Taxi fares to go up 8%

Spook_ie · 23-09-2008 01:54PM

toiletduck wrote: »

No. Isn't empty taxis going past a bad experience? And regardless, I said "often", not always nor the majority, and "after a certain time" (for the third time...).

Ah, so everytime I drive past someone in my taxi when I'm empty, I'm responsible for giving intended passengers a "bad experience" not just the fact that 9 times out of 10 the intending passenger sticks an arm out at the last second or waits in a dark shadow with dark clothes on ( can you have light shadows? ) well in that case I feel duly obliged to apologise to all the people I drive past because they don't know how to hail a taxi... :rolleyes:

toiletduck · 23-09-2008 02:04PM

Spook_ie wrote: »

Ah, so everytime I drive past someone in my taxi when I'm empty, I'm responsible for giving intended passengers a "bad experience" not just the fact that 9 times out of 10 the intending passenger sticks an arm out at the last second or waits in a dark shadow with dark clothes on ( can you have light shadows? ) well in that case I feel duly obliged to apologise to all the people I drive past because they don't know how to hail a taxi... :rolleyes:

Calm down. Lookit it seems no matter what I say, you're on the defensive. You're not even reading the posts properly, just picking out strawmen. Fine. I came here just to clarify that sometimes taxi are a necessity for certain people in certain situations due to someone else comment.

And yes, having your plate on and driving past a person in the middle of the night who is attempting to hail you is pig ignorant and gives people a bad impression of taxis.

Go on though, go on the defensive. Never mind that I said most of the drivers are decent :rolleyes:

arybvtcw0eolkf · 23-09-2008 02:06PM

gixerfixer wrote: »

Such a load of B.S.. I am good friends with two taxi drivers who i know for a fact work a max of 40 hours a week and after fuel,tax.insurance etc..are still pulling down 700-800 euro a week. Sick of listening to them babble on about hard times etc.....

Your mates are bull****ting you.

That mean's your mates are consistantly taking in €20 per hour, every hour.

Not a chance.

Spook_ie · 23-09-2008 02:13PM

toiletduck wrote: »

Calm down. Lookit it seems no matter what I say, you're on the defensive. You're not even reading the posts properly, just picking out strawmen. Fine. I came here just to clarify that sometimes taxi are a necessity for certain people in certain situations due to someone else comment.

And yes, having your plate on and driving past a person in the middle of the night who is attempting to hail you is pig ignorant and gives people a bad impression of taxis.

Go on though, go on the defensive. Never mind that I said most of the drivers are decent :rolleyes:

Me calm down, ME calm down The problem with a lot of people ( which is why they don't make good taxi drivers ) is they have little sense of sarcasm and even less of an idea of actualy driving a taxi. As I said many people don't know how to get a taxi to see them 1st over and above another intending passenger, but I will give you one tip " see and be seen " use your mobile like a lamp ( especialy at night ) and remember that because we're looking all round for fares we may not be looking at you when you give a polite little wave and contrary to most peoples opinions of taxi drivers we won't all stop in places where it's dangerous/illegal to stop a vehicle

Dinter · 23-09-2008 02:17PM

Spook_ie wrote: »

Ah, so everytime I drive past someone in my taxi when I'm empty, I'm responsible for giving intended passengers a "bad experience"

I would have thought if times are hard you might want to turn the car around and go back.

Seriously though why would anyone want to be a taxi driver? It sounds like it's all unsociable hours, long days, meeting drunken twats and at the end you get at most (?) €800.

I wouldn't do it.

dub_skav · 23-09-2008 02:18PM

Spook_ie wrote: »

Me calm down, ME calm down The problem with a lot of people ( which is why they don't make good taxi drivers ) is they have little sense of sarcasm and even less of an idea of actualy driving a taxi. As I said many people don't know how to get a taxi to see them 1st over and above another intending passenger, but I will give you one tip " see and be seen " use your mobile like a lamp ( especialy at night ) and remember that because we're looking all round for fares we may not be looking at you when you give a polite little wave and contrary to most peoples opinions of taxi drivers we won't all stop in places where it's dangerous/illegal to stop a vehicle

Fair play to you for being a crusader for decent taxi drivers. But I have to agree with the other poster that taxi drivers often have their light on when they already have passengers and they often don't pick up perfectly visible fares when their light is on.
This does not appear to be because the intended fare is lurking in the shadows ninja-like, but rather it appears the taxi driver is looking for a better (more people) fare or is already on his way somewhere else and leaves the light on.

This is one of the most annoying things about taxi drivers and will remain to be so for the vast majority of taxi users.

Spook_ie · 23-09-2008 02:28PM

dub_skav wrote: »

Fair play to you for being a crusader for decent taxi drivers. But I have to agree with the other poster that taxi drivers often have their light on when they already have passengers and they often don't pick up perfectly visible fares when their light is on.
This does not appear to be because the intended fare is lurking in the shadows ninja-like, but rather it appears the taxi driver is looking for a better (more people) fare or is already on his way somewhere else and leaves the light on.

This is one of the most annoying things about taxi drivers and will remain to be so for the vast majority of taxi users.

I'll give you that one about having the light on with passengers, does my head in following them along the road expecting them to stop for the punter ahead so you don't slow and they sail on by.. Also the other way around when they're empty and no light on and a punter puts up an arm for me with a light on and the ones without a light slam the anchors on.....bastards!!

As to easily visible fares don't be decieved by the theory you can see the taxi therefore the taxi can see you... just doesn't work like that in the real world...

dub_skav · 23-09-2008 02:30PM

Spook_ie wrote: »

I'll give you that one about having the light on with passengers, does my head in following them along the road expecting them to stop for the punter ahead so you don't slow and they sail on by.. Also the other way around when they're empty and no light on and a punter puts up an arm for me with a light on and the ones without a light slam the anchors on.....bastards!!

As to easily visible fares don't be decieved by the theory you can see the taxi therefore the taxi can see you... just doesn't work like that in the real world...

You seem a reasonable sort so I'll take your advice. Fluorescent overalls and glow sticks for me from now on. They'll probably think I'm drugged to my eyeballs and pass me by anyway though:mad:

lost marbles · 23-09-2008 02:45PM

Spook_ie wrote: »

Just a small correction to that, they give the BTWA ( back to work allowance ) to anyone who qualifies not just foreign nationals. It's all just to massage the figures though the more people driving taxis on BWTA the less people on the live register

all that the poster spook has said in this post is FACT
new drivers can sign up to this BTWS and hold onto their FULL social welfare payments for year one and on a sliding scale for the next three years [they still hold FULL rent allowance ,medical card ,etc etc for the four years]
so maybe your ire at a 8% increase towards the real taxi drivers who ar,nt exploiting this loophole is only a drop in the pond .when the passenger is really paying on the double in some cases .
no wonder theres 50k and 60k cars plated up as taxis .
would,nt you be able to drive stuff like that if you could get all your bills ,rent payed by the social and use your job as pin money :mad:

Spook_ie · 23-09-2008 02:48PM

dub_skav wrote: »

You seem a reasonable sort so I'll take your advice. Fluorescent overalls and glow sticks for me from now on. They'll probably think I'm drugged to my eyeballs and pass me by anyway though:mad:

Maybe not the overalls but why not import some of these and give them out to your mates....

http://www.taxihailer.co.uk/index.htm

or realy lash out and put this into production

http://uk.gizmodo.com/2006/05/22/yo_taxi_leds_do_the_yelling_fo.html

lost marbles · 23-09-2008 02:55PM

amtaxi wrote: »

Don't think the fare increase will help save my business. nothing to do with price - just too many plates! And those of you that think competition is great think about this - government giving grants of €12,000 to €16,000 (plus retention of social welfare, rent allowance etc for 4 years) to foreign nationals to start their own business. So much for cut backs! If this was happening in any other industry in the country there would be outcry but because it's the taxi industry no-one cares. I am working so many hours a week I cant count and this is only to keep up repayments in bank - sick and tired of people thinking we make a fortune - I don't and to be honest would give it up in the morning if I could!!

ALSO FACT a loophole that is being exploited by not only the foreign nationals but one that has been latched onto
the industry is rife with the black economy [to serious to intend any pun ]
an example i could give is when the taxi regulator with the help of the gards mounted check points in dublin over the last weeks ,there was a really serious migration of taxis from the areas hit

arybvtcw0eolkf · 23-09-2008 03:26PM

dub_skav wrote: »

Fair play to you for being a crusader for decent taxi drivers. But I have to agree with the other poster that taxi drivers often have their light on when they already have passengers and they often don't pick up perfectly visible fares when their light is on.
This does not appear to be because the intended fare is lurking in the shadows ninja-like, but rather it appears the taxi driver is looking for a better (more people) fare or is already on his way somewhere else and leaves the light on.

This is one of the most annoying things about taxi drivers and will remain to be so for the vast majority of taxi users.

Some roof sign lights are wired to the meter, as far as I know this is now a legal requirement. So once the meter is engaged the light switches off, handy eh!.

Except when the cab is driving to a radio job, the driver can not engage the meter until he/she has made contact with the customer at the time & location booked. In which case the driver has to pass people on the road who think's the driver is ignoring them when in fact he's been booked.
I hope I explained that ok.

Spook_ie · 23-09-2008 03:59PM

Mairt wrote: »

Some roof sign lights are wired to the meter, as far as I know this is now a legal requirement. So once the meter is engaged the light switches off, handy eh!.

Except when the cab is driving to a radio job, the driver can not engage the meter until he/she has made contact with the customer at the time & location booked. In which case the driver has to pass people on the road who think's the driver is ignoring them when in fact he's been booked.
I hope I explained that ok.

Easy enough to

a Switch the Meter Off ( used to do that myself )

b Install an illuminated switch in line with the return from the roof light (fitted one myself, illuminated so I can see if I have forgotten to turn it on/off )

Dinter · 23-09-2008 03:59PM

Mairt wrote: »

Some roof sign lights are wired to the meter, as far as I know this is now a legal requirement. So once the meter is engaged the light switches off, handy eh!.

Except when the cab is driving to a radio job, the driver can not engage the meter until he/she has made contact with the customer at the time & location booked. In which case the driver has to pass people on the road who think's the driver is ignoring them when in fact he's been booked.
I hope I explained that ok.

Perfectly. Thanks for that.

I know it sounds really petty but I have to say that when taxi men are complaining about how hard their job is I do often grumble to myself about how I got blanked me some night, AND he had his light on and then I'd to walk for 20 mins. Suddenly any pity dries up. (I'm pretty selfish)

Not as much since deregulation though.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 23-09-2008 04:04PM

Spook_ie wrote: »

Easy enough to

a Switch the Meter Off ( used to do that myself )

b Install an illuminated switch in line with the return from the roof light (fitted one myself, illuminated so I can see if I have forgotten to turn it on/off )

Thats all fine if your using a radio head, but if your using a data head the computer back in the base shows you up as switched off and tries to reassign the job.

As for the switch, thats beyond a lot of driver's abilities and leaving the car into have it done is a half days wage lost plus costs.

Spook_ie · 23-09-2008 04:21PM

Mairt wrote: »

Thats all fine if your using a radio head, but if your using a data head the computer back in the base shows you up as switched off and tries to reassign the job.

As for the switch, thats beyond a lot of driver's abilities and leaving the car into have it done is a half days wage lost plus costs.

Have a Datahead in my car, not linked to the meter at all. I did hear someone say that someone was experimenting with a datahead/gps unit that was linked to meter but just rank gossip AFAIK

arybvtcw0eolkf · 23-09-2008 04:46PM

Spook_ie wrote: »

Have a Datahead in my car, not linked to the meter at all. I did hear someone say that someone was experimenting with a datahead/gps unit that was linked to meter but just rank gossip AFAIK

Nope, it ain't gossip anymore.

OPENROAD · 23-09-2008 08:27PM

Mairt wrote: »

Thats all fine if your using a radio head, but if your using a data head the computer back in the base shows you up as switched off and tries to reassign the job.

As for the switch, thats beyond a lot of driver's abilities and leaving the car into have it done is a half days wage lost plus costs.

Well an alternative should be put in place, so a customer on the street knows if a taxi is free or not, becuase the current system is madness.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 24-09-2008 12:06AM

OPENROAD wrote: »

Well an alternative should be put in place, so a customer on the street knows if a taxi is free or not, becuase the current system is madness.

CONTACT US/THEM info.

Because there ain't no use telling me.

MOH · 24-09-2008 02:55PM

Mairt wrote: »

You'd be mad to take a taxi from the airport. Take a bus, there's plenty of 'em and dirt cheap too.

Yeah, and there's a huge variety of routes to choose from. I can get a bus to anywhere in Dublin, like .... Whitehall, or Drumcondra, or Dorset St, or pretty much anywhere along that one route into town.

jaycen · 25-09-2008 10:24AM

norrie rugger wrote: »

Because they are doing it to earn a bit of cash on the side.

It is a full time business for many.
You can not say that it is a part time job only. If that is the case then we will all get taxis on Fri/Sat nights only.

Your 2 in the family are only going out during the "golden" hours of Fri/Sat, prob??

Fpr the Taxi guy who works weekdays to cover costs, these were the nights that he was able to turn a profit (this is a business that these guys run and deserve to think in terms of profit)

You now have guys how do NOT give a fawk about servicing the public during the week and are taking advantage of the unlimited plate numbers to make money only on the weekend, leaving average joe maxi to scrape through during the week.
If this is competition then we are in for a very bad landing. It will mean that average joe will decide to do something else during the week and work "Part time" at the weekends. God help ya when you try to get a cab during the week then.

I think that new licences should come with a proviso that a certain number of hours must be clocked up during the slower hours during the week days. That is competition then.

Welcome to the real world guy, competition is everywhere and quality of service doesn't make any difference any more, I have the same problems in my own business, how do you expect any sympathy for taxi drivers?

I agree about working hours proviso, but it's not there and as such the market has dictated that the job isn't full time any more.

Our 2 work daytime hours, they have several regulars that use thenm for doctors, hospitals, groceries etc, keeps the car rolling as such.

One works door at night (better paid) the other works as a bar-man, he did before buyin the plate - they're not the golden boys you're insinuating.

Taxi fares to go up 8%

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