All posts by Gibson Square
Banning licensed cabbies
Transport for London’s latest Taxi and Private Hire Driver Policy includes new policies on how TfL will treat licensed drivers and prospective licensees who receive penalty points and convictions for driving offences.
Under these draconian new rules, drivers who receive convictions for certain offences such as using a mobile phone or who tot up 12 penalty points on their DVLA driving licence will be at risk of having their TfL taxi licence revoked.
A ‘Major’ driving offence is defined as any single offence that results in 6 points. This could mean that a driver who was convicted of any offence and got 6 points and was then unlucky enough to get another offence for 6 points five years later, and long after the points had vanished from his DVLA licence, would lose his cab bill and not be able to get it back for 7 years!
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Johnson’s London Dictionary: Tube Map
TUBE MAP (n.) Diagram designed, using simple coloured lines, to confuse tourists, thus ensuring they stand observing its image obstruking Londoners traversing the Underground.
Dr. Johnson’s London Dictionary for publick consumption in the twenty-first century avail yourself on Twitter @JohnsonsLondon
The London Grill: Mark Monroe
We challenge our contributors to reply to ten devilishly probing questions about their London and we don’t take “Sorry Gov” for an answer. Everyone sitting in the hot seat they will face the same questions ranging from their favourite way to spend a day out in the capital to their most hated building on London’s skyline to find out what Londoners think about their city. The questions are the same but the answers vary wildly.
My name is Mark Monroe first and foremost I’m a London cabbie. A few years ago, I started a YouTube Channel partly as a way of documenting everything I’ve learnt about London, mostly concentrating on the peculiar, strange, bizarre oddities of this incredible city. I’ve been lucky enough to have some of my content aired on a local TV station called London Live. Everything I film is free to discover and visit and offers an insight into London from the life of a London Cabbie. I hope you enjoy Secrets of London with Mark Monroe.
What’s your secret London tip?
When visiting London don’t try and do everything in one day. London is Big! Pick an area and spend time exploring that, you’ll absorb much more and won’t be sitting on public transport all day.
What’s your secret London place?
St Dunstan in the East, a unique Wren church whose ruins are situated in the heart of the city a green oasis of tranquillity and calm.
What’s your biggest gripe about London?
Road closures and other drivers who fail to indicate when turning.
What’s your favourite building?
Senate House in Malet Street. (It belongs in a moody New York Batman film).
What’s your most hated building?
Trellick Tower.
What’s the best view in London?
On a summer evening stand in the centre of Waterloo Bridge and be prepared for a magical vista.
What’s your personal London landmark?
Big Ben, everything in London seems to start here and then works outwards.
What’s London’s best film, book or documentary?
All the Bond films! Sherlock Holmes and the Krays documentaries.
What’s your favourite restaurant?
Without a doubt Rules in Maiden Lane. London’s oldest restaurant serving traditional English fare.
How would you spend your ideal day off in London?
I love to head for the river, I feel more connected with London and its history when I’m there.
London in Quotations: Dylan Thomas
It really is an insane city . . . its intelligentsia is so hurried in the head that nothing stays there; its glamour smells of goat; there’s no difference between good and bad.
Dylan Thomas (1914-1953)
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