Taxis in the wee hours

JollyBustard

So lately (the last few months) I've experienced real issues with getting a taxi home from nights out. Some nights I've been a bit drunk, have my roll from Centra (if I haven't gone to eat in somewhere), some nights I've been somewhat sober and the rare time a taxi comes I let some polite woman/women skip the 'queue' because they're more at risk to be standing waiting on the street (not to say all are, just that's where my mind goes). Some nights I'm with friends, sobriety be damned.
Average wait time is about 15 minutes if not more and it's fine. But there are so many taxis going along the quays etc (don't even start me on the lights on incorrectly) that it shouldn't be this difficult to get someone.
This evening for example, I got to the rank (outside Dublin castle) and there was a chap waiting. Taxi pulls up to let two girls in who were walking up to the rank. Chap waiting got in ahead of them and taxi driver argues him out of the taxi.
Why is it such a hassle to get taxis? (I know there have been a few taxi threads lately, mods, feel free to move, but I'd like after hours rants to tell me I'm not alone in my annoyance :P )
I think my point is - why are taxis so pick and choosy?! (I know I'll look back on this tomorrow and wonder why I bothered posting and that's ok. Just need me a rant )

the_syco

For this reason, I get an uber. Leaving a mates to go home; uber before I go.

Your Face

I never had this problem.

Tbh its usually me who is discerning when it comes to taxis.

ELM327

Generally I have the opposite problem
There are too many taxis I don't want to take (eg old car, scruffy/dodgy/non local driver) so i have to wait for a proper one.

At a rank if there's a guy in a tracksuit in a 10 year old focus or a sharply dressed man in a 2 year old skoda superb then I know who I will place my business with. And remember folks that it is a business, and you decide who to place your money with. Even if it's the third car down on the rank.

boombang

Mmmm, Superb; so much comfort.

Well, I've not much to add on this other than the situation is so much better than it used to be before the new taxi plates were issued. People would queue for hours. Best argument for free market operation ever.

Fighting Tao

No problem getting taxis at any time. By any chance are you living in 1997?

JollyBustard

JollyBustard wrote: »

This evening for example, I got to the rank (outside Dublin castle) and there was a chap waiting. Taxi pulls up to let two girls in who were walking up to the rank. Chap waiting got in ahead of them and taxi driver argues him out of the taxi.
Why is it such a hassle to get taxis?

Reg plate and quick email to taxi regulator?

If taxi drivers are assholes, why not? Surely the only way conduct will improve is if they know even the little irritating stuff is being noted.

Poor Uncle Tom

OP has no problem picking out girls in the taxi line and letting them skip the queue, but it's a problem if the taxi driver does it!

Generally, no problem with taxis, 15 minutes isn't too long to be waiting.

Boom_Bap

Flagging down a taxi with a roll from centra is never a good idea.
The last thing a cabbie wants in their car is a potentially drunk guy with the additional risk of leaving food all over his car.

everlast75

Poor Uncle Tom wrote: »

OP has no problem picking out girls in the taxi line and letting them skip the queue, but it's a problem if the taxi driver does it

Yes.

Absolutely

JollyBustard

everlast75 wrote: »

Yes.

Absolutely

To clarify (and I know it seems hypocritical) but I wasn't next in queue in this regard, so it wasn't my call to say whether they should have gone and skipped the 'queue' as it were. If the guy waiting ages didn't want to let the girls go ahead of him, that's on him. I agree that it's the taxi driver's prerogative but I just thought it was a bit of a dick thing for him to do. (Also, he took a photo of the plate etc when he eventually realised he was getting nowhere)

JollyBustard

Boom_Bap wrote: »

Flagging down a taxi with a roll from centra is never a good idea.
The last thing a cabbie wants in their car is a potentially drunk guy with the additional risk of leaving food all over his car.

That's obviously true. At the time though, its sheer frustrating because I tend not to be that drunk if I have the foresight to grab a roll at the end of the night. Of course that's not on the driver.

JollyBustard

Fighting Tao wrote: »

No problem getting taxis at any time. By any chance are you living in 1997?

I wish! From what I've heard life was so much easier then! I was only a wee yoke so my recollections are hazy at best :P

begbysback

You're not getting into my car if it's tuna and sweercorn, the smell off ya

JollyBustard

begbysback wrote: »

You're not getting into my car if it's tuna and sweercorn, the smell off ya

What if it's a chicken fillet roll? Honestly... who gets tuna at the end of a night out? :P

johndaman66

Never had too much of a problem with people behind me in the queue getting picked up ahead of me. If you are waiting at a taxi rank in close proximity to a niteclub or disco bar type place just after closing hrs I could see how you might be waiting some time, dealing with people skipping the queue etc. Best to be a bit smart about it...walk down the road a bit and flag down a vacant taxi ahead of the rank.


I would imagine taxi drivers to be selective about who they pick up in the wee hours - dealing with lots of drunken muppets who don't make much sense at best. Not that I am implying the OP or anyone else on the thread is one of them.


Presumably this is a Dublin thread, not that it has being mentioned?

andekwarhola

Flagging one with food in your hand is a no-no.

I always avoid ranks as well. Too much potential for trouble. If I'm in the city centre, I usually just walk outwards where taxis are returning and get one no problem.

Surreptitious

JollyBustard wrote: »

What if it's a chicken fillet roll? Honestly... who gets tuna at the end of a night out? :P

Some folk like a fishy end to the night.