ANOTHER taxi thread!

david

I glanced over this page earlier and it got me thinking (note: "Maximum Fare"). We've all heard taxi drivers complaining about how the increase in Max Fare will have a bad effect on business (discourage customers/cost of changing meters etc.) so why don't taxi companies compete on prices if they want business so bad.

Last week I was up in Belfast and was pretty shocked by the transport network. £3.10 for 4 passengers to the other side of the city (this was on the meter, not discounted). About 8-10km of a trip in total. There didn't appear to be a shortage of customers/queues in ranks as you'd see in Dublin, but LOTS of cabs driving around at the same time. Most of these cars very nice spotless new high spec Audi A4s/BMW 5s/Mercs/Passats/Octavias, not a smelly old camry/maxima in sight! As a result the almost non-existant bus service seemed pretty much redundant. Why spend loads on public transport infrastructure when you can have private drivers create it for you! (Saving tax payer's money)

AFAIK London taxis allow scope for haggling so why not here? Must drivers declare whats on the meter as taxable income? Would a 'survival of the fittest' taxi industry work in Dublin or would it put the self-employed Joe Soap in his battered old Carina (no offence VolvoBoy :P) working 7 days a week to feed his family out of business being unable to achieve the economies of large firms?

Discuss

MagicMarker

I wouldn't know, I own a car.

Let all the peasants fight amongst themselves.

galwayrush

..................TAXI.....................

Aidric

Irish taxi drivers are only happy when they're complaining.

david

I was wondering where this thread went to. I meant to post it in Motors but my browser timed out. Meh can't see this being very constructive in AH :P. Mod: feel free to move/lock.

javaboy

Moved from After Hours as requested.

McSpud

AFAIK the official fares are the maximum the taxi driver can charge which means in theory you can haggle.

In other countries there is a special set far to the airport which you can request. Don't know we don't have it here.

Interesting to hear the taxi unions calling for ban on new taxis for set period. Of course this illegal so would require new legislation. Deregulation was introduced when taxi unions took the Minister to court to stop him adding 300 new plates. The courts judged that the Minister had no right to limit the numbers. :cool:

The easiest & legal way to limit numbers is to have minimum standards of vehicles, sat nav, dress code, credit card payment etc...

Terrontress

david wrote: »

I glanced over this page earlier and it got me thinking (note: "Maximum Fare"). We've all heard taxi drivers complaining about how the increase in Max Fare will have a bad effect on business (discourage customers/cost of changing meters etc.) so why don't taxi companies compete on prices if they want business so bad.

Last week I was up in Belfast and was pretty shocked by the transport network. £3.10 for 4 passengers to the other side of the city (this was on the meter, not discounted). About 8-10km of a trip in total. There didn't appear to be a shortage of customers/queues in ranks as you'd see in Dublin, but LOTS of cabs driving around at the same time. Most of these cars very nice spotless new high spec Audi A4s/BMW 5s/Mercs/Passats/Octavias, not a smelly old camry/maxima in sight! As a result the almost non-existant bus service seemed pretty much redundant. Why spend loads on public transport infrastructure when you can have private drivers create it for you! (Saving tax payer's money)

AFAIK London taxis allow scope for haggling so why not here? Must drivers declare whats on the meter as taxable income? Would a 'survival of the fittest' taxi industry work in Dublin or would it put the self-employed Joe Soap in his battered old Carina (no offence VolvoBoy :P) working 7 days a week to feed his family out of business being unable to achieve the economies of large firms?

Discuss

I presume that that was £3.10 per person...?

There do seem to be a very high standard of cars used as taxis in the larger companies in Belfast and the fares are markedly less expensive than Dublin but it still isn't a cheap way to get around. Also, the drivers there like a good moan too. Apparently the taxi companies will take on limitless drivers, regardless of demand. Also the companies are very strict about the kinds of cars used. I spoke to a guy with a six year old E-Class and he was told that he could replace it himself, get a new Skoda Superb supplied from the taxi company which he would lease or he could go elsewhere.

The bus / train service in Belfast is very similar to that in Dublin and is very well used. The major difference is that alot of stops in Belfast have the tracker to let you know when your next bus is coming.