Taxi Driver Online

You have only to look at what De-Reg did to bus services to know IT DOES NOT WORK.
No benefit to either the public or the operators.
Change may need to be made but even a regulated derestricted system has failed the buses and the taxi trade will fare much the same.
The OFT reports own data confirms that services are worse or no better in Dereg areas than restricted areas.

Why shouldn't a fully 100% licensed taxi driver have his own taxi vehicle?

Without having to pay up to £80,000 (Oxford) for the privilege, from someone who got it for nothing.

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IDFIMH

What has that got to do with Dereg thats just someone who wants something for nothing. They are buying a business a going concern. Like most businesses they are controlled, like the average High Street a local planning committee would not allow 10 supermarkets together, or a mass of pubs, or changing hotels to flats etc.

So we are now talking about goodwill, not dereg.

What goodwill can you establish in a restricted area that you can't establish in a de-limited area?

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IDFIMH

Further to the above it might be worth reminding everyone what the courts think of this so-called 'goodwill' in relation to plate premiums.

In Royden-v-Wirral http://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/markup.cg ... /2484.html my good friend SIR CHRISTOPHER BELLAMY QC sums it up quite nicely and clearly.

Since Mr Royden has not been deprived of his licence, and does not object to the conditions attaching to the licence (e.g. a vehicle no more than three years old, wheelchair access etc), that leaves only the expected loss of the premium or 'scarcity value' of the licence that might have been expected to be payable by a transferee of Mr Royden's licence at some future date. However, unlike the normal case of "goodwill" as a business asset, this 'premium' does not arise out of the fact that Mr Royden has built up a reputation or has an established clientele, as might be the case of a business such as a restaurant. The 'premium' arises simply because of the restriction on the number of hackney carriages authorised to ply for hire in the Wirral area. In other words, it is simply the reflection of the value of the local monopoly enjoyed by the existing hackney carriage proprietors and drivers. Presumably, the transferee's willingness to pay such a premium results from his estimation of the future profits he hopes to be able to make from the business thus protected.

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IDFIMH

I'm not going to get embroiled in the finer points of the rights and wrongs of Bus deregulation because although you made a statement suggesting there are no winners I can point you to many qualified studies that say bus deregulation has been beneficial to the public.

For some reason you prefer not to back up your opinion with substantive facts? This is a shame because I'm sure many people on here and elsewhere would love to know your reasoning on how bus deregulation compares with licensing authorities that have seen only a small percentage increase in the number of Taxis since they removed quantity controls?

In towns and cities I'm sure the main problem road users have with buses is that there are too many of them. On the other hand if you happen to be a member of the public who relies on the frequency of buses then a surplus rather than a lack of them would obviously prove beneficial? I am of the opinion that the concept of bus deregulation is not to blame for any current difficulty that might need resolving, if blame is to be proportioned then it should lay firmly at the door of those politicians entrusted with implementing this legislation.

Instead of blaming the concept of deregulation you might wish to consider blaming those whom put the current package in place.

In my opinion there is a great deal wrong with PSV legislation that needs rectifying but once again that is the fault of politicians. The human element manifests itself in all its glory in PSV legislation but I suspect time will rectify that situation, "eventually".

In respect of Taxis, perhaps you would like to put forward a coherent argument as to why the public are best served by being restricted to 104 taxis as against 134? Quite frankly we have been down this road many times before and the points from those who wish to retain quantity controls are always the same. We haven't heard one unique point that elevates the policy of QT above that of Quality control.

Regards

JD

By having a regulated and controlled taxi service you encourage investment. If operators are confident of future trade they invest in new vehicles, technology etc. Who is going to invest in a market faced with uncontrolled expansion, if you open a restaurant or shop etc it is unlikley that 20 others are going to open up in front of you offering identical food or services, local planning controls take account of existing businesses and try balance the outlets to give the public a wide range of goods and services. They encourage business and investment so the whole area prospers. 10 quality oulets are better than 20 poor ones. Look at your high street is it full of cheap discount stores or is it a shopping Mall with modern well lits shop selling prestige brands. What are the advantages of Dereg apart from you getting a plate for nothing?

So there is no investment in the 72% of unrestricted authorities and investment only takes place in restricted authorities, such as Blackpool?

You do realise the stupidity of this statement, don't you?

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

[quote="JD"][quote="T."]You have only to look at what De-Reg did to bus services to know IT DOES NOT WORK.


I'm not going to get embroiled in the finer points of the rights and wrongs of Bus deregulation because although you made a statement suggesting there are no winners I can point you to many qualified studies that say bus deregulation has been beneficial to the public.



In towns and cities I'm sure the main problem road users have with buses is that there are too many of them. On the other hand if you happen to be a member of the public who relies on the frequency of buses then a surplus rather than a lack of them would obviously prove beneficial?
Instead of blaming the concept of deregulation you might wish to consider blaming those whom put the current package in place.


Reply: You obviously did not watch the TV prog. about Manchester Buses.
They now have some many on the popular routes that the public are totally confused. One Bus Operator imported buses from Africa that have such a small turning circle they are jaming up the city centre. Again and again passenger interviewed complained about every aspect of the services. More buses more confusion. Why were buses regulated in the first place years again ? ANSWER= Because market forces were not working. The same applies to the taxi trade we need regulation because market forces alone do not work. Regulation brings consistancy, quality of service, investment in the future etc. is that not to the Public benefit.

So there is no investment in the 72% of unrestricted authorities and investment only takes place in restricted authorities, such as Blackpool?

You do realise the stupidity of this statement, don't you?

Reply: Who is doing the investing Owner/Drivers or large circuit operators? No BRAINER that one !!! More taxis more subs, more dependacy on account work and radio work to make ends meet.
You keep puttin them up, I'll shoot um down. Try to put a bit more effort in, I like a challenge, this is like winning an argument with a 5 year old, they only see whats just in front of them, put some depth into your thinking. You are to easily dazzled by your own sparkle.

How many current plateholders in Oxford got their plates for nothing?

How many plates are there in Oxford?

Give all the information Sussex .................. not just the part that suits your argument.

B. Lucky

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"Here's a simple solution. If you don't want to pay more for a premium service then wait in the queue, problem solved".
Skull on TDO

TF pi$$ed on his chips.

Who knows?

But I can tell you how many the council issued for nothing - them all

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Can you just remind me what argument you are winning please?

Are you saying that driver's choice is bad, or that all drivers are thick?

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IDFIMH

Well you tell me, it was you who made the following statement,

By having a regulated and controlled taxi service you encourage investment.

I offered up Blackpool as a being a regulated and controlled taxi service and you closed your eyes to my simple offering. Perhaps you can tell us if Blackpool fits into your template of investment? Or is that a question too far? It is common knowledge that in derestricted areas the emphasis is on owner drivers ask Mr Casey of the NTA. I suppose you probably had Mr Cummins of Cardiff in mind when you were thinking of circuit operators.



Some might say work is work but I've always said that in my opinion, derestriction of numbers without adequet quality controls will probably place a higher dependency for work on radio circuits, however radio circuits need not be overly expensive if drivers got their act together and formed their own setup at cost. There is also the innovation of taxi call services which is growing on a daily basis. Weekends generate most income and very few cabbies work the radio at weekends ask Wayne casey of Carlisle.



It would appear you're not a very good shot and your aim is somewhat wide of the mark, perhaps you need a little more practice? You won't get much practice on me unless you improve your understanding of the taxi trade.



I think you're so far short of the winning post that its debatable if you will ever finish the race? Your being lapped consistently and fatique is setting in, I think we will be bringing on the stretcher bearers for you pretty soon.



I'll consider that after you have convinced me and everyone else that Blackpool fits into your template of investment.

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.