Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Taxi groups asking for judicial review of London’s emergency cycling infrastructure

‘The biggest single threat to our long-term future is anything that restricts our ability to move around’

Two taxi groups have together submitted legal papers challenging Streetspace for London – the emergency measures that are being introduced in the capital to encourage walking and cycling.

Pop-up cycle lanes, car-free zones and wider pavements are among the changes currently being made under the Streetspace banner to try and make it easier for people to walk and cycle and maintain social distancing.

The Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA) and United Trade Action Group (UTAG) is challenging both the Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL) over the plans and also over the Bishopsgate Bus Gate scheme that excludes black cabs during peak times.

In an email to their mailing list, UTAG said: "Our QC, Barrister and Instructing Solicitor have worked ceaselessly to prepare a compelling legal challenge against the plan and the impact it would have on us, and more importantly our passengers, who depend on our service.

"We cannot divulge the legal arguments cited in this [Judicial Review] but can say they are forceful, apposite and well considered.

"When the Respondents; Transport for London & The Mayor have had time to digest our challenge we may be able to give you more information but must be guided by our expert legal team."

The LTDA’s General Secretary Steve McNamara has previously described the allocation of safe space for cycling as the capital emerges from lockdown as "a class war".

Responding to the comments, London Cycling Campaign's Simon Munk said: "In short, this is the usual soundbite silliness from McNamara. Not really fitting, particularly in a global pandemic which appears to be exacerbated by pollution."

Munk has previously criticised McNamara for claiming he doesn’t oppose cycle infrastructure at the same time as protesting almost every single major route that is proposed.

Speaking about the legal challenge, McNamara said: “The biggest single threat to our long-term future and financial wellbeing is anything that limits or restricts our ability to move around and take our customers where they want to go, by the shortest, quickest and most direct route.

“Throughout the current crisis we have tried every possible way to work with TfL, the Mayor and the various local authorities to ensure and protect our access."

He added: “The only option now available to us is to challenge TfL, over our exclusion, in the High Court. This is a very expensive and complicated exercise, and despite all the trade groups being asked to contribute to this crucial challenge only the LTDA and UTAG will be funding the action.”

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

Add new comment

15 comments

Avatar
ribena | 3 years ago
3 likes

They should start using modern well built Rickshaws instead, then they could use the cycle lanes.

Avatar
macbaby replied to ribena | 3 years ago
1 like

As a cyclist who has been squeezed out of a cycle lane by a rickshaw or cargo bike on several occasions, I'm not certain we should be suggesting use of cycle lanes by these large and heavy objects

Avatar
BIRMINGHAMisaDUMP | 3 years ago
14 likes

Do the LTDA think they own the roads? Do they think they have the right to prevent local authorities from improving the environment for residents and for all road users? Taxis have the lowest modal share of all road users - cycles included - in London. So they are not even significant. 

Avatar
billymansell | 3 years ago
11 likes

“The only option now available to us is to challenge TfL, over our exclusion, in the High Court. This is a very expensive and complicated exercise, and despite all the trade groups being asked to contribute to this crucial challenge only the LTDA and UTAG will be funding the action.”

So all the other trade groups, whomever they may be, didn't contribute. Could it be that they don't support the action or that they saw the legal argument and thought it far-fetched and a waste of time?

I'm reminded of the ABD and FairfuelUK with their "we represent millions of drivers" claims when actually they're just small self-interest groups or even individuals.

Maybe these other trade groups realise emergency infrastructure is for the greater good and see no place for taxi drivers' self-interest on this matter.

Avatar
Sriracha | 3 years ago
13 likes

Taxi drivers fail to understand that they don't exist for their own sake but for the greater good. If people can get around without them, at a lower cost to themselves and to the environment, then we all benefit from fewer taxis. Hopefully the LTDA will find a benevolent role in helping them find better employment.

Avatar
Achtervolger replied to Sriracha | 3 years ago
6 likes

I wonder if your comment about taxi drivers being helped to find better employment cuts to the quick of cases like this - that people are terrified of losing their jobs. Hence, it all ends up seeming zero-sum - if there's more space for other forms of transport, fewer people will require taxis, so there'll be fewer taxi drivers required. And alternative jobs are increasingly hard to come by, to say the least. If only there were serious efforts made to provide decent jobs for all who needed them, I suppose there might be less likelihood of last-ditch, self-harming efforts like this one. But I won't hold my breath.

 

Avatar
lio | 3 years ago
5 likes

It would interesting to see the stats for number of serious indujies to pedestrians and cyclists caused by licensed taxi drivers.

I like to know what these taxi associations are doing to reduce that?

Avatar
the little onion replied to lio | 3 years ago
7 likes

Don't have the links at my fingertips right now, but my recollection is that, per mile, it's second highest of all vehicle classes after hgvs. Something to do with disproportionate use of pedestrian-heavy roads in town centres, plus pulling dodgy moves to pick up or drop off passengers

Avatar
jollygoodvelo replied to lio | 3 years ago
1 like

lio wrote:

It would interesting to see the stats for number of serious indujies to pedestrians and cyclists caused by licensed taxi drivers.

I like to know what these taxi associations are doing to reduce that?

In fairness the LTDA's beef with the safety record of private hire taxis including ride-share services (U-know-who) is well founded, and statistics in that area for the last few years will be skewed by the inclusion of many thousands of Prius collisions.

Avatar
eburtthebike | 3 years ago
8 likes

‘The biggest single threat to our long-term future is anything that restricts our ability to move around’

No.  The biggest single threat to taxis is the stupidity of the organisation which says it represents them.  This is going to make sure that very few cyclists, the ones most likely to need a taxi, use a London cab, it'll be Uber all the way.  This is rather like the Pimlico Plumber boss calling his customers fascists.

Superbly ironic pic.laugh

Avatar
Hirsute replied to eburtthebike | 3 years ago
1 like

Is it causing an obstruction whilst on double yellow lines that makes it ironic ?

Avatar
eburtthebike replied to Hirsute | 3 years ago
0 likes

hirsute wrote:

Is it causing an obstruction whilst on double yellow lines that makes it ironic ?

No.  Guess again.

Avatar
Sriracha replied to eburtthebike | 3 years ago
1 like

Well - it is parked on the double yellows since there is no driver at the wheel. And in the reflection appears to be a person wearing a white shirt with black epaulets in a stance suggestive of a Parking Attendant writing out a ticket.

Avatar
Hirsute replied to eburtthebike | 3 years ago
1 like

Was I too subtle ?

Avatar
Bmblbzzz replied to eburtthebike | 3 years ago
2 likes

"It'll be Uber all the way."

And what is Uber apart from the Amazon of taxis?

Latest Comments