wee eddie wrote:
When the Clubs come out, there will always be insufficient Taxis to handle the rush. Regardless of the number of Plates available.
We've never said that de-restriction was the whole answer.
Just that councils can't claim to be protecting public safety if they haven't done everything the can to protect public safety. Artificially restricting taxis falls well below the simple benchmark of doing everything possible.
One day a member of the public harmed by this policy will sue the council. And I'll be contacting them to encourage them to do so.
Which brings us back to the problem with the clubs.
The problem is caused, in our case in Edinburgh, by the cops, who pressed for all the clubs to close at one time. This created the problem of overcrowding on the streets. They created the peak period, presumably because they thought it made policing easier. or was it just cheaper?
This is madness. The public doesn't want it. The clubs don't want it. Cabbies don't want it.
And the drinking deadline encoprages bingeing as it draws near.
And we pay the price having to deal with an alcohol fuelled public in a fell swoop, who take umbrage because they have to queue or walk to hail a cab.
Thing is, our trade does nothing. Because it doesn't affect rentals, or radio dues. They have to be paid whatever the business level so the owners sitting on their farnies while the serfs deal with all the shecht aren't motivated to articulate the arguments.
So, the problem isn't just the restriction. It's the trade itself. Which would rather give its customers to PH than address their needs to keep their custom.

to the trade barons eh?