Easiest way to get from Kings Cross to Waterloo - advice please?

DrFluffy

Sweer jesus. I really hope that neither you nor anyone you care for ever find yourself in the unfortunate position of being raped or assulted in this manner.

If you'd had to deal with the fall out you would really understand. Clearly you do not, which given you claim to be the wife of a cabby, shocks me some what...

milkydrink

QUESTION are you suggesting women are in danger if they use a legal cab?

Because NO WHERE have I suggest the lady gets into ANYTHING OTHER THAN A LEGAL CAB & I HAVE SAID CLEARLY HOW TO IDENTIFY ONE.
I ALSO TOLD PEOPLE TO GO TO THE TFL WEBSITE TO FIND THEIR NEAREST, PCO approved one.

So I can only presume you are trying to frighten/warn people off using ANY cabs, even legal ones.

DrFluffy

No I am not... This is what I am trying to say and you are chosing to ignore.

What I am saying is that just because you CALLED a LEGAL cab company does not mean that the can that turns up first is the one that has been sent from the company you called.

Very few people double check. most of the time you are safe. However, ask some 140 women attacked in illegal cabs last year what they now think... True, most of those got in to 'cabs' off the street, but a significant bunch called a licenced cab and got in to the cab that turned up with out thinking.

One piece of data we've recently been asked if it is possible to try to collate is whether people I have access to double check the credentials of the cab that turns up, so that the police and other agencies can a) try to get a handle on the scope of the potential problem (lets not forget the issue of non-sex fiend driven ilegal cabs and insurance issues) and b) raise awareness of the issue on both sexual assult and insurance fronts. As far as I am aware, all student unions in London are setting out with the same aim.

Dodgy cabs and personal safety awareness is certainly one of the biggest campaigns we will run during Freshers next year (in conjuction with one of the local minicab firms).

milkydrink

DrFluffy wrote: »

you claim to be the wife of a cabby, shocks me some what...

Are you suggesting I am a liar?

DrFluffy wrote: »

One piece of data we've recently been asked if it is possible to try to collate is whether people I have access to double check the credentials of the cab that turns up, ...

If they had double checked the credentials of the cab they wouldn't have got in an illegal cab, would they? Or are you again insinuating that legal cabs are unsafe.

DrFluffy

No, I'm just shocked that someone with a link to the honest trade thinks it is scare mongering to tell people to check what they are getting into...

~No - again, read what I am saying. People generally do not check. They call, assume they are safe and then get in to the cab that shows at the door. I'm sure many get to where they are going safely regardless - but running the risk of being in an accident and being left without access to insurance. Some, unfortunately are mugged, dumped miles from where they wanted to fo, felt-up or worse.

Generally, it is not the actual 'danger' that is the problem, it is a lack of awareness... Knowledge is everything and is key to trying to keep yourself as safe as possible... A bit like flashing your iPod, Rolex and swankuy mobile in Mile End, and then being surprised when you get mugged. Awareness is the key.

I'm not saying that all cab companies are dodgy either, but we've been warned about one in particular, and told to advice peeps against using them...

bandraoi

At 9am in the morning, with kids and mother in tow, even the most unscrupulous unlicenced blagger who shows up to claim a fair under false pretences is likely to drop her straight to Waterloo and charge her a standard fare.

klondyke

kimevans wrote: »

Are you suggesting I am a liar?



If they had double checked the credentials of the cab they wouldn't have got in an illegal cab, would they? Or are you again insinuating that legal cabs are unsafe.

Dr Fluffy has very patiently been saying the same thing - double check the credentials of the CAB THAT ARRIVES, which may not be one from the company that was called - and you have been very helpful in telling us all what those credentials are

What is the problem?

milkydrink

DrFluffy wrote: »

No, I'm just shocked that someone with a link to the honest trade thinks it is scare mongering to tell people to check what they are getting into...

~No - again, read what I am saying. People generally do not check. They call, assume they are safe and then get in to the cab that shows at the door. I'm sure many get to where they are going safely regardless - but running the risk of being in an accident and being left without access to insurance. Some, unfortunately are mugged, dumped miles from where they wanted to fo, felt-up or worse.

Generally, it is not the actual 'danger' that is the problem, it is a lack of awareness... Knowledge is everything and is key to trying to keep yourself as safe as possible... A bit like flashing your iPod, Rolex and swankuy mobile in Mile End, and then being surprised when you get mugged. Awareness is the key.

I'm not saying that all cab companies are dodgy either, but we've been warned about one in particular, and told to advice peeps against using them...

I think you should change cab to car here, because a cab is a legal licensed vehicle )in varying guises, but with clear identification.. You are talking about them getting into a blaggers CAR, not cab, which is no more legal or a cab than my own car parked on the drive.

Also if you have been told of a dodgy cab office & advised to warn people off it, why are you NOT naming it, as you have been advised to do?
Name them or stop harping back to this "dodgy" cab firm.

Victors_Bruvver

mamashaz wrote: »

I am taking my children (4 and 7) and mum to Disneyland Paris next Monday and am staying the Sunday night in the Travelodge near Kings Cross.

We have to be at Waterloo by 9.00am on Monday (bank holiday) and would like some advice on the best way to get there. Although I am taking the barest minimum of luggage I would like to avoid lugging the suitcase up and down stairs and escalators as much as possible.

I did consider taking a taxi but it would be expensive and my children need car/booster seats which I assume taxis don't carry in their boots.

I have looked on the London Transport and they suggest a number of ways to make the journey but of course it doesn't tell you how difficult/easy the changes are.

Thanks

Mamashaz

I presume you are travelling to Kings X by train? If you are and have not yet bought the tickets, just turn up at your deaprture station and show your Eurostar tickets and you will be able to buy what is called London International CIV tickets. These return tickets will not only carry you to London but also includes gate passes for underground travel to Waterloo.

milkydrink

I asked you.......QUESTION are you suggesting women are in danger if they use a legal cab?
You answered

DrFluffy wrote: »

No I am not... This is what I am trying to say and you are chosing to ignore.

Well WHY DID YOU STATE THIS THEN???

DrFluffy wrote: »

With the stories I've heard first hand, I now NEVER get minicabs...

Here you state that actual cab drivers are raping women, because there are no dodgy cab firms any more, if they are a cab firm they are approved by the TFL & the PCO. Only "blaggers" operate illegally & THEY ARE NOT FIRMS/COMPANIES.

DrFluffy wrote: »

And of course, dodgy cab companies don't scan airwaves and then jump fares...:rolleyes: Common tactic that gets at least one woman raped a week

DrFluffy wrote: »

stories from people who texted 'home' to the tfl number, then assumed they were safe... No idea how the text number was infiltrated (I assummed it was arways infiltration),

Possibly because they were waiting on the steet probably in an unfamilar area & a car pulled up & said "cab?"

DrFluffy wrote: »

Also, there is at least one company currently operating out of East London who are being investigated for less than 'honest' conduct...

Are these a licensed PCO & TFL Registered cab office, if so I think you should be prepared to name them. If they are not whats your point? No-one who uses the TFL website to find a cab will call them, will they.


I showed this to my husband this morning. He said its simple really, when you call for or book your cab ask them the make (or colour if you don't know much about cars) of the car & the drivers name. If for any reason they cannot provide you with this info (like you are booking a cab the night before & they don't know who will be driving you), tell them to phone you just prior to the pick up (or you phone them if you prefer) to get the info.
Then the cab that arrives will know your name & where you are going AND you will know his name & car. He says they do this all the time for lone women now, its a very simple system.
Also as I've said the car will have big yellow hologrammed stickers on the front & back & the driver will have a photocard ID (& he has to carry he PCO license as well, so you can ask to see that too.

The fare should be around £12 my Husband said.