Motorcycle taxis to be banned.

[NickD]

Transport for London (TfL) has anounced that they intend to ban motorcycle taxis from the end of March, following a change to the Private hire vehicles (London) act, which states that a private hire vehicle should have 4 wheels. TfL have already publicly announced that they consider motorcycle taxis to be unsafe, despite the fact that in ten years of operation not a single passenger has been killed or injured. Among the companies affected Virgin Limobikes, who run a fleet of FJR 1300s, have pointed out that as well as the perfect safety record, their riders all have at least 10 years experience, and are all IAM qualified. But apparently the unblemished safety record and high standard of training for riders is not enough to convince TfL.
This comes at a time when TfL has still to implement any effective measures to deal with unlicensed minicabs. A recent operation by the City of Westminster led to the arrest of 10 drivers (incuding one who failed a breath test, and 4 who were either uninsured or had no driving license), not to mention the fact that according to the 2002 figures there were 212 rapes and sexual assaults in illegal cabs. Once again bikes are legislated against, so much for the role of PTWs in the integrated transport policy.
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I was only doing what it said on my licence officer....
Tear along the dotted line!

[headlamp]

it would be interesting to know the source of this information. If confirmed there is no doubt in my mind that it is political. Most people that use taxi bikes are city folk, media types etc., all the people Ken hates. His view is that they pay the congestion ccharge like eveyone else, use the bus or tube, or sit in the long traffic jam at Trafalgar Square like everyone else. Give him half a chance he'll introduce it for bikes & scooters too!
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Using a mobile phone while driving a car should be made a capital offence!

[TiN]

I'd have to agree - motorcycle taxis can be dangerous in such built up areas...because of the other fecking idiots on the road. In doesn't matter how much experience a rider has, or even their quality of their riding, because it still doesn't provide any guarantee any protection against third parties.

But I doubt (and hope) that it won't be so easy to pass such a legislation.
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TiN
dotgems.net

[mattsmith95]

TO BE HONEST,

banning motorcycle taxi's isn't a big deal, there aren't that many that operate to start with, seems pointless really.

I know one of the VIRGIN limo riders, well this news explains why I don't see him anymore, probably got a new job.

[Dom_]

lol im not really bothered as i have never seen one and i dont know of any. Also, me or anyone i know has never used one, so will not be affected.

[Danny]

Tin:

Surely the same is true of any other form of transport, i.e. you could have a crash in a normal taxi?

[tony532]

must be in only in london

i didnt even know they had motorbike taxis


never seen one oop north


gives me an idea though

[TiN]

[mattsmith95]

[NickD]

It is only in London ( I believe they still have rickshaws oop North instead), and it's true that it only affects a very small number of small companies, but that's not the point. The fact is that it's another piece of anti- bike legislation based on absolutely no research. It's based entirely on the assumption that it represents an unacceptable risk, and that the authorities are in a better position to decide how an individual should travel, than the people themselves. It's a small problem at the moment, but what's next?
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I was only doing what it said on my licence officer....
Tear along the dotted line!

[Major_Grooves]

Story here

[mattsmith95]

[Andy99]

Great, a change of law on assumptions rather than fact,just whats needed.Why can't these idiots address transport issues that need change?You would have thought a safety record would have been looked into before a decision to change a law is made,evidently not in this case.
Isn't it good to see taxpayers money well spent
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Nothing gets the point across quite like a raised middle digit.

Just call me General Crazypaws.

[Kickstart]

[The Tot]

A bit off topic, but IS THAT WHAT THOSE VIRGIN LIVERIED FJR's are. TBH i thought they were maintenance workers subcontracted by firms or something of that sort.

I've seen them plenty of times at Tottenham Court Road but haven't seen many people use them nor do i know how their system operates. I personally don't think it'll be a loss to us, but i can understand Nkd's point regarding the generalisation of powered 2 wheelers. It sucks and once again, 4 wheelers are at fault.
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[jaffa]