Why not a 2 tier taxi system at Dublin Airport?

Pkiernan · 02-09-2012 02:59AM #1

1 queue for drivers willing to take passengers a short distance (for example to Swords, Malahide, etc) without pissing and moaning.

Another queue for drivers who are willing to wait it out for the longer fares.

Easy peasy lemon squeezy, no?

scudzilla · 02-09-2012 03:11AM

Wouldn't work, not many would volunteer for the shorter trips.

Personally i love watching the drivers shoulders sink when i say the magic words "Swords Please"

Pkiernan · 02-09-2012 04:18AM

scudzilla wrote: »

Wouldn't work, not many would volunteer for the shorter trips.

But they'd be back in the rank after 20 minutes, ready for another quick fare.

Marcusm · 02-09-2012 08:45AM

Pkiernan wrote: »

1 queue for drivers willing to take passengers a short distance (for example to Swords, Malahide, etc) without pissing and moaning.

Another queue for drivers who are willing to wait it out for the longer fares.

Easy peasy lemon squeezy, no?

Maybe you could leave that rank open to any taxi driver and not only those with airport permits!! Perhaps even put it on the departures level to separate it!

phasers · 02-09-2012 01:19PM

I think that's a great idea OP! The only issue I'd see is if a lot of drivers were interested in it because then there'd be the same issue of unhappy drivers and the system would flop.

Perhaps DAA could make a separate, slightly cheaper permit for the short distance drivers in order to drum up interest? That would help control the number of short distance drivers in the queue as well.

coylemj · 02-09-2012 02:46PM

I got a black London taxi at T1 in Heathrow a few years ago and was only going to Staines which is a couple of miles way so I expected to get major grief from the driver but it was the total opposite. He told me that if he made it back within 30 minutes they are allowed jump the queue. I'm not 100% sure how it works but basically they do not have to join the end of the queue and can get back to the head of the queue relatively quickly. This means that taxis don't give the passenger grief if he's going somewhere nearby, quite the opposite in fact.

The problem with implementing something similar in Dublin is that you'd need people to police it. The DAA probably wouldn't supply someone so it would end up being run by the taxi drivers themselves in which case it would be taken over by thugs like the people who control the city centre ranks, esp. the one at the Gresham Hotel.

Pkiernan · 02-09-2012 05:36PM

Well, to be honest, I don't take taxis to where I live, as I don't want to listen to them moaning about short fares, even though I am a person who tips drivers heavily.
I always make arrangements with friends or family, though I'd love to be able just to leave the airport and hop into a cab, pay a €12-15 fare and not get attitude the whole trip. For that matter, how about a fixed fare of €15 for a 5 mile radius trip? Then they get back in the faster moving queue back at DA.

In most US airports, there is a guy there directing you to the cabs, and it runs very smoothly.

Duggys Housemate · 02-09-2012 07:46PM

Pkiernan wrote: »

Well, to be honest, I don't take taxis to where I live, as I don't want to listen to them moaning about short fares, even though I am a person who tips drivers heavily.
I always make arrangements with friends or family, though I'd love to be able just to leave the airport and hop into a cab, pay a €12-15 fare and not get attitude the whole trip. For that matter, how about a fixed fare of €15 for a 5 mile radius trip? Then they get back in the faster moving queue back at DA.

In most US airports, there is a guy there directing you to the cabs, and it runs very smoothly.

It runs smoothly in Dublin. An advertised minimum fare of €15-€20 might well work, but it would put some punters off. Sane taxi drivers average the fares out in their heads. Lose some, win some.

coylemj · 02-09-2012 09:27PM

Maybe a flat fare to anywhere inside the canals might work, similar to the system in NYC where the fare from JFK to the first stop in Manhattan is fixed.

Fattes · 02-09-2012 09:34PM

He told me that if he made it back within 30 minutes they are allowed jump the queue. I'm not 100% sure how it works but basically they do not have to join the end of the queue and can get back to the head of the queue relatively quickly.

Same applies in Dublin, the Taxi drivers are a disgrace at Dublin most old school pre deregulation drivers with a chip on their shoulder.

We have the shortest possible distance to travel from Dublin rank to house, it is actually the closest residential property to the airport and have had every type of reaction, from full on abusive complaining to a simple sure its grand we get back on the q quicker.

At this stage I think the DAA needs to either A, contract the service out to a Taxi company who are answerable etc. Or B. Open up the airport to all Taxi's and have a DAA Complaint procedure where you can provide feedback on negative service and that taxi plate is black listed from the Rank.

scudzilla · 02-09-2012 11:30PM

When we came back in May we told the driver Swords, he was ok about it, he mentioned to the guy on the rank he may be back in time.

They're given 20mins to get back and they can go to the front, but as this driver said, you get a lot of drivers (he actually said Eastern Europeans) who will break every speed law in the country to get back to the rank in time, so having a return time sure does have it's disadvantages

n97 mini · 02-09-2012 11:33PM

Pkiernan wrote: »

But they'd be back in the rank after 20 minutes, ready for another quick fare.

They'd be back at the back of the rank, and it could take them an hour or two to get to the top of the queue to get another job.

Pkiernan · 03-09-2012 12:46AM

n97 mini wrote: »

They'd be back at the back of the rank, and it could take them an hour or two to get to the top of the queue to get another job.

They could also see the length of the queue ahead of them, and join which ever queue they liked.
The reality is, people are abused verbally by taxi drivers who moan about short fares. Since there is no effective comeback, a separate queue with a fixed charged for shorter routes is one answer.

Supply and demand will dictate if it is worth the drivers while.

wexford12 · 03-09-2012 07:35PM

Pkiernan wrote: »

They could also see the length of the queue ahead of them, and join which ever queue they liked.
The reality is, people are abused verbally by taxi drivers who moan about short fares. Since there is no effective comeback, a separate queue with a fixed charged for shorter routes is one answer.

Supply and demand will dictate if it is worth the drivers while.

I have been saying that all taxi meters should be set at a starting rate of €10 which would give 5km of driving lets hope the regulator does this as it is very depressing sitting for an hour or more and getting a fare for €4.10.
Some might think this does not happen well come to Wexford 70% of fares are less than €6. Yesterday i did 7 fares 3 of them were at €4.10 and the rest were €5 to 6 euros. No one should be asked to bring anyone home in a taxi for less than a tenner its a taxi to your door not a bus ride with 50 other passengers.

Duggys Housemate · 03-09-2012 07:38PM

wexford12 wrote: »

I have been saying that all taxi meters should be set at a starting rate of €10 which would give 5km of driving lets hope the regulator does this as it is very depressing sitting for an hour or more and getting a fare for €4.10.
Some might think this does not happen well come to Wexford 70% of fares are less than €6. Yesterday i did 7 fares 3 of them were at €4.10 and the rest were €5 to 6 euros. No one should be asked to bring anyone home in a taxi for less than a tenner its a taxi to your door not a bus ride with 50 other passengers.

If taxis were €10 then you would have none of those fares. I think taxi drivers don't really get economics. Wexford, if that is a normal day, does not sound economic. If it isn't normal then chalk it up to a bad day.

super_furry · 03-09-2012 07:41PM

wexford12 wrote: »

Some might think this does not happen well come to Wexford 70% of fares are less than €6. Yesterday i did 7 fares 3 of them were at €4.10 and the rest were €5 to 6 euros. No one should be asked to bring anyone home in a taxi for less than a tenner its a taxi to your door not a bus ride with 50 other passengers.

Would you rather you hadn't got those fares? Not being smart, I'm honestly confused. Surely it's better to pick up those fares and that money than to get nothing?

Duggys Housemate · 03-09-2012 07:42PM

super_furry wrote: »

Would you rather you hadn't got those fares? Not being smart, I'm honestly confused. Surely it's better to pick up those fares and that money than to get nothing?

Well yesterday he made less than the dole. I think a 5-6 euro min would be ok. Not 10.

wexford12 · 03-09-2012 07:53PM

super_furry wrote: »

Would you rather you hadn't got those fares? Not being smart, I'm honestly confused. Surely it's better to pick up those fares and that money than to get nothing?

To be fair yes I would rather not get these fares if we loose business so be it.Lots of us will go out of business if people stop using taxis because of the price of fares but at these rates we are working for nothing anyway. I have asked lots of customers why they get a taxi 1km up the road and the answer is sure its only 4 quid

super_furry · 03-09-2012 07:54PM

But if you raise it to a tenner minimum, then you're going to lose those fares and put even more people off.

Duggys Housemate · 03-09-2012 07:55PM

wexford12 wrote: »

To be fair yes I would rather not get these fares if we loose business so be it.Lots of us will go out of business if people stop using taxis because of the price of fares but at these rates we are working for nothing anyway. I have asked lots of customers why they get a taxi 1km up the road and the answer is sure its only 4 quid

So you would prefer nothing? Strange economics.

wexford12 · 03-09-2012 07:56PM

As far as I can see people use taxis for two reasons only. 1 if they are stuck during the day time and 2 if they are out for drinks and can't drive themselves at 2 am. No one should be asked to drive someone home at 2am for a fiver

Duggys Housemate · 03-09-2012 07:57PM

So you want a higher tier post midnight?

wexford12 · 03-09-2012 07:58PM

Duggys Housemate wrote: »

So you would prefer nothing? Strange economics.

The point is there is no point in working as Vincent de paul taxi if people won't pay close it down

super_furry · 03-09-2012 08:01PM

wexford12 wrote: »

As far as I can see people use taxis for two reasons only. 1 if they are stuck during the day time and 2 if they are out for drinks and can't drive themselves at 2 am. No one should be asked to drive someone home at 2am for a fiver

So you raise the minimum fare to a tenner fine but you'll kill the trade and the only time anyone will ever take a taxi is on Friday and Saturday nights. You'll get two nights work a week where, ever if you're absolutely flat out from 1am to 4am, taking how the pub crowd, you'll still only get eight hours work a week.

wexford12 · 03-09-2012 08:03PM

super_furry wrote: »

So you raise the minimum fare to a tenner fine but you'll kill the trade and the only time anyone will ever take a taxi is on Friday and Saturday nights. You'll get two nights work a week where, ever if you're absolutely flat out from 1am to 4am, taking how the pub crowd, you'll still only get eight hours work a week.

LOL to be honest that is the only trade out there now anyway. I could work all day mon/sun and turnover a fiver an hour it just doesn't make sence.

keith16 · 03-09-2012 08:05PM

The sheer volume of taxis at Dublin airport only highlight how poor public transport connections between the airport and the city center.

oisindoyle · 03-09-2012 08:08PM

keith16 wrote: »

The sheer volume of taxis at Dublin airport only highlight how poor public transport connections between the airport and the city center.

Its actually not poor at all .The airport is very well serviced by taxis and numerous buses

keith16 · 03-09-2012 08:18PM

oisindoyle wrote: »

Its actually not poor at all .The airport is very well serviced by taxis and numerous buses

The buses aren't great though are they? Infrequent and relatively expensive. And they take an age to get into town.

The aircoach is good I suppose, but why should taxi drivers be allowed hold the airport and passengers to ransom whenever the feel like it?

My point is, if the public transport was better (more frequent, cheaper, express bus services), we wouldn't be seeing thousands of taxis at the airport. Why should anyone be afraid of asking to get a taxi to Swords?

Losty Dublin · 03-09-2012 08:25PM

keith16 wrote: »

The buses aren't great though are they? Infrequent and relatively expensive. And they take an age to get into town.

€2.65 cash fare on a 16, 33 or 41 from the airport into town and in the 16's case, to Rathfarnham is pricy?

:confused

keith16 · 03-09-2012 08:36PM

Losty Dublin wrote: »

€2.65 cash fare on a 16, 33 or 41 from the airport into town and in the 16's case, to Rathfarnham is pricy? :confused

Yeah, perfectly reasonable if you are a local and not in any rush.

When I visit a foreign city, I want to get into the centre as quickly as possible. Those are local buses and take an eternity to get into town during peak times.

And during off peak times you'll be waiting a while for one to even show up in the first place.

I'm talking about the express 747 or aircoach, approx 7 or 8 euro IIRC, and they don't exactly go every 10 mins.

Ok, so it hardly costs an arm and a leg, but it cost 3 quid to get an express train from Berlin city centre to the airport.

Losty Dublin · 03-09-2012 08:57PM

keith16 wrote: »

Yeah, perfectly reasonable if you are a local and not in any rush.

When I visit a foreign city, I want to get into the centre as quickly as possible. Those are local buses and take an eternity to get into town during peak times.

Good for you but a great many people opt for non express routes. A 41 or 33 off peak takes about 30-35 minutes to make the city centre and about an hour peak. 16's are very plentiful and takes 35-40 minutes off peak and about an hour peak plus they cross the city so it's good for connections.

http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/Your-Journey1/Timetables/All-Timetables/163/

keith16 wrote: »

I'm talking about the express 747 or aircoach, approx 7 or 8 euro IIRC, and they don't exactly go every 10 mins.

Ok, so it hardly costs an arm and a leg, but it cost 3 quid to get an express train from Berlin city centre to the airport.

http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/Your-Journey1/Timetables/All-Timetables/7471/

Every 15 minutes from 5AM to 20:30 for the 747 plus connections to Busaras, hotels and Heuston for €6. Aircoach offer a more frequent service plus services from other areas of the city and suburbs for €7/€12 return from town.

http://www.aircoach.ie/table.routes.dublin.citycentre.php

This excludes long haul connections and other private routes that exist but there are lots of bus options there, even if they may not suit or impress you

Of course, these fares would be cheaper if they were State subvented like Berlin

Why not a 2 tier taxi system at Dublin Airport?

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