loved it in the old days when you said can you take me to Greenwich you got a "yes"---so you stopped em on the way through Deptford and got out. ask for Deptford and no chance of geting a ride. Now of course cart loads of cabs in Lewisham.
Are the black cabs in Lewisham actual 'real' black cabs? I saw loads of them last time I was over but was not sure.
Back in the 1980's/90's you would rarely see a black cab in SE London!
yes they are black cabs but in the main they are yellow badge holders i.e. restricted to only pick up in the suburbs area Lewisham, Greenwich & Bexley
O-Randy-Hunt Member 8:23PM Ilovelondontown said: Now 1/4 way through book 3 wizann way, hoping to to get all books done by end of summer then start the pointing!?!?
Are you at any school ILLT No not yet I will once im into pointing
loved it in the old days when you said can you take me to Greenwich you got a "yes"---so you stopped em on the way through Deptford and got out. ask for Deptford and no chance of geting a ride. Now of course cart loads of cabs in Lewisham.
Are the black cabs in Lewisham actual 'real' black cabs? I saw loads of them last time I was over but was not sure.
Back in the 1980's/90's you would rarely see a black cab in SE London!
yes they are black cabs but in the main they are yellow badge holders i.e. restricted to only pick up in the suburbs area Lewisham, Greenwich & Bexley
I'm doing it the KP way and I've been advised to go slow and steady and learn the points thoroughly as I go along. So I want get it right from the start.
Oh I just msg you NLA. Not started a school yet, but plan to do so once I have learnt a few runs. Just so that I am clear in my head what questions i want to ask and what things are troubling me etc
If all else fails you could always join jihadison lee. Remember when me boogica and some tried to get a cab from shorditch with no luck. Told the others to wait in the church grounds. Cab stopped and four others appeared from behind the gravestones. Job done
A few questions... 1) How do i start? 2) Where do you get the forms? 3) Is there an upper age limit? 4) What are points and runs? 5) Might seem a silly question, but is there an element of the knowledge that you can do remotely/abroad (ie studying etc.) for, say a year- or do you need to be on the bike in London all the time?
1) you need to purchase what's known as blue books. 4 of them in total with 80 runs per book based around a 6 mile radius of charing cross.
2) you can get the forms from the tfl website where you have to apply after paying out for a medical/crb check.
3) no age limit as far as I'm aware.
4)Points are all of your points of interest from hospitals, emergency stations, sports grounds, restaurants, hotels. They are never ending.
Runs are what you learn from the 4 blue books. The roads between 1 point to the next point but you have to know the best route from any point in London to any point in London taking into consideration the shape of the river etc.
5) Not really. You have to get out on your bike or car and ride the runs and see the points. I've been doing it about a year and half now and out every weekend on the bike and revising every single day. Out 5.30 yesterday morning and today. Just having a break in Costa Coffee.
I still have holidays but the revision never stops. You have to revise everyday to get things to stick. Still feels like I'm a million miles away.
I've done all my blue books. Done my west end and city missing pieces and got about 800 odd points. But can only get out on the bike to point on weekends as I work 9.30-5.30 Monday.
All I can say is it takes up alot of your time it becomes your life, I did all the runs and aload of the points but crashed my bike and gave up on it, it's hard going.
Boris isn't helping the black cabs as much as he promised he would. Addison Lea still shoving drivers out with an A-Z and no knowledge at all and the black cabs having to work with all sorts of rules and regs. I still think Ken would have been a better friend but am Interested to hear what the cabbies on here think. Best cabbies in the world and the trade needs protecting.
Thanks for the answers Randy. I'm thinking of doing this next year - seems like its one of the only jobs where you can just jump out and then jump in whenever you want and hours to suit yourself , and also no boss to tell you what to do or even decide if you've got a job or not - and good money too if you're prepared to do the graft. I'm looking for ultimately working 8 months then spending 4 months off - but in 2016 i am looking to take a year out , but was looking to maybe do the 'revision' from abroad. What about if i was to do the points and runs in 2015, and then spend 2016 doing 'revision' - would that maybe work if i could do 6 months here and then 6 months abroad? What could you expect to earn working balls off for 8 months ?
Serious question, is not sat nav technology going take over? Yes I know they "go down" etc but it's getting better and better, especially with details of road closures and traffic hold ups etc. I used licenced taxis a lot when I worked in the city and was surprised how many used sat nav. The Knowledge is a great skill and I have the upmost respect for those who complete it but surely the LTDA will have to one day update the procedure to reflect the modern world?
Thanks for the answers Randy. I'm thinking of doing this next year - seems like its one of the only jobs where you can just jump out and then jump in whenever you want and hours to suit yourself , and also no boss to tell you what to do or even decide if you've got a job or not - and good money too if you're prepared to do the graft. I'm looking for ultimately working 8 months then spending 4 months off - but in 2016 i am looking to take a year out , but was looking to maybe do the 'revision' from abroad. What about if i was to do the points and runs in 2015, and then spend 2016 doing 'revision' - would that maybe work if i could do 6 months here and then 6 months abroad? What could you expect to earn working balls off for 8 months ?
There are different ways of learning the knowledge but each way suits different people. Knowledge point is a school in North London which advises you to pick up points at the start of a run for example the first run in the blue book is Manor house station to Gibson square. You would make your way to north London ride around a 1/4 mile radius of manor house station and pick up I think about 8 points. Then do the run to Gibson square and pick up another 8 points. But you might only do one or 2 runs a day.
I use the wizann way which is a school based in east London where you just concentrate on going from 1 point to the next. Then going on to you next run etc where you might do 4-6 a day. Then you revise the runs you have done over and over. Before you know it you are pulling into charin x station which is the last run and you would either move on to extra runs called missing pieces or you move onto your pointing.
It's impossible to put a time frame on how long it takes as everyone is different and has different situations. Being a full time office worker I'd be happy if it took me 4 years. Could take longer but I've started it now and can't let this year and half go to waste.
The reason I don't think it's possible to be able to do the knowledge abroad is because you will always have to be out on the bike at some point during the week getting points as they are never ending. You will be pointing until the day you complete the knowledge. It's about getting a balance between bike work and map work. Being out on the bike helps with visualising roads and also keeping up to date with road changes and new points.
Is it true that if you pass your yellow before going onto green they will be a bit easier on you? Just something I heard from a couple of Gatwick drivers that have done it this way, one did wimbledon and the other croydon before doing the green
Boris isn't helping the black cabs as much as he promised he would. Addison Lea still shoving drivers out with an A-Z and no knowledge at all and the black cabs having to work with all sorts of rules and regs. I still think Ken would have been a better friend but am Interested to hear what the cabbies on here think. Best cabbies in the world and the trade needs protecting.
He's doing less than helping, he's actually becoming our Nemesis! Addison Lee are just one of a number of App based taxi services They're all at it these days and the biggest worry is Uber (run by google) who have grown to the same size as Addison Lee within 9 months. Their service is actually illegal in that the app involves a trip meterh should be the sole privilege of Hackneyed cabs only. But Boris isn't interested and the LTDA are having to fight it in the courts.
Add to that the many rules and regs that are hindering us cabbies. adding to the growing cost of running a cab and also what seems to be a noticible increase in the volume of knowledge boys being passed out (an attempt to dilute us with numbers).
Serious question, is not sat nav technology going take over? Yes I know they "go down" etc but it's getting better and better, especially with details of road closures and traffic hold ups etc. I used licenced taxis a lot when I worked in the city and was surprised how many used sat nav. The Knowledge is a great skill and I have the upmost respect for those who complete it but surely the LTDA will have to one day update the procedure to reflect the modern world?
You would be surprised how many mini cab drivers I've had driving towards me the wrong way done one way streets.
My works mate got addi lee about a month ago and he drove half way down wardour st the wrong way beeping everyone coming towards him the correct way. Must have had a fisher price sat nav
I took a black cab from Paddington station to my house in Lewisham in the summer during rush hour. He got me home in 45 minutes using some back streets that I didn't know existed while beating all of the traffic. Agreed a price before and gave him a tip at the end. Not a sat nav in sight either.
Comments
8:23PM
Ilovelondontown said:
Now 1/4 way through book 3 wizann way, hoping to to get all books done by end of summer then start the pointing!?!?
Are you at any school ILLT
No not yet I will once im into pointing
cheers
How far into it are you.
I'm doing it the KP way and I've been advised to go slow and steady and learn the points thoroughly as I go along. So I want get it right from the start.
How are you getting on?
When i go i will be going to Double K in Erith.
Remember when me boogica and some tried to get a cab from shorditch with no luck. Told the others to wait in the church grounds. Cab stopped and four others appeared from behind the gravestones. Job done
1) How do i start?
2) Where do you get the forms?
3) Is there an upper age limit?
4) What are points and runs?
5) Might seem a silly question, but is there an element of the knowledge that you can do remotely/abroad (ie studying etc.) for, say a year- or do you need to be on the bike in London all the time?
2) you can get the forms from the tfl website where you have to apply after paying out for a medical/crb check.
3) no age limit as far as I'm aware.
4)Points are all of your points of interest from hospitals, emergency stations, sports grounds, restaurants, hotels. They are never ending.
Runs are what you learn from the 4 blue books. The roads between 1 point to the next point but you have to know the best route from any point in London to any point in London taking into consideration the shape of the river etc.
5) Not really. You have to get out on your bike or car and ride the runs and see the points. I've been doing it about a year and half now and out every weekend on the bike and revising every single day. Out 5.30 yesterday morning and today. Just having a break in Costa Coffee.
I still have holidays but the revision never stops. You have to revise everyday to get things to stick. Still feels like I'm a million miles away.
So every week night is spent in front of the map
How you getting on mate.
I'm thinking of doing this next year - seems like its one of the only jobs where you can just jump out and then jump in whenever you want and hours to suit yourself , and also no boss to tell you what to do or even decide if you've got a job or not - and good money too if you're prepared to do the graft.
I'm looking for ultimately working 8 months then spending 4 months off - but in 2016 i am looking to take a year out , but was looking to maybe do the 'revision' from abroad. What about if i was to do the points and runs in 2015, and then spend 2016 doing 'revision' - would that maybe work if i could do 6 months here and then 6 months abroad?
What could you expect to earn working balls off for 8 months ?
Good luck on your next app mate.
I used licenced taxis a lot when I worked in the city and was surprised how many used sat nav.
The Knowledge is a great skill and I have the upmost respect for those who complete it but surely the LTDA will have to one day update the procedure to reflect the modern world?
I use the wizann way which is a school based in east London where you just concentrate on going from 1 point to the next. Then going on to you next run etc where you might do 4-6 a day. Then you revise the runs you have done over and over. Before you know it you are pulling into charin x station which is the last run and you would either move on to extra runs called missing pieces or you move onto your pointing.
It's impossible to put a time frame on how long it takes as everyone is different and has different situations. Being a full time office worker I'd be happy if it took me 4 years. Could take longer but I've started it now and can't let this year and half go to waste.
The reason I don't think it's possible to be able to do the knowledge abroad is because you will always have to be out on the bike at some point during the week getting points as they are never ending. You will be pointing until the day you complete the knowledge. It's about getting a balance between bike work and map work. Being out on the bike helps with visualising roads and also keeping up to date with road changes and new points.
Gl if you choose to go ahead with it mate.
Just something I heard from a couple of Gatwick drivers that have done it this way, one did wimbledon and the other croydon before doing the green
Add to that the many rules and regs that are hindering us cabbies. adding to the growing cost of running a cab and also what seems to be a noticible increase in the volume of knowledge boys being passed out (an attempt to dilute us with numbers).
Very worrying times
My works mate got addi lee about a month ago and he drove half way down wardour st the wrong way beeping everyone coming towards him the correct way. Must have had a fisher price sat nav
Keep at it . My only advice no matter how far through the knowledge is never stop calling the blue book runs .
lot of good it did me though, no discount !