Taxi Driver Online

Deputy suggests age of taxi drivers feeds ‘late hours’ gap

https://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2021 ... hours-gap/

A LACK of available taxis during the ‘late hours’ could be contributing to the demand for illegal lifts, a politician has claimed.

Deputy Kirsten Morel said the age of taxi drivers could be a factor in fewer vehicles operating between the late evenings and early mornings, leaving a ‘gap in the market’ for illegal taxi services such as Jersey Lifts – a Facebook group which offers transportation in exchange for cash.

Limits are in place on the number of taxi licences – which are issued to vehicles – and badges – which are issued to drivers – but there is little incentive for those reaching retirement age to give up their badges and free up capacity for registered taxi drivers.

Of the taxi-badge holders, 82 are under the age of 50, but just one of those is aged under 30.

There are 116 between 51 and 60 years old, 123 are between 61 and 70 years old, and 50 are over the age of 71.

Deputy Morel said: ‘It is possible that the age of badge holders is leading to fewer taxis being available during late hours – 11pm till 3am.

'I think it is the lack of drivers during these periods that has led to a gap in the market which Jersey Lifts is filling.

‘I think more licences should be issued otherwise the situation will be maintained. I think the [Infrastructure] Minister [Kevin Lewis] has to recognise that Jersey Lifts will continue as long as there are not enough taxis on the road during times of high demand.’

Earlier this year, the Jersey Taxi Drivers Association and firms Yellow Cabs, Citicabs, Liberty Cabs and Domino Cabs sent a joint letter to the late Home Affairs Minister Len Norman accusing the government of failing to tackle the issue, which has remained a point of contention for several years.

When asked how Islanders could be dissuaded from using the illegal alternatives, Deputy Morel said: ‘While there’s a demand that’s being unfulfilled, I doubt it will be possible to dissuade people from using Jersey Lifts. It shouldn’t be forgotten that Jersey Lifts offers a service that people like and value and it does so in a very simple way. I think the only way to encourage people to take regulated taxis will be to provide more taxis at lower prices.’

Deputy Lewis said the number of licenses was limited to 310, but that there was a ‘steady turnover’ with new drivers.

He said: ‘When any driver retires the licenses are re-issued.

‘If you go down to a taxi rank you will see drivers of all ages. Obviously with Covid some have been shielding.’

When asked about Deputy Morel’s comments, he added: ‘If you put more and more taxis on the roads they can’t make a living – it’s a very fine line. Because these [Jersey Lifts] people are operating without background checks or licenses they are able to charge much lower prices.’

So of the total 371 badges, in terms of drivers' age:

Up to 30: 1

31-50: 81

51-60: 116

61-70: 123

Over 70: 50

So almost 47% of drivers are over 60

Or nearly 78% of drivers are over 50

The age profile certainly seems very old

And could certainly see how that might lead to fewer cars out late at night.

But not so sure if uncapping plates would make a huge difference. I mean, there's 371 badges to 310 plates, so plenty of capacity for doubling, assuming that's a thing in Jersey.

Or maybe younger drivers simply won't do the job unless they have their own plate.

Interesting

But 100% of drivers are over 17.

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Former taxi driver

How many 17 year olds are licensed to drive taxis


You don't leave school wanting to be a taxi driver but after a good few years maybe decide on trying it as a career change so of course the age profile is high

the world over !

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Well, that went over your head like a Scottish goalkeeper out of his area, didn’t it?

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Former taxi driver

In your head you think that in mine I was thinking what an asinine comment i'll reply ignoring it

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Younger people are earning far more money in the finance and service sector to even contemplate the taxi/PH trade for more than a second.

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IDFIMH

Taxi drivers keep working to supplement States pension

https://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2021 ... s-pension/

TAXI drivers are treated as ‘second-class citizens’ and many have to continue working until they are older, the former president of the Jersey Taxi Drivers Association has said.

Mick Tostevin, now JTDA treasurer and secretary, made the comments after Deputy Kirsten Morel suggested the age of taxi drivers could be a factor in fewer vehicles operating between the late evenings and early mornings, leaving a ‘gap in the market’ for illegal taxi services such as Jersey Lifts – a Facebook group which offers transport in exchange for cash.

Figures obtained by the JEP showed that there are 82 taxi-badge holders under the age of 50, but just one of those is aged under 30. There are 116 between 51 and 60 years old, 123 between 61 and 70 years old, and 50 who are over the age of 71.

Mr Tostevin said: ‘Most taxi drivers are self-employed and many have given many years of loyal service to the industry. Like a lot of self-employed people it is very difficult and getting harder to survive on just a States pension and so many have to continue working.

‘Some of the older drivers are the last ones still working late at night and also covering the very early morning work to the Airport, and it is unfair and unjust to pick on someone because of their age.’

Earlier this year, the Jersey Taxi Drivers Association and firms Yellow Cabs, Citicabs, Liberty Cabs and Domino Cabs sent a joint letter to the late Home Affairs Minister Len Norman expressing their frustration over illegal lift services in the Island, and accused the government of failing to support the industry.

Mr Tostevin said: ‘What we see on a nightly basis is that taxis are struggling to access the limited amount of rank spaces available, especially as the rank in Library Place is mostly just a daytime taxi rank and most people use the Weighbridge taxi rank at night.’

Deputy Morel also said it would be difficult to dissuade Islanders from using Jersey Lifts, as it ‘offers a service that people like and value’.

However, Mr Tostevin said: ‘We quite often get passengers stating that they have paid more in a Jersey Lift.’

He added that drivers sometimes faced ‘very drunken and abusive passengers’ that had discouraged some from wanting to work at night.

‘It seems that taxi [drivers] are treated as second-class citizens,’ he said.

In response to Mr Tostevin’s comments, Deputy Morel said: ‘I think it is excellent that taxi services offer a means for Islanders to continue working into their retirement years – the low level of income that characterises many pensions makes this an important option.’

He added: ‘However, I urge the Infrastructure Minister [Kevin Lewis] to work with the industry to find ways to enable younger drivers to enter the profession, as this may play a role in filling the gaps in the market that are being filled by informal lift services. I think it is also important that the minister ensures there are sufficient taxi rank spaces in town to enable drivers to be available at times of peak demand.’

Can't really argue with that, but most of us join this trade with our eyes wide open, and then continue in it for many years.

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IDFIMH