On Fri, 27 Oct 2006, Earl Purple wrote:

Colin McKenzie wrote:

Most of these journeys could be cycled, on quiet night-time roads.

I very much doubt that late night workers are going to get home 2-3
miles say on a bicycle in the middle of the night.

Why on earth not? I regularly do.

tom

--
No Hype Just Science

On Fri, 27 Oct 2006, Earl Purple wrote:

Let me pick my routes for these journeys:

[ka-SNIP]

A number of those routes when through Muswell Hill, a big climb on a
bicycle.

Not very well picked, then! Unless you actually live in Muswell Hill or
Highgate or such, there's no need to go via there on a bike.

However, i do agree that some of the trips Steve listed are a bit much to
do by bike; Ladbroke Grove would not be much fun, and the Chatham one -
cripes!

tom

--
No Hype Just Science

In message , Zara Henderson
writes


--------------------------------------------------------
Why don't Transport for London introduce a system whereby taxis & minicabs
are employed by them & are paid a regular wage just like bus & train
drivers,it would reduce pollution immensely because one cab could be used by
three drivers on a 24 hour shift rota,it would also mean no lack of cabs
late at night,just one thing though because there is no glass partition in
minicabs as in black cabs,I do find many minicab drivers appear to have a
problem with personal hygiene it would be a bonus if their job description
included brushing their teeth & taking a shower now & again.


This would actually have the opposite effect.

Drivers who are self employed have to work to earn money. Employees can
and probably would take time off for *paid* sickness, holidays, etc. The
only way this could be done is with a massive increase in the fares.

Under the present system if a driver is short of money s/he can come out
at busy times to take extra money. The problem is that, just like
trains, buses, planes, ships, etc a large number of people want
transport at the same time. If you try to cater for these peak times
then what would you do during the off peak times - and how would you pay
the staff?

--
Mike Hughes
A Taxi driver licensed for London and Brighton
at home in Tarring, West Sussex, England

In message .com, Earl
Purple writes


A solution that could resolve the evening rush-hour problem would be
shared-cabs (find others going to the same location). Could benefit
everyone - lower fares for the passengers, higher fares for the driver
and more cabs available.

Already happens on a regular basis at Paddington, Wimbledon, Royal
Garden Parties, etc. The (black) taxis rank up, the marshals the match
drivers and passengers. Passengers get a fixed fare, drivers get a
little more than the standard one off fare - but it does involve quite a
bit of planning which where the Knowledge comes to the fore.


--
Mike Hughes
A Taxi driver licensed for London and Brighton
at home in Tarring, West Sussex, England

In message .com, Earl
Purple writes

Zara Henderson wrote:

----------------------------------------------------------
A solution that could resolve the evening rush-hour problem would be
shared-cabs (find others going to the same location). Could benefit
everyone - lower fares for the passengers, higher fares for the driver
and more cabs available
----------------------------------------------------------
I take cabs precisely because I do not want to share my space with anyone
else,many single women would feel unsafe sharing,if I want to share I will
take the bus "thank you"

Wouldn't that make you feel safer? It's true the drivers are now
checked by the Public Carriage Office so as long as you use a licensed
cab you are far more likely to be safe. And sharing would be an option,
it wouldn't be forced on you. But the more other people in the car, the
safer you are surely likely to be? If you did end up sharing with just
one other passenger who happened to be male, there is always the option
that one of you sits in the front (probably the male).

Not in a licensed *taxi*. I've also seen occasions where a 'pushy'
person has managed to gain access to the cab and only after the journey
is part way through do they try something on. It's not always obvious to
the driver. My advice to anyone is, unless it's at a controlled area
never share with someone you don't know unless there are at least two of
you who will be getting out at the same point.

The main danger of the bus is the walk from the bus stop to home?


--
Mike Hughes
A Taxi driver licensed for London and Brighton
at home in Tarring, West Sussex, England

"John Rowland" wrote in message
...
Zara Henderson wrote:

Why don't Transport for London introduce a system whereby taxis &
minicabs are employed by them & are paid a regular wage just like bus
& train drivers,

Because there would be nothing to stop taxi drivers parking in a side road
for eight hours reading a paper and then saying they couldn't find any
passengers, and then going home with the same pay. They would also be less
willing to take risks with punters, so women in Ascot hats and gentlemen
in Panama hats would be the only people who could get taxis, and only when
they were completely sober.

it would reduce pollution immensely because one cab
could be used by three drivers on a 24 hour shift rota,

How would that reduce pollution? Anyway, something like half the cabs in
London are already shared by two drivers.

it would also mean no lack of cabs late at night,

Why don't you work at night and socialise in the day, that way you won't
have a problem getting cabs! Cabbies want to socialise and see their
children, same as anyone else.

just one thing though because
there is no glass partition in minicabs as in black cabs,I do find
many minicab drivers appear to have a problem with personal hygiene
it would be a bonus if their job description included brushing their
teeth & taking a shower now & again.

Unlike taxis, which are a public service, minicabs are operated by private
companies, so if you don't like the service you get from one minicab
company, use a different one, or use taxis. Anyway, think of all the poor
drivers who have to put up with the stink of your attitude, which no glass
partition could mask.
--------------------------------------------------------
How do you know what hours I work? you pompous oaf, A taxi drivers duty is
to serve the general public the anti social hours come with the territory,if
you do not wish to work these hours then their are tens of thousands of
Eastern European immigrants who will,my six year old can read a Sat Nav, so
driving a minicab/black cab is hardly an occupation that taxes the brain is
it.

Zara Henderson wrote:
"John Rowland" wrote in
message ...
Zara Henderson wrote:

Why don't Transport for London introduce a system whereby taxis &
minicabs are employed by them & are paid a regular wage just like
bus & train drivers,

Because there would be nothing to stop taxi drivers parking in a
side road for eight hours reading a paper and then saying they
couldn't find any passengers, and then going home with the same pay.
They would also be less willing to take risks with punters, so women
in Ascot hats and gentlemen in Panama hats would be the only people
who could get taxis, and only when they were completely sober.

it would reduce pollution immensely because one cab
could be used by three drivers on a 24 hour shift rota,

How would that reduce pollution? Anyway, something like half the
cabs in London are already shared by two drivers.

it would also mean no lack of cabs late at night,

Why don't you work at night and socialise in the day, that way you
won't have a problem getting cabs! Cabbies want to socialise and see
their children, same as anyone else.

just one thing though because
there is no glass partition in minicabs as in black cabs,I do find
many minicab drivers appear to have a problem with personal hygiene
it would be a bonus if their job description included brushing their
teeth & taking a shower now & again.

Unlike taxis, which are a public service, minicabs are operated by
private companies, so if you don't like the service you get from one
minicab company, use a different one, or use taxis. Anyway, think of
all the poor drivers who have to put up with the stink of your
attitude, which no glass partition could mask.
--------------------------------------------------------
How do you know what hours I work? you pompous oaf, A taxi drivers
duty is to serve the general public the anti social hours come with
the territory,if you do not wish to work these hours then their are
tens of thousands of Eastern European immigrants who will,my six year
old can read a Sat Nav, so driving a minicab/black cab is hardly an
occupation that taxes the brain is it.

Yes, Zara, the pompous oaf in this thread is me sigh.

"John Rowland" wrote in message
...
Zara Henderson wrote:
"John Rowland" wrote in
message ...
Zara Henderson wrote:

Why don't Transport for London introduce a system whereby taxis &
minicabs are employed by them & are paid a regular wage just like
bus & train drivers,

Because there would be nothing to stop taxi drivers parking in a
side road for eight hours reading a paper and then saying they
couldn't find any passengers, and then going home with the same pay.
They would also be less willing to take risks with punters, so women
in Ascot hats and gentlemen in Panama hats would be the only people
who could get taxis, and only when they were completely sober.

it would reduce pollution immensely because one cab
could be used by three drivers on a 24 hour shift rota,

How would that reduce pollution? Anyway, something like half the
cabs in London are already shared by two drivers.

it would also mean no lack of cabs late at night,

Why don't you work at night and socialise in the day, that way you
won't have a problem getting cabs! Cabbies want to socialise and see
their children, same as anyone else.

just one thing though because
there is no glass partition in minicabs as in black cabs,I do find
many minicab drivers appear to have a problem with personal hygiene
it would be a bonus if their job description included brushing their
teeth & taking a shower now & again.

Unlike taxis, which are a public service, minicabs are operated by
private companies, so if you don't like the service you get from one
minicab company, use a different one, or use taxis. Anyway, think of
all the poor drivers who have to put up with the stink of your
attitude, which no glass partition could mask.
--------------------------------------------------------
How do you know what hours I work? you pompous oaf, A taxi drivers
duty is to serve the general public the anti social hours come with
the territory,if you do not wish to work these hours then their are
tens of thousands of Eastern European immigrants who will,my six year
old can read a Sat Nav, so driving a minicab/black cab is hardly an
occupation that taxes the brain is it.

Yes, Zara, the pompous oaf in this thread is me sigh.
---------------------------------------------------------
Sigh yourself you patronising tosser,anyone who ends up sitting on a cab
rank for two hours for a £3.00 fare round the corner is a loser like you
are,otherwise you would have a proper job.

In message , Zara Henderson
writes
--------------------------------------------------------
How do you know what hours I work? you pompous oaf, A taxi drivers duty is
to serve the general public the anti social hours come with the territory,if
you do not wish to work these hours then their are tens of thousands of
Eastern European immigrants who will,my six year old can read a Sat Nav, so
driving a minicab/black cab is hardly an occupation that taxes the brain is
it.
OK I'll bite. Let's get this right. A licensed London *taxi* (black cab)
does require a great deal of 'knowledge' which does indeed tax the
brain. Most *taxi* drivers take on average 3 years to get their licence.
During this time their brain expands in an area known as the hypocampus
which is an area associated with learning and sense of direction. This
has been confirmed by MRI scans at, amongst others, University College
Hospital.

Driving a Private Hire (minicab) does not require a knowledge test.
Inmost cases they can get you to your destination, even if it is by a
round about route, but I know of one recent case where a minicab driver
using sat nav just couldn't get his passengers to their destination
because the roads around Trafalgar Square had all been closed off (cycle
race or something) and every time he diverted it tried to send him back
the same way. Eventually the customers stopped a '*proper* taxi who got
then to their destination within 15 minutes - after they'dalready spent
nearly 4 (yes 4) hours trying to get there with aid of a sat nav!

Please do your research before coming out with statements such as that
above.

--
Mike Hughes
A Taxi driver licensed for London and Brighton
at home in Tarring, West Sussex, England

Mike Hughes wrote:

Driving a Private Hire (minicab) does not require a knowledge test.
Inmost cases they can get you to your destination, even if it is by a
round about route, but I know of one recent case where a minicab
driver using sat nav just couldn't get his passengers to their
destination because the roads around Trafalgar Square had all been
closed off (cycle race or something) and every time he diverted it
tried to send him back the same way. Eventually the customers stopped
a '*proper* taxi who got then to their destination within 15 minutes
- after they'dalready spent nearly 4 (yes 4) hours trying to get
there with aid of a sat nav!

Mike, you don't need loads of closed roads for that to happen. If you're
anywhere near Belsize Circus and you ask TomTom for the shortest route to
most places in Central London, it will send you down Loudoun Road, left into
Boundary Road and then right into Finchley Road. But when you get to
Finchley Road, the right turn is illegal and you have to take a forced
*left* into Finchley Road instead. As soon as you go left into Finchley
Road, the TomTom recalculates the new shortest route.... left into Hilgrove
Rd, left into Alexandra Rd, left into Loudoun Rd, left into Boundary Rd,
then the illegal right into Finchley Road again. I wonder how many times
people go around the loop before they realise they're going nowhere.