Chelsea Flower Show and the Ranks of Rickshaws...

The menace of 3rd world transport transport descended on the Chelsea Flower show and whilst these objects plague the streets and roads of the capital it seems that the authorities choose to ignore the problems they create.

The London Local Authorities and Transport for London (no.2) Bill is promoted by TFL and Westminster City Council both of these parties have indicated that they wish to revive the bill in this new session of Parliament.

All London Taxi-cab drivers should note that the RMT London taxi branch is opposed to "clause 19" which seeks to give TFL and Borough councils the authority to appoint bays/ranks for pedicabs/rickshaws under a "voluntary registration scheme". A previous bill was rejected by Parliament and TFL/Westminster City Council were asked to go away and come back with a licensing regime for pedicabs/rickshaws. It appears that TFL/Westminster City Council have failed to do this.

In light of the recent death in Scotland and other serious injuries recorded by Lothian and Borders Police force plus TFL's own information regarding accidents involving pedicabs/rickshaws that the time has come for the Mayor/chair of Transport  for London to scrap "clause 19" and seek a ban on 3rd world transport.

We ask these simple questions of Mayor of London Boris Johnson;

1. Where do you place the wheelchair ?
2. Where do you place an assistance dog ?
3. When did TFL/Westminster City Council crash test these unsafe objects known as pedicabs/rickshaws ?
4. Why does Transport for London fail to appoint much needed Taxi-cab stands/ranks for the Taxi trade but seeks legislation to give valuable road space to dangerous 3rd world transport ?

The London Taxi branch of the RMT specialist transport union will be asking the new Transport Minister these questions too and we look forward to sensible open honest dialogue with all concerned parties.

London Local Authorities and Transport for London (no.2) Bill...

The above named bill may well be returning this Parliamentary session, and the battle to rid the capitals streets of these death traps.

A young man died of injuries recently after a fall from a pedicab/rickshaw in Scotland. Accidents here in the capital regularly occur but it appears the London ambulance service doesn't keep records of specific road traffic accidents involving pedicabs/rickshaws.

In the last Parliamentary session a private members bill failed to make progress and members should note we the RMT and our Parliamentary team were on standby to deal with the many clauses of this proposed piece of legislation.

Now the LLA & TFL (no.2) Bill can and may well be revived this Parliamentary session. If this happens the bill will be fast tracked to the point where it was before Parliament closed for the recent general election to take place. What is now important for the London Taxi trade is that all organisations petition against "clause 19" of this piece of legislation. Once this bill receives a 3rd reading in the House of Lords we will have a ten day window to petition the House of Commons.

Say No to 19 and protect your right to "ply for hire" here in the capital...