Oh yes, taxis

eoineen

I was in Dun Laoghaire today. A fine day for a cultural festival. A few pints, pleasant conversation, the odd argument.

I don't normally socialise in DL but you would think, hold on, you would believe that the new "deregulated" taxi service serving Dublin and its environs was working overtime in this busy weekend. I stood for about 90 minutes (ok I know) at the rank outside the church waiting for a taxi that apparently never comes, me and a few dozen other muppets of course. In the mean time, the clubs empty, the pubs close and yet more people pour on to the streets. It's a taxi rank...without taxis.

Not a lover of Ger Deering and his ilk but also cannot understand why so few cabs were plying their trade in the area on this premium weekend?

I walked for 2 miles to Stradbrook Road to eventually get a cab for Kimmage. Why? Free market my arse.

admiralofthefleet

I know exactly where you are coming from

the same taxi drivers that left you standing there for an hour and a half are the same ones that always complain about the lack of business, saying sh.it like "there isnt any money to be made in this game".

that is the worst place in dublin to q for a taxi, I have been left standing there many a time too, you should have walked up glenageary road to the sallynoggin roundabout, there is always taxis there. its 25 mins from the church.

Hotblack Desiato

Umm, Dart into city centre followed by bus or cab?

Flukey

The worst place to get a taxi is at a taxi rank. Always start walking and pick one up along the way. You'll be getting closer, meaning a shorter and cheaper journey, you'll pick one up quicker, so you'll be home faster too. Sometimes you'll even get to the point where you can walk the rest of the way. It may take a while, but it is better than still being at the rank, an hour later. So if you want a taxi, start walking towards home.

Ham'nd'egger

In fairness, closing time on a Friday or Saturdaynight is going to be a peak time for taxis, Eoineen, not too shocking that you had to wait.

eoineen

ninja900 wrote:

Umm, Dart into city centre followed by bus or cab?

Ninja900: it was after 1.30am. Darts finished at midnight that night.

eoineen

Yes but one taxi for 1.5 hours? Give me a break. Isnt the point of deregulation meant to "liberalise" the market?

Ham'nd'egger

eoineen wrote:

Yes but one taxi for 1.5 hours? Give me a break. Isnt the point of deregulation meant to "liberalise" the market?

As I said, it's a busy time about then for taxi's so you can expect a wait, simple as that, dereg or no dereg. No offence, but you can't just expect a line of them a la the Carlsberg ad when your off home lol

eoineen

I suppose so Ham'nd'egger (cool name BTW) but wasnt the point of deregulation to free up the market so that more people could get taxis?

I dont expect an all night service from Irishrail, I dont expect an all night service from DublinBus but taxis are the last resort for many. You could even argue that I shouldnt be out that late but the point is, a taxi rank is a reasonable place to get a reasonable expectation of a taxi otherwise it's just rank!

It might be argued that I should have left the rank earlier and as soon as I saw the club opposite emptying out but hell, I needed a rant at 3.50am that morning

SeanW

Slightly OT but in the last few weeks I've been noticing something seeminly new: taxi signs seemingly as gaeilge.

As in that big sign over the top of the car that usually says TAXI in a straightforward simplistic typeface, now has TACSI written in aincent celtic style instead. I have NEVER seen this before.

Has the linguistic fascist brigade moved into taxi regulation or what's going on there?