Taxi Driver Online

I 've read on here several times that Skull predicts PH will soon out number the "Blacks" in Edinburgh

Today i saw plate 1069 on a PHC

Sadly it's looking likely that Skull will be right

Reggie, serious questions,

Do you worry as you see these plate numbers increase?

Is it linked to the recent reduction in plate fee?

Do you not think plates should be given to brief holders of say, 5, 10, even 15 years service, to keep the "Blacks" in front?

With an obvious "NO SELL CONDITION ATTATCHED" thus keeping out "Profiteers" as you put it?

Or to protect your plate value would you rather be out numbered and second fiddle in time to come?

Reggie, i'm not trying to wind you up, i'm just interested in you're views,

I'm sure someone will post the case on here but attaching a condition such as a non transferable plate has been judges illegal.

PH are unrestricted so there is alway's the possibility they'll out number black cab licences, I say it is a result of cheaper fees, it could also be in anticipation of Uber's arrival, where my turnover is concerned it's not impacting on me just yet, I've never had it so good, you could though post the same info based on Glasgow, I say PH way out number blacks there.

Black Cabs move around a city more than ph, we have access to taxi ranks etc, black cabs impact more on traffic, so that will alway's be taken into consideration when deciding on increasing black cab licences, SUD's are there for a reason, to stop saturation and to minimise the impact on traffic flow, I disagree plates should be serviced based, the black cab trade hasn't got a problem with profiteer's, I can only think of a couple of guys with more than 5 plates, how many ph licences does the two big ph companies hold? Now that's profiteering, if you own your own ph plate are you not fed up that company cars get the cream?

You said to protect my plate value! The cost of my plate was only 17k, great investment, my plates worth is the job, if it's worth anything when I retire that's a bonus, the plate value has though been steady fo over 10 years, I can't see that changing anytime soon regardless, what the majority of black cabs provide is a good reliable, safe and knowledgable means of transportation, the majority of licence holders in Edinburgh are not scared to buy new and regularly, within co-operatives we are also not scared to invest in the latest technology and a big etc.

Finally I'm not worried about increasing ph numbers or incoming competition as long as we continue to do as we are doing we have nothing to worry about.

Since I came back from holiday early July, believe it or not I had my best week last week over that period between then and now, our company is way ahead of the competition, things couldn't be better

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Alway's been about Tightening the Grip!

Thanks for your response, i'll give my own views/arguments, first i must state, i don't have a plate PHC or Taxi, I've changed career since ECPH took over at airport, at that time i surrendered my PHC plate, i have never owned a taxi plate, i have this last fortnight driven a street car whilst its owner has been on holiday, this is why i noticed the increase in PHC plate numbers,

PH are unrestricted so there is alway's the possibility they'll out number black cab licences, I say it is a result of cheaper fees, it could also be in anticipation of Uber's arrival, where my turnover is concerned it's not impacting on me just yet, I've never had it so good, you could though post the same info based on Glasgow, I say PH way out number blacks there.

Finally I'm not worried about increasing ph numbers or incoming competition as long as we continue to do as we are doing we have nothing to worry about.

I know 1 plate owner in Glasgow and 2 in London, they've both been on here and looked at your answer, They like me are shocked you aint worried about being outnumbered, i accept you cant control increase in PHC plate numbers, but to bury your head in the sand and pretend not to be worried at worst is wreckless and at best foolish but that is just my opinion,

Black Cabs move around a city more than ph, we have access to taxi ranks etc, black cabs impact more on traffic, so that will alway's be taken into consideration when deciding on increasing black cab licences, SUD's are there for a reason, to stop saturation and to minimise the impact on traffic flow, I disagree plates should be serviced based, the black cab trade hasn't got a problem with profiteer's, I can only think of a couple of guys with more than 5 plates, how many ph licences does the two big ph companies hold? Now that's profiteering, if you own your own ph plate are you not fed up that company cars get the cream?

Whilst Taxis out number PHC i'd agree they probably do impact on traffic more, that is unless you take greenways times into consideration, PHC sitting with general traffic during these times cant be good for the customer or the environment,
SUD's will become pointless if PHC keeps growing as it is, any unmet demand will be absorbed by PHC making them in time the biggest in the city but that will take time, but at the rate they appear to be growing it may be sooner than we think,
I have no idea how many plates the big 2 PHC companies have, but as i see it, at a time when you can get your own PHC plate, some must choose to drive there's rather than own their own, i see no reason why that would be different if TAXI plate numbers were unrestricted but again that's just my opinion, I'm not so sure if it's profiteering or offering a choice, but i concede they don't do it for nothing,

You said to protect my plate value! The cost of my plate was only 17k, great investment, my plates worth is the job, if it's worth anything when I retire that's a bonus, the plate value has though been steady fo over 10 years, I can't see that changing anytime soon regardless, what the majority of black cabs provide is a good reliable, safe and knowledgable means of transportation, the majority of licence holders in Edinburgh are not scared to buy new and regularly, within co-operatives we are also not scared to invest in the latest technology and a big etc.

I agree 17k was and is a great investment, i personally couldn't bring myself to pay for something that's not mine and could be taken away in the blink of an eye, I feel if as i said drivers with 5, 10 or 15 years brief holding time should be able to apply for a plate, but with strict conditions i.e Brand New Taxi and plate non transferable, to keep the Taxi trade infront of PH, only those interested in the good of the trade would then be investing in the trade, and help to keep it in front, the majority of drivers out there do an excellent job, i fear if PHC continues to grow as it is more, like me, will move on,

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Edinburghs taxi drivers are desperate for change

Owners think not!!!!

Nothing personal but your response makes for difficult reading Airport1, it be good for outsiders reading that you highlight who say's what, example, Flower writes in blue.

Ultimately the punter has the choice of who they wish to travel with, reliable, safe and knowledgeable has won up until now and will continue to do so, our LA has the power to restrict Ph if they see fit, I know some in the trade don't want this as it would put a value on an existing ph licence as happened with the black cab licences post de-regulation, I only bought in as that was the way it was when I joined the trade, the previous justice minister said to me in retrospect it was a mistake but Airport1 its gone to far to simply change the system in the blink of an eye as you put it.

What you get when you invest in a licence is the right to use/operate that licence, thus over operating as just a driver, many prefer to operate as a licence holder and many more prefer to operate as a driver, drivers pay a rent to drive and operators take out a loan to pay their investment, in all cases of investment the risk takers are the ones to profit at the expense of the non risk takers, it's a huge financial risk to invest in a plate, cab and position, currently all in 80k, normally the loan is over 5 years, it's not for the faint hearted I can tell you, the trade is as it is and has been for well over 20 years, a driver over 5 years working full time takes none of that risk, if he bumps or crashes the cab they just move on to another risk taker, the risk taker he leaves is left to take the hit.

If a driver decides to become a risk taker then over 5 years the plate pay's for itself, they are simply swapping their rental and investing it, their plate holds it value and if they decide to sell they get their money back or most of that, it's the same as buying a house or renting one, you get nothing back as a renter.

You mention if taxi plates where unrestricted, in my opinion many taxi plates would simply go into the hands of the profiteer's just as the ph ones have, currently the guy's who have multiple taxi licences are restricted by the current value, I say that's a good thing, we have to keep the majority of taxi licences in the hands of the individual.

Finally I don't do burying my head in the sand, I trust the punter to make their choice, if our trade continue to invest in everything Taxi, we will again prevail, I don't fear competition either I embrace it, it keeps our trade on its toes, it stops us from becoming complacent as has happened all over America and London.

The trade is what it has become, Taylor and Skull where two very intelligent cookies and couldn't change our trade, we just have to do what we do best, provide a reliable, safe and knowledgable taxi service.

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Alway's been about Tightening the Grip!