Taxi Driver Online

Taxi drivers hacked off as fares get harder to find

Even at a time when cold weather and Christmas parties mean many people opt for a cab, taxis are among the luxuries Leamington and Warwick people are cutting down on.

Taxi drivers in both towns say they have taken fewer fares, with many expecting a bleak 2009.

In Leamington town centre, Mark Lainchbury has been a hackney carriage driver for 28 years, but said he has considered getting another job.

He said: "I have never known a year as bad as this.

"Takings are down by half. People just haven't got the money to make the big journeys they used to make. They used to use taxis like a bus service in this town.

"I've been sat here all day. In the time I've made £20 today I could have made £40 or £50 last year."

Mr Lainchbury blames the change partly on longer pub opening hours and the smoking ban reducing evening trade.

But the 49-year-old said many people were simply cutting luxuries as they worried about the economic downturn.

Although fuel prices have fallen, he said insurance prices and other expenses for licensing and criminal records checks remained high, and cabbies were finding it hard to cover costs.

Sukhjinder Singh, 26, has been driving a cab for four years.

The Leamington driver said Christmas 2008 was "slightly quieter" than recent years - with weekday trade very quiet - and did not expect an improvement.

Les Austin is chairman of Warwick District Hackney Carriage Drivers' Association. Based in Warwick, he said January and February were always tough but 2009 so far had been "incredibly quiet".

One cause was the number of licensed drivers on the streets, and he warned 'de-zoning' - allowing drivers to ply their trade across several towns - would also eat into takings.

But Mr Austin says it is up to drivers to work through the downturn themselves.

He added: "Life is going to be a little bit tight for everyone.

"It's all down to each individual, how they treat their customers and how much time they want to spend in the saddle.

"Rather than screaming about putting up prices each person has to cut their cloth to meet their needs."

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

If there were any decent jobs going..or indeed any jobs going I fear many more of us would be thinking likewise

F*** me, a leader with a tad of sense and reality.

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IDFIMH

They're in short supply.

I had a choice today to either sit behind 40 cabs on a rank with 10 spaces or drive 1 mile to the hospital and sit. I got a fare straight-away and went past the rank where there were 40 cabs still sitting.

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Can you pick people up in that PH car?

Only if I'm really sneeky

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I know it's been bad but this is us just going into the downward spiral. No more Christmas to look forward too.

_________________
All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Your just promoting your new assisted suicide business.





CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Dignitas is already trying to muscle in on my new enterprise, I hear they're offering a bogoff

_________________
All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

It clearly needs regulation, limit the numbers then sell on for a premium, I wouldnt want to see all your hard work, and vivid imagination go down the pan at this early stage

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Tight for everybody except the greedy circuit owners who won't loose anything. We've still got 350 drivers paying £85.00 per week for systems that don't have work on them and I can't see them reducing the settle or the driver count going down any can you

_________________
Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Speak to Skull, he's extremely sympathetic towards radio circuits

More seriously, I know what you mean, sounds like you really need those handcuffs

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I quite agree, now that I have a vested interest Fecking Dignitas, there's always some bast*ard wanting to de-restrict the market.

_________________
All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

I wouldn't give them the satisfaction

_________________
Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

damn....wasnt expecting that answer TBH

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin