I just saw a line of taxis 40 cabs long...

SalmonLeap · 04-09-2011 04:22AM

Cars that get taxi registered so they can drive in the bus lanes are legally obligated to stop if they're hailed while they aren't carrying a passenger. If you see a bentley with a taxi plate, I'd suggest you try hailing it with a video camera going in case they ignore you...

Anyway, 4 years ago there wasn't a taxi to be had in Dublin after midnight. It was particularly hellish the later it got. Standing in a queue for a cab with a bunch of drunken aggressive psychopaths had little appeal.

The problem is, for all the whining that's come with all the extra taxis (and there are too many, yes) prices for a taxi trip are still at Celtic Tiger levels. Forgive me if I'm a bit unsympathetic.

marcsignal · 04-09-2011 04:27AM

better a queue of taxis, than a queue of people waiting for taxis..

Turpentine · 04-09-2011 04:36AM

SalmonLeap wrote: »

The problem is, for all the whining that's come with all the extra taxis (and there are too many, yes) prices for a taxi trip are still at Celtic Tiger levels. Forgive me if I'm a bit unsympathetic.

You can't blame the drivers themselves for that in fairness, the regulator sets the price on the meter.

mikemac · 04-09-2011 05:37AM

I remember the old days though it was Galway, not Dublin

Queing in Eyre Sq and not even at the usual times. Try to get a taxi on Saturday around five pm after your shopping and you'd be queuing.
Ask for a short run like to the Hunstman which is about two km and you'd get abuse.

When GMIT sorted out a cheap bus service back from "town" for nights the drivers were fuming and objected to it.

On one other note:
Suicide is a particular issue in Ireland, it was always there but it's rising which is tragic.
Every time there is a taximan on Joe Duffy they start talking about suicide and their comrades, it's almost like they are playing the "suicide card" to get sympathy.
I don't like it, pretty distasteful tbh

04-09-2011 10:29AM

Turpentine wrote: »

You can't blame the drivers themselves for that in fairness, the regulator sets the price on the meter.

The regulator sets the maximum price. Nothing stopping them offering lower.

As for the market regulating itself, if the job is that miserable why don't they just leave and try to retrain or something. I don't think we should have some arbitrary cap set on it just because they're used to having things their own way. Especially now it's actually possible to get taxis.

Tar.Aldarion · 04-09-2011 10:41AM

why wait in a queue so long when they can drive around? 6 hours for one job?!

dissed doc · 04-09-2011 10:43AM

The Scientician wrote: »

at the top of my street. I wouldn't wanna be in that industry these days. Although there seemed to enough inebriated souls locally to avail of them. Must be **** being in a queue for an hour or more and the patron going around the corner!

AFAIR, there are now around the same number of taxis in Dublin as in New York (13-14,000 or something like that). Quite an insane scenario.

phasers · 04-09-2011 10:52AM

LighterGuy wrote: »

But logic is a brilliant concept. If your average taxi driver wasnt making anything much he would jack it there and go on the social. But yet there are still so many taxis around. Im not being a dick. But I refuse to believe the poor mouth of the taxi drivers. Like yeah things are bad. yes you gotta work more, work harder for the money. But lots of them go on like they only make 40 quid a shift.

They can't, they're self employed and thus entitled to no help from the state.

Being a taxi driver is like being trapped really, most have no other skills or education and are at an age where getting another job would be pretty difficult, and they probably have mortgages and families so can't afford to retrain. People say that the taxi industry will "level out" because people will leave the game because they earn so little, but what little they earn they really need and in reality they have no alternative.

And for the record, my Dad is a taxi driver and has regularly made less than 20 euro in 6 hours of working. And he puts more than that into the feckin car in diesel.

It's frustrating when people like you act like taxi drivers are raking it in. They're really, really not.

The industry is crying out for regulation but it's not coming. There has to be a balance between having no taxis on the road like in the old days and what we have now. All those yellow signs in Town on a Saturday night is just beyond ridiculous.

Tar.Aldarion wrote: »

why wait in a queue so long when they can drive around? 6 hours for one job?!

Wastes fuel, and there's no guarantee that in 6 hours of driving you'll find anything. at least on a rank you are guaranteed some work at the end of it.

7sr2z3fely84g5 · 04-09-2011 10:54AM

phasers wrote: »

Being a taxi driver is like being trapped really, most have no other skills or education and are at an age where getting another job would be pretty difficult.

some got pay offs from companies or retired from the army/guards so are getting this on top of their pensions.

rubadub · 04-09-2011 11:32AM

wild_cat wrote: »

Its not very often I agree with your typical taxi driver but its true that so many licences should not have been issued.

I don't see the problem with having 10 million licences, people have the choice to buy them or not. If there were licences for other jobs I wouldn't see much of a problem either, unless there were too few licences.

SalmonLeap wrote: »

Cars that get taxi registered so they can drive in the bus lanes are legally obligated to stop if they're hailed while they aren't carrying a passenger.

I think if they have their taxi light off they get away with it, they can just say they are on their way to a job and I think they are allowed in the lane.

Naos · 04-09-2011 11:32AM

I like when taxi men get into that 'too much competition' rant.

Makes it all the sweeter when it's followed with a "Off to my apartment in Lanzarote for the 3rd time this year" story.

If you're sitting in queue for 6 hours and havent got a job, I'd be asking questions eg:

1) What self-promotion do you do?
2) Why would you stay in the same spot when there's clearly no work?

Phasers wrote:

Wastes fuel, and there's no guarantee that in 6 hours of driving you'll find anything. at least on a rank you are guaranteed some work at the end of it.

They are in business. You need to spend money to make money. It's not going to just fall in your lap.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 04-09-2011 12:17PM

Naos wrote: »

I like when taxi men get into that 'too much competition' rant.

Makes it all the sweeter when it's followed with a "Off to my apartment in Lanzarote for the 3rd time this year" story.

If you're sitting in queue for 6 hours and havent got a job, I'd be asking questions eg:

1) What self-promotion do you do?
2) Why would you stay in the same spot when there's clearly no work?

They are in business. You need to spend money to make money. It's not going to just fall in your lap.

You have absolutely no idea what your talking about, and this is coming from someone who drove a taxi too.

I thought it was my ticket to retirement from the defence forces and didn't believe that things were so bad.

Even when a bank manager advised me that spending money on setting up a taxi was the worse possible thing I could do I didn't listen.

The post Phasers made on the subject is bang on the money, if there was do you think I'd still be working two jobs, paying a small fortune in taxes along the way and freezing my bollox of on the door of one?.

Its gas that even in real life I talk to people who've never drove a taxi and they have all the answers!.

Driving around looking for work, next time your out in Dublin city have a look - particularly in the city center, have a long hard look and tell me how you could possibly make money when there are hundred's (not sure how it is in country towns and cities) of taxes sharing the same road as you, in front, behind and filtering from the side roads.

I've witnessed emergency vehicles take fifteen minutes from O'Connell St to Parliment St at 3 in the morning because of the amount of taxi's clogging the quays.

As for your statement re. Lanzarote - a little creative writing perhaps?...

I don't know a full time taxi driver now is who not working a six or seven day week to try earn a living.

As for leaving the industry, its not that easy.

Many owe loans on their cars & plates, and as they're self employed they are entitled to nothing from the social welfare, and not one would have a lump to tide them over until something come's up.

I could go on, but like I said Phasers post just about sum's it up - read it again and take it as gospel.

beerbuddy · 04-09-2011 12:26PM

Thr problem is mostly at the weekend.
If you are in Dublin have a look at the Taxi sign.I f it has a D then it is a Dublin Licence.
Later on in the year only those displaying the D will be able to work in Dublin.Normally the others just come up to Dublin for weekend work so the market is crowded.

Cicero · 04-09-2011 12:27PM

Jadiel Low Ration wrote: »

Even when a bank manager advised me that spending money on setting up a taxi was the worse possible thing I could do I didn't listen.

One of the reasons why there are so many taxis is because the barriers to entry to this business are quite small and there are no "specialist" skills required- I can see why you and many others saw this as a viable option- unfortunately, you all went into the industry at the same time.

In addition, it is becoming very difficult to stop taxis being rented out and used 24 hours a day- you see the Guards setting up checkpoints to check on taxis but they can only do so much. I've seen many taxis stopped up on side-streets- one guy gets out of the drivers side, another gets in and drives off- I've seen that happening too many times for it not to be a regular occurrence.

As a consumer I like the fact that I can get a taxi any time of the day/night- but there is a need to take a look at illegal taxis, unregistered taxi drivers, unsafe cars used as taxis etc etc as I think we'll be left with one very dodgy untrustworthy taxi service if the current practices continue.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 04-09-2011 12:29PM

beerbuddy wrote: »

Thr problem is mostly at the weekend.
If you are in Dublin have a look at the Taxi sign.I f it has a D then it is a Dublin Licence.
Later on in the year only those displaying the D will be able to work in Dublin.Normally the others just come up to Dublin for weekend work so the market is crowded.

You can also hold a licence for another county and still work in Dublin, an example being the residences of the old Mosney camp, most are are now licensed to work in Dublin, Meath & Louth and display D MH and LD stickers on their signs.

Monty Burnz · 04-09-2011 12:36PM

wild_cat wrote: »

Plus its a pretty epic sight to see that many taxis lined up. Especially when they were renowned years ago for like having about 10 in the whole of Dublin. I also think the OP is pointing out how another quango in Ireland managed to royally **** things up.

Where is the **** up? The taxi drivers used to run a closed shop for their own benefit, meaning that they made huge money, paid almost no tax, and it was impossible to get a taxi when you needed one. And even if you did, the driver would tell you **** off if he didn't fancy going out of town.

The industry should be regulated to suit the customer. And from a customer point of view, things are much, much better. And if you are a taxi driver and you aren't making enough money, do something else for a living - nobody is stopping you. Now we will get a proper balance between the needs of the customer and the needs of the driver, instead of the customers being totally shafted as before.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 04-09-2011 12:40PM

Monty Burnz wrote: »

The industry should be regulated to suit the customer. And from a customer point of view, things are much, much better.

Actually its not, the industry has been in a race to the bottom for the last few years. Even Prime Time covered this recently.

Monty Burnz wrote: »

And if you are a taxi driver and you aren't making enough money, do something else for a living - nobody is stopping you..

You haven't read the thread have you?.

mikemac · 04-09-2011 12:45PM

I know the danger of driving tired and coming close to falling asleep at the wheel, spent years working crazy shifts and nights. Hated nights :mad:

So nobody wants a driver who is shattered and pulling seventy hour weeks. Even more

Jadiel Low Ration wrote: »

I don't know a full time taxi driver now is who not working a six or seven day week to try earn a living.

Full time drivers complain about part-times cherry picking the busy hours and that that it's dangerous to work excessively after their PAYE job.

But then they go and do the exact same thing and work dangerously long hours.

And the end result is both the full timers and part timers are working too long.
Short of installing tachographs there isn't a solution

But it's dangerous and I'm sure there are accidents caused by shattered drivers who realy shouldn't be out on the roads

Monty Burnz · 04-09-2011 12:49PM

Jadiel Low Ration wrote: »

Actually its not, the industry has been in a race to the bottom for the last few years. Even Prime Time covered this recently.

Things are better. You can get a taxi. In the past, you couldn't.

Jadiel Low Ration wrote: »

You haven't read the thread have you?.

I have, but I'm tired of hearing the same old guff. If you don't want to drive a taxi, get some more saleable skills and do something else. The world does not owe taxi drivers a living.

goose2005 · 04-09-2011 01:04PM

IvySlayer wrote: »

A cap is needed.

One good thing is, more drivers mean more competition and better prices for us folk!

The taxi industry exists to serve the public, not as a cartel to serve drivers. We don't pass laws to restrict the number of newsagents or hairdressers on a street. Taxi driving is a low-skilled job, stop pretending that you deserve a big income.

orourkeda · 04-09-2011 01:06PM

Cill Dara Abu wrote: »

Always agree on a price before you get in a taxi, them meters are robbery.

I do good price

chicken fingers · 04-09-2011 02:32PM

Is there any reason a taxi driver can't charge a lower fare than the maximum quoted fare?
If so, any other reason why he can't put a sticker on the side of the cab saying his metre runs 30% cheaper than other taxis?
You might not make friends at the taxi rank, but you sure as hell won't be waiting 60 minutes anywhere for a job.

Its a low level job, basically no skills are required, in all countries a cabbie is considered a bottom level job for a man in his 40s.

They don't deserve good salaries, sorry, but thats the way it is all over the world and 100$ an hour is too much to pay some fella to drive you somewhere. Ireland should not be any different.

And BTW I agree with the 24 hour taxis. Its a great idea, brings the cost of entry into the market lower, equipment depreciation is much lower.

If the rates were lowered, there will ALWAYS be people willing to do the job for less.
Superhigh artificial floors are nonsense.
IMO this applies to the minimum wage, rent allowance and dole as well.

Tar.Aldarion · 04-09-2011 02:40PM

they can if they want, some clever marketing by a company could see them do well?

Naos · 04-09-2011 02:44PM

Jadiel Low Ration wrote: »

You have absolutely no idea what your talking about, and this is coming from someone who drove a taxi too.

I thought it was my ticket to retirement from the defence forces and didn't believe that things were so bad.

Even when a bank manager advised me that spending money on setting up a taxi was the worse possible thing I could do I didn't listen.

The post Phasers made on the subject is bang on the money, if there was do you think I'd still be working two jobs, paying a small fortune in taxes along the way and freezing my bollox of on the door of one?.

Its gas that even in real life I talk to people who've never drove a taxi and they have all the answers!.

Driving around looking for work, next time your out in Dublin city have a look - particularly in the city center, have a long hard look and tell me how you could possibly make money when there are hundred's (not sure how it is in country towns and cities) of taxes sharing the same road as you, in front, behind and filtering from the side roads.

I've witnessed emergency vehicles take fifteen minutes from O'Connell St to Parliment St at 3 in the morning because of the amount of taxi's clogging the quays.

As for your statement re. Lanzarote - a little creative writing perhaps?...

I don't know a full time taxi driver now is who not working a six or seven day week to try earn a living.

As for leaving the industry, its not that easy.

Many owe loans on their cars & plates, and as they're self employed they are entitled to nothing from the social welfare, and not one would have a lump to tide them over until something come's up.

I could go on, but like I said Phasers post just about sum's it up - read it again and take it as gospel.

I never said it wasn't difficult to get the work nor did I say leaving the industry is easy.

My point is this: They are in competition. Like all businesses, if they want to survive then they need to offer a better service/product than their competitors.

There may be hundreds of taxis but I can say the same about anything, for example there being hundreds of pubs all competing for the same punter.

No one is going to just give it to them and those that expect that are the ones that will, unfortunately, struggle.

I know of one taximan who printed and delivered 100 leaflets around his area (Dublin 15) stating 15e collection and drop off to town / 20e to the airport for a max of 4 people.

Someone showed me the leaflet and I took the number down and used him a few times. As we got talking he was telling me how business has never been so good, he's booked up the whole time. There were occassions where I'd call him and he had to apologise stating he already had a full schedule.

Lanzarote was a bit tongue in cheek. Obviously they don't all own one and those that do fair play they'd have worked hard. I said it because that conversation did actually take place in a taxi last night

The Scientician · 04-09-2011 03:09PM

I wanted to ask the lad at the back of the queue last night how long he thought he'd be waiting but I thought he might think I was taking the piss out him. It's just a coin toss between him getting a local fare of, what, €6? or maybe something more substantial like a person heading home to Malahide, Lusk, Santry, or wherever.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 04-09-2011 03:24PM

Monty Burnz wrote: »

Things are better. You can get a taxi. In the past, you couldn't.

And THAT to you equates a better service?.

Its already been acknowledge through the Prime Time programme that the race to the bottom has resulted in hundreds of unroadworthy car's passing through the NCT and through the hands of people who are willing to rent out the same vehicles to ferry you and me about.

Its also been acknowledged through the same programme and here on boards.ie many, many times that drivers are working seven day weeks and upwards of 12-15 hour days to earn a living.

But to you the availabilty of taxi's takes precedence above these concerns.

Quantity over quality is just greedy & self centered.

Alessandra · 04-09-2011 03:29PM

What about sending the extra taxi drivers down the country where it's nigh on impossible to get a taxi home on a Saturday night.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 04-09-2011 03:30PM

Alessandra wrote: »

What about sending the extra taxi drivers down the country where it's nigh on impossible to get a taxi home on a Saturday night.

lol.

goose2005 · 04-09-2011 03:31PM

Jadiel Low Ration wrote: »

And THAT to you equates a better service?.

Its already been acknowledge through the Prime Time programme that the race to the bottom has resulted in hundreds of unroadworthy car's passing through the NCT and through the hands of people who are willing to rent out the same vehicles to ferry you and me about.

Its also been acknowledged through the same programme and here on boards.ie many, many times that drivers are working seven day weeks and upwards of 12-15 hour days to earn a living.

But to you the availabilty of taxi's takes precedence above these concerns.

Quantity over quality is just greedy & self centered.

When taxi drivers had a monopoly there was even less incentive to maintain your vehicle well. If the NCT are passing bad vehicles, that's the NCT's fault, not taxi consumers'

Alessandra · 04-09-2011 03:37PM

Jadiel Low Ration wrote: »

lol.

Might be a funny concept to you, but there is a Market for taxis in some rural towns.

I just saw a line of taxis 40 cabs long...

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