This has been in my drafts for a couple of weeks now, and can't be bothered reading it again.
Had plenty to say about it at the time, but can't be bothered now...
But a touch of the usual entitlement and elitism - if he feels uncomfortable with drivers' reaction to the card thing, then I'd strongly recommend he doesn't actually try a few shifts actually driving a taxi
Similarly, it's just
him that's in danger because of a lack of taxis, by the looks of it...again, don't try actually driving one
And why not carry cash if he knows about the card thing? Maybe it just happened once, but it's made too look like a frequent occurrence for PR purposes...
And, of course, there's more than a touch of PR about the whole thing...apparently he's part of one of the anti-taxi business groups punting Uber, but the article just portrays him as a downtrodden student who's hard done by by those awful taxi drivers
(There seems to be another article below that punting the chamber of commerce, who are promoting the council's consultation. But there's been so many pieces from the P&J about the Aberdeen situation that I've lost track a bit
)
Aberdeen student: ‘I was left waiting 45 minutes in rain for taxi – and then driver would only take cash’https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/ne ... dent-taxi/Oliver Kennedy says confusion over which cabs take cash or card is also causing problems for university students.https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-con ... 40x564.jpghttps://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-con ... 40x564.jpghttps://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-con ... 40x564.jpghttps://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-con ... 40x564.jpgAn Aberdeen University student claims the city needs to rewrite the rulebook on taxis – to get more drivers on the road, and ensure they all accept card payments.Oliver Kennedy shared his thoughts after being left waiting 45 minutes in the “freezing rain” to avoid a “miserable” walk home from the city centre.
It comes as a public consultation has been launched giving Aberdeen residents the chance to help scrap the controversial Street Knowledge Test many argue is too strict a barrier for entering the trade.
Critics claim the exam is outdated in an age of satellite navigation systems, and contributes to long queues at night-time taxi ranks.
‘Walking by anti-social behaviour is really off-putting’
Oliver, who is from a small hamlet near Pitlochry, moved to the city four years ago to study.
The 21-year-old has also taken on the role of editor-in-chief of the student newspaper The Gaudie.
As well as encountering his own issues, Oliver has spoken with scores of students about the city’s taxi situation to gauge the mood among his peers.
In his first year he lived at the university’s student village in Hillhead, recalling countless uncomfortable nights getting home on foot to the site next to Seaton Park.
He explained: “I lived up there in first year, as so many do, and I remember many miserable nights walking all the way back up King Street to get back in.
“There are occasions of anti-social behaviour, which is really quite off-putting. It’s not a nice experience.”
He added: “I think the university goes to such efforts to look after students…
“But they can only look after their own campus. They can’t control what’s happening in the city centre.”
And Oliver claims unruly behaviour while waiting for a taxi can put some people off even going into town.
He continued: “Especially for international students or new students, to have that experience is quite frightening.
“To think that if they were able to just book a taxi, and it was to just turn up…
“That would probably make a huge difference in making their lives a little bit more comfortable.”
Student: ‘I’ve been made to feel guilty for not having cash for taxi ride’As part of the consultation exercise, people can have their say on whether every driver in the city should be willing to accept payment by bank card.
At the moment, drivers are still able to insist on cash if they choose.
Oliver explained that he’s faced “frustrating” cab journeys when he’s not been told prior to hopping on board that it’s cash only.
He said: “I’ve got halfway home and then they’ve decided to say that it’s cash only and then make me stop at an ATM and withdraw money.
“You are made to feel quite guilty.”
Oliver continued: “I think students are so used to just having card… The university is card only, the majority of businesses, hospitality, nightlife, it’s all card.
“So to all of a sudden be made to feel a bit awkward, a bit bad about not having cash, it’s not that pleasant an experience.”
'I’ve done 45-minute waits in rain for taxis’Oliver explained that busses to the university are “not that frequent” and are not always available later at night.
He continued: “A lot of students do live quite far out… I know students that have lived in Bridge of Don, or even down Holburn Street, so it is a distance.
“If you are not able to get the bus, then you’re going to have to rely on a taxi and there could be an issue.”
And he tells me that he has faced 45-minute waits to secure a cab ride home.
But one particular “miserable night” stands out to him, as this long wait left him soaked from the “freezing” rain.
“It’s the frustration that there’s just not enough, they’re not turning up,” he adds.
Long taxi queues have become a common sight at ranks in the city on busy nights out.
‘I’d like to see Uber more prevalent in Aberdeen for students’Oliver believes that the Street Knowledge Test is “unfair” on people who are wanting to join the trade to “help the taxi situation” in the city.
“I just wonder how many people would feel more interested in doing it as well. I’m sure there would be an upturn in applications,” he added.
The student says he has once used Uber in Aberdeen and thought “was a good service”, hoping it will be an option he can turn to more in the future.
Do you think ALL taxi drivers should have to accept payment by card? Let us know in our comments section belowAnd having used the ride-hailing cabs in other cities he would like to see them “be more prevalent” in the Granite City.
Aberdeen’s taxi bosses have argued that Uber is not required to help tackle city shortages, as they insist dozens of would-be Aberdeen cabbies are waiting in the wings to boost the fleet.
Aberdeen Taxis director Chris Douglas and Rainbow City Taxis managing director Russell McLeod told The Press and Journal the city is already bouncing back from the dark days of 2023 when numbers hit rock bottom.
They warned drivers are “fighting for their livelihoods” as Aberdeen City Council considers rewriting the rulebook under pressure from traders and Uber.
Mr McLeod also stressed that every taxi in the city “should have the ability to take card payments”, as he explained how he supplied the technology to his fleet all the way back in 2009.
However the rules do still state that drivers have the choice to accept only cash.
You can take part in the council’s taxi consultation and have your say HERE.
Aberdeen business leaders: ‘We need to know if taxi issues are holding back city’s economy’https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/ne ... xi-survey/https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-con ... 38x564.jpgThe chamber of commerce wants to build a "real-world" picture of taxi issues such as long wait times, poor availability and any impact on the city’s evening economy.Business leaders want to know if a lack of taxis and long waits at late-night ranks are hitting Aberdeen traders in the pocket.
Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce (AGCC) has launched a survey of its own, as the future of the city’s taxi industry has been put up for public debate.
It comes as the council is consulting residents on a number of policies, including whether the controversial street knowledge test should be scrapped.
The findings of the local authority exercise could be used to reshape the industry.
https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-con ... 40x564.jpgAnd AGCC is now inviting people to share their own experiences with catching a ride, so that it can feed any issues back to the council.
The business group says it wants to build a “real-world” picture of concerns such as long wait times, poor availability and any impact on the city’s evening economy.
What does new AGCC taxi survey ask?The survey, open to residents, visitors and businesses, asks when people are most likely to need a taxi, when they face the biggest challenges, and whether a lack of transport has forced them to change their plans.
It also looks at how Aberdeen compares to other cities and how safe people feel.
One question states: “Compared with other UK cities of a similar size that you know, how would you rate Aberdeen’s taxi and private hire vehicle availability and use of technology?”
https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-con ... a3o9cy.jpgAnother asks: “Some licensing policies require drivers to pass a local area knowledge test, in addition to using maps or GPS.
“In your view, how important is this type of local knowledge requirement, if at all?”
This is followed by a question on whether “detailed local knowledge” is a bigger priority for customers than “speed and ease of getting a vehicle when you need one”.
https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-con ... 0x1152.jpgThe survey also aims to gather evidence from businesses about how the current taxi and private hire scheme impacts trade, recruitment and staff safety.
Taxi and private hire policy should be ‘informed by real-world experience’The results from this survey will help shape how AGCC responds to the local authority’s own consultation.
Russell Borthwick, chief executive of the business body, explained it’s important that decisions are “informed by real-world experience”.
https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-con ... 40x564.jpgHe said: “This survey is about building a clear, evidence-based picture of what’s actually happening on the ground — from availability and reliability to any wider effects on spending, staffing and the evening economy.
“We would encourage as many people as possible to take a few minutes to share their views so we can help contribute to a well-informed discussion about how transport services operate across the city.”
You can take part in AGCC’s survey
HERE.
And have your say in the council’s taxi consultation
HERE.
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