On Tour With The ITA : Wednesday 3th April...Bank Junction, London Bdg, Blackfriars Bdg And Aldwych.

Today’s protest was called for Bank Junction. By half two, the whole junction was at a stand still. Major congestion was reported stretching back as far as Trafalgar Square which was at an almost standstill. 

Although the area is under the City of London Police, it look like they had drafted in the Met to deal with the Taxis.  

By three, a Met Police gold commander was overheard telling officers to take badge numbers of Taxi drivers for reporting to TfL. But when he saw he was being filmed he said this was not the case and only drivers who were committing traffic offences such as inappropriate driving or anti social behaviour would be reported. 

When it was pointed out in detail this was a peaceful protest, he said they didn’t mind the drivers protesting but a complete blockage was unacceptable. 

He asks for lanes to be kept on pen to ease the congestion and sent officers over to Cornhill to tell drivers to move. 

The organisers said if one cab moves we all move so the order was given to go to London Bridge. The police immediately closed access to London Bridge which backfired by trapping traffic which couldn’t leave via bank junction Westbound because of the all traffic exclusion.

The order was changed again to plan C and Blackfriars Bridge became the next target. 

The police, seeing their mistake immediately opened up London Bridge. But cabs were already on their way to Blackfriars. 

Blackfriars was found to be gridlocked so plan D was put out and the protest moved on to the Aldwych. Getting there was not too bad as traveling away from the Bank towards the centre was moving ok. Police outriders tried to disrupt the Taxis but when told we were joining the protest were obliged to let us through. 

By four pm the Strand eastbound was at a standstill full of buses, Kingsway gridlocked, Fleet street solid back to Ludgate Circus. 

TAXI LEAKS EXTRA BIT :

Monday saw a TfL bus crash into a stationary Taxi. Today saw a TfL bus crash into a car....are these bus drivers receiving training from Uber?

 

Today’s demo has been a fantastic success with most of the work done for us by the Met. 

Well done to all my colleagues who cane to protest. And if you were one of the mass of drivers who carried on working.... shame on you !

  

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