Taxi Driver Online

I agree with you, my point was not to lower standards, but raise them for everyone, allow those who have passed the test (ala London) to get a plate, they shouldn't be selling plates, thats one of the reasons for falling standards, it's not how good is your knowlegde but how much your willing to pay, de regulate and allow cabbies a badge on merit, then get rid of PH, it's the two tier system that is the problem, neither the market, nor the majority of the drivers want it, in fact I bet it's only those with current plates at artificial prices, and those that profit from the trade of these, that are happy with the status quo, we have lots of regular trade, and they all see us as offering a better service, (the regulars care little for the knowlegde, sso that only leaves tourists, and given the sophistication of satnav nowadays this is becoming less of a problem, so now the service is seen as providing, clean safe realible comfortable transport, in a friendly manner, our LA ensures this happens, others could too, but a one tier system would make more sense) they also don't care wether we PH or Hack, on a wet saturday night, they just want home, level the playing field (even if the LA's had to compensate those whom they allowed to transfer plates where they knew there was cost involved)it works in other major cities, why not major cities in the UK.

But bickering between ourselves will only keep the real culprits out of the limelight.

We have a level of agreement here but as a hack, I wont and never will agree that phc under current legislation should be allowed the same allowances as the black cab trade. They unfortunately will be seen as the enemy until they raise their game, infighting in the hack trade is the biggest enemy we face, there is milage in the argument for opening up the trade to those that would like to operate a plate but you tell me the and other septics the timeline and how this could be acheived without destabilising all our earnings. If you or any others can show how we can expand and prosper then you will not want for support.

Jack

We have a level of agreement here but as a hack, I wont and never will agree that phc under current legislation should be allowed the same allowances as the black cab trade. They unfortunately will be seen as the enemy until they raise their game, infighting in the hack trade is the biggest enemy we face, there is milage in the argument for opening up the trade to those that would like to operate a plate but you tell me the and other septics the timeline and how this could be acheived without destabilising all our earnings. If you or any others can show how we can expand and prosper then you will not want for support.

Jack

and by the sounds of it all the extra has been taken by the PH

Equality, equality they cry.

Disabled access cabs, oh no!, not that equality, just that which suits us, like Bus lanes and more badges.

Equality, equality they cry.

Disabled access cabs, oh no!, not that equality, just that which suits us, like Bus lanes and more badges.

why do you London Boys feel so strobgly about this, all the rest of the country want is the same as you, plates given to folks on merit, how would you feel if London started selling plates to the highest bidder, and if you paid you only needed to sit a simplified knowledge test?

Skull, I do see the others POV re WAV, but perhaps there is another way, subsidised WAV for those that want to run them, cars for the rest, a lot of LA's licence saloon cars as full blown taxis anyway, so wheres the distinction, apart from the artifical plate market

[ The knowledge will be the last to go if it's not replaced by different standards technology will see to that. I give it 2-3 years before Sat Nav is better than a driver with 'the knowledge' and every quality new vehicle has one built.

yep with real time traffic assesment that works, sat nav is getting better every 3-6 months, you can even use voice activation on the more sophisticated units, thing is I'm not sire of the mechanics of creating a single tier system, but the current two tier one is not working as well as a single more stringent single tier would, and ill all honesty, until we have a single tier system the threat of unlicensed PH still looms for us all, but if we had a level single tier system then it would be a lot easier to police those who don't have a licence.

FWIW I can see the Hacks POV, however even they have to admit the current victorian system only benefits a few, and hinders many, inc the most important, the paying customer.

The funny thing is I’ve never had a problem with the Ph I even backed a proposal to bring them into the company when I was with CRT. The Chairman (Alan Johnston) was all for an integrated fleet. He predicted as did many others the day would come when the Hacks would be losing their market share and the Ph would surpass them in quality of service. Once again it seems to be the diehard’s with no vision or understanding of technology who will cripple the trade, making it just another low paid industry for immigrant labour. The irony is in the 70s the plate value was the Holy Grail of a trade with no competition. Now in 2006 it’s bringing the trade to its knees giving away all its market to its competitors for fear of losing their plate value. Of course the reality is they will lose it anyway.

I'm new to all this, but one thing I do notice, is while we bicker at each other those that have most to gain from the current system, are quietly laughing up their sleeves, we all do more or less the same job, ie ferry passengers for hire/reward, we should stand together, as divided we'll lose, if the taxi trade get the PH on side, then some amicable arrangement could be made to integrtae us all harmoniously without dammaging the pockets of those hindered by the current system, we will all win, and so will the passengers, trains, buses and private transport are our competition, not each other, maintaing the current line will only end in tears.

We have a level of agreement here but as a hack, I wont and never will agree that phc under current legislation should be allowed the same allowances as the black cab trade. They unfortunately will be seen as the enemy until they raise their game, infighting in the hack trade is the biggest enemy we face, there is milage in the argument for opening up the trade to those that would like to operate a plate but you tell me the and other septics the timeline and how this could be acheived without destabilising all our earnings. If you or any others can show how we can expand and prosper then you will not want for support.

Jack

sorry to point this out to you jackcab but take a look around and you wil see mercs and other good motors being used by the PH trade you can be sure that some of us have raised our game.

i never have seen the taxi trade as the enemy as i have to many friend who drive them and talked to a lot of taxi drivers at the garages at nights to think there is a us and them attitude.

Well, I am even sorrier to point out that the mercs (and some of them are realy nice) are still the exception rather than the rule, but it was not just the cars I meant.

but it was not just the cars I meant.