Taxi Driver Online

I think we are getting off the thread slightly, but legitimately IMO.

But the question I always ask is how do folks who hate WAVs get about in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Plymouth, Glasgow, Birmingham, Liverpool and the dozens of other large cities that already have a 100% WAV taxi fleet.

The answer I suppose for locals is PH, but for folks coming off a train, coach, boat etc etc, how many of them don't get into the first cab?

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IDFIMH

I think jimbo is about right (or was it me? ) financially someone being forced to license a 'nearly new' WAV cannot hope to compete with a saloon vehicle operating from the same rank with running costs of half that of the WAV.

Yes the WAV can maybe do additional work such as wheelchair and 5 and 6 seater work, but the gulf in costs is so significant it cannot hope to get even close to making the difference up.

Invariably WAV owners have a second car for private use with additional running costs.

The only sensible way is all or nothing.

CC

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

I think that could be addressed by insisting that saloon type taxis have to be new on 1st licence, whereas a purpose built can be up to 3 years old on 1st licence. They can also insist on a high spec for saloon hackneys regarding size and boot space etc. If a mixed fleet is in operation and the % of WAV's drops they could then say that the only licence available requires a WAV until the % raise to equal standing. I know it's not perfect but IMO it's better than 100% WAV only.

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

We appear to have lost sight of the principle of customer choice. In a mixed fleet the customer has a choice, albeit sometimes forced upon them by circumstances, ambulant disabled or wheelchair bound. Some of those who are wheelchair bound refuse to have a WAV, preferring to get out of the wheelchair into a comfortable seat facing the right way! Are they to be denied that c hoice? Yes, if Harriet Harperson has her way.

'Equality' has become a euphamism for one size fits all. In the words of Patrick McGoohan in The Prisoner, 'I am not a number, I am a free man!'

if there was mixed fleets, punters should be made to use the first cab from any rank by law, unless they need a wav that is maybe 3rd or 4Th on the rank, if it is they can go strait to it
that does not include lazy mothers with prams and buggy's
If someone wants a particular driver/ company, they must wait until they have reached the front

As opposed to going straight to the cab offering 20% off Skippy eh?

CC

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

I am hardly on our rank I'm to busy with phone work and its 25% BTW
If a punter wants someone on the rank they can always call them and the driver must pull off the rank to a suitable pick up point

So public choice doesnt come into it skippy?

CC

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

Will you still give a 25% discount when you get your WAV?

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Former taxi driver

Public choice went out the window in 1995.
Left to public choice, the market in most places would be 100% saloon taxis.

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

You mean with the DDA?

CC

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

I wonder if anyone has thought about whether councils and authorities should be allowed to discriminate between one driver and another?
After all is it not discriminatory to expect drivers after a certain date to have to buy a particular vehicle and yet allow those drivers who own saloons to stay the same?
I think the way it's going is most likely that wav drivers will be in the majority and saloon drivers may be forced by their councils to upgrade to a wav or moved on to a PH plate......
Discrimination comes in all guises, so don't be surprised if this is challenged sooner or later.......
Councils don't want to end up in courts on challenges so they will preempt it, so in the main will most likely end up being wav's on ranks only, with the choice being left to the punter to pre book PH saloon if they want one..... after all there are plenty of PH cabs and companies around these days! Seems to me the only logical solution.
Unless everyone is brought under the same banner and then you will never get on a taxi rank ....... they won't exist!!

I think the definition of equality is treating everyone the same.

And if everyone being treated the same means they must all shell out the same amount for motors, then so be it.

For the last 150 years the trade has discriminated against itself, which is why most drivers are more than happy to worry about the next job rather than the next 20 years of jobs.

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IDFIMH

This was covered in one of the Newcastle cases and the 'discrimination' was at that time deemed to be legal.

Arguably this has been backed up last year by the IRU report.



That goes without saying.



Which is the system already in place in numerous areas.



Which is what the IOL and numerous deregulators want.

Its strange, and I am certainly no advocate of deregulation, but you use the word discrimination in respect of saloon hackney owners and WAV owners. I know the financial difference, in foact I highlight it at every opportunity.

But I find it strange that a trade that effectively wants a limited numbers policy, and the discrimination that could be suggested from that, is prepared to use the word discrimination in respect of types of vehicle.

Just an observation.

CC

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

By treating all the drivers the same they are forgetting about the customers, who are all far from the same

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