Taxi Driver Online

Guernsey taxi driver says 'peak times are very difficult' to provide a service

The low number of taxi drivers in Guernsey is making it difficult for islanders and tourists to travel.

Many islanders are finding it harder to get a taxi from the airport, after a night out and from taxi ranks. But, the Guernsey Taxi Federation says the problem does not lie with the number of cars, but rather the decreasing number of drivers.

Many registered taxi drivers left the industry during the covid pandemic and never returned. Several more drivers have left the industry since, leaving those remaining struggling to meet demand.

Leon Gallienne, Guernsey Taxi Federation President says: "At peak times it’s very difficult for us to provide the service that’s needed. We’re struggling. I can assure the public that many of the drivers are working long hours trying to provide a service, but unfortunately, we’re not immune to the world situation."

The States of Guernsey completed an independent review looking at private hire and taxi businesses as a whole. This includes availability, affordability and reliability.

The report has been completed according to the States. However, the Taxi Owners Federation has not had sight of it yet.

Taxi drivers hope that the findings of the report will help the States to come up with a clear strategy to both support and rejuvenate the industry moving forward.

However, until the report has been reviewed and the findings are known, the small pool of dedicated drivers will continue to do their best to support the island's needs.

Leon says: "I hope that we get more support, I think it’s now recognised that we do need a quality taxi service. It’s been taken for granted for a number of years – not enough people understand that we are well needed out here and with that we need to work with the department to try and recruit what I would say are younger members of the public."

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IDFIMH

Just can't understand it. One of the richest tax havens in the world can't get enough drivers to ferry all those millionaires around.

Despite there being loads of empty taxis, I'm assuming.

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IDFIMH

Lack of Guernsey taxis 'affecting tourism'

A lack of Guernsey taxis is leaving a negative impression on visitors, the island's tourism lead says.

Last week travellers were reported being stranded at the airport because they could not get a cab.

Hoteliers also said they had dealt with visitors' "frustration".

Taxi representatives said 50 drivers had stopped working since the Covid-19 pandemic, unsociable hours had deterred potential recruits, and airport runs could be "unprofitable".

Deputy Simon Vermeulen said that, as well as difficulties at the airport, people were "shying away from town" because it was difficult to get a taxi "to go visit a restaurant and perhaps come back".

The States has sent out questionnaires to hotels to determine the impact the lack of public transport is having
Calum Le Noury, of Sarnia Hotels, said there was "frustration; I wouldn't say angry", but many sectors "do seem to be short of staff" since the pandemic.

He added that visitors "don't know where they are going and don't know how to get there, but had thought they'd be able to jump on some transport as soon as they arrive, which is not necessarily happening".

Leon Gallienne, president of the Guernsey Taxi Owners' Federation, said the organisation was "well aware of the situation" and it "hasn't just sprung up".

He said: "About two years before Covid we were 50 or so drivers short. Since, I'd say we've lost another 50."

He said "the expense of becoming a driver, the tests, unsociable hours, and dealing with difficult members of the public on occasions" was deterring people.

He added that airport runs were not "profitable" if drivers only had two fares in an hour as opposed to driving in town on a Saturday night.

The States has sent out questionnaires to hotels to determine the impact the lack of public transport is having.

Officials said a report would be published "very soon".

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IDFIMH

What a load of nonsense some of these people speak. If the airport runs weren't profitable, then very unlikely anyone would do them. Maybe 'less' profitable than other runs, but not unprofitable

And what's stopping drivers from charging a hire rate, and/or an airport pick-up fee?

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IDFIMH

Never seen this comment in a taxi report.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe ... y-62794006

there's a real paradox at the heart of it, which is that there is inadequate supply, yet at the same time inadequate demand.

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IDFIMH

Noticed this the other day in an earlier report (but couldn't be bothered posting it).

But I think the politician here is in summary pointing out the central paradox.


Must be the pressure of all that cash they're coining in

But I'd guess the grassroots drivers who are working will be doing fine, particularly those working late, because of the shortage, but it's not so good for customers, and now the "president of Guernsey's Taxi Owner's Federation" is moaning that they need government help.

So it's essentially the same paradox that's always been around, and particularly so post-lockdown - the owners, fleet holders and offices have lost a lot of drivers, and there are few newbies coming through.

So the drivers who are still around will be doing fine, but not so good for those further up the food chain.

Thus nothing new about the paradox, and it's been pointed out often enough on here. And doesn't need a 333-page report to work it all out