NO TO UNSAFE RICKSHAWS CLOGGING UP CENTRAL LONDON

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: july/august 2011 :: RMTnews 10 R MT Parliamentary convenor John McDonnell MP has successfully objected to the TFL London Local Authorities Bill at Second Reading - specifically on the grounds that it would lead to the continued proliferation of unlicensed, unsafe rickshaws clogging up central London The RMT Parliamentary group objection means that the Bill will have to be presented again for second reading on September 6 at which point RMT will keep objecting until the final debate on the Bill is given. The union intends to use this breathing space to force TFL to negotiate on the revised content of the Bill and to take tough action against the unsafe and unlicensed spread of rickshaws. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said that the union’s taxi branch members didn't want the rickshaws as they see them as unsafe, increasing congestion and with no check on who is fit and proper to operate them. "If John McDonnell hadn't taken the decisive action on behalf of RMT taxi drivers to get this Bill knocked back it would have had dire consequences for passenger safety. "The clauses that TFL were trying to bulldoze through made little or no provision for any statutory minimum standards to be applied or for any checks to be carried out on the rickshaws, their riders, or their operators. “Nor would there have been any provisions for any training to be required or for compulsory registration. "It is shocking that TFL have refused to negotiate on this issue and that instead they are ignoring the recommendation of previous Parliamentary Committees that a compulsory registration scheme for rickshaws/pedicabs should be explored. “RMT and our MPs will continue to fight on this issue to defend the licensed taxi trade against this attack on their livelihoods," Bob said. R MT Parliamentary group convener John McDonnell MP has been pursuing the issue of security and monitoring equipment on buses with some success after the union failed to get adequate responses from VOSA and the Department for Transport. The union has now established that there is no legal requirement to have a periscope on a bus. The only relevant requirement is regulation 33 of the Public Service Vehicles (Conditions of Fitness, Equipment, Use and Certification) Regulations 1981 (SI 1981/257) which states that: “Except in the case of a vehicle which has a seating capacity not exceeding 12 passengers, adequate means shall be provided in every vehicle to enable passengers on any deck to signal the driver”. This could be a periscope, CCTV or another device. There is also no requirement for buses to be fitted with CCTV, although in London all buses must have CCTV as it is Transport for London specification to qualify for route bidding. Buses must have windscreen wipers under Regulation 34 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 (SI 1986/1078) which states that: “Every vehicle fitted with a windscreen shall, unless the driver can obtain an adequate view to the front of the vehicle without looking through the windscreen, be fitted with one or more automatic windscreen wipers capable of clearing the windscreen so that the driver has an adequate view of the road in front of both sides of the vehicle and to the front of the vehicle”. Buses must be fitted with speedometers under Regulation 35 of the 1986 Regs: “Every motor vehicle shall be fitted with a speedometer which, if the vehicle is first used on or after 1st April 1984, shall be capable of indicating speed in both miles per hour and kilometres per hour, either simultaneously, or by the operation of a switch”. Any statutory requirement depends upon the equipment and in some cases upon contractual fulfilment. RMT’s Parliamentary group has secured a meeting with the Bus Minister, Norman Baker where this matter will be on the agenda. It would be beneficial if the union could present some evidence of where these weak regulations have caused practical problems for our drivers. Please email any information you have of instances where equipment is installed but not working properly and/or where there have been breaches of the regulations. You can email in confidence as your name and your employer are not required for this evidence gathering. Please email s.mackay@rmt.org.uk. CALLING BUS WORKERS NO TO UNSAFE RICKSHAWS CLOGGING UP CENTRAL LONDON CONGESTION: Rickshaw drivers clog bus lanes