Taxi Driver Online

The National Cab Act, as according to us:

1. Exempt VAT status for Public Hire, (as with buses).

2. Fuel duty rebate may be reclaimed for all Public Hire vehicles.

3. Assisted Grant Purchase, 35% of cost, will be granted to any new vehicle order for licensed public OR private hire, if such vehicle is a WAV.

4. All BUS lanes are opened up to all PH/Taxi licensed vehicles in order to encourage use of public transport.

5. No mandatory vehicle types. But all vehicles must conform to a national standard and be so tested, by DoT. This will include an Initial Certificate of Fitness Type approval Certificate, plus 6-monthly Class 7 MOT tests.

6. Re-defined PH and Hackney Licensing system, wherein, holders of existing PH plates, may have their PH plate converted to a Hackney Plate (limit of 5 years for application), subject to the qualitative and knowledge requirements having been met. The abolition of PH licensing to then take place over a five year period, thus forming a single tier system, without limitation by quantity.

7. A new licence system for "Premier" class vehicles to include executive, limousines, funeral cars, wedding cars, based on the existing PH licence. Such cars will not be allowed any advertising of any nature to be displayed on the vehicle. These new PH vehicles will be defined by different colour license plates with Red letters on a white background.

8. A National charging system will be applied (as shown elsewhere on this site) which shall allow for regional and local differences to be incorporated into the Maximum fare structure. This shall apply to all Public Hire, but not private hire.

I did think of including a "No Walking if taxis are available" clause, and a Section requiring all passengers to be required to show their CRB check before getting in a Taxi, and compulsory "No asking the driver if he is busy" and so on, but I thought that would be over the top.

_________________
There is Significant Unmet Demand for my Opinion.

Very, very good.

I suspect that in the majority of the country without quotas, most if not all of these recommendation would be just ticker-tee-boo.

Alas in the rest, I feel that without a 'preservation of plate value, no matter what' clause, the lads there would not be best pleased.

But those same lads, might not have a choice for much longer.

There must be something in the sussex air. Or maybe you a wacky backy passive smoker but you are dreaming of elysian fields that exist only in the minds of the deluded. But dream on, sussex, dream on. Open pandora's box, and make sure no one earns a living in taxiland. An obsession with "plate values" that are nonexistent in 97% of the landmass of this 51 state of the USA

Yes, very good Andy 7

I'm a bit dubious about the subsidies though.

For one, I think that if we all get the same subsidies then at the end of the day we'll just end up where we started in one way or another, most obviously with more people in the trade because of the subsidies, and earning less revenue because of this.

Second, I doubt if there's any realistic prospect of the trade being granted so many subsidies. The general thinking seems to be that subsidies seem to only exist where otherwise there would be no or inadequate service, which clearly isn't the case generally with our trade. There might be a good case for this in the case of WAVs, but again I think the Govt will take the view that all they have to do is regulate for WAVs and they will get them, which isn't the case with a 'lifeline' bus service in a rural area (say).

Personally, I've always favoured a one-tier trade though, and to that extent subsidies of some kind for WAVs could be a way of providing sufficient numbers without compelling anyone to actually operate one - ie the carrot rather than the current stick.

But other than that I think your manifesto is top-notch.

You didn't go into specifics about the quality side, but I'd like to see an age rule for vehicles, and also compulsory knowledge and driving tests for drivers.

_________________
Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Didn't you notice there's a slight variation on the 'have you been busy' question these days; it's 'have you seen the Peter Kane sketch'

_________________
Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Another good rule would be:

Members of the public should not ask taxi drivers the whereabouts of the nearest bus stop when the said drivers are plying for hire, and this offence shall be deemed aggravated if the driver in question is in pole position and loses a fare as a consequence of the said action.

_________________
Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

I take your point on subsidies, but one should either have the view that the public should pay for what they use Ie. NO subsidies for anyone, or, equal subsidy, so that then everyone can compete for their trade on a level playing field basis.

_________________
There is Significant Unmet Demand for my Opinion.

Do you mean within the trade Andy, or in relation to services other than the trade?

_________________
Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

I am refering to transport generally.

_________________
There is Significant Unmet Demand for my Opinion.

so not restricted entry then?

hehe

captain cab

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

As I said Andy, I think that as regards subsidies generally the thinking seems to be that the will only provide it where there would otherwise by no service.

In terms of the trade, since the general complaint from the trade seems to be that there are too many vehicles operating, then providing subsidies would just make this worse, and to that extent would serve little purpose.

If there is an acute shortage in any area then the obvious answer from a public policy perspective is to raise fares.

Of course, you are entitled to your opinion, but personally apart from the specific issue of WAVs, particularly in the context of a one-tier trade, personally I'm not that keen on across-the-board subsidies.

However, I wouldn't pretend to know that much about the transport sector outside the trade (unlike you and a few other posters) so to that extent you can take my remarks with a pinch of salt.

_________________
Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

The point is, that so many areas of transport are getting totally unrealistic subsidies. Much of this money is just wasted.

If you look at the railways, examples such as the Beyond London Eurostars (£140 million, ish). The Nightstar equipment £450 million, ish), and other such stuff. All of this, built in the mid 1990s with Government subsidy, has never been used. The Nightstar stuff was then sold at scrap value, and the beyond London Eurostars have been canibalised for spares and are likely to eventually go for scrap.

If you look at the bus market, subsidies of £12 for a £1 fare are common-place.

Why subsidise a service that has no demand?

If people want a service, why cant they pay for it.

You could operate many services at less cost by giving the few passengers free taxis.

_________________
There is Significant Unmet Demand for my Opinion.

Nice to see that the DDA means so much to you Andy, as you choose not to include any part of it within your Cab Act, I say your cab act cause it bears absolutely no resemblence to what the vast majority in the trade actually want.

I would disect it but there is little point cause its crap.

B. Lucky

As someone who has operated a WAV for the past 11 years Mike, I think your comment on the DDA is a little disingenious. Or `crap' to use your own words.

Secondly, how you have the gall to suggest that you speak for "what the vast majority in the trade actually want" does rather make me chuckle, when you accuse the rest of us of being biased, just because we have our own opinions and express them on here.

Even a comment made tongue-in-cheek elicits a counter argument from you.

As for what "the vast majority in the trade actually want" I would not presume to be such a presumptuous arragont Tw*t as to suggest what it might be, other than to say a decent living. No doubt we can all argue what a decent living might be, and how we can achieve it. But, unlike your self, I don't think artificial subsidies, limits on who can and can't earn a living, nor protectionist activities designed to make one group suffer at the expense of another, are a particularly good way of achieving it.

As a worker in an area where plates are unlimited issue, as a WAV operator, as a person who has earlier in my life worked in two areas where the TGWU have been a major contributing factor in decimating two industries, I do rather speak from my own personal experiences of life rather than ideological viewpoint. So, do I have a bias? Yes, of course I do. Do I agree with everyone on here? No, of course not, as many hold differing views based each upon their own experience and knowledge. Do I try and discredit their views by being rude and arrogant? I would hope I do not. Am I anything to do with the management of this site? No, I am not nor ever have been.

Have I ever been contacted off list by the management of this site slagging off other posters? Nope.

Have I ever been contacted off list by the management of another former taxi site slagging off other posters? Yup.

When you are not on your high horse, you and Nidge are great fun people who I happen to like personally, but when you put your "I'll tell you what everyone including yourself really wants" hat on, you are a pain.

Sincerest and kindest regards,
All my love,

Andy xxxxxxxxxx

(There, ten kisses for you)

_________________
There is Significant Unmet Demand for my Opinion.

Sorry to make a slightly political point, but when the public services were under public ownership they were expected to offer a service.

The difference now is they are in private hands (deregulated) so they still get the subsidies but the money goes into companies profits.

The solution is to re-regulate them, but that is of course an ill advised attitude on this site

hehe

Captain cab

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin