTAR FEATURE 9
With
military
precision
One chauffeur company is using the
skills and experience of ex-military
personnel to offer an exclusive
service to its discerning customers
C
apstar was founded in 2013 with them because there is a military
by ex-army officers Rob feel to our set-up and our core values
Bassett Cross and Charlie are those of the military, so they
Bowmont. After leaving the can adapt what they learnt in service
military they successfully set up their to being a chauffeur.’
own businesses, but knew other former
Capstar has offices in New York
servicemen and women, especially
(overseen by a former Grenadier Guards
those who’d been injured during their
officer) as well as England and caters
careers, struggled to find work.
for a discerning clientele. From its base
Today, the company employs up to 40 in the beautiful grounds of Syon Park
drivers – full and part-time, men and in Brentford, it runs a fleet of Jaguars
women – from the army, navy and air and Range Rovers. It is also one of Above: Henry Newton (centre) with Capstar drivers at its base in Syon Park
force, and from different regiments. the six TfL-approved topographical
assessment centres and offers training
Henry Newton is head of training
for private hire drivers prior to them
and veteran engagement. The ex-
sitting the TfL assessment.
Garrison Major, who has 25 years’
experience, explains that discipline,
civility and opportunity are at the
Henry concludes: ‘We are still looking
for drivers and I have contacts with all
A driver with dash Capstar in
heart of what Capstar’s about. the regiments. We definitely have that
Andrew Slater (right) is clapped-out van to driving background. But Capstar star – is just brilliant.’
numbers
bond and connection with them.’
‘These are guys who have been injured
or discharged for post-traumatic stress
one of Capstar’s most
popular drivers, with one
a Jaguar was a real treat
and I liked being smart
was different.
‘Here, it’s about the
He adds: ‘To do this
job you need an air of
2offices:
disorder and joining us gives them If you are ex-military and interested client specifically asking because before I was
a stepping stone to other career paths,’ in Capstar, contact Henry at whole package – it’s the confidence because that London and
for him each day. After always covered in dirt.
he explains. ‘Our ethos resonates well www.capstar.co/careers way you look and talk to makes your clients feel New York
spending six years with Now, when I look at all my
people, the way you hold confident about having
the Royal Horse Artillery, white shirts lined up for
he left in 2009 on the
grounds of ill health.
the week, I feel real pride.
I also like the atmosphere
yourself and the way
you carry out every job,’
you as their driver. People
can immediately see 2013
Andrew continues. ‘I feel I’m ex-military and they founded
He drove a transit van here – it’s like walking back
my experience means I are impressed by that.
before joining Capstar’s into your old squad room.’
We pride ourselves on our ability team of chauffeurs.
When Andrew first
can contribute so much
more in the workplace
I think I’ll probably be
doing this for the rest 40
to plan and manage our services with ‘One of the guys I had
served with already worked
returned to civilian
life he discovered that
and seeing that I am being
appreciated has helped
of my career and Henry
has already offered
drivers
military precision and immaculate for Capstar and suggested
I send Henry an email,’ he
employers didn’t always
recognise the benefits
my confidence. And to
have clients ask for me by
me the opportunity to
become one of Capstar’s
25
attention to detail Henry Newton, Capstar explained. ‘Going from a that came with a military name – including one rock topographical trainers.’
vehicles
10 FEATURE MOBILE APPS MOBILE APPS FEATURE 11
App-ealing
to everyone
Here’s a small selection of the many useful apps available.
It is illegal to use your handheld device while driving, so
just make sure you’re safely parked before viewing them
Apple Map Whatgas Flush toilet finder Cabbie’s Mate
Free Free Free Annual subscription £29.99.
Along with directions, this This interactive map app This free app lists more than Cabbie’s Mate is useful
navigation app gives you helps you find your 190,000 public conveniences for anyone who uses A-Z
real-time traffic information nearest petrol station across the globe. Simply maps. It’s easy to navigate
and if there’s congestion, in seconds. Search by open the app to find the and you can find a street,
offers alternative routes to postcode or town and when nearest one to you, including postcode or point of interest
save you time. you click on a station the disabled toilets. in under 10 seconds. Maps
prices will also come up. are updated twice a year.
www.apple.com/uk www.jrustonapps.com/
www.whatgas.com/ www.navigationmaster.com/
ParkRight Waze social GPS Met Office weather app Taximanager
Free Free Free Standard annual subscription
The City of Westminster’s Waze is a community-based Find out what the weather
£19. Pro annual subscription £99
ParkRight app lists more traffic and navigation app. will do with the most This is a simple
than 41,000 on and off- It has 600,000 users in accurate forecasts and local accountancy app for any
road parking spaces. Using London sharing real-time weather coverage from self-employed driver. It
real-time information from information. It can alert you one hour to seven days in helps you keep a record of
sensors in more than 3,000 to accidents, road hazards advance. The app also lists your income and expenses,
bays throughout the West or traffic jams. It also lists pollen count predictions and any additional notes,
End, it can tell you if they all upcoming large-scale and official national severe in a database that you
are available or in use. It events and major roadworks weather warnings. The can update anytime and
even gives directions to a in the Capital. app includes the latest TV anywhere. At the end of
specific bay via your sat weather forecasts, updated the tax year, you can either
nav. Taxi drivers can also four times a day from do your own tax return
www.waze.com/
filter to find taxi ranks. Monday to Friday, and three or Taximanager can
times a day at the weekend. submit it for you.
www.westminster.gov.uk
/parkright www.metoffice.gov.uk/services www.taximanager.co.uk/
What is an app?
An app (derived from the word application) is a
computer programme that can be downloaded to your
mobile device and accessed by clicking or tapping on
an icon on the screen of your mobile or tablet.
Are there any apps you just couldn’t live
without? Let us know at OnRoute@tfl.gov.uk
12 FEATURE TALENTED TAXI DRIVERS TALENTED TAXI DRIVERS FEATURE 13
They’re really some thing else! London’s taxi drivers
are a talented bunch, as
Ian Beetlestone discovers
O
ne of the greatest appeals of being a London taxi driver has up and when I happened
always been working for yourself and nobody else, setting your S ome years ago I was to mention writing was
own schedule. This flexibility means you can do pretty much flagged down by a something that interested
anything alongside it. Some drivers go into other aspects of woman who worked me, she suggested I should
the trade – examining, running schools, setting up garages and renting in publishing. As with start a blog and advised me
out cabs. Others build companies, do seasonal work abroad, drive between on ways I could promote it
jobs as an actor or a musician, or even write novels. many passengers, with social media. I wrote
an interesting my first piece as soon as I
conversation soon returned home that evening.’
sparked up That became Rob’s blog,
The writer/blogger – View from the Mirror. In the
intervening years, it has gone
Rob Lordan
from strength to strength and
sent international journalists
It was his unique position as
and TV crews his way,
a taxi driver that gave Rob
making features on London
his way into writing too:
and the taxi trade. It has also
‘Some years ago I was lucky
led to regular work writing
enough to be flagged down
for the LTDA magazine TAXI
by a woman who worked in
as well as Time Out.
publishing. As with many
passengers, an interesting
conversation soon sparked Go to www.blackcablondon.net/
I needed a job that would not only
fit neatly around acting work, but
was well paid enough that I could
still lead a normal life rather than
that of a destitute and bitter
hile waiting for a fare some 15 years ago, I just
W unemployed/resting actor
started writing about my life. It kept flooding out
The actor/vlogger/small business
The poet – Michael Dennis launcher – James Grant
Styling himself as the Black flooding out and for the
Cab Poet, Michael leaves next six months every spare
I met James while doing the natural ways to manage I could still lead a normal
poems on the back seat of minute I had, I would write.’
Knowledge and approached her symptoms in the UK,’ life rather than that of
his cab for passengers to
The flexibility of taxi driving him for this article because says James. ‘We are still in a destitute and bitter
find. It’s a lovely, simple
is the perfect counterpoint I knew he was also an actor the early stages of building unemployed/resting actor
idea that has led to national
to Michael’s poetic alter-ego, and runs the excellent the brand, but the intention – and believe me, there are
media coverage and a
as he explains: ‘As long as YouTube channel, The is that it will become our plenty of those in London!
collection of his work
I’m not driving I can write. Gentleman Cabbie. But main source of income
available on Amazon. ‘Being a cabbie is the best
If an idea comes, I can get James has taken on even and I’ll drive the cab one
thing I’ve ever done as it’s
‘I write poetry, prose, scribbling and as I work more now, setting up a or two days a week so I
allowed me the freedom
lyrics, songs and I’m a some- days, I can go to an open business with his fiancée don’t lose the Knowledge
to pursue many different
time performance poet/ mic in the evening. I would, Leila, selling products for and can film my Gentleman
avenues, none of which
recording artist,’ Michael one day, like to be able to women suffering from Cabbie interviews.’
I would have been able to
tells me. ‘Writing is the last call myself a writer who polycystic ovary syndrome.
Again, it was the flexibility do if I had a 9-5 job.’
thing I – along with most drives a cab as opposed to
‘We started up the MyOva of taxi driving that attracted
people who have known a cabbie who writes.’
food supplements brand James. ‘I needed a job that
me for a long time – ever View James’ vlog
because Leila suffers from would not only fit neatly
thought I would do. here:
To sample Michael’s poetry, PCOS and couldn’t find around acting work, but
www.youtube.com/
‘One afternoon, while go to www.youtube.com/ many companies offering was well paid enough that
TheGentlemanCabbie
waiting for a fare some 15 or theblackcabpoet or
so years ago, I just started www.amazon.co.uk/books In our next issue, it’s the turn of private hire drivers to reveal their hidden talents. If you
writing about my life. It kept and search for black cab poet are a driver who also does something else, please get in touch at OnRoute @tfl.gov.uk
14 PICTURE THIS REVISED BUS ROUTES REVISED BUS ROUTES PICTURE THIS 15
Central
London
changes
Following consultation, 23 bus
routes in central London will be
revised over the summer. This will
mean services are more closely
matched to customer demand as
people choose to travel in different
ways. It will also cut congestion
and improve air quality.
As our city changes
around us, we need to
ensure the bus network
changes too. Making
sure we have the right
level of buses in central
London is key to keeping
our city moving
Leon Daniels, director of Surface Transport, TfL
This is just one of the ways
TfL is looking to reduce
congestion on London’s
roads. For further information on
the changes, please visit
tfl.gov.uk/west-end-bus-changes
The Crown Estate
16 FEATURE #CABSUNIT #CABSUNIT FEATURE 17
Going undercover
The team aims to improve the safety something or someone they want to We then move over to the taxi rank and
of the taxi and private hire trades question, as police officers we have the Chris notices a taxi with an illegal rear
and to clamp down on illegal touting
The taxi and powers to stop that particular vehicle.’ tyre. It turns out the driver only got
across London. Today’s operation is private hire his badge two weeks earlier, but he’s
Today we are headed further down
at King’s Cross station, but it could be policing team – the rank to where taxis frequently
going to lose a day’s business today as
anywhere intelligence has pinpointed in numbers over-rank to make sure no one is
he’s sent home to get the tyre replaced.
as a hotspot for criminal activity.
1Inspector
blocking the road. They’re not, but Next up is a private hire driver, who
‘In relation to other large stations in
Chris immediately spots a private hire pulls their vehicle up across the
London, King’s Cross is quite unique
vehicle waiting in a disabled bay. Rich entrance to the head of the taxi rank,
because of the sheer amount of space
pulls in behind and Chris gets out to blocking both it and the main road
the ranks, dropping off, picking up and
check the driver’s badge, inspect the in the process. Rich has a long chat
waiting areas cover,’ explains Chris.
‘That makes it a good place to find 5 vehicle and have a word. with the driver, who will definitely
be reported to TfL as he’s also not
illegal drivers and vehicles, and during Sergeants We are parked almost at the end of the
wearing his driver identification.
a shift (07:00 to 17:00) we can check waiting area and while Chris chats to
55
more than 30 vehicles.’ the driver, another private hire vehicle Before Rich can finish there, Chris
tries to pull in behind the police car. notices a taxi that doesn’t have its
As we drive past the head of the taxi
Police There’s no space, so he stops in the road second MOT. It turns out the taxi
rank outside the station we see a group
and Rich gets out of the car and tells is rented, so this could result in a
of TfL’s compliance officers and Rich Constables
him he has to move on if he doesn’t £1,000 fine for the owner. The driver
comments that the police work with
want a £40 fine for obstruction of is also not wearing his badge and
them all the time. ‘It’s much better
to have a compliance officer with us
because they have handheld devices
6 the highway. Rich explains in these
instances the driver is reported to
his licence is unsigned so he, too,
will be reported to TfL.
teams TfL and gets a warning. If a driver is
with them, which we don’t have, and ‘Sorry it’s been such a slow day,’
repeatedly reported to TfL, this can lead
they can check data such as a driver’s says Chris as we prepare to leave.
Covers the to further action being taken and could
licence and other records straight ‘Slow?’, I questioned. ‘I’d say it
result in their licence being revoked.
away. It works both ways – if they see whole of London wasn’t a bad day’s work!’
Below: at the dropping off area at St Pancras
Some of the
drivers really love
us and the fact we
are policing the
trade. Others don’t,
but they’re usually
the ones who have
been caught doing
something illegal
Chris, police officer
In March, we joined
W
hen we arrive at the They are both casually dressed in
police station, we find ‘civvies’, because as Rich explains:
the Metropolitan the two officers we will ‘The things we detect we can
be accompanying – only detect covertly’. However,
Police Service’s Taxi Rich and Chris. They are just about underneath their jackets they are
to head down to the taxi rank and both wearing CCTV video cameras
and Private Hire waiting area in their ‘mock’ private that can record video and audio,
hire vehicle (it’s actually a police car so if a driver ever queries their
team at King’s Cross
Above: on the rank
at King’s Cross complete with discreet blue lights). evidence, it can be verified.
18 BACKCHAT INSPECTOR NEIL BILLANY INSPECTOR NEIL BILLANY BACKCHAT 19
A quick word, Sir?
Inspector Neil Billany heads the taxi and private hire policing
team, Metropolitan Police Service (better known as the
#cabsunit on Twitter). OnRoute brings him in for questioning
QC an you tell us how crimes and anything else my wife is a Londoner we Palace of Westminster
long you have been where a driver is named had a black cab as were a low point, given
with the service? as a suspect. If I identify a our wedding car (her I spent a year there
A I joined the Met in 2001 risk I will make a disclosure family having a number recently and have
and was initially based to TPH to consider of friends in the trade). friends working there.
at Holloway and then making a decision on their
Highbury. Since then I’ve licence. I also like to keep Q Do you have a talent Q If you were in charge
worked all over London, an eye on social media – outside work? of London, what
including the Palace of we get a lot of good results A I’m a keen guitarist and would you do?
Westminster, and more from what drivers are have played for 25 years. A We need to do more to
recently I was staff officer talking about on Twitter. I used to love visiting deal with youth crime;
to Assistant Commissioner Q Seen anything funny Tinpan Alley and playing the number of children
Mark Rowley. or surprising while some of the vintage stabbing children is
out on operations? Gibson and Fender guitars. deeply worrying and the
QW hat does your solution is not just about
team do? A I stopped a private Q Walking, cycling policing. I would look to
A Our main priority is the motorist for speeding or driving? invest more money into
investigation of and and nothing the driver or A I spent enough time youth clubs, training
reduction in sex offences. his two passengers said driving round London and apprenticeships to
We also investigate other added up so we searched as a Constable so I like encourage kids away
offences committed by the car. There was a to walk nowadays. from gang crime and into
drivers such as frauds and loaded handgun under productive careers.
assaults, and carry out the passenger seat and Q What’s been your
joint operations with TPH we found a load of stolen best and worst Q What do you always
Compliance, such as Ops gear in the boot, along moment at work? keep in your car?
Neon, Globe and Safer with balaclavas from an AA DVD player in the
Travel at Night. I now have armed robbery they had A One of my personal back to keep my three
named police contacts just committed nearby. highlights was working at kids amused on longer
for each borough and Arsenal in the 2003/04 journeys. I’ve also got
suburban area, and I’m Q How often do you season – I was posted to a ridiculous amount of
hoping this will make it use taxis or private the bottom corner of the ‘bags for life’ in the boot,
easier for the trade to hire vehicles? west stand and managed however I always forget
report issues to us and A Not as much as I used to to watch some of the to take them into the
for us to develop a better since having kids and not football while doing my job. supermarket and end
relationship with drivers going out so much. Given R
ecent events at the up buying more.
and operators.
QW hat does a
typical work day
look like for you?
A I get in the office early to There was a loaded handgun
read through what has
happened in the last 24 under the passenger seat and we
hours including all taxi or
private hire-related sex found stolen gear in the boot Neil Billany20 FEATURE SHARE THE ROAD SHARE THE ROAD FEATURE 21
Take the high road
With cycling in London becoming even more popular, OnRoute
takes a look at how everyone can safely share the road
T
he number of people cycling has more in training methods as well as introduced in its
than doubled in the past decade, e-learning portal and in-car training.
creating more competition for space
Did you
on London’s roads. know? Drivers commented that ‘it opened my eyes.
I will give cyclists more consideration’ and
Whether you are a motorist, cyclist, pedestrian Although the ‘it was great to be in the cyclist’s shoes and feel
or motorcyclist, no one likes to be cut up or number of what they are up against’.
beeped. Being aware of each other can not only cyclist casualties If you’re interested in looking at London’s roads
improve our journeys, it could save lives. between 1 April from the saddle, Cycle Training UK runs the Cycle
Research shows that while Londoners are and 30 June Awareness Seminar for drivers. The one-hour
concerned by safety, they tend to think it is other last year was classroom session looks at the driver’s experience
people who need to change their road habits. down six per of interacting with cyclists. It encourages drivers
cent from to empathise with them and to minimise the
A different perspective the same period risk between drivers and cyclists.
As a driver you make decisions based on your
in 2015 (1,196 Tf L also offers a number of free safety courses
assumptions and expectations of other road users. as opposed for drivers, including Van Smart. This one-day
to 1,267), the course aims to reduce work-related road risks and
Having more knowledge of how cyclists ride can
Mayor has is delivered in two sections; a classroom theory
help you to drive more safely around them.
module and a practical cycling module where
In 2016, Addison Lee partnered with the London
a ‘Vision Zero’ drivers experience a cyclist’s view of the road. Space for all
Cycling Campaign (LCC) to review the training it approach,
delivers at its school. Cyclist awareness is a module where he wants
of driver training and LCC made recommendations to eliminate all For Cycle Training UK courses: info@cycletraining.co.uk Share the Road is a TfL
for improvements. These have now been included road danger. For TfL courses: fors-online.org.uk/cms/training/ campaign asking everyone
to think about their attitudes
on the road. The idea behind
it is that if we were all a bit more
aware of each other, then we’d
all have better, safer and less
stressful journeys.
Andreas Kambanis (left), founder of blog Londoncyclist.co.uk,
has been cycling since he can remember. These are his top tips
for sharing the road from a cyclist’s point of view.
1 It can be intimidating to options when avoiding
ride around fast moving an obstacle, so they Points of conflict
traffic, so it’s always have to move into the
much appreciated when
drivers give cyclists
path of traffic
Conflict 1 2 3 4 5
plenty of space 4 When moving off from
a traffic light, a cyclist is
2 On narrow roads, meant to be positioned
cyclists are instructed to in the middle of the lane.
ride in the middle of the This prevents dangerous
lane. This isn’t to hold overtaking
up traffic, this is a safe
spot for a cyclist to be 5 The door zone is a
big potential danger
3 Cyclists are instructed for cyclists, so they
to ride further out from are instructed to ride
the pavement as it further away from
is a more prominent parked cars. This same
position where they are danger is present when Vehicle fails to give
Cyclist hits open door/ Cyclist and vehicle
more likely to be seen. cars unload passengers Manoeuvre Vehicle turns right
swerves to avoid open travelling alongside
Vehicle turns left across way or disobeys
Hugging the pavement and open their doors description across path of cyclist
door of vehicle each other
the path of cyclist
Find more driver and cyclist tips at tfl.gov.uk/safetytips
junction control and
collides with cyclist
gives cyclists minimum unexpectedly Find more driver and cyclist tips at tfl.gov.uk/safetytips
Find more driver and cyclist tips at tfl.gov.uk/safetytips
Artwork @50%
Artwork @50% S36 25679 Client TFL
Campaign Driver Cyclists Tips
Ins date 00/00
Operator GS Page 2
S36 25679 Client TFL
Campaign Driver Cyclists Tips
Ins date 00/00
Operator GS Page 3
Date
Proof 2
27.11.13 16:16 Title
File
6 Sheet
S36 25679 TFL Driver Cyclists Tips 6sht
Trim 1800x1200mm
TA/SA 1710X1150mm
Date 27.11.13 16:16 Title 6 Sheet Trim 1800x1200mm
Proof 2 File S36 25679 TFL Driver Cyclists Tips 6sht TA/SA 1710X1150mm Agency XXX 00 XX0000 Colour CMYK Spots - Bleed 3mm22 FEATURE XXX COMPLIANCE FEATURE 23
Flying high
With more than 150 new officers, TfL’s compliance team now patrols high
priority areas such as Heathrow and the mainline stations more frequently
W
orking in Operation Land Operation Land aims to:
partnership
with other
Vehicles With Heathrow Airport I mprove the agencies to support
agencies, and drivers Limited, the police and local compliance rates prevention and
officers tackle illegal activity checked in authorities, the team has of taxi and private enforcement
and take action against non- the last year been working on Operation hire drivers/vehicles
compliant drivers, vehicle Land to improve compliance I ntroduce new joint
inspected at
owners and operators. They
51,984
of taxi and private hire working tactics to
also provide reassurance to drivers at the airport.
Heathrow Airport,
while reducing deter and disrupt
drivers and the public and taxi vehicles
help improve the service
In October 2016, around opportunities for non-compliant
and drivers 600 taxi and private hire
non-compliance drivers and vehicles
offered to customers.
drivers were checked by
In March this year, with compliance officers at P
rovide regular upport the London
S
more officers on the street,
28,686 checks were carried 105, 121 Heathrow. By February 2017,
with additional officers
reassurance
through high-
Borough of Hillingdon
environmental
out, which resulted in 2,805 private hire working more days at the
issues being reported. While drivers and airport, this figure had visibility patrols enforcement team
most of non-compliance vehicles increased to nearly 4,500 across multiple to manage taxi
cases are still relating to drivers being checked. locations and private hire
drivers not wearing their vehicles parked in
The team uses the
badge or identifier, or
not carrying the correct
documentation, more serious
21,000 intelligence it gathers
to make better decisions
F
oster positive,
collaborative
residential streets
and encourage their
number of about where resources joint working drivers to use the
issues are being detected compliance relationships with Authorised Vehicle
should be deployed as
such as illegal operator,
issues well as the tactics to apply. other enforcement Area (AVA) instead
refusing to carry guide dogs,
touting and unlicensed
drivers, which have led to 52
convictions in the last year.
The increased number of The compliance team now has the capacity to
officers means the team now
has the capacity to operate a resource staff across London and have more officers
24/7 service over a wider area
and this is having impressive located at high priority locations at the right times
results down at Heathrow. Anand Nandha, head of compliance, TfL
With 80% of cyclists holding a driving licence, and 1 in 5
drivers cycling at least once a month1, they’re often the
same people.
1
national travel survey statistics, 201024 COMMENT IAN BEETLESTONE LETTERS 25
Music in the city Letters Email us at OnRoute@tfl.gov.uk. We will print a selection of
emails every issue – and there’s a £20 Amazon voucher on offer for
the best.
Take taxi driver Ian Beetlestone out of his cab and sit him on Star letter
Bus stops stopping
a piano stool and you’ll find he’s a man of many talents Fairway fun
As I’m a licensed private hire
driver, can I drop off and pick
up customers at bus stops
without receiving a PCN? Can
Dear OnRoute, OnRoute help me please?
One of the many reasons taxi driving
appealed to me was I could fit it in The Taxi Driver of the Year Charity £10 deposit. All cheques should
around my second job as a musician. Fund (TDYCF) is holding a golf be made payable to TDYCF. Paul Canela
I’ve been playing piano in bars since I competition on 8 June this year, and
was 14 (it was a lot cooler than a paper drivers can enter individually or as Forms are available from There is a whole page on parking dos
round) and I always intended to move
a team of up to four with friends. brussella@talk21.com and don’ts in the TPH section on the
to London to try and get work on the TfL website. Go to tfl.gov.uk/tph
music scene. I started classical lessons It’s a great day out and there’s the All forms and full payment should
be received by 25 May 2017. and then search under ranks,
when I was six but was always more chance to win a car worth up to regulation and policy.
interested in hammering the thing and
seeing what happened than learning
£10,000 – all you have to do is get The prize presentation will be held However, to help you with your
the pieces, which is, I suppose, how I
a hole in one! after the event and the money specific query about bus stops, here
came to jazz and writing my own music. The sporting action takes place at raised will be shared between five is the relevant passage:
Hendon Golf Club, Devonshire Road, taxi charities, with cheques being
I play with several bands in London
presented at the TDYCF annual Private hire vehicles cannot stop at
now, but mainly the Fallen Heroes Mill Hill, NW7 1DG. Entrance is via a ‘bus stop clearways’ marked with a wide
– a rollicking six-piece that plays donation of £70 per person, which dinner dance on 25 November. yellow line by the kerb. On red routes,
everything from New Orleans jazz to entitles you to breakfast, 18 holes and a So come and have some fun while both taxis and private hire vehicles
ska – and my own band, Ian Beetlestone buffet lunch. Breakfast is from 09:00. cannot stop at bus stops marked with
& the Drowning Rats, which is a vehicle
supporting these very worthy causes.
a wide red line by the kerb. At other red
for my own songwriting. For want of a You can book your place by Russell Poluck MBE route bus stops, taxi and private hire
better way of describing it, we call what completing an entry form with a Honorary chairman drivers should avoid stopping to avoid
we do ratty jazz and drowned pop. I disruption to the bus network.
Hit & Run tour a few years ago, after sulked all the way there after I admitted
hope it’s catchy, melodic and engaging
queueing in the street for hours on a I’d never heard of him. The other was
while maintaining a jazzy feel, and a
freezing February Tuesday (it was the Pete Doherty, who hailed me outside an
tiny bit complex from time to time.
flexibility of taxi driving that allowed antique shop off Camden Road to take
I don’t get to go to other people’s me to do that too, come to think of it). him, a massive mahogany chest and a
gigs as often as I used to, though friend to a cheap hotel on the other side
I’ve only had two rock stars in the back
my London gigging highlight has
to be seeing Prince just a couple of
of the cab. They were Ed Tudor-Pole,
of the road. They giggled like children
the whole three minutes and when he
From our Twitter feed
who I took from King’s Cross to his gig
metres away from me at Camden’s got out he told me to keep the change
at the Kentish Town Forum, and who
Electric Ballroom for £10 during the from a twenty. I liked him the best.
We say… You say…
Don’t forget Missed questions Electronic What is classed A Touting is defined a statutory
vehicles more are one of the most copies of insurance as touting and what in the Criminal definition of plying
than 12 months frequent causes certificates are is classed as plying Justice and Public for hire. Read
My favourite five London music venues old require a of incomplete not acceptable. for hire regarding Order Act (1994). more about this at
six- monthly MOT applications so Insurance the regulations? TfL and the Mayor tfl.gov.uk/taxi-
make sure you certificates must are lobbying the and-private-hire-
answer them all be in paper form Government for action-plan-2016
What is the The Fleet River Where is the When was the In what
1 longest 2 – one of the 3 original site 4 new Road 5 year was
numbered road Capital’s of Tyburn Safety Bill breathalysing
1 2 3 4 5
The Green Note, Ronnie Scott’s, 606 Club, Wilton’s Music Hall, Brixton in the UK and many buried Tree, London’s passed? first
106 Parkway NW1. 47 Frith St W1D. 90 Lots Rd SW10. 1 Graces Alley E1. Academy, 211 how long is it? waterways - infamous introduced?
An inconspicuous Beautiful 220-capacity Less famous and less The world’s oldest Stockwell Rd SW9. still runs under public gallows?
frontage at the Regent’s jazz club, the original glamorous than its Soho surviving music hall, The ultimate classic gig the cellars of
Park end of the street and the best, hosting rival, the 606 is Chelsea’s and an absolute gem. venue. A beautiful art- which pub in
hides two small venues. everybody who’s anybody super-friendly jazz club deco interior and always Fleet Street?
Probably the loveliest for nearly 60 years. and restaurant, hosting an electric atmosphere.
place I’ve ever played. at least two shows a day Do you know? a limit of 80mg of alcohol in 100cc of blood and it became an offence to drive when over this limit. 5. 1967
all year round.
1. The A1, at 410 miles (660 km) 2. The Cheshire Cheese 3. A traffic island at the junction of Marble Arch and Edgware Road. 4. January 1966. It set26 EVENTS CALENDAR CALENDAR EVENTS 27
Calendar
May June July
17 May 21 May Professor Brian 28 May 1 June 5 June Rathayatra 18 June 22 June 1 July Green Day Kings of Leon
The Business London Cox Live Paul Rodgers Shawn Mendes Australia vs Procession London to BBC Worldwide World Power concert concert
Show Symphony Wembley Arena concert concert Bangladesh Central London Brighton Bike Ride – Strictly Show event Hyde Park Hyde Park
ExCeL Arena Orchestra Royal Albert Hall O2 Arena cricket Clapham Spectacular ExCeL Arena
(and 18 May) concert 27 May (and 2 June) Oval Colour Run 5k Common ExCeL Arena (and 2 July) 2 July 7 July
Trafalgar Square Heroes and Westminster Wembley Park Eid event Wireless Festival
18 May Villains 2017 event Mile run England vs 8 June ICC Champions 24 June World League Trafalgar Finsbury Park
The Beach Boys 22 May Olympia Central London Bangladesh India vs Sri 15 June Trophy Final Jeff Lynne’s Hockey Square (until 9 July)
concert The London (and 28 May) cricket Lanka cricket Hockey World Oval Electric Light semi-finals
Royal Albert Hall Wine Fair 2017 Chronixx concert Oval Oval League Orchestra Queen Elizabeth Justin Bieber 8 July
(and 19 May Olympia Rinse Festival O2 Academy Queen Elizabeth 19 June Wembley Stadium Olympic Park, concert U2 concert
ExCeL Arena) (until 24 May) Finsbury Park 3 June 9 June Olympic Park Aegon Tennis Stratford Hyde Park Twickenham
(and 28 May) 29 May Field Day event Take That Stratford Championships Jimmy Carr (and 9 July)
2017 Betway 23 May England vs South Victoria Park concert (until 25 June) 2017 O2 Academy Domestic One- 3 July
Premier League Chelsea Flower We Are FSTVL, Africa cricket O2 Arena Queen’s Club, Day Final cricket Wimbledon The Killers
Darts Show dance festival Lord’s Epsom Derby (until 12 June) 16 June West Kensington 25 June Lord’s Tennis concert
O2 Arena West London Upminster Surrey Space (until 25 June) Hampstead Championships Hyde Park
(until 27 May) (and 28 May) Running Vitality 10 June Spectacular Summer event Status Quo 2017
19 May Central London Fat Freddy’s World Naked Royal Albert Hall 20 June North London concert Wimbledon Pride Parade
Bellator 24 May Iron Maiden Drop concert Bike Ride (until 19 June) Celine Dion Royal Albert Hall (until 16 July) Central London
MMA match Eric Clapton concert 30 May Alexandra Palace Central London concert 28 June
Wembley Arena concert O2 Arena Mac DeMarco 17 June O2 Arena Adele Eat Drink 4 July 9 July
(and 20 May) Royal Albert Hall (and 28 May) concert Depeche Mode FOUND Festival Fit London (and 21 June) concert Ealing event World League Red Bull
O2 concert Brockwell Park event Wembley Ealing Common Hockey Soapbox Race
Foodies Festival 25 May Sigma Live Academy London Clapham Royal Ascot Stadium (and semi-finals Alexandra Palace
Clapham Ariana Grande concert (and Stadium 11 June Common Berkshire 29 June, 1, 2 July) Richard Ashcroft Queen Elizabeth
Common concert Royal Albert Hall 31 May) Tour of Britain (and 18 June) (until 24 June) concert Olympic Park, Surrey vs
(until 21 May) O2 Arena Sri Lanka vs Women’s Road 29 June O2 Academy Stratford Somerset
(and 26 May) Rugby Aviva 31 May South Africa Cycling Race - Stone Free 21 June The Maccabees cricket
Metronomy Premiership Final KISS cricket Stage 5 Festival Kraftwerk concert concert 6 July Oval
concert Gala Festival Twickenham concert Oval Streets O2 Arena Royal Albert Hall Alexandra Palace England vs
O2 Academy Brockwell Park O2 surrounding (until 23 June) (until 1 July) South Africa British
Kate Tempest Arena 4 June Westminster The Stone cricket 10k Run
20 May 26 May concert Phil Collins Roses concert House & Garden 30 June Lord’s Westminster
Roger Hodgson London O2 Academy concert India vs South Wembley Stadium Festival 2017 Phil Collins (until 10 July)
concert Expo event Royal Albert Hall Africa cricket Olympia concert Tom Petty
Royal Albert Hall ExCeL Arena (and 5, 7, 9 June) Oval (until 24 June) Hyde Park concert
(and 21 May) (until 28 May) Hyde ParkConveniently, all
London taxis now
accept cash, card
and contactless
Search TfL Improvements
3 4You can also read
