London cabbies to protest over smartphone app.
Discussion
kev1974 said:
No sympathy, at some point you have to move with the times, the cab drivers should have got off their collective arse and developed their own app / made a deal with someone else's app, if apps are what the public want.
The world moves on, cab drivers need to as well.
That would mean a record of the jobs done / fares taken by each cabbie....major safety issue that The world moves on, cab drivers need to as well.
Gargamel said:
Does the app allow one to go..
"Sarf of the River at this time of night ?"
Or does it have an autoresponse
"don't fink so mate"
'Sorry mate card swipe's broken and I avn't got change for 20, its only 5 quid, I can give you a blank receipt if you like' "Sarf of the River at this time of night ?"
Or does it have an autoresponse
"don't fink so mate"
'You know what the fvcking problem with this country is don't you mate? Fvcking [insert bankers/politicians/unlicensed cabs/favorite racial epithet]'
I use Uber quite a bit. They kept on doing promo codes making it very cheap for a while, but even at regular prices you can travel in an E-class for slightly less than a black cab, a Prius for a lot less than a black cab, or a LWB S-class or 7-series for a bit more than a black cab. Prices adjust with demand so you pay a bit more at high peak times (but those are times when you'd struggle to hail a cab anyway). You pay straight off the card associated with your account. The drivers I've used all seem happy with the arrangement.
The London cab is cramped, noisy, uncomfortable, and I'm not convinced the drivers do a better job of routing or avoiding traffic than a modern satnav. The knowledge at this point is just about limiting new drivers rather than being a necessary thing to do the job. Until last week, I lived well inside the zone that every taxi driver has to know every street for the knowledge - yet I still had to direct them the last few streets there. As said, finding one with a "working" card machine is a rare thing, and one that will just shut up for the journey even rarer.
Adapt or die. They've dug their heels in for years over more suitable taxis, over card payments and the rest - something better comes along and so the solution is to try to shut them down. Shame.
The London cab is cramped, noisy, uncomfortable, and I'm not convinced the drivers do a better job of routing or avoiding traffic than a modern satnav. The knowledge at this point is just about limiting new drivers rather than being a necessary thing to do the job. Until last week, I lived well inside the zone that every taxi driver has to know every street for the knowledge - yet I still had to direct them the last few streets there. As said, finding one with a "working" card machine is a rare thing, and one that will just shut up for the journey even rarer.
Adapt or die. They've dug their heels in for years over more suitable taxis, over card payments and the rest - something better comes along and so the solution is to try to shut them down. Shame.
W99KSY said:
Used this recently in New York - fantastic service and only had to wait a few minutes - much quicker and easier than trying to hail down a yellow cab. Price also moves basis supply and demand which I think is a good idea, rather than just flat fares.
What? Used a cab 10 or so times times in NYC, once at 5am on New Years Day, took no more than 20 seconds each time.Can understand the argument for it in London, but NYC's cabs are brilliant.
Uber's brilliant. Half a black-cab fare (in a Prius). No need to carry cards or cash. No wondering how much to tip. GPS location tracking at all times. Instant e-mailed receipt. Notification of 'surge' pricing before you book. As long as you understand you have to give them the post code of your destination so they can put it in their PND.
I have no problem with black cab prices, or the service.
What I do have a problem with is having to pay cash- which with most of them, is sadly the case. I don't generally carry cash, and I am certainly not going to piss about withdrawing it just for a taxi just to have to guess how much it is going to be and risk it ticking past it in traffic.
Last week I had to try 8 cabs to find one that took card- and even then his card machine was in the trunk. This was outside selfridges, so thankfully no shortage and not a long wait, just the grumpiness when asked about card- pardon me for trying to give you business!
At paddington station a few days ago, there was just one cab on the rank that took card- he even said he preferred it as it made his paperwork easier!
Personally I feel that it should mandatory that they have to accept card- as it now is in NYC- but of course, it is slightly harder to make card transactions 'disappear' than cash isn't it...
A good app is 'gettaxi' - this uses black cabs (not minicabs) and works very well. You can even prebook.
I have used uber a lot in the US - especially in LA- and it is pretty good.
What I do have a problem with is having to pay cash- which with most of them, is sadly the case. I don't generally carry cash, and I am certainly not going to piss about withdrawing it just for a taxi just to have to guess how much it is going to be and risk it ticking past it in traffic.
Last week I had to try 8 cabs to find one that took card- and even then his card machine was in the trunk. This was outside selfridges, so thankfully no shortage and not a long wait, just the grumpiness when asked about card- pardon me for trying to give you business!
At paddington station a few days ago, there was just one cab on the rank that took card- he even said he preferred it as it made his paperwork easier!
Personally I feel that it should mandatory that they have to accept card- as it now is in NYC- but of course, it is slightly harder to make card transactions 'disappear' than cash isn't it...
A good app is 'gettaxi' - this uses black cabs (not minicabs) and works very well. You can even prebook.
I have used uber a lot in the US - especially in LA- and it is pretty good.
I have a certain sympathy with the black cab drivers. They are governed by all sorts of regulations, they can lose their licence for fairly minor infringements, and you at least know where you stand with them. They can be irritating though. I've been refused a fare and when I told the bloke that I was ex-London Old Bill and that I'd report him, it was all laughter. Right up until I didn't tip him that is.
The legislation is old and not suited to purpose in certain cases. If they are going to be open to competition, then those companies that compete should either be subject to similar legislation or there should be none. That seems fare (!) to me.
The legislation is old and not suited to purpose in certain cases. If they are going to be open to competition, then those companies that compete should either be subject to similar legislation or there should be none. That seems fare (!) to me.
Boydie88 said:
W99KSY said:
Used this recently in New York - fantastic service and only had to wait a few minutes - much quicker and easier than trying to hail down a yellow cab. Price also moves basis supply and demand which I think is a good idea, rather than just flat fares.
What? Used a cab 10 or so times times in NYC, once at 5am on New Years Day, took no more than 20 seconds each time.Can understand the argument for it in London, but NYC's cabs are brilliant.
I use black cabs a lot - they're not all perfect, of course.
However, they are so heavily regulated and 'the knowledge' and cost of the cab itself (along with the testing) is quite an investment for the drivers. So I'm not surprised that the LTDA are trying to defend their territory.
I have an idea that the watermen of London staged strikes when bridges were built over the Thames because it threatened their trade... is this in the same league?
Should we be worried if the black cabs disappeared?
However, they are so heavily regulated and 'the knowledge' and cost of the cab itself (along with the testing) is quite an investment for the drivers. So I'm not surprised that the LTDA are trying to defend their territory.
I have an idea that the watermen of London staged strikes when bridges were built over the Thames because it threatened their trade... is this in the same league?
Should we be worried if the black cabs disappeared?
Derek Smith said:
I have a certain sympathy with the black cab drivers. They are governed by all sorts of regulations, they can lose their licence for fairly minor infringements, and you at least know where you stand with them. They can be irritating though. I've been refused a fare and when I told the bloke that I was ex-London Old Bill and that I'd report him, it was all laughter. Right up until I didn't tip him that is.
The legislation is old and not suited to purpose in certain cases. If they are going to be open to competition, then those companies that compete should either be subject to similar legislation or there should be none. That seems fare (!) to me.
The Law Commission were asked by the Government to review the current laws regarding Hackney and Private Hire. You can see the results here http://lawcommission.justice.gov.uk/publications/2.... As you say the current laws are all over the place and different for London and Plymouth having their own laws compared to the rest of the country.The legislation is old and not suited to purpose in certain cases. If they are going to be open to competition, then those companies that compete should either be subject to similar legislation or there should be none. That seems fare (!) to me.
W99KSY said:
Completely different experience for me - during a day when its raining or rush hour I find it extremely difficult to find one thats free. When you do find one you're even luckier if you have a driver who knows where they're going - one thing you do get in a black cab!
As soon as a downpour starts, the lights turn off so they can pick and choose who they take (and where they go).They are fine in Manhattan, but utterly useless for Brooklyn. I was once in the back of one who turned the wrong way into a one way street in park slope....right in front of a cop car
The hurdle in NY is not the knowledge or test- that is relatively easy.
It is the cost of owning the cab- more specifically the medallion required to legally operate the cab that is affixed to the hood. They now sell for upwards of $1million- that is each..for one single cab.
This is why there are lots and lots of car services, both legal and illegal (ghetto cabs), and why there is no shortage of cars available using uber in the city at any time of day or nite.
NDA said:
I'm not surprised that the LTDA are trying to defend their territory.
When they do it by attacking others rather than by raising their standards, their public support might be less. When they threatened chaos & disruption they lost any moral high ground they might pretend to have.Rovinghawk said:
NDA said:
I'm not surprised that the LTDA are trying to defend their territory.
When they do it by attacking others rather than by raising their standards, their public support might be less. When they threatened chaos & disruption they lost any moral high ground they might pretend to have.Whilst I'm not surprised they're doing it, I don't agree with it.
GCH said:
W99KSY said:
Completely different experience for me - during a day when its raining or rush hour I find it extremely difficult to find one thats free. When you do find one you're even luckier if you have a driver who knows where they're going - one thing you do get in a black cab!
As soon as a downpour starts, the lights turn off so they can pick and choose who they take (and where they go).They are fine in Manhattan, but utterly useless for Brooklyn. I was once in the back of one who turned the wrong way into a one way street in park slope....right in front of a cop car
The hurdle in NY is not the knowledge or test- that is relatively easy.
It is the cost of owning the cab- more specifically the medallion required to legally operate the cab that is affixed to the hood. They now sell for upwards of $1million- that is each..for one single cab.
This is why there are lots and lots of car services, both legal and illegal (ghetto cabs), and why there is no shortage of cars available using uber in the city at any time of day or nite.
Why not just do a background check etc to allow someone to start with a reputable firm or is that now how it works?
How long would it take to earn the million back as a difference in pay between being an owner-operator and working for someone else?
Edited by vescaegg on Tuesday 3rd June 14:51
Edited by vescaegg on Tuesday 3rd June 14:52
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