Addison lee told to use bus lanes!
- Thread starter gaz
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martint235
Dog on a bike
- Location
- Welling
I think you must be the only person to think so. You get some black cabs doing stupid things but with AL drivers it tends to be a case of just sit back and see what stupid thing they come up with next.
Agree, Black cabs or ALee who are worse.. hmm let me think about that for a microsecond....ok ALee.
AL are some of the worst drivers that I have the misfortune to come across on my commute.
BentMikey
Rider of Seolferwulf
- Location
- South London
I'm astounded when an AL driver drives well, shocked even. Most of the time cabbies are pretty decent.
jonny jeez
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chislehurst, Kent, UK
I'm preparing myself to be shot down in flames here...and trust me I am (or maybe was) one of the biggests A.L haters around.
however...
I've been really watching...and I mean really watching all the A.L black MPV's that I see on my travels and I've reached an uncomfortable conclusion.
Since around October last year I've noticed that the majority of AL drivers are not as bad as I first thought. Admittedly some are atrocious but they don't actually seem to be as bad as I have given credit for
The thing that has skewed my perception is the fact that up untill November I just kind of assumed that all black MPV were AL cars.
The fact is, they are not and the vast majority of black MPV's that I see doing very stupid things are actually NOT A.L at all. There are literally masses of private hire companies that choose to look like A.L cars presumably because it reflects a corporate impression or some professionalism.
I suspect that these drivers are the worst of all in London, self regulated, self employed, unable or unwilling to work in any other medium and answerable to only themselves.
Before you shout me down (I know there are some really bad A.L drivers around and I've even taken steps to highlight this elsewhere) just try if for yourself, make a mental note of the number of black MPV's that you see acting like spanners then take a look at the back window, does it actually carry the A.L logo?
Give it a go, I'd be interested to see what you all think.
however...
I've been really watching...and I mean really watching all the A.L black MPV's that I see on my travels and I've reached an uncomfortable conclusion.
Since around October last year I've noticed that the majority of AL drivers are not as bad as I first thought. Admittedly some are atrocious but they don't actually seem to be as bad as I have given credit for
The thing that has skewed my perception is the fact that up untill November I just kind of assumed that all black MPV were AL cars.
The fact is, they are not and the vast majority of black MPV's that I see doing very stupid things are actually NOT A.L at all. There are literally masses of private hire companies that choose to look like A.L cars presumably because it reflects a corporate impression or some professionalism.
I suspect that these drivers are the worst of all in London, self regulated, self employed, unable or unwilling to work in any other medium and answerable to only themselves.
Before you shout me down (I know there are some really bad A.L drivers around and I've even taken steps to highlight this elsewhere) just try if for yourself, make a mental note of the number of black MPV's that you see acting like spanners then take a look at the back window, does it actually carry the A.L logo?
Give it a go, I'd be interested to see what you all think.
captain nemo1701
Space cadet. Deck 42 Main Engineering.
- Location
- Bristol
AL motorbike couriers in action....in a cycle lane:
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OlQJKKN5Zw
Just illustrates what a joke the blue paint is. Should be a mandatory lane.
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OlQJKKN5Zw
Just illustrates what a joke the blue paint is. Should be a mandatory lane.
Beebo
Firm and Fruity
- Location
- Hexleybeef
Now the Institute of Directors are getting involved according to the Evening Standard. They seem to be using the discrimination / protectionism arguement.
I pray this doesnt happen. The bus lanes currently offer a degree of protection as most buses dont go fast enough, for long enough, to bother overtaking cyslists. Cab and motorbikes on the otherhand squeeze past when ever possible.
"Simon Walker, director general of the Institute of Directors, said Addison Lee was right to challenge the ban on minicabs using London bus lanes as passengers were being “ripped off”.
Addison Lee sent a letter to its 3,500 drivers on Monday urging them to ignore the ban and drive in the lanes. Chairman John Griffin said allowing only licensed black taxis to use them was “unfair discrimination”.
Transport for London will next week seek a High Court injunction ordering the letter to be withdrawn.
Mr Walker said some of the institute’s 40,000 members had complained about the inability of private hire vehicles to use the lanes.
He told the Standard: “Anything that provides protectionism is a bad idea and will result in consumers losing out. A lot of our members use Addison Lee, as well as black cabs. It’s a service that’s been built up quite successfully. To hobble it, and other minicabs, seems unfair.”
He added: “We have got three hire car services and two of them are discriminated against because they cannot drive along the bus lanes. I think protectionism by metered taxis has helped push up prices.
“That’s always a problem when you have an inhibited ability to enter an industry — the consumer gets ripped off. Black cab prices are higher than they need to be.”
TfL insists its main priority is to keep bus lanes clear for the six million people who make bus journeys in London every day. They also argue that only black taxis can be hailed on the street and all are wheelchair accessible.
Cyclists claim roads will become less safe if the city’s 60,000 private hire vehicles are allowed to use the lanes."
I pray this doesnt happen. The bus lanes currently offer a degree of protection as most buses dont go fast enough, for long enough, to bother overtaking cyslists. Cab and motorbikes on the otherhand squeeze past when ever possible.
"Simon Walker, director general of the Institute of Directors, said Addison Lee was right to challenge the ban on minicabs using London bus lanes as passengers were being “ripped off”.
Addison Lee sent a letter to its 3,500 drivers on Monday urging them to ignore the ban and drive in the lanes. Chairman John Griffin said allowing only licensed black taxis to use them was “unfair discrimination”.
Transport for London will next week seek a High Court injunction ordering the letter to be withdrawn.
Mr Walker said some of the institute’s 40,000 members had complained about the inability of private hire vehicles to use the lanes.
He told the Standard: “Anything that provides protectionism is a bad idea and will result in consumers losing out. A lot of our members use Addison Lee, as well as black cabs. It’s a service that’s been built up quite successfully. To hobble it, and other minicabs, seems unfair.”
He added: “We have got three hire car services and two of them are discriminated against because they cannot drive along the bus lanes. I think protectionism by metered taxis has helped push up prices.
“That’s always a problem when you have an inhibited ability to enter an industry — the consumer gets ripped off. Black cab prices are higher than they need to be.”
TfL insists its main priority is to keep bus lanes clear for the six million people who make bus journeys in London every day. They also argue that only black taxis can be hailed on the street and all are wheelchair accessible.
Cyclists claim roads will become less safe if the city’s 60,000 private hire vehicles are allowed to use the lanes."
Miquel In De Rain
No Longer Posting
I don't.
Not sure how old this is, but interesting choice of words from their chairman regarding cyclists!
https://twitter.com/#!/grahamlehr/status/192592466552172544/photo/1/large
https://twitter.com/#!/grahamlehr/status/192592466552172544/photo/1/large
Beebo
Firm and Fruity
- Location
- Hexleybeef
it's shocking isnt it. Lets all get in our protected steel cages where we feel safe. It can't be my fault if I run over a granny on her bike. It shows a total disregard for anyone who isnt a motor vehicle.
BentMikey
Rider of Seolferwulf
- Location
- South London
Addison Lee video clips collected together....
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL84A8677DE78BD0DB
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL84A8677DE78BD0DB
LCpl Boiled Egg
Three word soundbite
An interesting collection of videos. I'm not sure these are Addison Lee drivers though, because according to this article none of their drivers have ever been "convicted of an offence while on duty", which must mean they are absolute perfect drivers at all times and never break the law.
Peowpeowpeowlasers
Well-Known Member
The guy created the company name so it appears at the top of the phone book:
http://www.addisonlee.com/discover/about/the-addison-lee-story
Two can play at that game. Maybe then we should ensure that the above videos appear at the top of the Google search index, you know, just for fairness.
http://www.addisonlee.com/discover/about/the-addison-lee-story
Two can play at that game. Maybe then we should ensure that the above videos appear at the top of the Google search index, you know, just for fairness.
mickle
innit
- Location
- 53.933606, -1.076131
From Bike Biz today:
John Griffin, founder of Addison Lee, is making no friends in the cycling community. His latest rant is going viral.
John Griffin, the Addison Lee boss at the centre of a bus lane storm in London, uses his editorial in the latest issue of his corporate magazine to take a pot-shot at cyclists, blaming them for any "accidents". Griffin recently told his 'self-employed' drivers to break the law and use bus lanes in London.
Currently only black taxi cabs - and cyclists and since January, motorcyclists - are allowed to use bus lanes. Griffin told his drivers he'd reimburse them for any fines they incurred when breaking the law.
AddLib magazine is handed out to Addison Lee customers and is available in the 4000 vehicles used by the company for 25,000 daily journeys in London.
Griffen wrote:
John Griffin, the Addison Lee boss at the centre of a bus lane storm in London, uses his editorial in the latest issue of his corporate magazine to take a pot-shot at cyclists, blaming them for any "accidents". Griffin recently told his 'self-employed' drivers to break the law and use bus lanes in London.
Currently only black taxi cabs - and cyclists and since January, motorcyclists - are allowed to use bus lanes. Griffin told his drivers he'd reimburse them for any fines they incurred when breaking the law.
AddLib magazine is handed out to Addison Lee customers and is available in the 4000 vehicles used by the company for 25,000 daily journeys in London.
Griffen wrote:
"Green party candidates and others are up in arms about what they see as the murder of Cyclists on London Roads. There has, as we all know, been a tremendous upsurge in cycling and cycling shops.
"This summer the roads will be thick with bicycles, These cyclists are throwing themselves onto some of the most congested spaces in the world. They leap onto a vehicle which offers them no protection except a padded plastic hat.
"Should a motorist fail to observe a granny wobbling to avoid a pothole or a rain drain, then he is guilty of failing to anticipate that this was somebody on her maiden voyage into the abyss. The fact is he just didn't see her and however cautious, caring or alert he is, the influx of beginner cyclists is going to lead to an overall increase in accidents involving cyclists.
"The rest of us occupying this roadspace have had to undego extensive training. We are sitting inside a protected space with impact bars and air bags and paying extortionate amounts of taxes on our vehicle purchase, parking, servicing, insurance and road tax. It is time for us to say to cyclists 'You want to join our gang, get trained and pay up'.
Road tax doesn't exist. It's car tax, a tax on cars and other vehicles, not a tax on roads or a fee to use them. Motorists do not pay directly for the roads. Roads are paid for via general and local taxation. In 1926, Winston Churchill started the process to abolish road tax. It was finally culled in 1937. Car tax is based on amount of CO2 emitted so, if a fee had to be paid, cyclists - who are sometimes branded as 'tax dodgers' - would pay the same as 'tax-dodgers' such as disabled drivers, police cars, the Royal family, and band A motorists, ie £0. Most cyclists are also car-owners, too, so pay VED. Many of those who believe road tax exists - such as John Griffin - want cyclists off the roads or, at least registered, but bicycle licensing is an expensive folly.
Over on Road.cc, Simon Macmichael goes over Griffin's text and offers many more rebuttals.
"We could comment upon his apparent belief that roads belong to motorists.
"We could take him to task for his apparent victim-blaming of those who lose their lives while quite legally cycling on London’s roads.
"We could consider that a motorist’s ‘protected space’ can lead them to forget that they are sitting inside a machine with the capability of easily inflicting death or serious injury on more vulnerable road users.
"While he acknowledges that cycling in London is booming, he misses the point about where much of that growth comes from; it isn’t from ‘grannies’ taking to two wheels for the first time.
"Instead, a lot of the rise in cycling is driven by middle-aged professionals such as lawyers, bankers and accountants who in some cases will be the people who decide which cab firm their company uses, or at least help influence that decision.
Currently, for many companies and organisations, that firm will be Addison Lee.
"Earlier this week, the company used its Twitter feed to proclaim proudly that its account customers had overwhelmingly backed its unilateral decision to illegally use London’s bus lanes; we wonder whether all of his customers will endorse his views on cycling, and those who have died while riding their bikes, once they learn of it?"
Dr. Robert Davis, Chair of the Road Danger Reduction Forum, said:
"This display of self-pitying bigotry and victim-blaming is, above all, the kind of incendiary message that exacerbates rule and law breaking behaviour by motorists.
"And the bigotry is deep seated and needs to be properly confronted by those in power: step forward all those with responsibility for transport policy, as well as those charged with enforcing driver behaviour on London’s roads.
"The “paying road tax” myth is inevitably associated with negative behaviour towards non-motorists.
"The idea that drivers are “extensively trained” is laughable. So too is the implication that vehicle occupants have somehow fulfilled a greater responsibility than cyclists or pedestrians because they are in a crashworthy environment. These myths are simply part of the inversion of reality presented by Addison Lee’s Chairman – a world where drivers are the victims of cyclists, rather than the other way round.
"Encouraging people to feel that they are good drivers because they have driven properly once for 25 minutes, and producing idiots by idiot-proofing the motor vehicle and highway environment, are part of the problem of danger on the road – and these examples of “road safety” culture are officially sanctioned."
doctornige
Well-Known Member
Sorry. I posted the tax article in another thread. This forum has soooo many sections, I can't keep up. Anyway, that Addison Lee article on tax is ridiculous. I shouldn't worry though because if any of this got anywhere near parliament, I should imagine that someone might bother to read the existing legal and taxation structure.
