O'Connell Street Taxi Rank

ballooba

Just watched an Indian looking driver get freezed out by a group of aggressive drivers on the rank. What's the story with this place? Is it a closed shop, or just selective?

coylemj

Closed shop, bunch of local drivers who don't like newcomers regardless of the colour of their skin. College Green is apparently the same. As you've observed, they are policed by heavies who make it clear that newbies aren't welcome.

oisindoyle

coylemj wrote: »

Closed shop, bunch of local drivers who don't like newcomers regardless of the colour of their skin. College Green is apparently the same. As you've observed, they are policed by heavies who make it clear that newbies aren't welcome.

Really and what proof have you got ?
Tell me then how come "Black Jack" from Pakistan works that rank ,Tell me how Samuel from Nigeria works that rank ? Tell me how Olaf again from Nigeria works that rank ,Tell me how Avel from ukraine works that rank ?
Tell me how Benedict from Poland (Benny the Pole) works that rank ?

starviewadams

They paid the heavies off?

juan.kerr

Or they are fictional characters that don't exist.

green123

oisindoyle wrote: »

Really and what proof have you got ?
Tell me then how come "Black Jack" from Pakistan works that rank ,Tell me how Samuel from Nigeria works that rank ? Tell me how Olaf again from Nigeria works that rank ,Tell me how Avel from ukraine works that rank ?
Tell me how Benedict from Poland (Benny the Pole) works that rank ?

are you saying that they work o connell st or college green ?

ballooba

I won't be using that rank again so. Nor the drivers from it who solicit air coach passengers.

Wishbone Ash

I cycled past that rank over the past few days and on each occasion a particular heavy middle-aged driver was out roaring and gesturing at other drivers.

Green Diesel

The only rank I refuse to use no matter how desperate I am for a taxi. Often see them shouting at (usually black) drivers to move on. Come to think of it I've never seen a non-white on that rank. I see this interaction almost daily as I get my bus from there.

doubletrouble?

waitttttt for it :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

weddingcar.ie

This could be a thread to follow I'm sure it will get heated

mikemac1

A strange and bizarre place

Sometimes there are empty taxis and one of the lieutenants standing around point at the taxi you are to take. It's not always the first taxi.


I realy don't think people are excluded for race.
The rank is for old school drivers and they have no love for Irish drivers who joined after deregulation either

Louche Lad

I've used taxis in a large number of towns and cities across several countries. Dublin taxi drivers are the most unpleasant ones I've come across.

Wishbone Ash

mikemac1 wrote: »

The rank is for old school drivers

Are all ranks (outside of the airport) not open to any legitimate taxi?

Sulla Felix

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Are all ranks (outside of the airport) not open to any legitimate taxi?

Course they are, on paper. There is, allegedly, a lot of bullying that goes on particularly on city centre ranks.
I've never seen it, but that's not to say it doesn't happen.

coylemj

The Irish Times - Saturday, August 18, 2012

Faced with a ‘closed shop’ at some Dublin taxi ranks, many foreign-national drivers view exclusionary behaviour as racism

LAST YEAR I spent a shift in a taxi with a taximan and wrote about it for this newspaper. Over 12 gruelling hours on a Saturday night, he made just over €140 and good-humouredly put up with all sorts of anarchic, drunken behaviour from passengers.

That night there was an undercurrent of racism from some customers (one woman skipped three non-Irish drivers to get into our car) and some taximen. Subsequently, there have been scandals involving taxis with green lights, supposedly indicating Irishness (these have vanished), and ongoing rumours of racially segregated ranks. Anecdotally, the most regular culprit is the rank on O’Connell Street, Dublin, which is reputed to have a closed shop of regulars and is, in my recent experience, regularly host to shouting matches and horn-beeping aggression between drivers.

Eighteen months ago, concern about public-order issues on some Dublin ranks prompted Garda moves to address the problem; specifically, according to some taximen, the rank across from the Gresham Hotel on O’Connell Street. “We do have the power to ensure a taxi rank is run in a competent manner,” a Garda spokesman said this week.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2012/0818/1224322375637.html

howiya

I'd never get a taxi here. Looks very hostile and prefer the option of choosing the car I get into rather than being told by some loudmouth which car to get into

n97 mini

coylemj wrote: »

That night there was an undercurrent of racism from some customers (one woman skipped three non-Irish drivers to get into our car)

Hmm. I never understood how choosing people who you perceive to be cut from the same cloth is racist. If I go to the Aviva and opt to sit among Irish fans instead of English fans, am I racist.

carlmango11

n97 mini wrote: »

Hmm. I never understood how choosing people who you perceive to be cut from the same cloth is racist. If I go to the Aviva and opt to sit among Irish fans instead of English fans, am I racist.

That's ridiculous. When you're at a football match the whole affair is based around the two teams, be it English vs. Irish or Santry vs. Clontarf. It's normal to sit with those supporting the same team as you. It doesn't mean you're racist towards the English or towards Clontarf residents.

Taxis, on the other hand, are all offering the same service for the same price, so if you choose someone "cut from the same cloth" then that is racist. You are choosing that person solely because of their nationality regardless of the fact that 99.99% of the time they will provide the service perfectly.

Chris_5339762

... or have no idea at all where they are going, because there is basically no taxi driver training at all in Dublin. Doesn't just apply to foreigners, but Irish taxi drivers would probably have lived in Dublin for longer and so might know how to get from A to B efficiently or even know where B is.

doubletrouble?

the difference between the irish and non irish is vetting. most irish born taxi drivers are garda vetted. most non national taxi drivers cannot be vetted. as i've said before nowa days you dont know who's driving you around. before people jump to the gun this is not about racism or being a racist it's about feeling safe in the taxi your hiring and calling things as people see them. i've seen lots of women avoid non national taxi drivers.

Stonewolf

The primary choice for me is and remains the car and I'll get it whichever one I want.

It's quite rare that I get in a taxi where I don't know where I'm going so if the driver seems clueless or takes a route I don't like I'll tell him where to go and he can lump it.

Just what exactly is the incidence of assault or indecent conduct towards passengers in taxis by drivers?

n97 mini

carlmango11 wrote: »

if you choose someone "cut from the same cloth" then that is racist.

That's ridiculous. Some people drink in certain Dublin pubs because the owner is from the same county as them. Irish people frequent Trevor Brennan's pub in Toulouse because he's Irish, like they are. Polish people shop in Polski Skleps because they're also Polish. Many more examples besides, and none of these things are racist.

MoeJay

I have observed on several different occasions one particular driver on this rank "instruct" other drivers that they are not allowed onto the rank (even when space is available.) I have also observed the same driver argue with a representative from a private bus operator on the legality of touting for business at a nearby bus stop. None of the drivers who were on the rank at the same time made any attempt to stop this behaviour and were quite happy to stand around chatting to this guy afterwards.

As in many industries, many hard workers are done down by a few bad eggs. Having said that, O'Connell St. rank will not be getting my business any time soon.

etchyed

n97 mini wrote: »

That's ridiculous. Some people drink in certain Dublin pubs because the owner is from the same county as them. Irish people frequent Trevor Brennan's pub in Toulouse because he's Irish, like they are. Polish people shop in Polski Skleps because they're also Polish. Many more examples besides, and none of these things are racist.

All of these examples are entirely incomparable. I'll bear in mind not to take your arguments too seriously in future.

Pkiernan

Why would anyone use a rank when there appears to be a never ending flow of empty taxis down every main street in Dublin?

I pick my driver by the car he drives.

Hilly Bill

doubletrouble? wrote: »

the difference between the irish and non irish is vetting. most irish born taxi drivers are garda vetted. most non national taxi drivers cannot be vetted. as i've said before nowa days you dont know who's driving you around. before people jump to the gun this is not about racism or being a racist it's about feeling safe in the taxi your hiring and calling things as people see them. i've seen lots of women avoid non national taxi drivers.

Unless you know the driver personally , you dont know who is driving you around regardless of their nationality or if they have been vetted or not. Once you get into a taxi, its pot luck if the driver is safe and wont want to cause you any harm and knows the general direction that he needs to go based on your direction.
From your post its all about race. How can you tell by looking at the driver if they were born in Ireland or not? There are dodgy Irish drivers out there along with dodgy non-Irish and there are good decent non-Irish drivers out there along with some good decent Irish drivers, but if they dont look Irish you wont get into the car is that it? To me thats based on racism rather than safety.
Vetting is pointless seeing the amount of criminals that has been reported in the taxi industry .

bk

Chris_5339762 wrote: »

... or have no idea at all where they are going, because there is basically no taxi driver training at all in Dublin. Doesn't just apply to foreigners, but Irish taxi drivers would probably have lived in Dublin for longer and so might know how to get from A to B efficiently or even know where B is.

The three times I've had taxi drivers not have a clue where they are going or take me for a ride where all white and Irish.

The worst was my girlfriend asked to be taken to Clontarf Dart Station. First he said he would bring her to Connolly, that it is closer (it isn't more then twice the distance) and he ended up bringing her to Killester Dart station!!

He scared the life out of her and the bastard was white and Irish.

n97 mini wrote: »

Polish people shop in Polski Skleps because they're also Polish.

Polish people shop at Polish shops because it carries many Polish items not sold in Irish shops. Having said that, neither my Polish girlfriend, nor any of my many Polish friends shop in the Polish shops. Instead they use Tesco, Lidl, etc. like everyone else. The only time my girlfriend uses the Polish shop is Easter for some speciality items.

Not the same at all.

IrishSaint83

MoeJay wrote: »

Having said that, O'Connell St. rank will not be getting my business any time soon.

I usually don't care what nationality the taxi driver is and unless the car looks like junk, i usually go with the first taxi. However, when i'm getting a taxi from O'Connell st, I always stand opposite the O'Connell st rank and flag down only foreign looking drivers. I love the reaction from the Rank. They get what they deserve.....

Our man in Havana

Surely these racist imbeciles can't make you take their choice of taxi? Is it not up to the customer to select the taxi of his/her choice?

the groutch

Our man in Havana wrote: »

Surely these racist imbeciles can't make you take their choice of taxi? Is it not up to the customer to select the taxi of his/her choice?

afaik if you were to choose one further back down the rank, and he wouldnt take you because of the directions of the "ringleader", then legally he would be considered off-hire and would be required to leave the rank.
of course it would probably require getting the Gardai involved to try invoke such a rule.

foggy_lad

the groutch wrote: »

afaik if you were to choose one further back down the rank, and he wouldnt take you because of the directions of the "ringleader", then legally he would be considered off-hire and would be required to leave the rank.
of course it would probably require getting the Gardai involved to try invoke such a rule.

Just take a note of the number and the car reg etc and report the incident to the regulator, it will help to have a witness who can corroborate your report.

Dub13

Another big problem with that rank is they way they keep doing U turns to get onto the rank,I have seen them cause major traffic delays because of this.

Sligo Quay

The most annoying thing about the taxi rank in O'Connell when an ordinary motorist decides to turn right in Cathal Brugha St and instead of being in a lane of traffic, they find themselves in a taxi queue, taxis take over the traffic lane and turn it into a taxi queue.
When taxi ranks are full they should move off, they take over loading bays if they are next to a rank. I notice in resent times the Gardai are getting their act in order and moving on taxis that are illegal parked and blocking traffic lanes. Its a big problem on John's Road outside Heuston Station, but thats for another thread. We better stick to the overflowing, illegal parking, O'Connell Street taxi rank.

Losty Dublin

Dub13 wrote: »

Another big problem with that rank is they way they keep doing U turns to get onto the rank,I have seen them cause major traffic delays because of this.

When O'Connell Street was relaid, the median was made far narrower than it used to be, end result being that 180% turns are now nigh impossible.

Dub13

Losty Dublin wrote: »

When O'Connell Street was relaid, the median was made far narrower than it used to be, end result being that 180% turns are now nigh impossible.

I have seen buses and some trucks do it so it cant be that hard for a car.The problem is at both ends of the rank,on the river end its taxi drivers not going around and causing a tailback going south.

At the other end its taxis doing and U turn at the lights and again if no space on the rank just going half way around the junction and stopping.

Losty Dublin

Dub13 wrote: »

I have seen buses and some trucks do it so it cant be that hard for a car.The problem is at both ends of the rank,on the river end its taxi drivers not going around and causing a tailback going south..

You have seen buses and trucks turn there but cars can't make it . Yep, yep :rolleyes:

Dub13

Losty Dublin wrote: »

You have seen buses and trucks turn there but cars can't make it . Yep, yep :rolleyes:

Yes I have seen buses and trucks do it,I dont get your point.

Gumbo

Sligo Quay wrote: »

The most annoying thing about the taxi rank in O'Connell when an ordinary motorist decides to turn right in Cathal Brugha St and instead of being in a lane of traffic, they find themselves in a taxi queue

Have to say, ive never seen this happen. The Taxi que and turn right cue are totally different sections in the road and separated by the centre pedestrian island.

Zascar

I only ever use HailoCab now. If you have not heard of it it's an app where with two clicks on your phone you order a taxi to exactly where you are on the map. You can see what taxis are around, how long until it will be with you, and you can watch it arrive in real time. It even shows you a pic of the driver with his name and reg, so women feel safe using it too. You can add a card so you don't have to deal with Cash - and you get to Rate the driver at the end so they can't be d1cks and get away with it.

I really like this service and it's great to see it working so well. They seem to be brilliant at customer service as I had to contact them twice and they were back to me in minutes.

https://hailocab.com/dublin/

Dub13

kceire wrote: »

Have to say, ive never seen this happen. The Taxi que and turn right cue are totally different sections in the road and separated by the centre pedestrian island.

This happens all day everyday,I work right beside it and see it all the time.Yes they may be totally different sections but the problem comes when the rank is full and the taxis just stop in the normal lanes of traffic.

ArthurG

Zascar wrote: »

I only ever use HailoCab now. If you have not heard of it it's an app where with two clicks on your phone you order a taxi to exactly where you are on the map. You can see what taxis are around, how long until it will be with you, and you can watch it arrive in real time. It even shows you a pic of the driver with his name and reg, so women feel safe using it too. You can add a card so you don't have to deal with Cash - and you get to Rate the driver at the end so they can't be d1cks and get away with it.

I really like this service and it's great to see it working so well. They seem to be brilliant at customer service as I had to contact them twice and they were back to me in minutes.

https://hailocab.com/dublin/

+1

Use it exclusively now, mainly for the simplicity and critically their use of credit cards.

I was waiting 20 minutes at the airport recently for a car that would take a bloody credit card (travelling for work, so it had to go on card for expenses). Ironically after about 30 cars had gone past, the first one with a card facility was a Hailo cab - albeit it seems the system doesn't work out there presumable due to the pick up arrangements.

Anyway, the point is Hailo focusses on the customer, and not on the driver, which appears to have taken many in the industry by shock.

Sorry if i'm gone a bit off topic.....

MJohnston

ArthurG wrote: »

+1

Use it exclusively now, mainly for the simplicity and critically their use of credit cards.

I was waiting 20 minutes at the airport recently for a car that would take a bloody credit card (travelling for work, so it had to go on card for expenses). Ironically after about 30 cars had gone past, the first one with a card facility was a Hailo cab - albeit it seems the system doesn't work out there presumable due to the pick up arrangements.

Anyway, the point is Hailo focusses on the customer, and not on the driver, which appears to have taken many in the industry by shock.

Sorry if i'm gone a bit off topic.....

Yep, haven't used anything but Hailo taxis myself since August. I know my driver will have been vetted, not by some spurious and opaque process, but by the customers travelling in their cab. I'll never go near a taxi rank again.

oisindoyle

ArthurG wrote: »

+1


Ironically after about 30 cars had gone past, the first one with a card facility was a Hailo cab - albeit it seems the system doesn't work out there presumable due to the pick up arrangements.

What exactly do you mean ??

ArthurG wrote: »

Anyway, the point is Hailo focusses on the customer, and not on the driver, which appears to have taken many in the industry by shock.

Really ? in what way ?

dfx-

coylemj wrote: »

Closed shop, bunch of local drivers who don't like newcomers regardless of the colour of their skin. College Green is apparently the same. As you've observed, they are policed by heavies who make it clear that newbies aren't welcome.

I saw this last night on the College Green/Wax Museum rank. A couple stopped a taxi coming down Dame St outside Starbucks and then after someone came over to them to 'guide them' and a taxi blowing their horn telling them which one to take, the original driver they hailed drove off..

oisindoyle

dfx- wrote: »

I saw this last night on the College Green/Wax Museum rank. A couple stopped a taxi coming down Dame St outside Starbucks and then after someone came over to them to 'guide them' and a taxi blowing their horn telling them which one to take, the original driver they hailed drove off..

It's not the done thing to pick up within site of a taxi rank.It has nothing to do with colour of skin ,newbies or whatever. Some years ago a taxi driver picked up withing site of the stephens green rank and was done by the Gards .Unfortunately nowadays the gards do little or nothing when it comes to enforceing the law regarding taxis .

oisindoyle

MJohnston wrote: »

I know my driver will have been vetted, not by some spurious and opaque process, but by the customers travelling in their cab. I'll never go near a taxi rank again.

Which is what exactly ?

dfx-

oisindoyle wrote: »

It's not the done thing to pick up within site of a taxi rank.It has nothing to do with colour of skin ,newbies or whatever. Some years ago a taxi driver picked up withing site of the stephens green rank and was done by the Gards .Unfortunately nowadays the gards do little or nothing when it comes to enforceing the law regarding taxis .

Is the car park where the lads hang around considered a rank? That's where the 'pre-designated' taxi came from

oisindoyle

dfx- wrote: »

Is the car park where the lads hang around considered a rank? That's where the 'pre-designated' taxi came from

What car park ?

ArthurG

oisindoyle wrote: »

What exactly do you mean ??



Really ? in what way ?

(i) As stated I was trying to get a cab that would take a credit card for 20 odd minutes, and Hailo was showing none in the area, in fact it actually stated that it couldn't get me a cab out there if I remember correctly. Car that I finally got had a Hailo sticker on it, but it didn't show up.

Furthermore, please see what your colleagues are saying:

http://irishtaxi.org/forum/index.php?topic=20548.0 (amongst other links)

(ii) Please convince me that 'many' in the industry don't give a flying whatever about customer service, and I'll eat my hat. Credit card example if simple proof enough for me, its absolutely pathetic and embarrassing that visitors to Dublin struggle to get a cab that will take a credit card. And don't get me started on the driver ahead of me, who insisted on telling in a very loud voice to anyone who was bothered listening that he'd never heard of Barrow Street to the American dude who was trying to get to Google...... Welcome to Ireland indeed.

oisindoyle

ArthurG wrote: »

(i) As stated I was trying to get a cab that would take a credit card for 20 odd minutes, and Hailo was showing none in the area, in fact it actually stated that it couldn't get me a cab out there if I remember correctly. Car that I finally got had a Hailo sticker on it, but it didn't show up. .

Only taxis with permits can work the airport.
Now having said that many many drivers who work the airport have the hailo facility and many drivers who are with radio companys also cna take credit cards.So saying you were "20 minutes " is a bit of an exaggeration.

ArthurG wrote: »

Furthermore, please see what your colleagues are saying:

http://irishtaxi.org/forum/index.php?topic=20548.0 (amongst other links).

Why would I look at the above link when those on it have nothing to do with me or represent me or the industry ?

ArthurG wrote: »

((ii) Please convince me that 'many' in the industry don't give a flying whatever about customer service, and I'll eat my hat. Credit card example if simple proof enough for me, its absolutely pathetic and embarrassing that visitors to Dublin struggle to get a cab that will take a credit card. And don't get me started on the driver ahead of me, who insisted on telling in a very loud voice to anyone who was bothered listening that he'd never heard of Barrow Street to the American dude who was trying to get to Google...... Welcome to Ireland indeed.

The above has nothing to do with the topic and still off topic ,you never did answer my question re your comment "Anyway, the point is Hailo focusses on the customer, and not on the driver, which appears to have taken many in the industry by shock"