Taxi Driver Online

Then it comes down to whether they were plying for hire or not. If they were then they can't refuse a fare without good reason, if they were'nt then they shouldn't have been in a position where it appeared they were - and being able to be approached by officers and asked to hire it seems they were available, saying they were hoping a fare arose that was going in the direction of the booking means they were plying - but only if going a certain direction.

If it looks like rank, smells like a rank and behaves like a rank.....

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

You cannot blame them for trying to stop another form of "cherry picking"

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Common sense........is just not that Common.

Where do you draw the line though.
I could have a booking that is due from say east midlands airport in 1 hours time. It takes 40 minutes to get to the airport. I am available for immediate hire for the next 20 minutes then someone asks to be taken to a destination that is 25 minutes in the wrong direction but still within the borough, are you saying that I can't refuse that request even though it would make me late at the airport?

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Grandad,

on the f**** floor of course

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Ok we have all been there, you/I have got a pick up at a given time! You /I can only take a fare 10 mins away and allow 10 mins back - the trick if there is one, is to stay off of the rank and to try and attract a prospective punter with a smile or eye contact, and to make a decision....But! not on a rank as it will definitely bring you/I into a contentious situation.

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Common sense........is just not that Common.

So the deciding factor is "the rank"? Had the chap in question been anywhere else, he would have been OK.

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Grandad,

NO.....it would not have been okay. What it probably would have done is not brought it to the attention in such a blatant way.

I have personally been in this situation and sat away from a rank. My own take is this - if and when a potential customer approaches you, is for you/I to get in first before the customer says where they want to go. To then say, I would like to help you but I can only do a short fare as I have another booking, adding you can only travel 1/2/3/whatever miles that allows you/I to take the booking is that okay/what you want. By adopting that spiel no one can accuse you/I of "Cherry picking" - you are doing the job to the best of your/my ability.

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Common sense........is just not that Common.

But if we believe what we are being told, and I have no reason to doubt it, then what that chap done is no more than all of us do every single day.

If we have prebooked work for say 30 minutes time, then we bin off any work that isn't going to allow us to meet that booking.

This applies to school runs and airport work to name two examples.

So in effect it can be the reverse of the normal cherry picking you mention, as it can mean short runs are covered better.

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IDFIMH

I accept what you say in a sense! Having said that "Cherry Picking" by definition re the taxi trade usually covers drivers binning small fares, in order to financially make a gain. I believe that you could successfully argue the point re taking a small fare.

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Common sense........is just not that Common.

Around here most drivers actually prefer the short local jobs.

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Grandad,

I think it will vary from area to area. From a personal point of view and 967 other Hacks around....I am happy with out of the City work. In this neck of the woods, cherry picking is usually associated with lucrative (my favourite word) (such a rich sound about it lol) fares, usually distance/better money.

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Common sense........is just not that Common.

Distance = less £ per mile. My place to Heathrow=210 mile round trip, fare £120 if you're lucky and 5 hours drive, = 57p/mile, £24 per hour.

Local trips = £1 per mile. In the same 5 hours could earn more than the 12p a mile profit on the Heathrow run.

You cannot be serious, £120 for 210 miles, even I would take £250, plus any airport escape fee

Yes, I AM serious, that's what a lot of the twunts round here do airport runs for! And they don't build in waiting time or the escape fee, which is why I don't do airport runs except Lydd, which is 4 miles out of town! £10, kerchingggggg.