@d4g4h4: "The advice in London, particularly for women, is never to get into
anything other than a black cab, unless you've booked in advance through
a legit company. However, the following story is disturbing. Indeed, it
may skew statistics enough to paradoxically make it safer to get into an
unlicensed cab in recent years...
<url>
(*) of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate -<url> 
(email address on website) "If people think God is interesting, the 
onus is on them to show that there is anything there to talk about. 
Otherwise they should just shut up about it."  -Richard Dawkins"
    @mike: "<quote>
Problem is the very small proportion of rapes that are ever brought to 
court, and the even smaller percentage that ever result in conviction. 
Many women describe the experience of appearing in court almost as bad 
as the original abuse."
    @d4g4h4: "<quote>
I'd put it another way- why would the women not feel they could report
it in our legal system! It's not all the womens' fault ya know...
(*) of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate -<url> 
(email address on website) "If people think God is interesting, the 
onus is on them to show that there is anything there to talk about. 
Otherwise they should just shut up about it."  -Richard Dawkins"
    @enoid801DUMP: "On Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:58:03 +0000, <email_address> (David Horne,
<quote>
I've never been sexually raped by a London cabbie, but I've definitely
been financially raped by them. 
- TR
- just whining because the $ is so damn worthless in the UK. "
    @mikerclothing: "Following up to  <email_address> (David Horne, _the_ chancellor
<quote>
its a one off. The unlicensed cab may have an incompetent driver with
no insurance. You're not allowed in cabs anyway, you should be on the
bus with the plebs.
Mike
Remove clothing to email"
    @mikerclothing: "Following up to  <email_address> (David Horne, _the_ chancellor
<quote>
nobody said it was.
Mike
Remove clothing to email"
    @raknews: ""David Horne, _the_ chancellor (*)" <email_address> wrote in message 
news:1iciptz.8ck5i511ngbi0N%<email_address>
<quote>
I think it now just as safe to use a minicab as a black cab. Perhaps safer 
as normally you have to order a minicab by phone, so there should be a 
record of which driver picked up which passenger.
Over the last few years the more respectable minicabs and their drivers have 
become licensed and unlicensed minicabs are now illegal (though I assume 
they still exist).
I lived in South London. I and my friends use minicabs but rarely use black 
cabs except when in central London.
Transport For London now includes minicabs on its web site as well as "black 
cabs"
<url> and
<url> where it says 
there are "over 42,000 licensed private hire vehicles" (limos etc as well as 
minicabs) compared to "over 24,000 licensed taxi drivers (black cab 
drivers)".
This covers the campaign to get rid of unlicensed minicabs : 
<url> and more at 
<url>
At present minicabs are still not allowed to have signs, so if you do hire 
one on the street (not legally allowed) rather than by phone then it is 
possible to get an illegal one. I guess some those work around the late 
night clubs etc. where the risk to not-quite-sober pasengers is probably 
highest. 
Posted via a free Usenet account from <url>"
    @mikerclothing: "<quote>
Asking for a cab in a Peckham restro resulted in one once
Yes, thats typical, who sees black cabs in the suburbs?
Mike
Remove clothing to email"
    @williamblack: ""RAK" <email_address> wrote in message 
news:47baa436$0$26106$<email_address>
<quote>
Are minicabs licensed yet in London?
They are everywhere else.
William Black
I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time,  like icecream on the beach
Time for tea."
    @raknews: ""William Black" <email_address> wrote in message 
news:fpeim1$vgj$<email_address>
<quote>
Yes they are and unlicensed ones are now illegal.
This was covered in some detail in my previous post to which you reply here, 
but you have cut it from the quoted part above.
Posted via a free Usenet account from <url>"
    @raknews: ""Mike......." <email_address> wrote in message 
news:<email_address>
<quote>
That is true in many areas. But there are a lot of black cabs operating in 
my area of Greenwich/Blackheath (do these count as suburbs? I hope not) and 
especially there is usually a long line of them at Lewisham station taxi 
rank. For some reason I see quite a few going past on the quiet streets near 
me where they would not often find passengers; I suppose they are heading 
for some taxi rank.
Though black cabs are to be found around here, I and most friends generally 
use minicabs which charge maybe 50-70% as much as a black cab. I only use 
the black ones reluctantly, especially in bad weather, mainly from 
Lewisham - they charge about �8-9 for a ride of 2 miles, just over 5 
minutes, far too much IMO. A minicab would probably charge about �5-6 but 
they are not allowed to wait there.
I hope TFL will one day allow licensed minicabs to carry taxi signs and pick 
up passengers on the street, at least outside the West End and City. Black 
cabs have their uses in central London and tourist areas, but for me their 
semi-monopoly is just an expensive nuisance. And they are not much good for 
carrying luggage and not even very comfortable. Moan moan moan! 
Posted via a free Usenet account from <url>"
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