I have no sympathy whatsoever with those "spoiled brat" taxi drivers.
- Thread starter ajapale
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sunrock
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Well as they say in london, they have the "knowledge".The black cab drivers there have to do exams so they have a very good knowledge of all the areas and routes...takes them about 4 years going around in a scooter.
There needs to be some regulation in Dublin etc for taxis. The drivers should have some basic training and testing, cars need to be of a certain standard.
There needs to be some regulation in Dublin etc for taxis. The drivers should have some basic training and testing, cars need to be of a certain standard.
I've heard various spokesmen referring to 'everyone in the "profession"' which is hilarious
Tell this to many a person who cant get a taxi when there is a big rugby / football game playing. They want it every which way, well tough, get with the real world.
I'd love to know why the Gardai were facilitating this protest, I work on Fitzwilliam Square, but couldn't access pembroke street as it was closed last evening.
1-why are taxis allowed to close major traffic routes
2-how come they can park their cars without paying the required fees and not get clamped
1-why are taxis allowed to close major traffic routes
2-how come they can park their cars without paying the required fees and not get clamped
Complainer
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While I don't have much sympathy either, I think your ire is misdirected. There were only 3,000 drivers in Dublin in the 80s and 90s, so most of today's drivers weren't driving back then. In fact, the smart drivers from the 80s and 90s sold their places for £80k in the years running up to deregulation, and left some other sucker with the big loan to pay off.
Some also bought bank shares in the heady days of the Celtic tiger. Some sold AIB shares at €24 a pop, leaving some other suckers with shares now worth €1.
I have some sympathy with anyone who has lost big money, but that's the way things are. We make choices and we have to take responsiblity for those choices in a free country. Caveat Emptor.
C
Capt. Beaky
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Taxis should be the same bright colour, have their rooftop lights on/off to show if they are for hire or not, be of minimum size and be in good nick. Too many cabs winging it with one headlight gone. In London any defects like this would have it parked up. A minimum float should be a must.
Brendan Burgess
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There is a huge oversupply at the moment in Dublin. This does cause severe problems for the everybody and not just taxis.
I would reduce the number of taxis.
This would suit the customers as it would be a lot cheaper
This would suit the remaining taxi drivers as they would actually earn more money as they would be much busier.
To reduce the number of taxis, I would bring in a very strict monitoring and points system. They would get special taxi points for illegal parking and massive points for overcharging - effectively a lifetime ban.
Every 6 months, just clear out the 5% with the highest accumulated points.
They would get positive points for special larger vehicles and disabled drivers vehicles.
New entrants would still be allowed in but only if they have very good cars.
- Taxis are still very expensive
- There are severe traffic jams on Friday and Saturday nights
- There are a lot of taxis forced to wait illegally outside pubs at night(if they wait at the rank, they won't get any fares)
- There are a lot of taxis waiting in loading bays during the day
I would reduce the number of taxis.
This would suit the customers as it would be a lot cheaper
This would suit the remaining taxi drivers as they would actually earn more money as they would be much busier.
To reduce the number of taxis, I would bring in a very strict monitoring and points system. They would get special taxi points for illegal parking and massive points for overcharging - effectively a lifetime ban.
Every 6 months, just clear out the 5% with the highest accumulated points.
They would get positive points for special larger vehicles and disabled drivers vehicles.
New entrants would still be allowed in but only if they have very good cars.
& had a thorough background check / Passed a suitable exam (as said above about London drivers)
If there is "huge oversupply" of taxis in Dublin at the moment could you estimate/quantify the level of over supply?
Apart from the taxi drivers (and I accept that they are not all boorish louts) what are the problems casused by the supposed "oversupply"?
The prices are set by the taxi regulator and do not relate to the normal supply/demand dynamic.
Provision of adequate ranks would solve this problem.
Maybe Im missing something but what problem will these actions address?
Another unwanted quango consuming scarce resources
!
C
Capt. Beaky
Guest
TAXIIIIiiiiiiiiie!
Brendan Burgess
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There are traffic jams in Dublin on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights caused by taxis continuously circling in a long snake. You really would have to see it to believe it.
They park illegally - I don't really blame them. There is no space and there are no customers at the ranks.
There would not be space for all the taxis.
I would guess that taxis in Dublin are busy with fares around 20% of the time. It would be far better to have fewer taxis busy 50% of the time. They could then reduce their prices.
Z
z107
Guest
With any business, the natural course of action where there is oversupply is that people would give up being taxi drivers.
Taxi drivers can reduce prices or have better vehicles or do better deals to attract customers.
The last thing we need is yet more government intervention.
Taxi drivers can reduce prices or have better vehicles or do better deals to attract customers.
The last thing we need is yet more government intervention.
I disagree. Government intervention is required for taxis..otherwise tourists would be ripped off at the airports where taxi drivers could charge what they like. I like what they have in NY. The max fare is something like 50 dollars to anywhere in Manhattan.
I think the current price regulated by the regulator should become the max price and all taxis could charge less that this if they wanted. The price per mile should be easily displayed. This means that a taxi with an old car who can't/won't upgrade can charge a lower far to attract the business
Complainer
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I think I've more respect for the taxi drivers!
Taxis can and do offer discounts.
http://www.8202020.ie/
Why does anything have to be done. The law of supply and demand will mean those not making the money will have to give up.
I too will never forget trying to get a taxi many moons ago in O' Connell street at night. We had to wait two hours with no coats and it was freezing. It was a long time before I'd go to Dublin for the weekend after that. Surely nobody wants a return to that.
In relation to fares, there has to be regulation but it should be a max fare system and the taxi driver can charge anything under that if he wants to. I much preferred it when there were hackney drivers with set prices from a to b so you always knew how much it would cost you and you didn't have to worry about getting a city tour and prices to match.
I too will never forget trying to get a taxi many moons ago in O' Connell street at night. We had to wait two hours with no coats and it was freezing. It was a long time before I'd go to Dublin for the weekend after that. Surely nobody wants a return to that.
In relation to fares, there has to be regulation but it should be a max fare system and the taxi driver can charge anything under that if he wants to. I much preferred it when there were hackney drivers with set prices from a to b so you always knew how much it would cost you and you didn't have to worry about getting a city tour and prices to match.