Taxi Rank - Foster Place South (Off Dame Street)

HotSwap · 08-01-2010 06:58PM #1

Whats going on here? I used to use this place all the time to park when going for a coffee in starbucks, going to gigs in the evening and sometimes when I needed to go to the office after hours. Now it seems that after 20:00 it is totally reserved for taxis?

The signs are very confusing by the way, i should of got a picture, ill try and get one later to post here.

Heart · 08-01-2010 07:30PM

I think I know the signs your talking about, I've seen them elsewhere...

Something like; paid parking 07.00-19.00 and taxi rank 20:00-06:00, and presumably free parking from 06.00-07.00 & 19.00-20:00...

Hope this makes sense!

H

HotSwap · 08-01-2010 10:31PM

Yeah thats the one.

In the past there were maybe 8 pay and display parking spots there, and a loading bay that could be used as parking after 19:00.

I'm more wanting to highlight the fact that they have been changed from pay and display parking to a taxi rank (apart from one hour). I don't think there is any need for this in that location, there is no need for this amount of taxies to be parked in any rank at the one time.

I would like to have that changed back to pay and display parking, I think its unacceptable that this entire street has been hijacked by taxi drivers.

Who makes decisions like this? Are they required to post some notice somewhere?

Thanks Guys.

monument · 09-01-2010 12:53AM

HotSwap wrote: »

I don't think there is any need for this in that location, there is no need for this amount of taxies to be parked in any rank at the one time..

Because at a nation level taxi numbers are now unregulated, city council has little choice but to provide extra space for these taxies otherwise there's too many pointlessly driving around, needlessly adding to congestion.

HotSwap · 09-01-2010 01:05AM

That may be the case, but I would like to object to this. I parked in these spaces on a regular basis.

Please don't make this about there being too many taxis, i'm sure thats been done. I want my parking spaces back. My objection is there there were no notices posted to inform me about this.

Ham'nd'egger · 09-01-2010 01:15AM

HotSwap wrote: »

That may be the case, but I would like to object to this. I parked in these spaces on a regular basis.

Please don't make this about there being too many taxis, i'm sure thats been done. I want my parking spaces back. My objection is there there were no notices posted to inform me about this.

There is two multi storey car parks within one minute of Foster Place you could park in along with a chronic shortage of rank spaces in Dublin which slightly out"ranks" your need for a Mocha once every now and then.

That or try one of the 293720383299 other Starbucks in Dublin.:)

monument · 09-01-2010 01:26AM

HotSwap wrote: »

That may be the case, but I would like to object to this. I parked in these spaces on a regular basis.

Please don't make this about there being too many taxis, i'm sure thats been done. I want my parking spaces back. My objection is there there were no notices posted to inform me about this.

I'm not making this about there being too many taxis, there just are too many taxies.

If you want to complain Dublin City Council is your best point of contact. They would control where the ranks are placed. However, now that the rank is in place it's unclear if there is much point.

I however think you should also contact your TDs on the issue of unlimited amount of taxis and the general issue of taxi regulation (or no regulation in the case of numbers on the streets).

HotSwap · 09-01-2010 02:28AM

I dont want to pay for parking, these spots were free after 7. But they were earning money all day (which is not the peak taxi time). I would understand if they were ranks at peek times like friday and saturday nights. 7 Days a week is just stupid.

Hamndegger wrote: »

There is two multi storey car parks within one minute of Foster Place you could park in along with a chronic shortage of rank spaces in Dublin which slightly out"ranks" your need for a Mocha once every now and then.

That or try one of the 293720383299 other Starbucks in Dublin.:)

bangersandmash · 09-01-2010 02:35AM

Hamndegger wrote: »

There is two multi storey car parks within one minute of Foster Place you could park in along with a chronic shortage of rank spaces in Dublin which slightly out"ranks" your need for a Mocha once every now and then.

That or try one of the 293720383299 other Starbucks in Dublin.:)

Presume you meant 22? Incidentally quite a few of them closed recently.

Besides, hard to see how your business out "ranks" that of any other service on Dame St. If anything, there's probably more demand for a decent coffee in the area than a taxi

phasers · 09-01-2010 02:40AM

Starbucks isn't decent coffee.

On a more helpful note, your best bet would be to ring DCC and complain OP

HotSwap · 09-01-2010 02:43AM

phasers wrote: »

Starbucks isn't decent coffee.

On a more helpful note, your best bet would be to ring DCC and complain OP

Yeah, even it could be change to a rank only for peak hours. I don't see the point of having ranks at non peak times, as there are plenty of cabs on the street.

bangersandmash · 09-01-2010 02:54AM

phasers wrote: »

Starbucks isn't decent coffee.

By international standards I completely agree. By Dublin standards (and in particular around the tourist-tastic Dame St area), you take what you can get :rolleyes:

Victor · 09-01-2010 04:18AM

The reality is that having free parking in such a prime location is problematic.

HotSwap wrote: »

Yeah, even it could be change to a rank only for peak hours. I don't see the point of having ranks at non peak times, as there are plenty of cabs on the street.

Thats actually the problem - there are too many taxis cruising around causing traffic congestion as late as 3am.

Now, if I was able to make a 30+page submission on the taxi bye-law review last year, I'm sure everybody else should have been at least able to look at the proposals.

http://www.dublincity.ie/RoadsandTraffic/Traffic/Public%20Transport/Pages/TaxiRanks.aspx

HotSwap · 09-01-2010 05:02AM

Victor wrote: »

The reality is that having free parking in such a prime location is problematic.Thats actually the problem - there are too many taxis cruising around causing traffic congestion as late as 3am.

Now, if I was able to make a 30+page submission on the taxi bye-law review last year, I'm sure everybody else should have been at least able to look at the proposals.

http://www.dublincity.ie/RoadsandTraffic/Traffic/Public%20Transport/Pages/TaxiRanks.aspx

Are you agreeing that ranks should only be for peak hours? How often to they review this document?

Regards.

Victor · 09-01-2010 05:10AM

HotSwap wrote: »

Are you agreeing that ranks should only be for peak hours?

No, I'm saying there should be more ranks and less parking.

How often to they review this document?

Every 2-3 years.

HotSwap · 09-01-2010 05:31AM

Victor wrote: »

The reality is that having free parking in such a prime location is problematic.Thats actually the problem.

Well the problem for me in the past was that taxi drivers were illegally queueing in this area and blocking entry to the parking spaces.

Now the problem is that there are less parking spaces. I pay a lot more road tax than taxis, yet I have to park in "non prime" locations. This does not seem fair. I will certainly be following this issue and opposing any more taxi ranks, or expansion of existing ranks in areas like this in the city centre.

There are more motorists in dublin than there are taxi drivers. Hopefully I can make some of them see my side of the argument.

And surely by making more rank space taxi drivers are weakening their position on the number of licenses that are being issued. If they have less rank space they could say that there should be less taxies.

Cookie_Monster · 09-01-2010 10:25AM

HotSwap wrote: »

I pay a lot more road tax than taxis,

What is the road tax? Never heard of it.

I asctually agree with you, they did the same outside Dunnes in Dun Laoghaire. Taxis were blocking the road / parking illegally and instead of fining and dealing with them they just provided additonal unneeded rank space taking away more needed parking bays :mad:

howiya · 09-01-2010 11:08AM

Surely the ideal solution would have been to make the area pay and display 24 hours and either move taxis on or fine them for blocking the area

I don't see the logic that because there are more taxis that the City Council should have to cater for them

Taxipete29 · 09-01-2010 12:20PM

howiya wrote: »

Surely the ideal solution would have been to make the area pay and display 24 hours and either move taxis on or fine them for blocking the area

I don't see the logic that because there are more taxis that the City Council should have to cater for them

580 rank spaces in dublin , Thousands of Taxis and you want to close rank spaces??? Lol Just lol

howiya · 09-01-2010 12:29PM

Taxipete29 wrote: »

580 rank spaces in dublin , Thousands of Taxis and you want to close rank spaces??? Lol Just lol

I didn't mention closing any. I said I don't understand why they are opening new ones at the expense of parking for other cars.

Using your logic there are thousands more cars in Dublin without sufficient on street parking for them. Should we do away with road space to provide sufficient on street parking for every car in Dublin? :rolleyes:

The answer of course is NO. Same should apply to taxis. If you don't want to drive around Dublin looking for a fare then don't. It's a personal choice that you make and I don't see why the City Council should make exceptions for you.

HotSwap · 09-01-2010 02:44PM

howiya wrote: »

Surely the ideal solution would have been to make the area pay and display 24 hours and either move taxis on or fine them for blocking the area

I don't see the logic that because there are more taxis that the City Council should have to cater for them

Well said! This seems like exactly what has happened. Im glad I have support from some other people.

Another area where Taxi drivers are queueing illegally is outside Vicar Street after a gig. I hope we can keep an eye on things like this or the same will happen again unnoticed, and then it will be too late when the change has been made.

We should see how many people we can get and put a formal complaint to DCC in writing.

HotSwap · 09-01-2010 02:53PM

Taxipete29 wrote: »

580 rank spaces in dublin , Thousands of Taxis and you want to close rank spaces??? Lol Just lol

The reason for rank space is as a service to the people who use taxis, not as a service / rest area for drivers. As a taxi customer it does not make any difference if there are 10 cars in the queue or 100 cars in the queue, another taxi will come and take the vacant place shortly after it has been vacated.

And there are a few ranks that are not being used that I feel should be changed back to disk parking. One example of this is the rank on St Andrew Street. The only time I see taxis parked here is when they have gone into town to do a bit of shopping. There are others along the quays, I cant remember the names of the streets though.

Spook_ie · 09-01-2010 03:26PM

howiya wrote: »

I didn't mention closing any. I said I don't understand why they are opening new ones at the expense of parking for other cars.

Using your logic there are thousands more cars in Dublin without sufficient on street parking for them. Should we do away with road space to provide sufficient on street parking for every car in Dublin? :rolleyes:

The answer of course is NO. Same should apply to taxis. If you don't want to drive around Dublin looking for a fare then don't. It's a personal choice that you make and I don't see why the City Council should make exceptions for you.

Ah jeez bring on the green brigade , private cars should be banned from within the area bounded by the canals and the M50. Then we'd have room for bus lanes/bycyles/taxis/rollerskaters whatever. Private car ownership for going to "Starbucks for a coffee" should be punishable by disembowlment and a €40 fine..

howiya · 09-01-2010 03:31PM

Spook_ie wrote: »

Ah jeez bring on the green brigade , private cars should be banned from within the area bounded by the canals and the M50. Then we'd have room for bus lanes/bycyles/taxis/rollerskaters whatever. Private car ownership for going to "Starbucks for a coffee" should be punishable by disembowlment and a €40 fine..

I invite you to re read my post as you've completely taken it up the wrong way. My argument is that the City Council shouldn't be doing away with on street parking to facilitate the provision of taxi ranks.

Businesses in the city centre pay rates to the Council. There should be somewhere for their customers to park where feasible.

HotSwap · 09-01-2010 03:44PM

Spook_ie wrote: »

Ah jeez bring on the green brigade , private cars should be banned from within the area bounded by the canals and the M50. Then we'd have room for bus lanes/bycyles/taxis/rollerskaters whatever. Private car ownership for going to "Starbucks for a coffee" should be punishable by disembowlment and a €40 fine..

The argument about cars being banned is a different topic, i'm sure there are other threads about this already that you can go and post in. Maybe this is a good idea during peak hours, like what they did with college green to relieve congestion. But i'm talking about on street parking during off peek hours being reassigned to taxi drivers.

Going for a coffee was only an example. I also go to gigs in the evenings and I don't want to have to pay another €10 for 3 hours parking, I also work across the road, and sometimes need to go to the office after hours and this area was the nearest parking. The reasons people need parking are varied and usually coincide with money being spent in local businesses.

Spook_ie · 09-01-2010 03:48PM

howiya wrote: »

I invite you to re read my post as you've completely taken it up the wrong way. My argument is that the City Council shouldn't be doing away with on street parking to facilitate the provision of taxi ranks.

Businesses in the city centre pay rates to the Council. There should be somewhere for their customers to park where feasible.

No I didn't misread any posts from anyone complaining about parking spaces being removed, I applaud the council for doing it and hope they remove more on street parking ( not for more taxis but just removed full stop! ), I feel that the private motorist should be priced/taxed off the road, Use public transport and stop moaning

HotSwap · 09-01-2010 03:50PM

Spook_ie wrote: »

I feel that the private motorist should be priced/taxed off the road, Use public transport and stop moaning

Why?

Spook_ie · 09-01-2010 04:23PM

HotSwap wrote: »

Why?

Because that's my view, the private motorist is a blight on society in general

HotSwap · 09-01-2010 04:30PM

Spook_ie wrote: »

Because that's my view, the private motorist is a blight on society in general

This is a discussion, people should back up their views and opinions with valid points and arguments.

When I reach a point like this in any discussion and one person is defending their point of view simply by saying that its their point of view and that they are entitled to it I tend to loose any respect that I might of had for their side of things.

Oh, and from the charter:

We should be aware that some posters will be over zealous about their preferred means of transport, but that this should be balanced. If you make a particular statement for or against a particular form of transport, you should be willing to back it up.

Why do you think that the private motorist is a blight on society in general? You cant make statements like that without backing them up. Please comment on your point or remove yourself from this discussion.

Regards,

HS.

Spook_ie · 09-01-2010 05:03PM

HotSwap wrote: »

This is a discussion, people should back up their views and opinions with valid points and arguments.

When I reach a point like this in any discussion and one person is defending their point of view simply by saying that its their point of view and that they are entitled to it I tend to loose any respect that I might of had for their side of things.

Oh, and from the charter:

Why do you think that the private motorist is a blight on society in general? You cant make statements like that without backing them up. Please comment on your point or remove yourself from this discussion.

Regards,

HS.

Now that you yourself have decided to expand on the one word post "Why?" I'll answer you,

private motorists are a blight because of the waste of resoutces and infrastructure used to transport ( usualy ) a single person cocooned in a metal skin from point A to point B, where upon arrival they will park this metal skin ( estimated at 10cubic meters of volume, might be more might be less but you get the gist ) and leave it for several hours and pay relatively little for the privilige of doing so. Far better to ban all private motorists ( note I don't condone a congestion charge that rich people can/will be able to afford ) and force them to use public/alternative modes of transport within a defined area of any built up area. For this example I would use Dublin within the bounderies of the Royal and Grand Canal to the North and South and the M50 to the West.

Taxipete29 · 09-01-2010 05:34PM

howiya wrote: »

I didn't mention closing any. I said I don't understand why they are opening new ones at the expense of parking for other cars.

Using your logic there are thousands more cars in Dublin without sufficient on street parking for them. Should we do away with road space to provide sufficient on street parking for every car in Dublin? :rolleyes:

The answer of course is NO. Same should apply to taxis. If you don't want to drive around Dublin looking for a fare then don't. It's a personal choice that you make and I don't see why the City Council should make exceptions for you.

Ok lets just be clear about this. Im no longer a taxi driver.

First off this argument you are putting forth is nonsense. Taxi drivers have only 2 choices. Drive around looking for a fare or park on a rank. Motorists can park on-street, multi-storey, get the bus, luas, train, cycle or walk.

With the current high fuel costs it is not financially viable for a driver to constantly drive around looking for work. Its not about being treated differently. Its about the council providing a fair amount of space for cars to rank considering they issued all the licences in the first place.

Plus who cares who pays more road tax. A Range Rover pays more tax than a Mini. Doesn this mean the Range Rovers is entitled to more benefits than the Mini. Grow up.

Taxi Rank - Foster Place South (Off Dame Street)

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