Should I report this?

Boulevardier · 29-09-2014 8:58am #1

On Saturday I had a bizarre experience in a taxi ride from Rathmines to Grand Canal Dock Dart station.

The driver was an elderly native-born Dub who seemed to know what he was about until near the end of the journey, when it became apparent that he had never heard of Grand Canal Dock Dart station. When I expressed surprise at his lack of knowledge, he berated berating me for not treating him like a fellow human being, and when I said I thought a "cabbie" ought to know where Dart stations are, he denounced me for the use of that word.

I have his driver number. The whole thing was most peculiar. Should I mention this guy to the regulator?

Mrs OBumble · 29-09-2014 9:06am

Yes.

For a Dub not to have heard of that would indicate a problem with memory, perhaps?

Boulevardier · 29-09-2014 9:20am

Yes, the fellow may be in early stages of dementia, but then, should he still be on the road, or would it be cruel of me to put his job at risk?

Thoie · 29-09-2014 9:27am

Boulevardier wrote: »

Yes, the fellow may be in early stages of dementia, but then, should he still be on the road, or would it be cruel of me to put his job at risk?

What if it is dementia, and he forgets that you're not supposed to go the wrong way down one way streets, or forgets that red means stop?

If there's nothing wrong with him, and he's just a cantankerous fecker, he'll be able to prove that and won't lose his license.

n97 mini · 29-09-2014 9:29am

GCD station is relatively new compared to the rest of the "network". Perhaps he only works occasionally and so genuinely had never heard of it.

I think assessing his mental health is a bit ott.

Thoie · 29-09-2014 9:33am

n97 mini wrote: »

GCD station is relatively new compared to the rest of the "network". Perhaps he only works occasionally and so genuinely had never heard of it.

I think assessing his mental health is a bit ott.

Well yes, if reporting it, don't suggest anything, just put forward the facts.

"Driver didn't know the dart station, then got annoyed with me when I was surprised, and got further annoyed when I used the word cabbie. Poor customer experience."

It's not up to you to draw conclusions, or interpret anything, just give the details.

n97 mini · 29-09-2014 10:29am

"I drive part time, never heard of this relatively new station, passenger starts thread on internet forum questioning my mental health. WTF!"

Could be the other side of the story

Boulevardier · 29-09-2014 10:42am

OK that's good. If I do report the fellow, I will not go into his state of health, I will stick to what happened.

If anyone thinks they have had the same fellow, they are welcome to PM me.

L1011 · 29-09-2014 10:51am

n97 mini wrote: »

"I drive part time, never heard of this relatively new station, passenger starts thread on internet forum questioning my mental health. WTF!"

Could be the other side of the story

Relatively new? Its been there for 13 years!

Five Lamps · 29-09-2014 10:55am

n97 mini wrote: »

GCD station is relatively new compared to the rest of the "network". Perhaps he only works occasionally and so genuinely had never heard of it.

I think assessing his mental health is a bit ott.

Would agree - the station opened in 2001 and not exactly a high profile station. It's also sometimes referred to as Barrow St. which doesn't help either.

All railway stations in Dublin suffer from not having poor signage on the exterior. You wouldn't even notice GSD station if you drove by it. Every station should have very prominent signage outside. Big DART sign lit up up on a pole would be a good start.

It seems that DCC have a policy of either no signs or tiny signs for the city.

n97 mini · 29-09-2014 11:17am

MYOB wrote: »

Relatively new? Its been there for 13 years!

Relative! The two stations either side of it have been there 180 years and 144 years.

Mrs OBumble · 29-09-2014 12:15pm

n97 mini wrote: »

Relative! The two stations either side of it have been there 180 years and 144 years.

Yeah, but assuming that the driver is 60, then 13 years is over 25% of his working life.

n97 mini · 29-09-2014 12:21pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Yeah, but assuming that the driver is 60, then 13 years is over 25% of his working life.

That's true, but I did say relative to the "network", not relative to the driver!

NormalBob Ubiquitypants · 29-09-2014 12:24pm

Is cabbie the new C word?

Polar101 · 29-09-2014 12:35pm

n97 mini wrote: »

GCD station is relatively new compared to the rest of the "network". Perhaps he only works occasionally and so genuinely had never heard of it.

Perhaps, but I think it would be very unlikely. I've lived in Dublin less than 10 years, and would struggle to fine some suburban locations.. but even I could easily find GCD station, and I don't drive a taxi.

I mean, let's say you drive a taxi in Dublin even for a few weeks/months - what are the chances that after that you won't know where the train stations are?

Mr.Frame · 29-09-2014 1:41pm

I would pass it off to experience there are far worse bad taxi stories out there. Whos to say he was just having an off day, we all have them.
He didnt overcharge you or was physically abusive.

Boulevardier · 29-09-2014 2:20pm

He wasted a fair bit of my time - maybe that's not such a mortaller on a Saturday, but what if I had been going for an emergency meeting? This guy was simply not reliable enough.

I now think it should be a condition for taxi drivers either to do a knowledge test like in London, or to have decent GPS or satnav on board. Otherwise, he/she should not be let pick up fares.

Spook_ie · 29-09-2014 2:43pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Yes.

For a Dub not to have heard of that would indicate a problem with memory, perhaps?

Maybe but I can't help wondering if you asked 1000 Dublin licensed drivers what percentage would actually know the answer anyway?

uck51js9zml2yt · 29-09-2014 2:48pm

I never knew there was a dart station there. I've lived in Dublin over 40 years.

thejaguar · 29-09-2014 2:55pm

Why did you call him a cabbie?
Seems a bit rude to me.

Tiger Mcilroy · 29-09-2014 2:57pm

thejaguar wrote: »

Why did you call him a cabbie?
Seems a bit rude to me.

Seriously..the man drives a cab, whats wrong with calling him a cabbie?

cdebru · 29-09-2014 3:05pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Yeah, but assuming that the driver is 60, then 13 years is over 25% of his working life.

Some taxi drivers do 99% daytime shopping center rank work especially older guys, which most of the time involves dropping people home to nearby housing estates with their shopping. It may have been a rare visit for him.

Hilly Bill · 29-09-2014 4:13pm

How did you express your surprise OP? It sounds that you had a go at him for not knowing where the station was and you didnt like his response so started a thread about it.

UncleChael · 29-09-2014 4:21pm

Tiger Mcilroy wrote: »

Seriously..the man drives a cab, whats wrong with calling him a cabbie?

He drives a Taxi, this isn't the UK.

Hilly Bill · 29-09-2014 4:29pm

Unless the OP got a hackney cab from an office.

Grandeeod · 29-09-2014 5:41pm

Boulevardier wrote: »

On Saturday I had a bizarre experience in a taxi ride from Rathmines to Grand Canal Dock Dart station.

The driver was an elderly native-born Dub who seemed to know what he was about until near the end of the journey, when it became apparent that he had never heard of Grand Canal Dock Dart station. When I expressed surprise at his lack of knowledge, he berated berating me for not treating him like a fellow human being, and when I said I thought a "cabbie" ought to know where Dart stations are, he denounced me for the use of that word.

I have his driver number. The whole thing was most peculiar. Should I mention this guy to the regulator?

Do you know where GCD station is? Towards the end of the journey, could you not have directed him to the station? (assuming you knew where it was)

What do you mean by "he berated you for not treating him like a fellow human being."?

Has it ever occurred to you that calling him a "cabbie" was insulting?

Honestly interested.

Spook_ie · 29-09-2014 7:21pm

Just to clarify something, did he berate you for berating him, seems to be what you are saying.

monument · 29-09-2014 7:23pm

Boulevardier wrote: »

I now think it should be a condition for taxi drivers either to do a knowledge test like in London, or to have decent GPS or satnav on board. Otherwise, he/she should not be let pick up fares.

Yes. This.

monument · 29-09-2014 7:25pm

thejaguar wrote: »

Why did you call him a cabbie?
Seems a bit rude to me.

Honestly: Why?

I've never heard it being used as a term of abuse.

Grandeeod · 29-09-2014 7:42pm

monument wrote: »

Honestly: Why?

I've never heard it being used as a term of abuse.

I've never heard it used to address a taxi driver in Ireland and while it may not seem offensive to you or I, in these days of PC, you can't fart crooked for fear of retribution. While I'm not that sensitive, I can understand the drivers reaction. No doubt brainwashed by the PC brigade.

Mr.Frame · 29-09-2014 10:47pm

monument wrote: »

Yes. This.

There is a test.

Mr.Frame · 29-09-2014 10:52pm

Like most situations there is always two sides to a story.
we are only going by what the OP said ,for all anyone of us know he might have come across cheeky/rude to the driver in "expressing " his surprise that the driver didn't know that ONE particular dart station.
Calling the driver a cabbie may have been said in a smart arsed way,who knows.

mikemac1 · 29-09-2014 10:59pm

As said already a lot of the elderly drivers tend to work a local area. If it's a shopping centre then most jobs are just quick runs to nearby estates. They may struggle if you throw something like GCD at them.

The driver should know but he didn't. I don't think it's worth reporting

Boulevardier · 30-09-2014 1:16pm

I was as measured as I could be in my tone when I expressed surprise at his lack of knowledge of the destination, but I certainly could not hide my dismay, as he had given no sign at the beginning of the journey that he had not heard of the place.

As for "cabbie," I didn't see it as being any worse than "squaddie" or "postie" but if they really don't like it I am happy to stop using it.

thejaguar · 30-09-2014 2:22pm

I don't think 'cabbie' is any worse than 'squaddie' or 'postie' either. They're all as likely as each other to be seen as rude if used to a complete stranger when you're expressing your dismay.

Tiger Mcilroy · 30-09-2014 2:41pm

UncleChael wrote: »

He drives a Taxi, this isn't the UK.

Again i have to question are you serious, you have never heard of a taxi being called a cab in ireland?

I would say you would be in a very small minority.

beauf · 30-09-2014 4:14pm

I'm not sure how being called a "cabbie" is rude. That seems kinda odd for anyone.

mikemac1 wrote: »

As said already a lot of the elderly drivers tend to work a local area. If it's a shopping centre then most jobs are just quick runs to nearby estates. They may struggle if you throw something like GCD at them.

The driver should know but he didn't. I don't think it's worth reporting

+1 I've lived in Dublin for most of my life and use the trains a fair bit. But I couldn't tell you where many of them are as I've never been to them.

Hilly Bill · 30-09-2014 8:45pm

Tiger Mcilroy wrote: »

Again i have to question are you serious, you have never heard of a taxi being called a cab in ireland?

I would say you would be in a very small minority.

A Cab is different to a taxi as it cant pick up on the streets. Maybe thats why he was a bit miffed for being called a cabbie

.

Should I report this?

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