N
nkd666
Guest
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.
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.