Taxi Driver

astrofool

meh, tax drivers had all this coming to them for the crap they put the country through prior to deregulation.

All those people queuing for hours for a taxi in the wee hours of the morning, now couldn't care less about the "woes" of a taxi driver, and this is being reflected in the lack of support for the driver's.

Karma is cruel

AnonoBoy

Yeah yeah - eyes on the road, keep your mouth shut and get me home Jeeves.

toiletduck

What is required from the taxi regulator and the Government is not an increase in fares but for some method to reduce the number of taxis.

Like pre-2000? No thanks.

Fishyfreak

No sympathy for taxi-drivers.

I paid €50- last month for a taxi from Swords to Bettystown (20 minute trip). He should have worn a ski-mask driving us home.

Johnny Drama

Fishyfreak wrote: »

He should have worn a ski-mask driving us home.

You have a gimp fetish?

arybvtcw0eolkf

not yet wrote: »

The bottom line is if your willing to work fri, sat nights you will make 250 min each night.

Seriously, so for a few hours two nights a week a driver would make what the average joe makes in a week after tax?.

I still think thats a bullsh*t line your being fed, in which case your 'friends' ain't friends.

I seriously doubt there's lads making that kind of money, but I've no doubt about it that lads are SAYING they're making it.

Three spoofs I hear from taxi driver's all the time..

1. How much money they're making.

2. The amount of chic's they shag.

3. The amount of lads they've had to beat up for their fare.

Its bullsh*t.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Fishyfreak wrote: »

No sympathy for taxi-drivers.

I paid €50- last month for a taxi from Swords to Bettystown (20 minute trip). He should have worn a ski-mask driving us home.

If I'd paid (and I ain't a fool so I'd never be in a position to post this) a taxi driver €50 from Swords to Bettystown I'd be too embarressed to post about it here.

Did you get a receipt, or even quiry the fare?.

phasers

This thread is ridiculous. "Them god damn taxi drivers, one time one overcharged me so they all deserve to earn no money."

My dad is a taxi driver and he barely scrapes a living, and he has a family to support. He spends hours driving around aimlessly, wasting petrol and adding to the congestion, and works all the hours under the sun. He's been supporting his family since he was 17, first his mother then his wife and children, so forgive him for not hving time to get a drgree. He's been trying to get a job for months, but can't get anything because of dem bleedin foridners because in this time of economic uncertainty, people aren't really hiring.

There are far too many taxis on the road, even if you don't like taxis you can see that, so obviously they're all making less money.

Also, yer man that knows a driver that makes a grand, how does he do that? I'll pass the tips onto my dad.

4zn76tysfajdxp

petrochemical wrote: »

Also, how do they justify the 50 euro Airport charge? The cheek of them. Last time in the airport I asked a driver 'How much to town?". "50 euro" He said. "And you think that's reasonable?" I said. "Fookin take it or lee-urv it, pal, bleedin jaysus and shoite, fookin bollix, waaaaa, belch." He then "gozzied" on the ground beside me, seemingly to insult me, or something. "I'll tell you what," I said. "Take your 50 euro, and shove it up your ***". "Fookin cant talk to me loike dat you fookin poshy prick basturd". He then tried to get out of the taxi but tripped and fell in his own gozzy. Then the cops arrested him for being a dublin scumbag with a dublin accent.

That...didn't actually happen, did it?

spinaltap

Txi bashing again, whats new, you blame the taxi drivers before dereg for most of the problems with taxi drivers now, the 11k new taxi drivers in Dublin were not the ones who made us wait 3 hours for a cab on a sat night.
I use taxis every day and maybe get 1 bad one out of 10.
Its a hard job and now theres to many of them fighting to make a living, they dont wanna rise in fares as they will lose valuable customers that will find alternitive transport, so give it a rest, find something rightful to maon about

Volvoboy

I hate Bus Drivers.

Tha Gopher

LouOB wrote: »

BUT what I dont expect is a MOD to add fuel to the fire
OP posted letter clearly trolling - as per responses - as we dont know why Ken wrote the letter having to defend himself ie, we dont know full reason behind the letter. As most taxi drivers are too well aware of public perception (as people sh*te, piss and get sick in their places of work)

Even more embarassing than Karomas pointless post was that six brown nosers thanked him.

Eaxctly what is the problem many here have with taxi drivers? In my five years of taking them once per weekend on average I have had three negative incidents:

An Arab lad who dropped me half a mile from where I should have been as he thought he was at the right spot (Id never been there myself)

A taxi that stank to the high heavens, smelled like a soiled nappy quite frankly. Had the winter open the entire journey, really should have got out but whatever. Driver, Irish, 40s, was a bit of an oddball too (which tbh is probably the reason I didnt say I wanted out, in case he turned a bit funny)

A Nigerian lad who tried to fleece me off change when I was hammered


Apart from those three incidents, save for the minor inconvenience of having to direct alot of foreign drivers to pretty well known destinations, that is the sum total of my negative experiences in what must have been around 200 taxi trips in that time. Back in my teens I was once so pissed I had no money to pay, had already dropped my phone down the side of the seat in the car and stumbled out and the driver could do nothing. He called my oul fella the next day and (after I got a bit of an earfull of my dad) I went to meet him to get the phone. Offered him 50 quid for his trouble (phone wasnt worth that much, but as thanks for getting my numbers back) he repeatedtly declined, all he wanted was the 12 quid I owed him.


I get the feeling that maybe taxi drivers treat alot of boards users badly because they act like belligerent get a real job you knacker tossers infront of them. Dont like taxis? Either risk your neck on the fightlink or stay in at the weekend moaning on After Hours. I doubt anyone in the real world will miss your presence.

shenanigans1982

I have said it before but the best solution to this is to tender out contracts to a load of companies who would then just hire drivers. It would lead to an increase in the standards of drivers because dirty cars and obnoxious drivers would result in a loss of business.It would also introuduce a standard wage for taxi drivers, in other countries a taxi driver is not paid an above average wage, they have had it good for long enough now its just time for reality to set in.

juvenal

Another thread that turns into a taxi-bashing-fest. :rolleyes:

As usual, we rarely see thread about a pleasant experience with a taxi, or a rational discussion on the current state of the industry.

For starters, I've no affiliation with any aspect of the taxi industry, and I only know of one person (an extended family acquaintance) that is a driver. I've no sympathy for the long-serving drivers who paid top dollar before deregulation for a plate, and I've no sympathy for people who thought they'd jump on the bandwagon after deregulation and make a packet before the market got very crowded.

In any business, where one is self-employed, there is an element of risk in investment, and there's also periods where the business will peak and trough. The issue with the taxi industry here (in Dublin), is that it is essentially a rat race, with drivers being forced to fight like animals to collect a fare.

Some people (and this is a wider problem in Ireland and other countries), feel like they've a sense of entitlement to make top dollar and have a comfortable lifestyle. This is b/s, you have to work to get ahead, and this doesn't mean just trotting out for a few hours on Thursday/Friday/Saturday. I appreciate also that there are genuine decent drivers who are struggling to make a living with the market being flooded.

Any cursory glance down Dawson Street on a Tuesday evening, and you will see a line of yellow topped cars stretching several hundred yards like a Carlsberg ad. This is to be expected, as we can all understand how people are being a little more coy with their disposable income, and as it's a service industry, the taxi business is bound to suffer.

A number of things need to happen in the industry for real progress to be made. In no particular order:

• Private ownership should be phased out. The days of Joe Soap owning his plate and using the family car as a taxi at night are out. Companies should own the equipment and licences, and hire skilled drivers for an annual salary, and the supply will soon meet the demand. Much like large courier companies, responsibility for the actions of the driver fall squarely at the door of the company, and also the driver themselves. Drivers have a right to feel as secure in their job both financially and safety-wise as the passenger in the back seat.
  
  The car is on the road 24/7, with three different drivers doing 8hr shifts - just like any other job.
  
  
• A standard colour and model of vehicle should be assigned to taxis, just like NYC (yellow Ford), and London (black cab). At present, almost any car can be used as a taxi, from a fifteen year-old Toyota Corolla to a brand new Mercedes. To an outsider, the idea of a taxi being essentially a private car with a magnetic yellow lamp on the roof is a joke, and this enables the cowboys with their fake meters and licences to operate.
  
  
• All cars to be fitted with two-way radios, GPS navigation, and operated by a uniformed driver. They also should be fitted with a protective perspex screen, with customers sitting in the rear of the vehicle, unless a party of four or larger requires the front passenger seat to be used. The meter should be clearly displayed on top of the dashboard and in the rear of the cab, not hidden beneath the radio or inbuilt into the rear-view mirror.
  
  
• Payment by cash, laser and credit card possible in all taxis. If this isn't possible, then it should not be on the road. Also mandatory receipts issued, as they are by the majority of drivers at the moment.
  
  
• No extra charge for radio/telephone/airport bookings. I am GUARANTEEING you revenue and a job, and you want to charge me extra for the privilege? If I was a taxi driver, and when I left the house at the beginning of an 8-hour shift, and I knew I was booked for 12 jobs (12 x 30mins = 6hrs) that night, is that better than roaming the streets wondering where the next fare is coming from? Of course it is. Why penalise the customer for pre-booking the car; as it's definite business, which means definite income, which means definite salary;
  
  
• Only three varieties of vehicle used as a taxi cab. One large saloon model, e.g. VW Passat, capable of comfortably carrying three adults in the rear, with a fourth seat if needed in the front passenger. Another MPV six/sever seater, e.g. Mercedes Vito, with 3 opposite 3 seats in rear, and another front passenger seat if needed. Modified wheelchair accessible vehicle, with hydraulic lift and room for at least one/two able bodied passengers.
  
  These models should be mandatory, and not open to debate/interpretation. I'm sure some of the motor manufacturers would be only too happy to have a contract to supply thousands of bespoke vehicles to the taxi companies, with a mandatory upgrade every three to five years.

Many taxi drivers are upstanding workers, and I can say I'm lucky I've never had an issue with one in Dublin. Invariably as with any industry, the bad apples will get the most press. The days of taxiing being a self-employed industry are over, and a lot of drivers don't understand that they work in the tertiary sector.

When Joe Punter hires a private cab, he has the right to assume that he can ask for the radio on/off, the a/c on/off, no smoking, and for the driver not to be jabbering to his family/friends on the phone/radio. The basis of hiring a private car to take you on your journey, is that, within reason, you can expect to be treated and travel with the same degree of comfort as you would in your own car. Unfortunately this is a thing that some drivers don't understand.

Accountability is king. If you don't like the service provided by Taxi Company A, then you will use Taxi Company B in future, and that will go a long way to keeping the industry a bit honest in it's approach to the public and in it's service delivery.

Spook_ie

Karoma wrote: »

Dear Mr Taxi Driver,
You didn't make minimum wage on one day? Why sir, this is clearly a travesty. Nowhere else in Ireland or the world would this happen. It is no less than an outrage!

I hereby offer you a contract to pay you minimum wage. That's right, you sir, are guaranteed the minimum wage each day, every day. In return, you will be expected to hand over all earnings (inc. weekend earnings, and the money you do not normally declare for tax reasons) to me. You will also be expected to read the new employee handbook and will be contractually obliged to be courteous, quiet, attentive and avoid vulgar language. you will be expected to maintain a high standard of hygiene. Any airing of racist views shall result in disciplinary action. You will also work the hours specified, not just the ones that suit you.

If this suits sir, please feel free to e-mail me at igiveacrap@boohoohoo.ie

Kindest Regards,
K.

I tried emailing you to take up that offer for a trial period of 12 weeks, the email address returns as unknown, you sir are a ****** to raise my hopes like that, however if you genuinely would like to make me that offer then contact me

Spook_ie

shenanigans1982 wrote: »

I have said it before but the best solution to this is to tender out contracts to a load of companies who would then just hire drivers. It would lead to an increase in the standards of drivers because dirty cars and obnoxious drivers would result in a loss of business.It would also introuduce a standard wage for taxi drivers, in other countries a taxi driver is not paid an above average wage, they have had it good for long enough now its just time for reality to set in.

juvenal wrote: »

Another thread that turns into a taxi-bashing thread. :rolleyes:

As usual, we rarely see thread about a pleasant experience with a taxi, or a rational discussion on the current state of the industry. snipped rest of post for brevity

I would like to point out that the TR has been approached with the idea of taking into public ownership all plates at the basic cost of €6000 per plate, so that the people who want to run a taxi firm or a taxi would be able to lease them from the TR and the TR would then be able to directly control both the amounts of taxis being licensed and to whom they are being leased. As is usual for any government quango the standard reply is " Not in my remit " so I'm afraid that the idea of fleets of cars being driven for a low but guaranteed wage are out of the window already....

juvenal

Spook_ie wrote: »

I would like to point out that the TR has been approached with the idea of taking into public ownership all plates at the basic cost of €6000 per plate, so that the people who want to run a taxi firm or a taxi would be able to lease them from the TR and the TR would then be able to directly control both the amounts of taxis being licensed and to whom they are being leased. As is usual for any government quango the standard reply is " Not in my remit " so I'm afraid that the idea of fleets of cars being driven for a low but guaranteed wage are out of the window already....

The government effed-up by issuing licences and plates to applicants for an unlimited period of time. You may know more, but is there an annual charge for renewing the licence?

What should have happened is that the licences should have been issued yearly, with an annual application and standard fee. Therefore, the regulator/government could have said, "From 1 Jan 2009 we will cease to issue/renew taxi licences to private citizens/sole traders" and within 12 months that would have been it - no-one, irrespective of how many years they were in the game, would have a licence. Then we'll start again and do it properly.

Also, I'm a little confused re the ownership issue. Are you saying that taxi-drivers made an offer to the government that they could purchase the licences/plates at €6,000 per licence from the current holders?

Spook_ie

juvenal wrote: »

The government effed-up by issuing licences and plates to applicants for an unlimited period of time. You may know more, but is there an annual charge for renewing the licence?

What should have happened is that the licences should have been issued yearly, with an annual application and standard fee. Therefore, the regulator/government could have said, "From 1 Jan 2009 we will cease to issue/renew taxi licences to private citizens/sole traders" and within 12 months that would have been it - no-one, irrespective of how many years they were in the game, would have a licence. Then we'll start again and do it properly.

Also, I'm a little confused re the ownership issue. Are you saying that taxi-drivers made an offer to the government that they could purchase the licences/plates at €6,000 per licence from the current holders?

There is a charge of €184 per year for the NCT test ( assuming it passes 1st time ) and the replacement of the round stickers on the front and rear screens.

The idea was put to the TR in communications during one of the "infamous" consultation papers that the TR earned a reputation for..

redout

I am not sure about this one. The old system was a joke before deregulation. Next to impossible to get a taxi in Dublin. There was about 2,000 of them which was far to low for a city of this size and lets face it the guys had a monopoly.

Maybe capping it at 10,000 would help the older guys out. But one thing that should be done is to get rid of any bloody foreigner's who cannot speak English or navigate the streets. That should help ease things for the older guys also. I got in a taxi on the quays a couple of months ago and told the driver Blanchardstown S.C. which is practically a straight run up the Navan Road.

He did not have a notion where Blanchardstown even was and I had to direct him to hole way there and then had to pay for it ! What is right about that ?

meathstevie

High&Low wrote: »

I have zero sympathy for taxi drivers - I remember pre 2000 and walking 6 miles home from town as there were no taxis.

In addition as a cyclist and motorists I find taxi drivers to be the most ignorant users of the road and really think it is about time that they are no longer permitted to use bus lanes

Fine by me, that'll be 44 euro from O'Connell street to the airport in evening peak traffic so. Have you not understood yet that taxi's are allowed to use bus lanes because it's form of public transport and it's better value for the passenger

keen

petrochemical wrote: »

I don't know how many times I've nearly been killed by taxi drivers driving like the thuggish bullies that they are.

Also, how do they justify the 50 euro Airport charge? The cheek of them. Last time in the airport I asked a driver 'How much to town?". "50 euro" He said. "And you think that's reasonable?" I said. "Fookin take it or lee-urv it, pal, bleedin jaysus and shoite, fookin bollix, waaaaa, belch." He then "gozzied" on the ground beside me, seemingly to insult me, or something. "I'll tell you what," I said. "Take your 50 euro, and shove it up your ***". "Fookin cant talk to me loike dat you fookin poshy prick basturd". He then tried to get out of the taxi but tripped and fell in his own gozzy. Then the cops arrested him for being a dublin scumbag with a dublin accent.

And then the alarm clock woke you up.

meathstevie

Fishyfreak wrote: »

No sympathy for taxi-drivers.

I paid €50- last month for a taxi from Swords to Bettystown (20 minute trip). He should have worn a ski-mask driving us home.

Yeah and ? That's a normal price by my books. If you didn't want to pay you should have walked to Malahide and gotten the train. Or maybe drank a bit less at a fiver a pint so you could drive your own car..

shenanigans1982

meathstevie wrote: »

Fine by me, that'll be 44 euro from O'Connell street to the airport in evening peak traffic so. Have you not understood yet that taxi's are allowed to use bus lanes because it's form of public transport and it's better value for the passenger

Then stick to the f*cking bus lane and stop dicing in and out of traffic and nearly causing accidents each time.

meathstevie wrote: »

Yeah and ? That's a normal price by my books. If you didn't want to pay you should have walked to Malahide and gotten the train. Or maybe drank a bit less at a fiver a pint so you could drive your own car..

You sir and your attitude are a credit to taxi drivers everywhere....or the reason people have a problem with them...I'm not sure.

meathstevie

Swords to Bettystown is a journey of 32.2km ( towncenter to towncenter so you can assume the actual distance travelled was a bit longer ) according to www.aaroadwatch.ie. How, please explain, do you expect to pay less than a metered fare ? You'd love it when you walked into your job tomorrow and the boss turned and said :" Listen John, I know your contract says we owe you 15.6/hour but I'm only paying you 10 ". That's what a metered fare is : a contract.

Oh and by the way, comments about my driving. Stick'em where the sun don't shine buddy. Over a million miles driven without any incidents.

juvenal

@ poster who travelled from Swords to Bettystown - it's over 30kms, what did you expect to pay? You hired a private car to take you from point A to point B, and at a distance of this length I think it's quite reasonable.

As I've said before, some taxi drivers think they are above the law and above regulation, although to say that all are is prejudicial and ridiculous. There are many fine taxi drivers out there, and as I've already said, I have yet to have an issue with one (touch wood).

The key is accountability, and for the industry to be treated as a business. There's a similar problem in the pub trade, where decades of profit and high consumer demand have prevented the owners of these licences from remembering that first and foremost, they are in the service industry.

For example, I am perfectly within my rights to select any taxi from a queue at a rank, and any taxi driver who thinks they have a right to accost me for making such a decision is way out of line. This is a customer-orientated business, and as such, both parties involved have a right to expect basic standards to be met. There are cartels and cliques that exist in the industry, and these need to be stamped out as they are counter-productive to both the consumer and new entrants to the business.

It gets up my nose when people complain about pricing, but yet they've failed to explore alternatives or even shopped around. The taxi fares are fully published and in the public domain, and a quick Google Map search and some basic calculations will let you know if you were charged the correct amount. You are completely within your rights to request a receipt at the end of your journey, and if you have a grievance over the vehicle/price/driver etc, you should make an issue of it with the relevant body.

Coming onto an internet forum and b1tching helps no-one, and certainly doesn't being to solve the many problems the taxi industry face. How are things supposed to improve if the paying customer won't dictate their service expectations to the industry?

juvenal

Spook_ie wrote: »

There is a charge of €184 per year for the NCT test ( assuming it passes 1st time ) and the replacement of the round stickers on the front and rear screens.

The idea was put to the TR in communications during one of the "infamous" consultation papers that the TR earned a reputation for..

The problem is that taxi drivers should never have been granted licences ad infinitum by the issuing body. A licence should be valid for one year, with the option to renew at the end of 12 months.

Given that years of cock-ups and b/s on both sides of the fence have left us with too many cars on the roads and not a good enough calibre of driver, vast and decisive change is needed by a body that is willing to fully manage and take responsibility for the industry.

On top of that, licencees asking for €6,000 for a licence that in some cases cost as little as €100 is totally taking the proverbial. I appreciate that not all people paid as little as that for their licence, but I certainly wouldn't pat €6k per licence to revert ownership to the public service. If anything, the value of a taxi licence has depreciated in the past few years, and I think that the deregulated price of a licence would be a more than fair offer to taxi licence holders now.

lost marbles

here you go folks .
heres a little help to those of you who want to "know before you go"
its fairly accerate :rolleyes:
http://www.worldtaximeter.com/
from a nice taxi driver

OPENROAD

lost marbles wrote: »

here you go folks .
heres a little help to those of you who want to "know before you go"
its fairly accerate :rolleyes:
http://www.worldtaximeter.com/
from a nice taxi driver

It is pretty much spot on

Darragh29

thelurch wrote: »

As a taxi driver this about sums it up, a letter to thr Irish Times, Comments welcome

Madam, - I have been a taxi-driver in Dublin for the past 14 years. I am appalled at the apparent inability of either the current taxi regulator, Kathleen Doyle, or the Government even to recognise how the business has been decimated since deregulation back in 2000.

This week we had the announcement that taxi fares are to increase by 8 per cent from November, with additional costs to take a taxi during the Christmas and New Year period. The regulator seems to believe this will help to offset the massive increases in the cost of running and maintaining a taxi.

Prior to deregulation in 2000 I used to earn a consistent and worthwhile wage. I worked reasonable hours, had a second driver working the night shift on my licence (so the car was on the road for about 20 hours each day), and thoroughly enjoyed my work.

Today I worked a 10-hour day shift. I had eight fares in that period with gross takings of €69. My petrol expenses were €25, so my take-home pay for 10 hours' hard driving on Dublin's congested streets was a mere €44! This is before I take into account the wear and tear on my vehicle and maintenance costs. So the stark reality is that I earned €4.40 an hour, far below the minimum wage.

Although not every day is as bad as this, I now consider it a "good" day if I manage to clear €80 after expenses. Is this because I am a bad taxi-driver? I think not. The reason is very simple: there are now so many taxis on the streets of Dublin that it is impossible to get parked on a rank. So most taxi-drivers now have to resort to cruising the streets looking for fares, not only adding to their costs, but also to the carbon emissions in the city. The undeniable truth is that there are too many taxis now plying for hire, with the result that it is now virtually impossible for a driver to earn a reasonable wage.

I am more than happy with the fare structure as it now stands. What is required from the taxi regulator and the Government is not an increase in fares but for some method to reduce the number of taxis.

The current situation can only get worse with the news that the country is now officially in recession. For it seems that one of the first things workers who are made redundant think of these days is to buy themselves a taxi licence under the false impression that they will be able to earn a good living. They will be joining thousands of part-time drivers who simply use their taxi at the weekends and at peak periods to supplement their good incomes as firemen, postal workers, gardaí, etc. This "double jobbing" is something the taxi regulator and Government could tackle immediately. May I close by appealing to anyone thinking of entering the taxi business to think again. They'd earn more money cleaning tables in a fast-food restaurant. - Yours, etc,

KEN JOHNSTONE,

Me boll*x mate. I wish I worked in an industry where at the stroke of a pen, my customers pay me 8% more. I'd love to be able to get 5 Euro of my customers before I moved an inch. The reason a lot of people won't go out to a pub these days is because of the stupid money to get a taxi out and home. If I want to go out with my mates, I'm looking at 40 Euro before I even see the barman.

Best thing that could be done with your industry is properly deregulate it and let prices look after themselves, like the rest of us have to do.

stepbar

If the taxi business if such a bad business, why do I see guys driving around in 2.5l mercs at 9am in the day? Me thinks there it money to be made in the business if one is smart enough.