BORIS Johnson is planning to abolish half-yearly black cab inspections.
The tests were introduced last October and led to the annual licence fee going up by £36 from £142 to £178 to cover the additional cost.
Introducing a fee for any taxi requiring a re-test after failing the annual vehicle inspection or an on-street inspection.
Mayor Boris Johnson said: "The black cab is an icon of London, and an essential part of our transport system.
"It is essential that we support and work with London's cabbies, who are the best in the world, rather than tying them up with red tape.
"Mid-year taxi inspections have proved an unnecessary burden for drivers and owners, and have penalised the majority who maintain their vehicles throughout the year.
"This consultation proposes a fairer system, where the industry benefits from a simpler and cheaper inspection regime.
Only those few taxi drivers whose vehicles do not meet required standards will have to pay for follow-up inspections."
3:40pm Wednesday 14th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Arthur, London on 3:57pm Wed 14 May 08
We must do all we can to help these poor drivers. Ask any black cabbie and they will tell you there is no money in the game anymore!!
We must do all we can to help these poor drivers. Ask any black cabbie and they will tell you there is no money in the game anymore!!
Posted by: Chas, SE London on 8:05pm Wed 14 May 08
[quote]quote[/quote] We must do all we can to help these poor drivers
Said the Cabbie sitting in his 1/2 million pound detached house, with his 08 reg Merc on the drive
quote
We must do all we can to help these poor drivers
Said the Cabbie sitting in his 1/2 million pound detached house, with his 08 reg Merc on the drive
Posted by: Mr B CAB, london on 9:38pm Wed 14 May 08
Great I will be able to play more golf.
And yes i don't go so'th of the river!
Great I will be able to play more golf.
And yes i don't go so'th of the river!
Posted by: DavidW, Plumstead on 10:10pm Wed 14 May 08
Oh great, so the retards of the road get away with it again, because they're 'so,so' special. This lot need to be re-licenced once a day to improve their driving and humility skills.
Oh great, so the retards of the road get away with it again, because they're 'so,so' special. This lot need to be re-licenced once a day to improve their driving and humility skills.
Posted by: Sheila, Bexleyheath on 11:27pm Wed 14 May 08
My guess is David W drives a white van!!If the cabbie is sitting in a 500k house with an 08 merc on the drive its probably his wifes money that bought it. FYI the average cabbie earns around £200 for a 14 hour day before expenses.
My guess is David W drives a white van!!If the cabbie is sitting in a 500k house with an 08 merc on the drive its probably his wifes money that bought it. FYI the average cabbie earns around £200 for a 14 hour day before expenses.
Posted by: Chas, SE London on 9:01am Thu 15 May 08
Shelia, you are probably referring to a cabbie running around Bexleyheath/Dartford on a local licence. I can assure you there is better money/less hours in London.(and more if you want it)
Shelia, you are probably referring to a cabbie running around Bexleyheath/Dartford on a local licence. I can assure you there is better money/less hours in London.(and more if you want it)
Posted by: passenger, Greenwich on 9:31am Thu 15 May 08
I just hope that a certain cabbie would return from Westminster to his old job. He's done enough to help his former colleagues and it's time he did something useful for the local people again.
I just hope that a certain cabbie would return from Westminster to his old job. He's done enough to help his former colleagues and it's time he did something useful for the local people again.
Posted by: Sheila O'Reilly, Beckenham on 9:41am Thu 15 May 08
It's worth noting that 40% of black cabs failed the twice yearly inspection - we should find out why, address that, so if 40% continue to fail, would you travel in a black cab and inspection should continue for the safety of Londoners
It's worth noting that 40% of black cabs failed the twice yearly inspection - we should find out why, address that, so if 40% continue to fail, would you travel in a black cab and inspection should continue for the safety of Londoners
Posted by: no, home on 10:03am Thu 15 May 08
black cabs r a rip 0ff neway. i would rather walk. and they go the longest route to clock up the fare.
black cabs r a rip 0ff neway. i would rather walk. and they go the longest route to clock up the fare.
Posted by: Simon, Bromley on 11:07am Thu 15 May 08
If people don't like black cabs why do they use them. They make an honest living for hardwork, I bet you ask them for directions if you are lost which they normally offer for free. We all do a job
If people don't like black cabs why do they use them. They make an honest living for hardwork, I bet you ask them for directions if you are lost which they normally offer for free. We all do a job
Posted by: Alan Fisher, Essex on 11:37am Thu 15 May 08
I find it so sad that there are some out there who still think that taxi drivers are rich because they enjoy playing golf. Without them and having to just rely on minicabs, London would go into reverse...
I find it so sad that there are some out there who still think that taxi drivers are rich because they enjoy playing golf. Without them and having to just rely on minicabs, London would go into reverse...
Posted by: Michelle, at home on 12:25pm Thu 15 May 08
For those of you that think that black cabs are a rip off-either get a bus,walk or get a mini cab (at your own risk).For those who think black cab drivers earn too much - mind your own business and stop complaining or get off of your lazy arses and go spend 3 years doing the knowledge if you think you can.As for retards of the road - completeing the full London knowledge is the equivelant to a degree.Anyway must dash i'm just going to leave my £500k detatched house and get into my 08 merc to go and meet my black cab driver husband for lunch - he's been playing golf all day and he does go South of the river !!!
For those of you that think that black cabs are a rip off-either get a bus,walk or get a mini cab (at your own risk).For those who think black cab drivers earn too much - mind your own business and stop complaining or get off of your lazy arses and go spend 3 years doing the knowledge if you think you can.As for retards of the road - completeing the full London knowledge is the equivelant to a degree.Anyway must dash i'm just going to leave my £500k detatched house and get into my 08 merc to go and meet my black cab driver husband for lunch - he's been playing golf all day and he does go South of the river !!!
Posted by: DavidW, Plumstead on 1:57pm Thu 15 May 08
[quote][bold]Michelle[/bold] wrote:
For those of you that think that black cabs are a rip off-either get a bus,walk or get a mini cab (at your own risk).For those who think black cab drivers earn too much - mind your own business and stop complaining or get off of your lazy arses and go spend 3 years doing the knowledge if you think you can.As for retards of the road - completeing the full London knowledge is the equivelant to a degree.Anyway must dash i\'m just going to leave my £500k detatched house and get into my 08 merc to go and meet my black cab driver husband for lunch - he\'s been playing golf all day and he does go South of the river !!![/quote] Michelle, that about sums up the Essex black cab driver's wife's mentality - The 'knowledge', equivelent to a degree! Yeah right! Please stay in Essex, we don't want the likes of you 'South of the river'! My coment about black cab drivers being the 'retards of the road' refers to their driving and their utter disrespect for any other road users, who might be just doing their job. in their 'white vans' too, Sheila from Bexleyheath!
Michelle wrote:
For those of you that think that black cabs are a rip off-either get a bus,walk or get a mini cab (at your own risk).For those who think black cab drivers earn too much - mind your own business and stop complaining or get off of your lazy arses and go spend 3 years doing the knowledge if you think you can.As for retards of the road - completeing the full London knowledge is the equivelant to a degree.Anyway must dash i\'m just going to leave my £500k detatched house and get into my 08 merc to go and meet my black cab driver husband for lunch - he\'s been playing golf all day and he does go South of the river !!!
Michelle, that about sums up the Essex black cab driver's wife's mentality - The 'knowledge', equivelent to a degree! Yeah right! Please stay in Essex, we don't want the likes of you 'South of the river'! My coment about black cab drivers being the 'retards of the road' refers to their driving and their utter disrespect for any other road users, who might be just doing their job. in their 'white vans' too, Sheila from Bexleyheath!
Posted by: cabbie, London on 7:38pm Fri 16 May 08
[quote][bold]DavidW[/bold] wrote:
Oh great, so the retards of the road get away with it again, because they\\\'re \\\'so,so\\\' special. This lot need to be re-licenced once a day to improve their driving and humility skills.[/quote] Whats the matter could you not do the knowledge!maybe you are a private hire driver trying to nick our work from the stations.
Jealousy is a horrible thing..
DavidW wrote:
Oh great, so the retards of the road get away with it again, because they're 'so,so' special. This lot need to be re-licenced once a day to improve their driving and humility skills.
Whats the matter could you not do the knowledge!maybe you are a private hire driver trying to nick our work from the stations.
Jealousy is a horrible thing..
Posted by: Steve the Cabbie, Bethnal Green then on to lewisham via Old Kent Road and rand the houses on 10:47pm Fri 16 May 08
[bold]Do me a favor luv get outta my cab. I dont take one legged rug munchers.get off my land[/bold] [italic]italic[/italic]
Do me a favor luv get outta my cab. I dont take one legged rug munchers.get off my land
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