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Transport for London will next week seek a High Court injunction ordering the letter to be withdrawn.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."