People not tipping the free bicycle taxi lads.

petethebrick · 31-08-2008 12:59PM #1

On more than one occassion I've seen people disembarking from the free bicycle taxis in the city centre just mumble thanks and head off without giving any sort of a tip at all. In my opinion that's the height of ignorance. I mean, I know we don't have an ingrained tipping culture here like in the US for example. But to expect someone to pedal you around the town and not even throw them a euro or two is completely scabby. I should point out as well that the main culprits I've witnessed are middle aged women out shopping, laden with bags from brown thomas and arnotts etc If you're not prepared to tip I reckon don't get in the taxi in the first place.

jimmycrackcorm · 31-08-2008 01:01PM

Shouldn't thanks be enough?

Fishyfreak · 31-08-2008 01:04PM

Didn't know they were free.

It's free trips around the city for me on my lunchbreak. Ooohhh Yeaahh!!

Now cycle you wild stallion, CYCLE!!!!

Collie D · 31-08-2008 01:05PM

Same here, Fishy. I reckon a lift from O'Connell Street to Coolock is worth a euro tip. Yeeha, giddy up!

Mossy Monk · 31-08-2008 01:17PM

It is hardly free if you are expected to pay.

Volvoboy · 31-08-2008 01:19PM

Save your money for the real taxi drivers:D

Fajitas! · 31-08-2008 01:20PM

They don't have 7up etc plastered across them for free tbh.

That said, I would tip them if I ever used them.

Mimikyu · 31-08-2008 01:22PM

This post has been deleted.

Thomas_S_Hunterson · 31-08-2008 01:22PM

A tip should never be seen as obligatory. By definition, they are discretionary.

As solitaryman said, they are paid a wage. It is not up to us to supplement that wage and make 7up's advertising even cheaper for them. If they're not happy with that wage, then they should leave the job.

brianthebard · 31-08-2008 01:23PM

Tips are "To Insure Promptitude"-if the jobs already done why bother?

Mint Sauce · 31-08-2008 01:24PM

never knew they were free my self, next time in dublin might make use of one, do they have a maximum journey distance, or an area in which they only run, would they take me to say, rathfarian, or dundrum, or say even the airport

haha, in seriousness, would throw them a few euro if i used one around the city centre

Notorious · 31-08-2008 01:26PM

petethebrick wrote: »

On more than one occassion I've seen people disembarking from the free bicycle taxis in the city centre just mumble thanks and head off without giving any sort of a tip at all. In my opinion that's the height of ignorance. I mean, I know we don't have an ingrained tipping culture here like in the US for example. But to expect someone to pedal you around the town and not even throw them a euro or two is completely scabby. I should point out as well that the main culprits I've witnessed are middle aged women out shopping, laden with bags from brown thomas and arnotts etc If you're not prepared to tip I reckon don't get in the taxi in the first place.

They get paid a wage like everybody else. I'd imagine its a decent wage for the job too. If this was the US, anybody doing this job would be getting a small basic wage, and would rely on a tip to boost their wages, just like bar staff over there. So since this isn't the US, and we don't have a tipping culture, I'm going to hitch a ride tomorrow and not tip. Just for you.

Terry · 31-08-2008 01:27PM

I didn't know they were free. That's awesome.

I'd tip them if i was to get one.
Maybe a euro or whatever I had in change, but only because I'm fat, so that means extra effort on their part.

zuroph · 31-08-2008 01:27PM

FREE??? Holy crap I've been missing out! so u just walk up and ask them to bring you somewhere?! Are they ALL free? :eek:

Terry · 31-08-2008 01:29PM

zuroph wrote: »

FREE??? Holy crap I've been missing out! so u just walk up and ask them to bring you somewhere?! Are they ALL free? :eek:

I know. It should be advertised FFS.

There I was in the city centre the other day, walking from Drumcondra station to O'Connell street. WALKING when there was a free taxi thing that I was unaware of.
The sweat was pissing out of me.

Mint Sauce · 31-08-2008 01:33PM

do they have a web site

Thomas_S_Hunterson · 31-08-2008 01:35PM

irish-stew wrote: »

do they have a web site

http://www.ecocabs.ie/

31-08-2008 01:39PM

I didn't know these were in other places! They've popped up all around Galway city since the start of the summer.

shane86 · 31-08-2008 01:52PM

Didnt know they were free either!

tbh Ive only ever noticed them on Grafton Street on a Friday or Sat night. Do they operate in the day?

zuroph · 31-08-2008 01:58PM

these poor guys are going to be a lot busier come monday morning!

Catari Jaguar · 31-08-2008 01:59PM

They only go a mile radius. About as far as Stephen's Green to Parnell Street. Yea, they're going all day every day from what I can tell; seeing them around.

They get minimum wage afaik. If anything happens to the eco cab they have to pay, and they get a lot of abuse from skangers. Also, they have to stay with the eco-cab during their lunch hour.

My friend and I got a lift from a lovely fella, my mate was flirting away with him and we had a good laugh chatting to him. I think between us we gave him 6e. They're cool yolks to have a go on. Pretty scary though.

Collie D · 31-08-2008 01:59PM

shane86 wrote: »

Didnt know they were free either!

tbh Ive only ever noticed them on Grafton Street on a Friday or Sat night. Do they operate in the day?

Those rickshaw jobbies aren't free. Think they're talking about the 7UP ones oyu see at the Spike. I am never walking in city centre again. Why hasn't Biko complained about this thread yet?

arybvtcw0eolkf · 31-08-2008 02:01PM

Lil Kitten wrote: »

My friend and I got a lift from a lovely fella, my mate was flirting away with him and we had a good laugh chatting to him. I think between us we gave him 6e. They're cool yolks to have a go on. Pretty scary though.

Your mates a prick teaser, poor bastard thought he was getting his hole but only got €6- and an erection :mad:

bitemybanger · 31-08-2008 02:01PM

petethebrick wrote: »

On more than one occassion I've seen people disembarking from the free bicycle taxis in the city centre just mumble thanks and head off without giving any sort of a tip at all. In my opinion that's the height of ignorance. I mean, I know we don't have an ingrained tipping culture here like in the US for example. But to expect someone to pedal you around the town and not even throw them a euro or two is completely scabby. I should point out as well that the main culprits I've witnessed are middle aged women out shopping, laden with bags from brown thomas and arnotts etc If you're not prepared to tip I reckon don't get in the taxi in the first place.

Never herd such crap.
ITS A FREE SERVICE, if somone wants to tip, fine. if you dont, no biggie, they dont work for free and dont rely soley on tips liks waiters in the US, they would have to get the minimum wage.

Catari Jaguar · 31-08-2008 02:02PM

Mairt wrote: »

Your mates a prick teaser, poor bastard thought he was getting his hole but only got €6- and an erection :mad:

If he wasn't working she probably would have put out

Catari Jaguar · 31-08-2008 02:03PM

bitemybanger wrote: »

Never herd such crap.
ITS A FREE SERVICE, if somone wants to tip, fine. if you dont, no biggie, they dont work for free and dont rely soley on tips liks waiters in the US, they would have to get the minimum wage.

It's fairly tough work, they are CYCLING not driving! No harm in throwing them a euro. Would cost that much to get the bus, well e1.05...

javaboy · 31-08-2008 02:06PM

Collie D wrote: »

Those rickshaw jobbies aren't free. Think they're talking about the 7UP ones oyu see at the Spike. I am never walking in city centre again. Why hasn't Biko complained about this thread yet?

Biko's powerless. He's out of his jurisdiction. This thread's been an inter-county federal case since this post:

Deleted User wrote: »

I didn't know these were in other places! They've popped up all around Galway city since the start of the summer.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 31-08-2008 02:06PM

Lil Kitten wrote: »

If he wasn't working she probably would have put out

I'm off today :P

Collie D · 31-08-2008 02:07PM

Lil Kitten wrote: »

It's fairly tough work, they are CYCLING not driving! No harm in throwing them a euro. Would cost that much to get the bus, well e1.05...

Exactly. Now cough up, you scabby bastards

bitemybanger · 31-08-2008 02:08PM

Lil Kitten wrote: »

It's fairly tough work, they are CYCLING not driving! No harm in throwing them a euro. Would cost that much to get the bus, well e1.05...

Its thier choice of work. busses arnt free and arnt eco friendly, Im no eco warrior or have i ever used ane of theese taxis but when people post threads about not tipping a free service in here and probably other threads on how to save a couple of euro in other threads is a bit Irish to say the least

Fringe · 31-08-2008 02:10PM

I was actually in town on the first day they were active with two of my friends. We were going somewhere near the Bleeding Horse and this guy took two of my friends. I was left alone and had to run after the damn ecocab and I even tripped halfway. It got back to them though when the ecocab guy started bsing about how they didn't get paid at all and relied on tips. They felt obliged and the only change they had was a fiver.

But yeah, they do get paid. If you look at the ecocab, there's advertisements all over them and that's how they make money.

People not tipping the free bicycle taxi lads.

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