Over the past few weeks there have been problems for Taxi drivers at Euston Station with regards to a new Pick Up Point that has suddenly appeared just in front of the Set Down Point.
Station staff in their wisdom decided to erect new railings and signage around this area to make it an official ‘Disabled Pick Up Point’, unfortunately the new signage they chose to display did not make it clear that this pick up point was for mobilty impaired passengers only.
This led to some confusion amongst Taxi drivers with most pulling onto the original rank downstairs, but some stopping and ranking upstairs at the new rank. Tensions were rising between drivers who had waited for a job for anything upto 45 minutes downstairs, whilst watching the drivers upstairs pick up and get off almost immediately.
Following reports of arguments and confrontations between cabbies, the United Cabbies Group decided that this situation must be resolved before things escalated into something more serious, so we arranged a meeting with the station management to alert them to the problems that this new area was causing.
UCG officers met with the Station Interface Manager Colin Walker where we explained that although the intentions were good, the implementation of this scheme was wrong, and the signs made it unclear to both passengers and drivers alike as to where they should wait to be picked up.
We explained to him that before too long cab drivers would not bother to rank downstairs and would start ranking upstairs and the queue of Taxis would soon spill out on to Melton street.
Colin acknowledged the problem and agreed that there should be better signage that states clearly that this new area was for disabled pick ups only, as has always been the norm.
He has told us that he will be adding the word ‘Mobility’ to the signs over the next few weeks, and he will also be painting a wheelchair symbol on the floor.
He also plans to instruct the staff that usually marshal the downstairs rank during busy periods to work upstairs at this new area after the rush has died down.
Until these changes have been made we ask all Taxi drivers to treat your fellow colleagues with respect and only pick up mobility impaired passengers from the upstairs rank.
We would like to thank Colin Walker for his understanding, and we hope that things return to normal as soon as possible.
United Cabbies Group – We move whilst the others snooze!
8 comments
Steve says:
January 6, 2012 at 6:28 pm (UTC 1 )
A prime example of the UCG taking the initiative whilst others dawdle, very good work, thank you & a happy new year.
Steve
45841
Tony banks says:
January 7, 2012 at 11:19 am (UTC 1 )
This prompt action demonstrates why every driver should seriously consider joining the UCG
Delboy1 says:
January 7, 2012 at 5:19 pm (UTC 1 )
I just love the ucg
shawn waldron says:
January 7, 2012 at 5:55 pm (UTC 1 )
why was there no public meetings held for green and yellow badges reguarding
the identifiers so we could voice our own opinions. this was done all behind closed
doors with certain trade groups invited to make the decision for us.senario both are
members of ltda one is a green badge one is a yellow badge.words are said.
all of a sudden a fight breaks out .the ltda solicitor will have his work cut out.
can of worms they have started. the war should have been against phv and touts
not yellow badges.
mick small says:
January 8, 2012 at 9:55 am (UTC 1 )
Well Done,all the more reason to join the UCG.
john says:
January 9, 2012 at 10:01 am (UTC 1 )
Now you green badges have got your way with the identifiers,more of you will have to work the small hours,because you have just opened the door for the touts and ilegals to take more of your work.Happy new year.
john george says:
January 25, 2012 at 3:27 pm (UTC 1 )
now go do the green badge, then you won”t have anything to complain about .
john says:
January 27, 2012 at 10:16 am (UTC 1 )
What makes you think i want to do the green badge???.