Taxi Driver Online

But who will pay £35,000 and who will pay £12,000?

Do we draw lots?

_________________
IDFIMH

I agree, and anyone who says a person can't get into an E7 or TW200 is wrong.

Providing they have the internal ramp anyone can get in. No different than walking up a slight incline.

The 'I can't get in that' is all in the minds of people who have had their brains washed by saloon drivers.

Well best those saloon drivers in restricted areas start saving up.

_________________
IDFIMH

so when will this become law about if you are in a restrited numbers council that if you have a wav you can automatically get a plate

So when your sitting on a rank in an E7 or a TW200 and someone says "I can't get into that " What do you do?

_________________
Life? Don't talk to me about life!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjm2eslm6hI

If the commons pass the law, it will be within the next few months.

Once passed I suspect it will be 12 to 18 months before the law comes into being.

The DfT will, at some time, assess your area to see what % of taxis need to be WAVs.

If you work in a restricted area which has already a 100% WAV taxi fleet, then IMO nothing with change.

If you work in a restricted area which has a mixed taxi fleet, then unless you have 50% WAV taxis IMO be prepared for a lot of new plates being issued.

The answer to anyone who is concerned about the sentence above, should look to the sentence above that for the answer.

As for un-restricted areas, well TBH I haven't got a clue where that will end up.

_________________
IDFIMH

Ask why?

Then point out to them why they are wrong i.e. take a whole 10 seconds to get the ramp out.

_________________
IDFIMH

Wouldn't work with our lot they would rather stay in their cabs and pass the job back then moan they don't have any work. Seen it happen loads of times imo it's like giving the driver behind you a fiver but you can't educate pork

_________________
Life? Don't talk to me about life!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjm2eslm6hI

The Equality Bill also has sections to deal with those drivers as well.

_________________
IDFIMH

For "can't" read "don't want to"

So why do punters in a mixed fleet area show a preference for a saloon car rather than a WAV?

They see a massive (and there is no denying that the E7 and the myriad of variations on a theme ARE massive, especially when parked in front of a saloon car taxi.) and they then assume that it is going to be more expensive to travel in the WAV, than in the saloon car.

I have personally operated Metrocabs since 1992. (three of them, and I would buy a fourth, if I could) I was the first operator in this fine City to put on a WAV before it came compulsory in 1994.
In 1992, when I was 1st car, people would walk past, to get in the saloon behind me, because Metrocab number one was "too big" (usually for a single passenger)
Then every cab was WAV (Metrocab or LTI) and nobody played picky choosey anymore. Still later, and the converted vans became ever more popular, until recently, where about 75% are vans, with 20% the new model conversion. Nowadays, single passengers are reluctant to travel in the E7 variants, would rather travel in my Metrocab, because the E7's are deemed to be too big. (or thought to be too expensive)

The reluctance to get into a WAV when ther is a mixed fleet is all about "perceived value"

Mixed fleets are unfair. Either 100% wav, or no compulsory wav is the only option, in my opinion.

_________________
Former taxi driver

I have to say I agree with you somewhat, but, having said that I have customers and with the best will in the world they are not going to be able to get into an E7 or the like. The equality bill is far from equal as I've said before

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

Why? On what basis?

_________________
IDFIMH

Maybe they have arthritis....or a broken leg or ankle?

CC

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

Those punters don't just get beamed to the outside of the cab, they must have walked there some how?

If they can walk to the cab, they can walk up the gentle slope of the interior wheelchair ramp.

_________________
IDFIMH

crutches or maybe a walking stick?

Gentle slope? we have fells around here with gentler slopes than the WAV's.

CC

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

Yeah they could probably walk slowly up the ramp of a WAV if the driver got out and held them whilst doing it, but, some people don't want to be held and would like to maintain what dignity they have left whilst they still have some mobility left. I can just see all those enthusiastic drivers standing patiently at the side of the ramp in the pi$$in down rain and not putting their meter on before the passenger gets in the vehicle

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