More Threats To Working Taxi Drivers From The LTPH Directorate. By Jim Thomas

In its usual incompetent and bombastic manner, instead of engaging meaningfully with the trade and making proper workable arrangements for a replacement rank, while ongoing work continues, LTPH threatens drivers using the inadequate facilities at Findsbury Park. 

Apparently LTPH have recieved multiple reports involving Taxi drivers using the loading bay outside Costa Coffee after 8 pm (dispite the fact they have been told by LTPH they can rank there)

The problems include: 

- Taxis blocking the cycle lane which runs alongside the loading bay

Funny, no complaints were ever recieved about the delivery lorries blocking the cycle lane! 

Had no one complained about the bus and cycle lane being blocked on Regent Street By Swallow street arch, every night of the week for the past 4 years! That's strange!!!

Surely TfL should issue a statement to cyclists explaining that until the work is completed, they may have to dismount and walk round the Taxis! 

Not quite the end of cycling in North London is it.

- Taxis not allowing delivery vehicles on to the loading bay

Taxis are told if there are no spaces available on the rank at Paddington they should circulate until a space becomes available. 

What makes delivery drivers different? 

Why should Taxi drivers be forced off a space where they've been told they can rank? 

Why can't the delivery drivers wait until the Taxis get a job and vacate the bay?

- Taxis not moving up on the loading bay when there is space

Probable reason is they've been threatened by delivery drivers!

Complaints?

Let's hope the people behind the complaints remembered to write in by, post as apparently LTPH take no notice and do not record as formal, complaints made on-line, they told us that when we inquired by FOI about complaints received concerning the illegall plying for hire of minicab touts at Swallow Street.

In their usual belligerent manner, LTPH are now threatening not to appoint the promised part time rank when work is finished as some sort of punishment!

What next, will they be issuing detention to Taxi Drivers who over rank?

An arrangement was made (informal, of course) that drivers could use the loading bay outside Coster Coffee as a temporary rank...

No one at LTPH saw a possible conflict of interest with delivery drivers wanting to use the bay as well. 

Now LTPH are threatening Taxi drivers with PCNs for using a loading bay, that LTPH told them they could use.....

You couldn't make this stuff up.

Perhaps the Taxi drivers (mainly yellow badges using this as an island rank) would have done better applying for a satellite office licence to use the loading bay, as we all know just how facilitating LTPH are in issuing them. One only has to look at the ease RD2 got issued 18 new licences without meeting the requirements of TfL policy. 

This whole problem could have been averted months ago if LTzpH had applied proper planning, management and common sense. 

In future, before any orders are made to suspend working Taxi ranks, measures should be put into place for proper workable replacement ranks. The best solutions are always simple and logical.

It's amazing that LTPH issue this notice about Taxi drivers using a shared loading bay and yet never issue notices about the delivery lorries using the appointed Taxi rank at shepherds bush. 

Another blind eye being turned there.

Why are the needs of working Taxi drivers never considered?

Why are we always the last to be consulted?

Are TfL not proud that we have the best Taxi service in the world?

Notice as it appears on TfL website:

Finsbury Park

We’ve recently received reports about problems at Finsbury Park Bus Station. The problems involve taxi drivers and the use of the loading bay outside Costa Coffee, mainly from 20:00 onwards and on all days of the week.

The problems include: 

- Taxis blocking the cycle lane which runs alongside the loading bay

- Taxis not allowing delivery vehicles on to the loading bay

- Taxis not moving up on the loading bay when there is space

We have been working to try and officially appoint a new night time taxi rank in the loading bay and also a part-time taxi rank in the loading bay in Rock Street. While this work has almost been completed we have now had to suspend it following reports about the above problems.

If these problems continue then the additional taxi ranks will not be appointed.

Following a significant amount of work and engagement with taxi drivers at Finsbury Park there was an informal agreement to allow drivers to use the loading bay outside Costa Coffee under certain conditions and for a third taxi to use the designated taxi rank after certain times. The actions of the drivers causing these problems risk this informal agreement being revoked, the loading bay being enforced and drivers parked on the loading bay being issued with Penalty Charge Notices (PCN). 

If taxi drivers block the cycle lane in the bus station this means that cyclists cannot use it, are forced around the taxis parked there and put at risk of colliding with buses coming into the station.  Taxis parking next to the loading bay also blocks the entrance to the station causing problems on Seven Sisters Road and St Thomas’s Road.

There have also been reports of drivers:

- Using their mobile phone while driving through the bus station

- Turning left out of the bus station on to Stroud Green Road which is not allowed

- Reversing out of the bus station

- Not using their lights when it is dark

- Being abusive towards bus drivers and police officers

These actions are unacceptable and put other road users, including taxi drivers, at risk. Action will be taken against any driver caught committing any of the above offences and their fitness to remain licensed will be reviewed.

Morden taxi rank

Taxi drivers picking up passengers at Morden Station after 19:00 should use the shared taxi rank/loading bay on London Road.

Unless delivery drivers or cyclists want to use it. In that case the Taxis can sod off!