Taxi Drivers & Taxi Ranks

Berty

Taxi Drivers and their ranks drive me mental because of the drivers inability to avoid the rank when it is full. They will queue with no respect to the rules of the road and drive other motorists potty.

In Limerick it is Sarsfield St where they have the entire length of the street yet will park on another street and reverse across a busy junction, turn and park across in front of a pedestrian crossing, again blocking myself and my wheelchair bound grandmother from crossing.

Here in Galway they seem to have another game. Block up an entire lane and park on a corner. See the picture. The drivers is perfectly allowed to do this because he has his hazards on. The rank starts another 10 car lengths around the corner and past a loading bay.

This is a main bus corridor and you should see the bus and coachs trying to make that turn.



They boil my brain, thems taxi drivers.


Before people start, I know there are a lot of taxi drivers and sometimes not enough customers but that is no excuse to park wherever you feel like whether it be in the rank or not.

I dont care when they pull over because somebody flags them down, thats their job.

Top Dog

Its the same in Cork city. A good deal of Patrick St is for Taxi parking, but in the quieter hours you see them taking up the regular parking spaces, bus stops, double parked at the ranks and stretching around corners. Makes using the city center (and trying to find a parking spot even remotely close to where you want to go) near on impossible.

-Chris-

I think, if you have a free hour or two, you should park where that 02L Avensis is, with your hazards on.

See if any of them have the gall to stare or beep at you...

ARGINITE

TBH thats not to bad, its normally a lot worse at that corner.
How was the Meyrick

Quint

They always do it at ranks in Dublin too. Blocking a lane doesn't seem to be a problem for them. Why they don't drive around so people can hail them?

joey54

And what gets to me is when you have other taxi men standing on the road talking to another one who's sitting in his car.

This is just plain dangerous and at night they could easily be hit! There's been a couple of occasions where I have had to stop suddenly because of this.

2qk4u

This is excatly the reason there was a march today.... too many taxis and no work...

joey54

2qk4u wrote: »

This is excatly the reason there was a march today.... too many taxis and no work...

I understand this but it still does not give them a right to block the road or park in any way they want.

Berty

ARGINITE wrote: »

TBH thats not to bad, its normally a lot worse at that corner.
How was the Meyrick

Still here and its horrible. They need a carpenter in to give this place a good seeing to. Old or not, attention to detail is key to a hotel.

Ah, I wont be back. Harbour is the next point of call for my next Galway Visit.

But hey, having a Valet park your car is always a nice experience.

2qk4u wrote: »

This is excatly the reason there was a march today.... too many taxis and no work...

True but thats their problem not the other road users. This guy was not on strike. He was just being ignorant to the other road users.

They only want their monopoly back where people are desperate for taxi's and will pay anything to get home instead of waiting.

Gumbo

taxis have not been provided enough rank space in Dublin City too.

Volvoboy

Berty i agree with you taxi drivers shouldnt have to do this to make thier living but for the most part the drivers have no other choice but to illegally que off the rank to get onto it. It's a sad fact of the business. I dont want to cause havoc with the ordinary motorist but sometimes i've no choice.

It's down to the local councils to allocate rank spaces for taxi's but Dublin city has only around 1200 rank spaces for 17000 cars ya dont have to be einstien to do the maths.

But hopefully the protest today will bring some much needed attention to the business and call for some proper changes to the taxi trade.

pipsqueak

kceire wrote: »

taxis have not been provided enough rank space in Dublin City too.

there are plenty of ranks in dublin that they just wont use, There is one on burgh quay opposite q bar always empty, Another one across the liffey outside the laughter lounge always empty, another one off o connell st on cathedral st (burger king) always empty. Thats just 3 im sure there are a few more if i thought about it.

Big Nasty

Volvoboy wrote: »

1200 rank spaces for 17000 cars

17,000! :eek::eek:

There's that many taxi's operating in Dublin?

Gumbo

pipsqueak wrote: »

there are plenty of ranks in dublin that they just wont use, There is one on burgh quay opposite q bar always empty, Another one across the liffey outside the laughter lounge always empty, another one off o connell st on cathedral st (burger king) always empty. Thats just 3 im sure there are a few more if i thought about it.

theres 1200 ranks spaces for 17000 taxi's in Dublin, as posted by Volvoboy above.

would you put a chipper van out side croke park on a monday night with no game on???? you wouldnt, you have to que at the ranks that are busy!

Tabnabs

Volvoboy wrote: »

I dont want to cause havoc with the ordinary motorist but sometimes i've no choice.

Says it all really...

Volvoboy

MCMLXXV wrote: »

17,000! :eek::eek:

There's that many taxi's operating in Dublin?

Thats a rough estimate, nobody can give a approximate numbers on the the amount of taxi's as the numbering is gone national.

But before the new numbering came in there was 13000 cabs working in 2006, there's an estimated 3000 new cabs coming on stream a year, so if anything 17000 is an under-estimate.

Berty

In Limerick the taxi drivers were offered 2 different ranks which they turned their noses up at instead opting to fill up the busiest one which is now overflow.

1200 in dublin for 17000 taxi's.

Are all 17000 taxis on the road at the same time?
Are all registered taxi's still operating as taxi's?
What about taxi's who dont use ranks at all?

Castletroy cabs in Limerick never ever use a rank and there are 22 of them.

pipsqueak

kceire wrote: »

theres 1200 ranks spaces for 17000 taxi's in Dublin, as posted by Volvoboy above.

would you put a chipper van out side croke park on a monday night with no game on???? you wouldnt, you have to que at the ranks that are busy!

hardly comparing like with like now is it?
Both ranks on the quays and one off o connell st are hardly in the back of beyond are they??

Volvoboy

Berty wrote: »

In Limerick the taxi drivers were offered 2 different ranks which they turned their noses up at instead opting to fill up the busiest one which is now overflow.

1200 in dublin for 17000 taxi's.

Are all 17000 taxis on the road at the same time?
Are all registered taxi's still operating as taxi's?
What about taxi's who dont use ranks at all?

Castletroy cabs in Limerick never ever use a rank and there are 22 of them.

I dont know the situation in Limerick so i cant comment.

17000 is as i've already stated a rough estimate but ya can safely say there's between 14000-17000 taxi's on the road at any given time in Dublin.

There is no definative way of knowing, i doubt a fella is driving around in his taxi not picking up passangers and having a yellow sign on his car for **** and giggles, would you?

You answerd your own question;

Berty wrote: »

Castletroy cabs in Limerick never ever use a rank and there are 22 of them.

pipsqueak

Bit off topic but does anyone know why all these taxidrivers marched on the office of the taxi regulator to complain?? She cant put a cap on the number of taxis entering only the houses of the Oirechtas can!
(Did they get lost?)

Volvoboy

pipsqueak wrote: »

Bit off topic but does anyone know why all these taxidrivers marched on the office of the taxi regulator to complain?? She cant put a cap on the number of taxis entering only the houses of the Oirechtas can!
(Did they get lost?)

No we didnt, we also handed a letter to the minister for trasport Mr dempsy. Calling for a monotariam (sp) on licences the same letter was handed into 35 Fitzer square where the TR has her offices.

pipsqueak

Volvoboy wrote: »

No we didnt, we also handed a letter to the minister for trasport Mr dempsy. Calling for a monotariam (sp) on licences the same letter was handed into 35 Fitzer square where the TR has her offices.

I agree that the numbers entering the game are ridiculous , should of been capped long ago but i do feel that taxis need to start using the other ranks and stop only using the busy ones.

Volvoboy

pipsqueak wrote: »

I agree that the numbers entering the game are ridiculous , should of been capped long ago but i do feel that taxis need to start using the other ranks and stop only using the busy ones.

Why?? If they arent busy what is the point in using them?

Berty

I think pipsqueak it was where the price of a plate was significantly reduced the industry was flooded with peak time drivers and **** box's of cars.

See thread with a guy only having 1000 to buy a car. Says it all.

Anybody can get a job.

Is there even a vetting system now?

Guy:Incognito

Volvoboy wrote: »

No we didnt, we also handed a letter to the minister for trasport Mr dempsy. Calling for a monotariam (sp) on licences the same letter was handed into 35 Fitzer square where the TR has her offices.

Did you offer to hand back your plate to reduce numbers? Or is the idea to just stop anyone after you from getting into it.


If 200,000 people decided to go out on their own as plumbers tomorow theres nothign to stop them. What will happen is that there wont be work for x amount of them and they will give up and move on. Thats what has to and eventually will happen with taxi's .

pipsqueak

Volvoboy wrote: »

Why?? If they arent busy what is the point in using them?

Well why doesnt tommie gorman or whoever in the taxi union get out on the ranks and when its full start sending them onto the other ranks?? When they start filling up people will start using them. works well in the kesh doesnt it???

2qk4u

pipsqueak wrote: »

there are plenty of ranks in dublin that they just wont use, There is one on burgh quay opposite q bar always empty, Another one across the liffey outside the laughter lounge always empty, another one off o connell st on cathedral st (burger king) always empty. Thats just 3 im sure there are a few more if i thought about it.

Thats because they face into one way systems with ranks close buy that are more practical...

Volvoboy

Stekelly wrote: »

Did you offer to hand back your plate to reduce numbers?

Dont come out with silly pedantic statements like that, anyway it's not about reducing plate numbers it's about capping numbers as the market is over-saturated as every cat and dog on the streets will tell you.

Big Nasty

http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=d1Vha2VFEeE

pipsqueak

2qk4u wrote: »

Thats because they face into one way systems with ranks close buy that are more practical...

So? on cathedral st u can go down by the gresham on to cathal brugha st, the other 2 on the quays you can go over a bridge to get back around....

Volvoboy

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6281764060794278586

He'res a video into the insight into the taxi trade as it currenly stands, maybe you's should have a look.

stepbar

Volvoboy wrote: »

Don't come out with silly pedantic statements like that, anyway it's not about reducing plate numbers it's about capping numbers as the market is over-saturated as every cat and dog on the streets will tell you.

It's hard to have standards when all you need to drive a taxi is a car, a license and a sat nav..... What does one expect? As SteKelly said eventually many will move on. Thankfully we are well gone from the days of €100k plates.

Guy:Incognito

Volvoboy wrote: »

Dont come out with silly pedantic statements like that, anyway it's not about reducing plate numbers it's about capping numbers as the market is over-saturated as every cat and dog on the streets will tell you.

How is it pedantic. You want it capped now, above you seeing as you are in already. You are trying to suit yourself.

Why not work out the optimal number so, that caters for people to have jobs and have the right number of taxis available for customers, then everyone above that number has to give back their plates? Bet none of you will be volunteering for that because you might lose your plate, but screw anyone who wants to get in after you, they are suddenly less worthy of a plate.

Quint

This thread is about taxis blocking traffic lanes. Not about the taxi drivers having it tough. Not many people have sympathy for taxi drivers. They're like the boy who cried wolf, they had it handy for years and moaned, and now when they genuinely do have it tough, people don't care. But blocking lanes cos the taxi rank is full won't help taxi drivers gain any public sympathy.

Berty

Volvoboy wrote: »

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6281764060794278586

He'res a video into the insight into the taxi trade as it currenly stands, maybe you's should have a look.

Okay Im 25 minutes into the video and its 57 mins long. I dont think I will see it through.

It does give a very one sided opinion on the taxi regulator but everybody knew the ranks were overflowing anyway.

She is some woman for audits, reports, task forces etc etc. Typical beaurocrat.

As I sit here looking out over the ranks on Eyre Square I can tell you that there is one taxi in the rank along the east of the park and 5 in the rank by Supermacs. Where are they now?

Going back through my recent comments on this and other threads.

A Taxi driver refused to move to let myself and my wheelchair bound grandmother cross the road by the wheelchair ramp in Limerick.

The same rank I was blocked into a loading bay in my truck and the taxi driver who were surrounding my truck refused to move. The Gardai moved them on after a phone call from me.

I was in a Taxi with a driver who clearly didnt know how to operate a clutch and accelator. Its hard to describe but it was him and not the car.

I was in a Taxi with a driver who would drive outside lane and when it came to the end he would swipe back over to hopefully sideswipe a car sneaking along the inside.

I refused to get into a 88 Toyota Corolla driven by an old man because it has no airbags, abs or rear seat belts and the other driver moaned about it.

In Limerick at night after the clubs you cannot get a taxi unless you nearly walk 10 minutes out of the city hoping to catch one coming back in. The ranks are empty and the drivers dont bother using them after 2am because there are people everywhere but you still cannot get a cab.

The icing on the cake.

When there is a football match on you cannot get a taxi for any money. Why are you all not out collecting fares when the likes of me who does not like football could be looking for a taxi?

I once called a taxi to a hotel and I was called by the taxi driver on my mobile to make sure I was still there because he had left the rank to get me.

BTW He didnt indicate much in the 25 mins of the video I watched.

ninty9er

Stekelly wrote: »

Did you offer to hand back your plate to reduce numbers? Or is the idea to just stop anyone after you from getting into it.


If 200,000 people decided to go out on their own as plumbers tomorow theres nothign to stop them. What will happen is that there wont be work for x amount of them and they will give up and move on. Thats what has to and eventually will happen with taxi's .

Fair point. It's simple supply and demand in a homogeneous market.

Volvoboy wrote: »

Dont come out with silly pedantic statements like that, anyway it's not about reducing plate numbers it's about capping numbers as the market is over-saturated as every cat and dog on the streets will tell you.

If others can afford to enter, there's money to be made (i.e. plenty of work), but just like builders in recent months, many, not all, taxi drivers refuse to work when the demand exists. It's not a 9-5 job, get used to it.

When it's not viable to be a taxi driver, people will leave the industry, it's juts how the market works.

I can also empathise with Berty, I sometimes wait over half an hour for my regular taxi driver after a Saturday out in Limerick, many taxis will pass me in this time and they will all have a fare yet there are none in the ranks, but they sit there blocking up crossroads when there's 2 empty ranks within 1 minute's walk, and another only 3/4minutes away.

Paulw

Ah come on guys, in all fairness, didn't you know that that yellow taxi sign on the roof of a car means that the rules of the road don't apply.

A taxi can stop anywhere, even blocking traffic, to pick up a fare. A taxi can just pull out at any time, without looking or indicating. A taxi can change lanes, without indicating or without concern for the vehicle already in that lane. Everyone is secondary to the taxi driver.

Of course, no taxi driver ever does anything like that ... ever. :rolleyes:

Berty

ninty9er wrote: »

I can also empathise with Berty, I sometimes wait over half an hour for my regular taxi driver after a Saturday out in Limerick, many taxis will pass me in this time and they will all have a fare yet there are none in the ranks, but they sit there blocking up crossroads when there's 2 empty ranks within 1 minute's walk, and another only 3/4minutes away.

Hence why I dont go into town any more. I only go in at 2am to collect my fiancee and everything on the road at that time is a taxi.

There used to be the days when a taxi driver would drive past you because you were a bloke on your own BUT now they all stop. A fare is a fare I guess.

There is an empty street in Limerick that nobody drives on outside of Pennys and once a taxi rank was painted on it and the Taxi drivers refused to use it because they would have to cross two lanes of traffic to turn left.

Instead they opted to all squeeze one a few mtrs away and cross two lanes to turn right.

The council have always said it there to be taken. Smashing location BTW but no they wont take it and instead try to cut me up by trying to cross in front of me in an intersection.

Volvoboy

Berty wrote: »

I was in a Taxi with a driver who clearly didnt know how to operate a clutch and accelator. Its hard to describe but it was him and not the car.

I was in a Taxi with a driver who would drive outside lane and when it came to the end he would swipe back over to hopefully sideswipe a car sneaking along the inside.

I refused to get into a 88 Toyota Corolla driven by an old man because it has no airbags, abs or rear seat belts and the other driver moaned about it.

In Limerick at night after the clubs you cannot get a taxi unless you nearly walk 10 minutes out of the city hoping to catch one coming back in. The ranks are empty and the drivers dont bother using them after 2am because there are people everywhere but you still cannot get a cab.

The icing on the cake.

When there is a football match on you cannot get a taxi for any money. Why are you all not out collecting fares when the likes of me who does not like football could be looking for a taxi?

I once called a taxi to a hotel and I was called by the taxi driver on my mobile to make sure I was still there because he had left the rank to get me.

BTW He didnt indicate much in the 25 mins of the video I watched.

Taxi driver standards have decreased, it's all about making money for the TR's office. She dosent care if you've murderd/raped/pillaged villages in other countrys as long as you've been a good boy or girl you can have a taxi licence.

ninty9er wrote: »

If others can afford to enter, there's money to be made (i.e. plenty of work), but just like builders in recent months, many, not all, taxi drivers refuse to work when the demand exists. It's not a 9-5 job, get used to it.

When it's not viable to be a taxi driver, people will leave the industry, it's juts how the market works.

I can also empathise with Berty, I sometimes wait over half an hour for my regular taxi driver after a Saturday out in Limerick, many taxis will pass me in this time and they will all have a fare yet there are none in the ranks, but they sit there blocking up crossroads when there's 2 empty ranks within 1 minute's walk, and another only 3/4minutes away.

Sorry still laughing at your 1st bit of your post, yea i know its not a 9-5 gig i'm a night driver and like it and so are many others.

Your last bit of the post, would you expect a bus to come along as soon as you stand at a bus stop?? No you'd have to wait, common sense.

Oh and Tommy Brogan of Labour spoke at the protest today, shame i didnt see one Fiana Failer?? Maybe you can enlighten me 99er?

Berty

Paulw wrote: »

Ah come on guys, in all fairness, didn't you know that that yellow taxi sign on the roof of a car means that the rules of the road don't apply.

I dont mind a taxi driver stopping to let a fare out or let a fare in. Thats the business they are in so long as they are not parking with hazards on waiting for somebody in buying a bag of chips or whatever.

Here is something along the lines of a recent conversation with a driver:

ME: XXXX(Location) please, thank you
20ish minutes later after some idle chit chat
Driver: I'll drop you off here
ME: This is not where I said to bring me, this is a taxi rank
Driver: Yeah but the place you want to go is 5 minutes walk
ME: But I paid, you to drive me there
Driver: Come on, I will get a fare quickly in this rank by the time you walk to the pub
ME: Ok, verbal contract broken by you so Im not paying you
Driver: You have to pay me you got in
ME: Yes and you agreed into a contract by agreeing to take me to the pub xxx
Driver: Cant you just walk
ME: If I wanted to walk I would have walked and not called you
Driver: Come on, its only there and I will have to drive the entire one way system
ME: Ok, how much to here?
Driver: €9
ME: Ok here is €5
Driver: I said €9
ME: €9 to the pub, €5 to here
Driver: You cant do this, I will call the Gardai because I know your address
ME: I have your license number and I will call the regulator
Driver: Get out!

Prick! :mad:

ninty9er

Volvoboy wrote: »

Your last bit of the post, would you expect a bus to come along as soon as you stand at a bus stop?? No you'd have to wait, common sense.

I wouldn't have to pay €6.50 to travel 4 minutes in a bus. I expect service.

Volvoboy wrote: »

Oh and Tommy Brogan of Labour spoke at the protest today, shame i didnt see one Fiana Failer?? Maybe you can enlighten me 99er?

That's because we will continue to issue licences like toilet paper until people can get taxis to anywhere within 5 minutes at 3 in the morning;)

parsi

Volvoboy wrote: »

Taxi driver standards have decreased, it's all about making money for the TR's office. She dosent care if you've murderd/raped/pillaged villages in other countrys as long as you've been a good boy or girl you can have a taxi licence.

There were gouger's driving Taxis long before de-regulation.

I was threatened by taxi boyos when they decided to blockade Shannon St in Limerick in protest at Treaty Cabs and I took pictures.. This was over 15 years ago.

Volvoboy

ninty9er wrote: »

I wouldn't have to pay €6.50 to travel 4 minutes in a bus. I expect service.

That's because we will continue to issue licences like toilet paper until people can get taxis to anywhere within 5 minutes at 3 in the morning;)

Your clearly trying to get a rise out of me with those comments, all i will say is your a great representive of the Finna Fail party or should i say me fein.

parsi wrote: »

There were gouger's driving Taxis long before de-regulation.

I was threatened by taxi boyos when they decided to blockade Shannon St in Limerick in protest at Treaty Cabs and I took pictures.. This was over 15 years ago.

I fully agree with you there's jack the lads long before de-reg was rolled out, as there is in every walk of life.

Berty

Ok so lets slide across topic

Hackney Drivers

Have they gotten away under the radar over the years? No ranks yet you dont hear a peep out of them.

They must be making money to be working in the business.

Thoughts.

ninty9er

Volvoboy wrote: »

Your clearly trying to get a rise out of me with those comments, all i will say is your a great representive of the Finna Fail party or should i say me fein.

You can think what you like and say what you like it doesn't hide the fact that there are NOT enough taxis when people want them and WAAAY too many when nobody does. Do the maths, change the hours you work...obviously you don't need to as you enjoy your night work, but more need to work late nights.

Volvoboy

Berty wrote: »

Ok so lets slide across topic

Hackney Drivers

Have they gotten away under the radar over the years? No ranks yet you dont hear a peep out of them.

They must be making money to be working in the business.

Thoughts.

Just shows your knowledge of the SPSV's, there is no Hacks left. They all bought taxi plates, i can only think of one hack i see on a regular basis a manky old '92 Primera in Dublin. The vast majority of taxi drivers that are working now we'rent owners operators pre de-reg.

Volvoboy

ninty9er wrote: »

You can think what you like and say what you like it doesn't hide the fact that there are NOT enough taxis when people want them and WAAAY too many when nobody does. Do the maths, change the hours you work...obviously you don't need to as you enjoy your night work, but more need to work late nights.

Do you really think taxi drivers head home at 12.30am? You want to be deluded if ya think that, it's the busy time of the night for a hour maximum 2.

The taxi's are out on jobs and will be making thier way back into the city to pick up more fares. I you feel so strongly on waiting 10 mins for a taxi walk towoards your destination and hail a taxi inbound into the city.

meathstevie

pipsqueak wrote: »

Bit off topic but does anyone know why all these taxidrivers marched on the office of the taxi regulator to complain?? She cant put a cap on the number of taxis entering only the houses of the Oirechtas can!
(Did they get lost?)

Yeah, you're absolutely right. Took them about 2.17 seconds to make illegal nursing home charges legal again. That's how hard it is..:mad:

Spook_ie

ninty9er wrote: »

I can also empathise with Berty, I sometimes wait over half an hour for my regular taxi driver after a Saturday out in Limerick, many taxis will pass me in this time and they will all have a fare yet there are none in the ranks, but they sit there blocking up crossroads when there's 2 empty ranks within 1 minute's walk, and another only 3/4minutes away.

Ah now cut back to real life for a moment... after you've had your drinkies or done your shopping just how far do you want to walk/stagger to get your cab, I'd wager not very far! you ( and as most people would ), would go to the nearest rank, that therefore becomes the busiest rank, and the one where the taxidrivers want to get on, the fault lies with lazy customers ..... What you should all do is when you want a taxi go to one of the quieter ranks ( in rotation ) the drivers will go where they can get the business... Thats economics for you...

Berty

Volvoboy wrote: »

Just shows your knowledge of the SPSV's, there is no Hacks left. They all bought taxi plates, i can only think of one hack i see on a regular basis a manky old '92 Primera in Dublin. The vast majority of taxi drivers that are working now we'rent owners operators pre de-reg.

I didnt once claim to be knowlegable on the matter. Im sure you dont claim to know the inner workings on a Turbochef oven..................................... What? Exactly :rolleyes:

One hack in Dublin. Case Closed. There must be only one in that case. :rolleyes:

Fey!

What about the taxi driver parked on the rank with space for 6 cars in front of it who doesn't bother moving, despite a row of other taxis behind him going beyond the end of the rank. I see this on a VERY regular basis.