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PostPosted: Mon Oct 11, 2021 10:35 am 
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Despite the headline below, this seems to be mainly about private hire fares.

But it's not clear who's setting the fares - the piece makes it sound like it's individual drivers, but presumably they're working for offices.

Then the article seems to be making a point about Uber's surge-pricing, but doesn't use the U-word.

Then a customer mentions getting a 'quote' from a 'taxi', which is presumably an HC, but who knows :?

(The £35 quote to Bearsden seems to be out-of-area, and is about six miles according to Google.)


Glasgow cab drivers defend soaring weekend fares

https://planetradio.co.uk/clyde/local/n ... ing-fares/

Private-hire drivers claim their wages haven't gone up for a decade.

Private-hire drivers in Glasgow are telling Clyde 1 they are being forced to charge higher fares at the weekend because the cost of living is on the rise.

John Paul Duffy works in the city and claims he struggles to keep up with rising fuel costs and keeping his car on the road.

He said: "Licensing fees, insurance and general maintenance of the vehicles have gone up and so I think it is only right that fares increase too.

"Drivers have to charge more during busy times, like Friday and Saturday nights, because they don't earn much money when it is quieter.

"People need to remember that most of the time we aren't earning much and the majority of our income at the minute has to come from the weekends."

"Our wages have not really gone up for ten years"

John Paul points out that driver wages have not gone up in real terms for the last decade.

He added: "We are still only charging £1.50 per mile on average and if you compare that to ten years ago it was around £1.10.

"Unfortunately, we have had to put prices up because of the struggles we have faced during the pandemic.

"Our wages have not really gone up for ten years."

"The customer shouldn't be out of pocket"

He admits passengers are being ripped off when they have to pay £40 or £50 for a 10 minute journey home from Glasgow city centre on a Friday or Saturday night.

John Paul said: "We obviously don't agree with these high prices.

"It's not good for the passenger or the driver.

"We should be earning a fair and liveable rate of pay with a reliable average per hour, but the customer shouldn't be out of pocket either."

"Sometimes it is not worth going out"

Twenty-five-year-old Joe Gardener from Bearsden spent two and a half hours on a Saturday night last month trying to find an affordable taxi home.

One driver quoted him £35 and he claims it has put him off going on nights out.

He said: "I'd rather miss out on a couple of pints and a bit of chat with my mates than to pay a ridiculous price to get home.

"I don't want to have to pay these fares and sometimes it is not worth going out.

"There has to be a way of getting the customer home safely without ripping them off, but we need to keep drivers happy too and pay them a wage they deserve."


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PostPosted: Mon Oct 11, 2021 12:20 pm 
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Joined: Wed May 16, 2012 6:33 am
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Glasgow Unite have posted this. So according to them the problem is only late Saturday/early Sunday, and even Friday nights are OK :?

Who'd have expected that? [-(

Glasgow Unite Cab Section wrote:
If press reports are to be believed there’s a drought of taxis out there to service the public. The truth of the matter is, the same number of taxis exist as before the pandemic, however, like the bus and HGV sectors, we are currently experiencing a shortage of drivers. Overlooked for financial support by Glasgow City Council, and no longer willing to work 60-70 hours per week for minimum wage, many have chosen to leave the trade, not to mention no Topographic exams were held for over a year.

The reality of the situation is, we are currently experiencing some shortages, predominantly at peak periods on Saturday nights, which seems to be the evening the majority choose to head out. The rest of the week sees no such shortages. Friday night at midnight saw George Square amongst others, filled with taxis on the rank with little to no work.

Saturday nights are not helped however by the inaccessibility of key ranks (see video of Sauchiehall St), which are fully occupied with parked cars. Unite have tirelessly raised the matter with both the Council and Police Scotland for the past few years, only for it to fall on deaf ears, with one passing responsibility to the other. The result of this inaction causes the public to either wander aimlessly in search of a taxi, or gravitate to Gordon St which exacerbates the issues of an already busy rank.

Perhaps it’s time the authorities took their responsibilities seriously instead of continually passing the buck.


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PostPosted: Mon Oct 11, 2021 12:22 pm 
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The rank in the video looks full of about 6-8 parked cars, which is obviously a joke, but not sure if that's not a bit peripheral to the main issue at this time.

Anyway, don't think Unite's point elsewhere about the problem being caused by historic over-provision of PHVs will cut much ice with the public and council at this time, because it was Unite who wanted PHVs capped, and of course there's been no new HCV licences issued for decades.

And Unite also wanted the topo test etc for PHDs, so a bit rich to complain about that now acting as a logjam.

Another point that's now becoming more obvious is that vehicle caps are not really relevant if, as Unite is claiming, there are hundreds of cars idle because of a lack of drivers. But that's becoming more evident from other reports, such as from Perth and Leven in Fife.

And this also largely contradicts Unite's claim about a lack of Covid support causing the current driver shortage and idle cars. Remember, badgeholders here got £4k from the Scottish Government, while plateholders got peanuts. So Unite's point sounds back to front :?


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PostPosted: Mon Oct 11, 2021 3:41 pm 
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Location: Stamford Britains prettiest town till SKDC ruined it
welcome to Stuarts world :lol:

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PostPosted: Mon Oct 11, 2021 9:39 pm 
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Quote:
"The customer shouldn't be out of pocket"

What a strange heading?

Should drivers be viewed as charity? Are those working silly hours to be out of pocket instead?

When supply was plentiful were punters complaining about silly low prices?

Maybe now, if only for a while, drivers that work nights might actually get the respect they deserve.

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