Taxi Driver Online

Never cease to be amazed by stuff in the trade, which is why I'm always using the smilie


Taxi firm worried after Uber launches in Plymouth

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp9yjmngp25o

A taxi firm in Plymouth has expressed concern about the impact of Uber after its launch in the city.

The taxi app giant was granted a licence to operate in Plymouth in November with the capacity to hire 160 drivers.

Plymouth City Council said there was a need for more taxis when it approved the licence, but taxi firm TakeMe Plymouth said Uber was impressive but had the potential to "destroy the local marketplace".

Uber has said operating in Plymouth would help boost earning opportunities for drivers and provide passengers with greater transport options across the city.

John McVicar, regional operations manager at TakeMe Plymouth said it was "a shock this was allowed".

Mr McVicar, who worked for the umbrella group which partners with local independent taxi services like Taxi First and Tower Cabs, said he did not believe there was a need for Uber in Plymouth.

He felt the city already had "the right amount" of taxi drivers.

"Our driver numbers are up, they're probably higher than the level of jobs that are out there," he said.

'Freedom of choice'

Mr McVicar raised concerns about driver well-being and "double app-ing", when drivers worked for Uber alongside another taxi company, which can often see them working longer hours.

"It's really difficult, drivers who are self employed have the freedom of choice."

He added: "We've got to ensure we're looking after the drivers' welfare, if they're out there everyday 13 hours a day, seven days a week, every single day of the month, that's going to put a lot of stress on them."

Driver Julian Pitorac said the emergence of Uber in Plymouth could be interpreted in "two ways".

He said: "Some drivers really like it and think it's the way forward and others think it's going to be bad for the trade in the future."

Mr McVicar said: "At the moment you've got four main companies here and other little people that surround us helping control the market.

"If Uber come in and lower everything and slowly start to destroy the local marketplace, once we're gone they can charge whatever they want, there will be no choice and I think that's even scarier."

'Support local economy'

In February Uber said it was looking to formally launch its services in Plymouth "later this year" where "unmet demand is high".

It said: "We are pleased to have been granted a licence to operate in Plymouth, which will help boost earning opportunities for drivers, provide passengers with greater transport options across the city and support the local economy."

It said every Uber driver was legally entitled to worker protections including pension, holiday pay and a guarantee to earn at least the National Living Wage.

Most drivers "can and do earn more", it added.

The BBC has reached out to Uber for further comment.

It's that David v Goliath thing again - the 'four main companies' are the Davids in Plymouth, while all the rest below that are the 'other little people'

And all that brings the c-word to mind about this chap. No, not that word; 'helping control the market' sounds a bit like collusion and cartels


He may have a point, but some might view Uber as just replacing one effective monopoly and controlled market with another. But more likely to simply view Uber as making the market more competitive, so I doubt many will be impressed by what he's saying, except for the existing cartel, not to mention any captured councillors

Let's not go into the double-apping thing and how that might impact the employment status question, but this chap here gives the impression he thinks it's a significant factor.

But I can't really see how double-apping means drivers will be working longer hours

Presumably they're double-apping because it's means they're earning more and maybe going home earlier, rather than working longer...

I mean, even in some parallel universe where drivers are having to work longer hours because they're double-apping, there's a very simple solution. Just don't double app

I didn't realise they can put restrictions on the number of drivers you can hire ?

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

I noticed that as well Edders, although didn't look into it. But assumed it was one of those fairly standard operator's licences in which the fee paid depends on the number of vehicles, so basically Uber had taken on a licence and paid the fee relevant to being able to have the 'capacity to hire 160 drivers'. (Although presumably the way these things normally works is that if you have below the number relevant to the fee paid, then that's not a problem...)

But just had a quick look on the council's website, and indeed that is the explanation...or almost, because Plymouth seems to have a fairy unusual fee system that depends on the precise number of vehicles, rather than 50-100 vehicles, or whatever.


So what's happened, presumably, is that Uber have paid for a licence on the basis that it can hire up to 160 vehicles

And, of course, it's vehicles that the numbers relate to, rather than the driver numbers mentioned in the press article.

But certainly no surprise whatsoever that a press report stated it was about driver numbers when it should have veen vehicles

Surely if they double app the likelihood is that they will work fewer hours as they will be busier in their normal working week.

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IDFIMH

probably spin designed to mislead councillors in order to sway them to his "cause"

I'm sure our lanky fisherman friend can shed more light on this

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Well it's all spin, innit

Whether from Uber, or the legacy trade

But it's quite funny in a way - he's making it sound like it's people doing two different jobs at different times, and thus working round the clock, as opposed to why drivers actually double-app

So he's either incredibly naive, or he's spinning like a top