Why's that then, precisely, Skippy?
(I'm not expecting an answer for about a year at least
)
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| The taxi challenge of having a night out in Scotland http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=39037 |
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| Author: | StuartW [ Sat Dec 10, 2022 4:09 pm ] |
| Post subject: | The taxi challenge of having a night out in Scotland |
Nothing particularly new for readers on here, but this is quite a lengthy piece by quite a high-profile journalist - BBC Scotland's business and economy editor Douglas Fraser. The big challenges of having a night out in Scotland https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland- ... t-63919904 This ought to be one of the busiest weekends of the year for festive revelries - for workplace colleagues, sports clubs, friends and families to go out at night. After two years where Covid restrictions killed off the party spirit, there's a lot of catching up to do. But the night-time industry - where people serve the turkey with trimmings, plus mixing cocktails and pulling pints - faces three serious problems. One is the cost of living and the lack of spare cash people have to spend in restaurants, bars and clubs. Another is the shortage of available staff, with pay rising in the hospitality sector faster than others. That means some are having to limit customer numbers. Then there is the difficulty in getting home for customers and staff - because many towns lack taxi capacity, buses are less reliable and trains are cancelled when there is strike action. That transport problem has been made far greater by the fall in the number of taxi drivers, or at least the number willing to work at night. It is hard to get numbers or to measure unmet demand, but one indication comes from Edinburgh, where a recent study of the trade showed that private hire licences are down by nearly a fifth since 2020. 'I'd rather not venture into town' "It's very hard to get a taxi home from the town," says Jenna from Renfrewshire, out to the theatre in Glasgow. "Usually, I'd rather not venture into town". Her partner Jack recalls one cab driver who agreed to take them back to Paisley, but he turned the meter off and said the fare would be double the usual rate. If they didn't like that, he would quickly find someone else at the taxi rank. Masha is a music student in the city and a refugee from war in Ukraine. If she's on a night out, she leaves by midnight to catch the last bus, because she cannot rely on getting a cab, and can't afford taking them too often. Some choose to book Uber cars, where prices vary and high demand makes them surge. A Glasgow University film student, Katy, says: "Some students aren't going on nights out any more, either because they can't get home, or because they can't afford the Uber". For those whose night out go past the time of the last train or bus, taxis are a vital part of supporting the night-time economy. The number of licences has held up in many council areas. But that does not mean those vehicles and the drivers are available when people are looking to hire them. The numbers suggest that fewer taxis are being shared between drivers, so they are more often parked overnight. Through the pandemic, when taxis were forced off the road, many drivers were recruited into other fast-expanding driving jobs, such as the delivery of supermarket groceries. These are jobs with more agreeable hours and fewer stroppy, drunk customers. With a high average age in the taxi trade of around 58, the break from work was the cue for others to retire. And facing large bills to comply with Low Emission Zones in city centres, the Scottish Taxi Federation is warning that next summer could bring a further drop in the number of urban taxis for hire. For the night-time economy, the festive recovery is lacking much bounce. Colin Wilkinson, managing director of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, says: "We were looking forward to having a bumper season. It's a very important time for the hospitality sector. For many, 30% of their turnover is gained during the run-up to Christmas and New Year. "But with the cost of living, the lack of taxis, and higher business costs, it's a very difficult time for the industry. "And in some businesses, because of the shortage of staff, they're having to restrict the number of people in their premises." Gavin Stevenson, of the Night-time Industries Association, says: "Across the trade, everyone's feeling the impact of the wider current crisis. Our costs are through the roof, and consumers have less to spend. "Public transport and taxis is a real issue in markets across Scotland. There are taxi shortages, but buses have been unreliable through much of the year, and train strikes are on some of the key trading dates for the night-time economy. "We're seeing Christmas bookings as much as 30% below where they were expected to be." 'Build the economy up again' Mary Martin runs several late-night venues in Aberdeen - the Ivy Lodge, Malones, the Craftsman and the Douglas Hotel, and she sees people heading home earlier than usual, to get the last bus. The usual clientele are "struggling to get taxis into the city, so they're staying away. They're staying in their villages and towns, which is great. But we desperately need more business into the city centre". In Aberdeen city centre, the Business Improvement District has struck a deal with the council and Stagecoach to run late, free bus travel at the weekend to stimulate more business. Adrian Watson, managing director of the project, says the trial run is aimed at city people and at the hinterland in Aberdeenshire and Moray "to build the economy up again - we lost that economy since Covid." There is less sign of co-operation in Glasgow, however. The main black cabs co-operative, Glasgow Taxis, is encouraging more people into the trade, saying it remains a "fantastic way to make a good living", even if it means spreading earnings more widely. But the firm blames Glasgow City Council for putting too many hurdles in the way of new recruits. To become a licensed driver in the city, you have to go through a course with nine tests, and do the 'topographical test' of your knowledge of streets, routes and common destinations. Dougie McPherson, chairman of Glasgow Taxis, says safety should not be compromised, but it is unnecessary to have these hurdles. "As a company, we are absolutely conscious of the role we play in getting people in Glasgow home, and looking after the safety of these people". The cabbie, who is also vice-chairman of the Scottish Taxi Federation, says the challenge exists around the country, and in other countries, and that demand for city cabs is raised further because suburban councils have lost more drivers. He adds that waiting for taxis at peak times is inevitable. A taxi fleet that can handle peak times with ease is going to be too big through much of the week for drivers to make a living. The council's response is that it prioritises safety and quality of service, and while there was some discussion of cutting back on tests, that failed to reach agreement across the trade. |
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| Author: | Sussex [ Sat Dec 10, 2022 9:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The taxi challenge of having a night out in Scotland |
The so-called lack of taxis/PHVs has nothing to do with people deciding not to go out at night. It's the cost of living and the lack of cash behind people thinking twice. All the years I've been in this trade there have always been taxi rank queues, and long prebooked waiting times, at this time of the year. And shock horror it will be the same next year and each and every subsequent year. Unless of course the Chinese start f***ing around with germs again. |
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| Author: | jozefbloggz [ Sun Dec 11, 2022 9:25 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The taxi challenge of having a night out in Scotland |
"It's very hard to get a taxi home from the town," says Jenna from Renfrewshire, out to the theatre in Glasgow. "Usually, I'd rather not venture into town". Her partner Jack recalls one cab driver who agreed to take them back to Paisley, but he turned the meter off and said the fare would be double the usual rate. If they didn't like that, he would quickly find someone else at the taxi rank. 1 the driver is not required to take any hire going outside the city 2 normally out of town hires are given a fixed price so that is why you dont use the meter 3 if using meter you have to tell them how you intend to charge extra before the taxi moves off 4 you either agree to pay the price or you dont |
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| Author: | skippy41 [ Tue Dec 13, 2022 9:38 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The taxi challenge of having a night out in Scotland |
Iv stopped working past 1 am , when I would have worked until 4 am , even during the week I'm in the house usually by 11 pm |
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| Author: | StuartW [ Tue Dec 13, 2022 12:16 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The taxi challenge of having a night out in Scotland |
Why's that then, precisely, Skippy? (I'm not expecting an answer for about a year at least )
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| Author: | Sussex [ Tue Dec 13, 2022 10:14 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The taxi challenge of having a night out in Scotland |
StuartW wrote: Why's that then, precisely, Skippy? (I'm not expecting an answer for about a year at least )Maybe he has just realised he has a life. |
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| Author: | edders23 [ Tue Dec 13, 2022 10:44 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The taxi challenge of having a night out in Scotland |
I am still in shock that he has appeared on here posting !  Does the 1am Curfew apply to xmas day and new year Skippy ? |
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| Author: | StuartW [ Sat Jul 15, 2023 6:00 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The taxi challenge of having a night out in Scotland |
StuartW wrote: Why's that then, precisely, Skippy? (I'm not expecting an answer for about a year at least )Well, for once I was right about something - that's 19 months and still no reply from Skippy Anyways, on a related topic, it was announced last week that Glasgow's night buses were being withdrawn. And this below was a suggested solution by the bus company's boss  You literally couldn't make it up - it's like suggesting that bar and club staff do a couple of hours on the taxis after their shift to make up for the driver shortage in the trade ](./images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall") You can imagine the outcry from the unions and politicians. And it looks like the move will be delayed anyway following the reaction, and another bus provider has suggested it may step in  Bar staff could be trained to drive late-night buses, says First Bus boss https://news.stv.tv/west-central/bar-st ... t-bus-boss First Bus announced on Monday that services are being ended due to low passenger numbers. The boss of a bus company which has come under fire for cancelling undersubscribed night services has suggested bar staff could be trained to ferry late-night passengers home. Duncan Cameron, managing director of First Bus, made the comments in an interview with the Herald as pressure on the company grew after the cancellation of 11 night services in Glasgow was announced. The company said passengers numbers are not enough to sustain the service beyond July. On Wednesday, 16 SNP MSPs representing Glasgow and the surrounding areas – including First Minister Humza Yousaf and former first minister Nicola Sturgeon – wrote to Mr Cameron, calling for the decision to be reconsidered. Speaking to the Herald, Mr Cameron said: “A driver behind the wheel is the biggest challenge. What’s to stop somebody working in a bar being volunteered to be trained by First Bus and, as part of their shift, work for First Bus doing two journeys and the night late services? “It might sound a bit of a wacky idea, but it would it would solve the problem and provide employment.” The bus boss also hit out at the service cancellation being used as a “political football”. “I’m aware of the level of engagement that we’ve had prior to making this decision, seeking support, seeking involvement and seeking other solutions to try to help us overcome this,” he said. “But the bus has been used as a political football. “People will be aware of comments being made by certain individuals and, I can assure you, those individuals were very quiet through some of these discussions. I’m not going to hang anyone out to dry… They know who they are.” His comments came as First Bus competitor McGill’s announced it is exploring the creation of a night service in Glasgow. Group chief executive Ralph Roberts said: “We are only at an initial stage of looking at what may be achievable. “The First Glasgow services that are being terminated are extensive and we cannot say at this stage that a like-for-like replacement will be feasible. “That said, we know there is a level of demand for night-time bus services and, if Glasgow is to thrive as a city, it needs companies such as McGill’s together with city leaders to see what we can achieve.” |
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| Author: | Sussex [ Sat Jul 15, 2023 6:06 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The taxi challenge of having a night out in Scotland |
Madness. Pure madness.
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