Can I pick my own taxi?

Saskia · 15-08-2008 12:17AM #1

I was having this debate with a friend of mine today. If you go to a rank and at the top there's a wreck of a car with bits hanging off it and the second car in the rank is a shiny new Merc, arent you entitled to chose the Merc if you wish? The friend was saying its the "law" that you have to go with the first taxi but I dont think so. The rank isnt a legal queue AFAIK. Anyone know the facts?

jetsonx · 15-08-2008 12:22AM

The driver of the "better" car behind would probably not take you on as a fare if you did that.

marco murphy · 15-08-2008 12:24AM

I do it all the time. I pick the last one in the que infact, for traffic avoidance reasons.

OPENROAD · 15-08-2008 12:31AM

jetsonx wrote: »

The driver of the "better" car behind would probably not take you on as a fare if you did that.

You could then report him I would say.

xOxSinéadxOx · 15-08-2008 12:32AM

i always thought that you HAVE to pick the first one

minxie · 15-08-2008 12:34AM

Saskia wrote: »

I was having this debate with a friend of mine today. If you go to a rank and at the top there's a wreck of a car with bits hanging off it and the second car in the rank is a shiny new Merc, arent you entitled to chose the Merc if you wish? The friend was saying its the "law" that you have to go with the first taxi but I dont think so. The rank isnt a legal queue AFAIK. Anyone know the facts?

think its taxi traffic "law" so to speak or courtesy to use the first one in line

green123 · 15-08-2008 12:36AM

Poblachtach wrote: »

I do it all the time. I pick the last one in the que infact, for traffic avoidance reasons.

traffic avoidance ?
how ?

Catari Jaguar · 15-08-2008 12:43AM

I think if it's the same company you can pick whatever. If it's like at College Green or O' Connell street where it's freelance/ different companies you have to go with the first taxi driver. A lot wont pick you up if you approach because they're stealing business away. They just drive in a circle around the road island thing until it's their turn to be first.

I mean if you REALLY wanted the second car you could wait for another person to jump in the first one while you stood in the píssing rain...

radiospan · 15-08-2008 12:45AM

Lil Kitten wrote: »

I think if it's the same company you can pick whatever. If it's like at College Green or O' Connell street where it's freelance/ different companies you have to go with the first taxi driver.

I thought it was the other way around. In America anyway, people can choose whichever company they like at a rank (because some take credit card, some don't)

OPENROAD · 15-08-2008 12:47AM

plazzTT wrote: »

I thought it was the other way around. In America anyway, people can choose whichever company they like at a rank (because some take credit card, some don't)

I am almost certain that is the case in dublin, pick whatever car you want.

javaboy · 15-08-2008 12:53AM

AFAIK you can pick whichever car you want but taxi driver etiquette (stop laughing now, I'm serious) will usually mean the other taxi driver telling you to take the first taxi.

It does sort of make a mockery of those taxi drivers who really take pride in their car though that you effectively can't choose them at a rank.

phantom_lord · 15-08-2008 12:56AM

jetsonx wrote: »

The driver of the "better" car behind would probably not take you on as a fare if you did that.

yup. it's just an etiquette thing i think. i doubt there's a law about it or anything.*

Jaunte · 15-08-2008 01:09AM

I think when the Taxi Regulator issued all those stickers and guideline sheets, they explicitly stated that you are not obliged to take the first taxi in line.

That said, the drivers do enforce it unofficially themselves.

I wonder if there are other, more secret taxi-driver traditions?

baglady · 15-08-2008 01:15AM

who cares. just go with the 1st guy. jeez.

Stercus Accidit · 15-08-2008 01:17AM

First I've heard of this.
I just stagger into the nearest taxi that I can.

Catari Jaguar · 15-08-2008 01:19AM

javaboy wrote: »

AFAIK you can pick whichever car you want but taxi driver etiquette (stop laughing now, I'm serious) will usually mean the other taxi driver telling you to take the first taxi.

It does sort of make a mockery of those taxi drivers who really take pride in their car though that you effectively can't choose them at a rank.

Yea, that's what I mean. But they will pick people up when they're first in line... Provided they get picked and not the even nicer car behind them

OPENROAD · 15-08-2008 01:22AM

baglady wrote: »

who cares. just go with the 1st guy. jeez.

Why should you have to pay for a cramped car when the second car is far more comfortable.

baglady · 15-08-2008 01:27AM

OPENROAD wrote: »

Why should you have to pay for a cramped car when the second car is far more comfortable.

because unless you are getting a taxi for a really long journey then who the hell cares. It's a car. We're not talking the difference between an old mini and a limo here, its a car that's a bit banged up. It's just a car. It will get you there fine!

DanGerMus · 15-08-2008 01:27AM

Dont think you're obliged to take the first one. But AFAIK they are obliged to take you ie. taxi at a rank cannot turn away a fair. Maybe someone got mixed up.

OPENROAD · 15-08-2008 01:32AM

baglady wrote: »

because unless you are getting a taxi for a really long journey then who the hell cares. It's a car. We're not talking the difference between an old mini and a limo here, its a car that's a bit banged up. It's just a car. It will get you there fine!

I care

Short journey true but it could cost me up to 30 Euro for this short trip if I am gettig one from the airport,I've had a long day and I'm tired I want a comfortable trip home for that price. From town I can pay up to 15 Euro.

Cianos · 15-08-2008 01:33AM

OPENROAD wrote: »

Why should you have to pay for a cramped car when the second car is far more comfortable.

Because it's a question of etiquette. The taxi drivers are using a fair system so they all get a fair share of the business. Who cares if one car isn't as "comfortable" as the other, you're hardly going on a trip half way across the world. I've personally never been in a taxi I thought uncomfortable. Whether it can get me from A to B, and if the driver will try rip me off along the way is all I'd care about. Until you are trying to pack 4 people in to a micra, comfort is hardly an issue with taxis.

Jigsaw · 15-08-2008 01:33AM

This is all news to me. As a rule I have my driver collect me in the event that I am not going back to the hotel to sip the 'gnac and smoke wit ma ho's.

baglady · 15-08-2008 01:36AM

Cianos wrote: »

Because it's a question of etiquette. The taxi drivers are using a fair system so they all get a fair share of the business. Who cares if one car isn't as "comfortable" as the other, you're hardly going on a trip half way across the world. I've personally never been in a taxi I thought uncomfortable. Whether it can get me from A to B, and if the driver will try rip me off along the way is all I'd care about. Until you are trying to pack 4 people in to a micra, comfort is hardly an issue with taxis.

exactly!!!!!

baglady · 15-08-2008 01:38AM

OPENROAD wrote: »

I care Short journey true but it could cost me up to 30 Euro for this short trip if I am gettig one from the airport,I've had a long day and I'm tired I want a comfortable trip home for that price. From town I can pay up to 15 Euro.

seriously though, it's a freakin car. I mean it's not like one has a free mini bar and massage chairs. Its a seat to sit in. They're not going to let a taxi on the road that has springs sticking out of the seats or anything.

javaboy · 15-08-2008 01:41AM

Cianos wrote: »

Because it's a question of etiquette. The taxi drivers are using a fair system so they all get a fair share of the business. Who cares if one car isn't as "comfortable" as the other, you're hardly going on a trip half way across the world. I've personally never been in a taxi I thought uncomfortable. Whether it can get me from A to B, and if the driver will try rip me off along the way is all I'd care about. Until you are trying to pack 4 people in to a micra, comfort is hardly an issue with taxis.

What about safety? If one taxi has all the bells and whistles and the one at the top of the queue only has the legal minimum, should people not be allowed opt for the better one? At the end of the day, it's a service. If one person is providing a more comfortable, safer service than another, why should the customer be forced to choose the worse service?

baglady · 15-08-2008 01:44AM

javaboy wrote: »

What about safety? If one taxi has all the bells and whistles and the one at the top of the queue only has the legal minimum, should people not be allowed opt for the better one? At the end of the day, it's a service. If one person is providing a more comfortable, safer service than another, why should the customer be forced to choose the worse service?

what would be the difference between "the bells and whistles" and the "legal minimum"? are you talking air bags and stuff? Coz if I had a choice between one car and a safer one, I would defo take the safer one. But surely they won't let taxis on the road who don't have all the necessary safety features?

OPENROAD · 15-08-2008 01:44AM

Cianos wrote: »

Because it's a question of etiquette. The taxi drivers are using a fair system so they all get a fair share of the business. Who cares if one car isn't as "comfortable" as the other, you're hardly going on a trip half way across the world. I've personally never been in a taxi I thought uncomfortable. Whether it can get me from A to B, and if the driver will try rip me off along the way is all I'd care about. Until you are trying to pack 4 people in to a micra, comfort is hardly an issue with taxis.

A fair system for the customer would be to have a standardised car like they do in London. Using taxis regualrly in both London and Dublin, I know which offers better value.

I have got into many a taxi in Dublin in which the front seat has been out of use and have had to sit cramped up in the back.

OPENROAD · 15-08-2008 01:45AM

javaboy wrote: »

At the end of the day, it's a service. If one person is providing a more comfortable, safer service than another, why should the customer be forced to choose the worse service?

+1

Hermy · 15-08-2008 01:45AM

You are perfectly entitled to pick what ever taxi you like at the rank.

kmart6 · 15-08-2008 01:50AM

Taken from here;

TaxiRugualtor wrote:

Am I entitled to choose any taxi at a rank?
Yes, as a consumer your can choose whichever taxi you would like to travel in

Cianos · 15-08-2008 01:50AM

javaboy wrote: »

What about safety? If one taxi has all the bells and whistles and the one at the top of the queue only has the legal minimum, should people not be allowed opt for the better one? At the end of the day, it's a service. If one person is providing a more comfortable, safer service than another, why should the customer be forced to choose the worse service?

The biggest factor by a massive margin in the safety of the journey is the driver. So you really have no way of telling. If it has the legal minimum, then it is considered a safe vehicle.

Further, you are not forced to choose what you would consider the worse service. You can break the practiced etiquette if you wish and try the cars further down the line, or wait for other people to take the first car so you can consider your journey home more comfortable.

Can I pick my own taxi?

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