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news
LTDA cab looking out for cyclistsTaxi drivers association dubbed "duplicitous" on anti-bike stance
The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) has been accused of acting duplicitously by protesting against every major protected cycle route proposed in London, after saying they don’t oppose them.
The London Cycling Campaign (LCC) told road.cc the LTDA is putting its drivers’ convenience over the safety of cyclists and pedestrians by attempting to block cycle and pedestrian improvements designed to protect people from motor traffic, while making “ludicrous” claims about cycle routes.
On Saturday taxi drivers in LTDA-liveried vehicles joined a local residents’ protest against a North London cycle superhighway, CS11, while the LTDA's campaign against a protected cycle route on Tavistock Place in Central London is ongoing. The LTDA says it wants a "better balance" on those routes and says the LCC is "misrepresenting the LTDA position" on CS11 and Tavistock Place.
London Taxi Drivers Assocation demonstration against congestion caused by cyclists pic.twitter.com/ZxOquLJ6NI
— paul gannon (@paulgannonbike) October 10, 2016
The LCC’s Infrastructure Campaigner, Simon Munk, said of Saturday’s demonstration: “The organisation professes to say they are pro cycling. The fact that their members are turning up with an official billboard outside someone else’s demo that they haven’t raised a public concern about until now, I guess I would call that opportunistic.”
LCC and LTDA agree on cyclist/taxi driver behaviour pact
According to statistics from City of London police taxis and people on bikes are involved in 35 collisions per year in the Square Mile of the City of London, with up to five of those resulting in serious injury. The LCC and the LTDA recently made an agreement their members would look out for each other on the road at a recent event in the City of London while LTDA General Secretary, Steve McNamara said he didn’t oppose cycle tracks.
The following day, however, the LTDA launched a petition against a trial doubling of capacity on a cycle route on Tavistock Place in Camden, central London. Capacity of the original two-way track was increased as part of a year-long trial, and the road made one way for motor traffic (see infographic below).
Infographic showing allocation of road space before and during the Tavistock Place trial
The LTDA’s petition says: “We believe that there is sufficient space on the road for two way motor traffic, two way cycle lanes and improved pedestrian areas.”
Taxi drivers' Cycle Superhighways challenge dubbed "desperate" and "unmeritorious"
However, Munk calls this notion "ludicrous".
“The idea that the way it was before is better is ludicrous, the idea that we can fit thousands of cyclists into half the space. They want two way traffic because it’s slightly easier for them.
“What seems to be happening is the LTDA and cabbies are basically saying improvements to cyclist and pedestrian safety to a hugely popular route are trumped by cabbies having a minor inconvenience.”
“It’s time for them to be clear and honest," he said. "If they support cycle tracks they need to get behind Tavistock Place, and if they don’t, they need to come out and say it.”
Munk and local campaigners are concerned the taxi drivers’ intervention could kill the Tavistock Place trial, meaning the route will go back to a narrow, two-way cycle track which was often over capacity in rush hour. The LCC is urging people to respond to Camden Council’s consultation in support of it.
He believes the LTDA’s change of stance risks distancing itself from its own members who cycle, and being outsmarted by private hire companies who support cycling.
“I think the worry is that other private hire vehicles are out smarting them when it comes to progressiveness towards cyclists and getting cyclists home,” he said.
After the LTDA changed its stance the LCC attracted criticism for engaging with the taxi group. The organisation said in its defence: “Either the London Cycling Campaign treats the LTDA as the enemy, and the LTDA will then in turn engage with the London Cycling Campaign on that basis, or there has to be some form of constructive engagement with the LTDA, that lets campaigners hear what they have to say and hold them to their word”.
Cab drivers lose cycle superhighway High Court challenge
Munk told road.cc: “I would love to have a face to face with [LTDA General Secretary] Steve McNamara and say: how can he have a situation where he says he supports tracks for cyclists and a day later opposes those very tracks?
“They have opposed every single major scheme.”
“They are saying they would support some tracks so long as it has no impact, even a ten second delay, which means essentially they don’t support the tracks at all.”
“There is a point at which we need to say: if they aren’t a cyclist’s friend they are a cyclist’s enemy,” he said.
The LTDA said it believes the LCC is misrepresenting the LTDA position on Tavistock Place and CS11.
Richard Massett of the LTDA, said: “The LTDA remains committed to the Safer in the City campaign and the wider work the LTDA is doing alongside the LCC such as the campaign launched earlier this year regarding air pollution.
"At Tavistock Place and on CS11 the LTDA believe a better balance can be reached between space for cycling and the needs of residents, businesses and other road users at these locations.”
*The article was updated on 11th October, with the addition of collision statistics between cyclists and taxi drivers in the City of London
Laura Laker is a freelance journalist with more than a decade’s experience covering cycling, walking and wheeling (and other means of transport). Beginning her career with road.cc, Laura has also written for national and specialist titles of all stripes. One part of the popular Streets Ahead podcast, she sometimes appears as a talking head on TV and radio, and in real life at conferences and festivals. She is also the author of Potholes and Pavements: a Bumpy Ride on Britain’s National Cycle Network.
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26 comments
Like McDowell, I drive a taxi and want nothing to do with the Luddite, Troll and Dinosaur Association. I responded to the consultation supporting the retention of the bike lanes but suggesting the single vehicle lane be converted to an East-West route, which - bluntly - is the ratrun taxis need. The LTDA appears to believe its interests are best served by aligning itself with white van drivers rather than cyclists. It'll be interesting to see whether we're wiped out before it realises the errors of its ways.
I can't be bothered to argue about Uber. If you believe that taxis are more of a danger than Uber, I'd guess you neither ride not drive in London. Next time you get a puncture on a wet night, good luck getting the bike in the back of a Prius.
This from the drivers association that recently released a press release that they had "agreed" such radical ideas as "using indicators before stopping to collect a fare, or doing a u-turn" and "checking for other road users" before performing the aforementioned actions. plus "sticking to the speed limits" . . .
If they need to have a big meeting to decide this, may God have mercy on all the other poor road users who may suffere a heart failure on actually seeing a blinky orange thing on the corner of a taxi.
"We've had a big Pow-wow wiith cycling group and will ask our drivers to stick to 4 piieces of road legislation"
come on guys, taking cab drivers for serious? come on!!!
FanTAStic! (edited)
"Duplicitous"?
Hypocrisy surely?
And that's being polite.
Taxi drivers would have to be utter dipsticks to oppose cycling in any form.
its the rise in car ownership and use that's been taking away their trade.
Most black cabs were proudly displaying a Brexit sticker a few months ago. They don't always seem to think about their trade and who their customers are very logically.
Not in London. Car ownership and use is falling. Uber rose has exploded, however.
Please respond to the consultation though. It's now a numbers game. Every vote counts.
If you('ve) cycle(d) or walk(ed) in the area - it just takes a minute to respond.
The consultation ends on the 21st. We are down there most mornings leafletting.
The numbers of cyclists now using the scheme is incredible. It can't possibly go back to the narrow dangerous two-way track that existed before. We are getting the message across. Many users hadn't realised it was only a trial. 12 months pass and you have to get into gear.
In The Netherlands, they apparently bypass the consultation stage. They get their fabulous cycle roundabouts, bridges, lanes etc without all the bast*rd fuss you have to go through in the UK.
Imagine! Getting stuff in and having the time to work on getting it connected it up to a network!!
The big Dutch thing of course is filtered permeability. You organise a residential area into a cell (this has been done for Tavistock Place - see here - ignored completely by the local NIMBY/antis) - No through traffic crossing the area. Vehicles entering the area do so as residents or for visiting.
https://consultations.wearecamden.org/corporate-services/torrington-place-tavistock-place-route-proposed-im
So. Complete the consultation. Q6. Yes I would like it to remain. Q7. No I do not want it returned to as it was before.
You don’t have to live in Camden but you do need to provide an address and postcode. You could also add in the comments on Q8 that you want to ensure tracks and pavements are high quality, that junction “hook risks” are avoided and that traffic volumes and speeds of motor vehicles are both kept low. You could also suggest an improvement from the current scheme would be to find ways to avoid having loading/delivery bays in the track.
I personally think that taxis are part of the solution. A car that you don't have to drive yourself, that goes where you want when you want at reasonable cost for the convenience and when you get there it goes away without having to take up parking space. They provide a valid alternative to both public transport and the private car and don't need special tracks to run on. For the most part the drivers are way above average skill with a seriously financial interest in not crashing into anyone let alone cyclists. LTDA should be calling for fewer private cars on London's roads as they each take up far more road space than any bicycle and directly compete for the same space as the taxi.
Of course this not to say that the taxi of the future will be driven by a human at all, and if I were the LTDA that is what I would be more worried about, not fighting over cycle lanes and pedestrian infrastructure.
"Taxis are involved in a high number of collisions with cyclists,"
Are they? Twenty five years of driving a taxi, so thats probably close to 700 000 miles and I have seen two collisions between cyclicts and taxis, both minor. I welcome the production of figures to back up that statement. I suspect you actually can't.
The rest is spot on though. Had to chuckle at the piece on Road CC about some sort of agreement between the LCC and LTDA on Road CC a few days ago as I picked up Taxi (I rarely bother to read it) the in house mag of the LTDA about two days later that contained a whole host of 'anti cycling' articles including one about dying deer in Richmond Park from eating gel wrappers. Why that is news in a trade mag about the taxi buisness is baffling unless the deer where taking cabs and we are lossing valuable buisness.
The LTDA do not represent me, or two-thirds of drivers. I don't trust 'em either and thats why I have nver joined them along with the MAJORITY of drivers.
Interesting comment and nice to hear from a taxi driver who is clearly not anti bike.
I am sure I have read the same statistics about taxis being more likely to be involved in a collision with a cyclist but despite a bit of googling I cannot find the figures.
I would however challenge your anecdotal evidence with mine - the only two times I have been knocked from my bike was by black cabs and one didn't even stop. I no longer live in London but when I did my daily experiences made me more fearful of black cabs than any vehicle other than HGV's. I've even reported two black cab drivers for watching video content on mobiles mounted to the windscreen whilst driving - neither the PCO or the police could care less.
I'm well aware that there are good taxi drivers out there but I would say that as a whole, you have an appalling reputation amongst cyclists because of the behaviour of a good sized minority. Added to this the LTDA (which presents itself as a mouthpiece for the whole black cab industry) has a clear anti cylist rhetoric - remember when we were compared to ISIS by it's head? It's nice to hear that only a third are members though.
Segregated lanes for the privileged should be abolished.
...and taxis should use the regular lanes like all the other traffic.
Never turn your back on these snakes. Use Uber and stick it to them.
It is true that voting with your wallet is the only thing that can be done.
However uber drivers are notorious for driving around london with their nose sticked to their mobile phone
Addison lee is tryng to have a cyclist friendly offer (with rack available to carry bikes) but their drivers have too much a tendency to doing close passes. They got it half right ...
From experience, Uber are some of the most dangerous drivers on the road. Their job requires them to be constantly checking a device for pick-ups and they often make erratic turns without signalling. At least black cab drivers have to go through some structured training.
In my experience they've been nothing but courteous and well driven - quite a few I've taken said they are doing Uber on their hours off from their taxi firm/black cab.
Anyway, just anecdotes. Loads of footage of black cabbies being aggressive to cyclists, knocking them off, getting out of the cab and punching them etc. Bet you can dredge up more negative black cab footage than Uber footage.
Without actual stats though - doesn't mean much. Haven't had any serial rapist Uber drivers yet either, like you have had with cabbies.
Well done, you've just said the most ridiculous thing of the day, well done. Lets hope Tump opens his mouth later to top that eh?
Which part was more ridiculous, that YouTube is full of cabbies acting aggressive, punching cyclists etc. Or that there's been a serial cabbie rapist?
Are you some sort of weird rape denier or what?
wingmanrob sounds like a very reasonable guy, interesting to hear a cabby's input. You sound like you could start a fight in an empty room.
8 posts and shit stirring on a cycling website. Maybe take a look in the mirror there.
Still waiting for wingmanrob to tell us which part of my post was ridiculous. When he's done getting his mom to back him up on the internet, that is.
Wow you don't cope well with criticism do you. Lets hope you don't drive a car eh!
Uber hasn't been going as long as Black Cabs have been working in London, so it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand there's likely to be more footage of poor driving from a Black Cab driver.
Sorry I didn't respond sooner, I was too busy raping people and beating up fellow cyclists.
Now something you might not be aware of with Uber is that they offer £1000 to the driver who logs the most amount of jobs for the week in the particular area they work in.
Now if that doesn't encourage fast driving and driving tired, I don't know what does.
If you're a single female and you are being driven home by an Uber driver and he suddenly makes you feel uncomfortable either by his driving or sexually, lets see how quickly you can get help with email support, opposed to being able call a drivers mini cab company!!
The whole 'training' thing is bollocks, though isn't it?
Lorry drivers, bus drivers, driving instructors, cab drivers - they all get additional training yet are often terrible drivers. The problem is that people who spend massive amounts of time on the roads in a vehicle without frequently also experiencing cycling or walking on the same roads are almost guaranteed to be crap drivers. They lack empathy and feel entitled by the many hours they spend driving.
No amount of training can replace actually being a different type of road user, especially one who is extremely vulnerable.
Yeah give your money to a massive American corporation that will never pay tax in this country, bravo!! So when they eventaully put every taxi company out of business, you'll be left with more cuts or have to make up the shortfall.
They're already working on driverless cars, so even more tax will be lost.
As a cabbie and a cyclist, we're not all bad.