Taxi Driver Online

If you're saying that requiring a decent vehicle will keep down numbers then this will help ensure adequate work. The point is that offering equality of opportunity is fairer than the arbitrary limits on numbers that you seem to prefer, where the benefit of the reduced numbers ends up as a plate premium, which comes out of the pockets of purchasers and into the pockets of those whose main concern in the trade is to keep others out of it to this end.

I wanted to start my own airline but couldn't afford a jumbo jet, but I don't go around wailing about the fact that this is unfair.

It maybe unfair, as you say, but it's a lot fairer than the current nonsense, and is what usually happens in the real world.

Try asking any member of the public what they think is fairest.

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

I'm not really sure what this has to do with the principle of whether plate premiums or vehicle quality standards are a better way of limiting entry to the trade, perhaps you could explain.

And you can hardly extrapolate what one person would do the whole country even if it did assist the point that you're trying to make, which it doesn't anway.

In any case, I think people deciding when and where to work is widespread in the trade, believe it or not, whether it's qualitative or qauntitative entry that's in place.

I think Sussex works when and where he wants currently in his PH vehicle, and would presumably do the same if he bought a HC plate, or if he got a free one with a WAV!

Incidentally, as someone who's business interests lie outside the trade and who just seems to drive a cab when and where you want, I think you have a hard neck denying others a plate on this basis.

But you've always had a hard neck, since you've had all three plates in Gateshead, but when others want the same thing you call them greedy and tell them that you know best, you're not an angel, you want to play God!!

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

I'm not quite sure what you're alluding to here, since my area isn't restricted and never has been.

Nevertheless, about 90% plus of owners hire jockies, and they typically earn about £3-4 an hour, and as a point of principle I don't get involved in this since I deem this exploitation, so I don't like your accusation.

But coming back to the principle in question, you don't seem to mind the exploitation of those who can't afford a taxi plate in Brighton (say), indeed at £50k for a decent motor and a plate, you'll understand that that's a bit out of most people's reach.

So perhaps you could tell us how much you think rentals would be in Brighton under the following scenarios:

1 £50k for a decent motor and plate;
2 £20k for a decent WAV.

And having answered that question, which scenrio sees the worst exploiting, that you seem to find so objectionable?

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

That was me, not JD, and I refer you to the answer I gave a few moments ago

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

These surveys are nonsense, if only because if numbers are ludicrously low then they'll stay that way even after a survey.

What happens is that the PH market grows to meet demand, and when surveys take place there's little unmet demand because it's all gone to the PH sector, and and any hail and rank demand that would exist if restrictions had never been imposed just doesn't exist, and since the surveyors just look at ranks serviced by the current HC fleet then they're never going to find that hidden demand.

If you look at surveys in places with ludicrously low numbers you'll see what I mean - they really just endorse the numbers there already.

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

I tend to agree with GA,

the point he puts across is basically justification, this works, or should work both ways.

if the argument you put is correct, then surely justification will merely justify your position.

Captain cab

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

So lets change the survey format, come up with some suggestions on what should be included.
I for one, would like to see the surveys as an investigation into the needs of the public and should include proposals for new ranks in areas where consumers need them.

They do now, when was the last time you read one?

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IDFIMH

OK el Capitano, so the survey in Brighton justified the release of 19 plates and 5 a year thereafter.

In the context of the total trade this is clearly a small number, and this is borne out by the fact that during all this plate premiums have been booming.

So how do you justify this, and equally-qualified drivers either being confined to PH or paying huge and increasing rentals to plate holders?

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

The kind of things that the surveys try to measure are unquantifiable, and the those conducting them are clearly clueless about the trade, so as far as I'm concerned they are unreformable.

IMHO all that's needed are a few basic standards for acquiring a badge and plate, that takes care of the quality side and ensures drivers earn a reasonable crust.

Market forces will sort out the rest.

You can only buck markets so far, and you shouldn't compel people to do things, so I would leave it at that.

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

ahhh my spanish counterpart

I dont know enough about Brighton to comment, do they still play at the Goldstone Ground?

give me more details and I'll pass an opinion.

regards

Captain cab

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

Nothing about assessing demand is "unreformable".

Nothing about proper investigation is unfair.

What we need to do is ensure that the right amount of HC are licensed in each area.

The problem I have is that by just allowing a free for all, by allowing market forces to determine numbers you force some drivers, old and new, into poverty. Then the same people who were calling for fairness and equality state that only the strong should survive, exactly how fair is that.

Lets make an effort to get it right while we have an opportunity to do so. I believe that a few councils are assessing demand I hope they take notice of the survey and I hope the surveys provide good evidence for the right amount of plates to be issued.

Councils that either bury their heads in the sand or let go of the reigns are doing their local community an injustice, I applaud every council that is conducting a survey, every council that is properly evaluating their services, as they are actually properly considering all aspects and my old mate that is what you call fairness.

B. Lucky

TDO

How do you ensure a driver earns a reasonable crust, from what I see of your arguments the only person who understants the correct way to evaluate the need for demand is you ,how will marked forces ensure that a driver earns a reasonable crust.
please bear in mind that myself and other people like me are interested in our members now..

Mr T.

UNMET DEMAND REPORTS AND SURVEYS have nothing at all to do with drivers wages.

limit by numbers is an enforcement issue, and the reason for it is to ensure that there is enough room in the councils stables to put the impounded horses

thats why modern day survays are a total sham.

The same way as the PH trade earn a crust, by hard work. They don't need flawed restrictions to make a living, just sensible driver and vehicle conditions.

Oh, and they don't need up to £50,000 to start up. Get rid of that cost, and you wont need to worry about earning a crust.

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IDFIMH