In this day and age of sat nav and the like, surely the knowledge is an anachronism. I think the levels of ability should be reduced enormously to open up a market from what is a closed shop (of those able to pass a ridiculous exam at the moment).
It should cost a maximum of £2,500 all in to be a cabbie. I think it should be self funded, how much as an estimate has it cost you Ledge so far price you time at £10/hour.
I am going to do CPC in Road Freight Haulage in August so I can hold an O-Licence and therefore run a fleet of LGV lorries, this is costing me about £3,000 I will be licensed for the whole of London.
However, I think all active cabbies should be compensated for the change in status a one off payment based on their income they declared in the previous year.
by undertaking it, it proves an individual is serious and dedicated towards his craft and profession. Its not only a job at the end of it, but something they as an individual is proud to of achieved.
[cite]Posted By: pickwick[/cite]In this day and age of sat nav and the like, surely the knowledge is an anachronism. I think the levels of ability should be reduced enormously to open up a market from what is a closed shop (of those able to pass a ridiculous exam at the moment).
No way does sat nav make knowing the streets of London an anachronism - anyone that's had a mini-cab driver take some weird "at 200 yards.... turn right" route on a cross-London journey will vouch for that.
I'm sure the last three black cabs I've used were driven by Chelsea fans.
AFKA, I agree with your ideals, maybe I am wrong, maybe we should remain in the past with certain roles.
My family traditionally were stevedores and lightermen; no one much worried about them; when they went.
IS I know what you mean but I live and work in London and don't follow Sat Nav I have a map of London in my head. I just have no desire to bring it up to the same level of cabbies; and I think it costs too much.
[cite]Posted By: pickwick[/cite]In this day and age of sat nav and the like, surely the knowledge is an anachronism. I think the levels of ability should be reduced enormously to open up a market from what is a closed shop (of those able to pass a ridiculous exam at the moment).
It should cost a maximum of £2,500 all in to be a cabbie. I think it should be self funded, how much as an estimate has it cost you Ledge so far price you time at £10/hour.
I am going to do CPC in Road Freight Haulage in August so I can hold an O-Licence and therefore run a fleet of LGV lorries, this is costing me about £3,000 I will be licensed for the whole of London.
However, I think all active cabbies should be compensated for the change in status a one off payment based on their income they declared in the previous year.
Sat Nav is ok for the urban areas but I bet , and this has been tested many times, a black cabbie will get you a-b quicker in london than a sat nav would.
I have gone through 2 bikes - albeit shit Cub90's at £300 each insurance for two years at £300 , petrol at apporx £7 per week for 2 years - clothing, helmet, school fees and books probably add up to about £300 - 400 .
As I said in my original post I knew that when i took it up and doesn't bother me
I thought Stevedores did the loading? It was considered a specialised job ensuring that goods were loaded properly and balanced etc and therefore unionised, they probably got involved in the unloading too but that wasn't considered such a skilled job.
Anyway think Marlon Brando in "On the Waterfront".
A lighterman worked on barges, ferrying stuff up and down the river. Both lighterman and stevedore jobs were usually kept in the family - handed down from father to son.
As Ledge Knows posted regards to sat navs,might be okay in urban areas but a good black cabbie will not need a sat nav, most punters will also ask to be taken to a particular place/venue without knowing an address,it's all about the knowledge.Good luck Ledge Knows.
Just to update there will be a Demonstatration today 12pm at the London Development Agency, Blackfriars Road, by cabbies and knowledge boys , including blacks ,asians and women, who are against this scheme which is being discussed at an advanced level.
Anyway going down with my balaclava on = EQUAL means equal
Too right ledge. it makes me laugh that its the white middle class politians aka livingstone that comes up with this nonsense. Equal is equal not a token advantage.
Fug me - if you can't speak English then how can you be a black cab driver???????
That's not discrimination - it's just a fact. The same way you can't be a station announcer if you can't speak English, or you can't be a fireman if you're wheelchair-bound, etc, etc.
Can you imagine if I wanted a job in France. Would the local authorities pay for me to learn French?
Absolute joke. Old Ken makes a big play about how he travel everywhere by public transport - but that's only because no cab driver would probably take him!!!
Comments
A bloody disgrace - but unfortuately not surprising!
It should cost a maximum of £2,500 all in to be a cabbie. I think it should be self funded, how much as an estimate has it cost you Ledge so far price you time at £10/hour.
I am going to do CPC in Road Freight Haulage in August so I can hold an O-Licence and therefore run a fleet of LGV lorries, this is costing me about £3,000 I will be licensed for the whole of London.
However, I think all active cabbies should be compensated for the change in status a one off payment based on their income they declared in the previous year.
by undertaking it, it proves an individual is serious and dedicated towards his craft and profession. Its not only a job at the end of it, but something they as an individual is proud to of achieved.
No way does sat nav make knowing the streets of London an anachronism - anyone that's had a mini-cab driver take some weird "at 200 yards.... turn right" route on a cross-London journey will vouch for that.
I'm sure the last three black cabs I've used were driven by Chelsea fans.
My family traditionally were stevedores and lightermen; no one much worried about them; when they went.
IS I know what you mean but I live and work in London and don't follow Sat Nav I have a map of London in my head. I just have no desire to bring it up to the same level of cabbies; and I think it costs too much.
Also had a pint or two, good evening gentlemen.
Equality no longer exists.......and the we are all being shafted up the backside...... big time...
rant over
Sat Nav is ok for the urban areas but I bet , and this has been tested many times, a black cabbie will get you a-b quicker in london than a sat nav would.
I have gone through 2 bikes - albeit shit Cub90's at £300 each insurance for two years at £300 , petrol at apporx £7 per week for 2 years - clothing, helmet, school fees and books probably add up to about £300 - 400 .
As I said in my original post I knew that when i took it up and doesn't bother me
Anyway think Marlon Brando in "On the Waterfront".
A lighterman worked on barges, ferrying stuff up and down the river. Both lighterman and stevedore jobs were usually kept in the family - handed down from father to son.
Anyway going down with my balaclava on = EQUAL means equal
why the balaclava though ????????
Have you ever met Arfur :-)
lol
i was kidding about balaclava Dan -
went ok anyway made our point
What f****** barriers - there isn't any - you apply and do it. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
What if a poor white man applied but couldnt afford the fees?
Do they really have no comprehension of the resentment that this sort of thing causes?
That's not discrimination - it's just a fact. The same way you can't be a station announcer if you can't speak English, or you can't be a fireman if you're wheelchair-bound, etc, etc.
Can you imagine if I wanted a job in France. Would the local authorities pay for me to learn French?
Absolute joke. Old Ken makes a big play about how he travel everywhere by public transport - but that's only because no cab driver would probably take him!!!
Is he a relation to Cab Calloway?
Apparently a Jewish bloke contacted Livingstone's office but was told he wasn't ethnic enough!
Mind you Livingstone has form for anti-semitism. Didn't he get censured for abusing a Jewish journalist or is my memory playing tricks?