Meanwhile on the Roads...

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124041393#Comment_124041393

I don't think @Paddigol was suggesting you or I are not successful, higher functioning adults. Just that there are a large number, the percentage of the population unknown, who would unwittingly link not having a car with maybe not having sufficient money to have a car. They may not say it out loud, they may not phrase it that way, but in some way, they simply associate car ownership with a normal thing that (their opinion) nearly all Irish people would have. You are of course correct in that this is ridiculous, loads in Dublin do not, I have neighbours in rural midlands who don't, they walk to the shop, the post office and the local pub, they need not for a car, so why would they get one.

A well timed anecdote, I was in Cork yesterday for a meeting, and one of the speakers was from Dublin, successful and well educated as far as I know arrived down to Mallow train station and then ringing us to see did we have a taxi service locally, he just presumed there would be one.

Now the shock to me, someone who frequently uses the train is that he, a supposedly intelligent and successful person would not have thought to check this before coming down. This persons "brand" is of thinking things through, seeing solutions using technology etc. I found it surprising he wouldn't have even done a quick google, and pre booked a taxi if required.

Another person in the meeting though, as if in direct response to this thread, started giving out, how does this supposedly successful business man, entrepreneur not have a car, FFS, and immediately became dubious of this persons supposed success.

We were both shocked but for very different reasons. Now no one else shared this view, or at least didn't get sucked into the rabbit hole of discussing it. One pointed out that he was from Dublin, and that taxis would typically be freely available but still stupid he presumed it. Another seemed confused that someone from Ireland wouldn't know that Mallow doesn't have taxis freely available, I put this down to people from Cork presuming (mass generalisation) that everyone loves Cork and knows things like this.

The same happened to me when I moved down south, they didn't understand why I cycled to the train station, would I not drive? you don't have a car? why not? general looks of mild confusion before moving on as they appeared to be stuck in a slight loop mentally, as they know ( I presume) having talked to me there is nothing that would make me stand out or appear to have such a decision forced upon me (and there isn't or wasn't). Whereas in Dublin, it would never have even been questioned.

Seth Brundle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124044812#Comment_124044812

Am I correct in remembering that a number of years ago, taxi drivers wanted to be able to use Uber as a handling service and the regulator didn't them involved?

magicbastarder

I'm not sure of what the taxi drivers stance was but wasn't the regulator's stance that Uber are welcome, but they must play by the rules (which didn't suit Uber)?

JMcL

I always used to be confused at the supposedly self-employed taxi drivers going on strike - how's that supposed to work? They had some rep that looked a bit like a gone to seed Hulk Hogan constantly moaning (having been living in Dublin at the time and facing 1-2 hour waits on taxis my sympathy with whatever plight they thought they had was thin to say the least)

hans aus dtschl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124044827#Comment_124044827

Another seemed confused that someone from Ireland wouldn't know that Mallow doesn't have taxis freely available, I put this down to people from Cork presuming (mass generalisation) that everyone loves Cork and knows things like this.

I suspect you're looking at this the wrong way around. They'd more likely assumed that everyone knows Mallow doesn't have taxis freely available because we don't have anything like that outside the Greater Dublin Area and the city centres of Cork and Limerick. Honestly, that's way bigger than a "Cork" thing. I wouldn't expect taxis at Killarney, Tralee etc and I would not be surprised if there no taxis at Limerick rank upon arrival.

We don't get things like integrated transport systems around the rest of the country and I've seen lots of times where Dublin people I know have had a shock by the infrastructure/services gap. It's like a London person arriving to Dublin and wondering where the tube station is: "in our dreams pal, that's where it is". I know it's reasonable to expect these things, but we're coming from a very low base here!

Synopsis: when you're from "de stix" you quickly learn that when it comes to transport you can take nothing for granted!

Macy0161

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124044843#Comment_124044843

Well Uber not allowed to do the lift sharing model in this state - it's effectively another taxi booking app. I don't really understand why the taxi drivers don't just remove themselves from the Uber app, rather than expect the regulator to enforce a change? If no taxi drivers were signed up, uber would disappear or change (in this state at least).

smacl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124045019#Comment_124045019

Yep, rural taxis in my experience tend to be best found by enquiring at the local pub or shop. They're usually there, if sporadic, but you just need to know where to look. Don't know if local rural taxis are on any of the apps yet, assuming of course you could get a data signal on your phone. Most rural towns list a couple of taxis on google or the yellow pages.

Spent some time in rural Canada this Summer and they had road signs up for hitch-hiking spots where most folks would stop and give you a lift. Hitching used to be a pretty good way of getting around rural Ireland when I was much younger but not sure if it is still a thing.

Allinall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124045115#Comment_124045115

None of the taxi spokesmen/ women are prepared to articulate their real issue.

Too many foreign drivers coming into the business and will inevitably sign up to Uber, work longer hours and take fares off the old school "I'm entitled" lazy drivers who want to protect their cartel.

I see they have called off their protest next week on the spurious claim they have a meaningful meeting with government representatives next week.

Nothing to do with the public outrage on all forums today.

smacl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124044827#Comment_124044827

And then you compare that to Catherine Connolly rocking up to vote on her bicycle and I'd guess most would assume she's a succesful functioning adult. There are no doubt a broad range of attitudes out there, some very polarised, many very car-centric for sure, others not so much. Speculation about what those attitudes are, and more importantly, their distribution, based on one's own first hand experiences is sketchy to say the least. Interesting study here which shows decreased take up of driving licenses among many industrialized countries which suggests we may have passed 'peak car'. The cynic in me might think that politicians looking for photo-ops on bikes is done to appeal to what they consider to be a significant demographic in the voting population who are not car-centric.

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124045136#Comment_124045136

They have a point, in fairness. Uber will drive down fares being paid to the driver, and then when they have critical mass in the market, they'll ramp back up the fares being charged to the passenger, and leave the drivers working at subsistence level. It's their business model.

They're not here to help passengers.

Allinall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124045248#Comment_124045248

The drivers have a very simple way of stopping that, without protests that disrupt the public.

Don't sign up to the app.

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124045277#Comment_124045277

Many of the drivers are immigrants who don't have that luxury.

Allinall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124045311#Comment_124045311

Of course they do.

They work to the very same rules as the Irish drivers. Anyway, it appears they are not the ones protesting.