It's dead out there. There's no demand for taxis. And there is not going to be later. No unmet demand queues at marshaled taxi ranks either.
How do I know this?
Because my neighbour's taxi is firmly ensconced on his drive. It hasn't moved tonight. And it aint going to.
So he is not out there meeting unmet demand. He either knows it doesn't exist or, as is more likely, he doesn't care. But then, why should he? No one else associated with Edinburgh's taxi trade cares about customers, so why should he. And when he's ready, when it suits him, he'll get back in the saddle and harvest cash from the cash cow customers to pay his bills.
Strange thing is, when Halcrow were deciding that the queues of customers formed because they can't hail cab, or vulnerable women walk rather than hang around, or when those females take a lift from an alternative unsafe source and they are harmed as a result (and it has happened), didn't amount to an unmet demand, was my neighbour's conscience be "panged"? Did it occur to him whether being granted a Scottish Nasty Party privileged restricted licence places some obligation on him to make some effort to meet public demand? And that isn't by sitting with his butt welded his chair, watching a football match.
Did Halcrow scour the schemes and estates at 1 am to see how many of the restricted taxis were already parked up? So, how "professional" are Halcrow?
Sad thing is that there are guys out there who can't get access to a car. Or their own plate. Who would meet the demand, but aren't allowed to. Because City of Edinburgh Council puts protecting its own and vested interests before the needs of the public it is supposedly charged to put first?
Of course, there may be another answer. His taxi is a peter cab. And, couldn't there be another reason he doesn't think it worthwhile to hit the streets? Lost contracts, declining work, increased competition even within his own company .... all delivered by those who see the company as their own and not the members'.
I hope those walking home are chuffed he enjoyed the match.
