Uber to sponsor taxi shortage campaign along with BOLT

[taxi1990]

ok say uber ridshare is allowed.

some guy in a rural town needs a taxi at 2 am on a sunday night, all the taxi drivers are at home asleep.

But its ok everyone there are loads of insomniac uber drivers that will drop that guy home for 10 euro, no problem whatsoever, thank god for uber.

[watty]

It's all fun & games until some predator parks his car on the main street and waits until a drunk girl asks if his unlicenced unvetted unmarked car is her rideshare?

[Rat Catcher]

I appreciate it's a long article, Watty but if you persevere with it you will note that they are not suggesting unlicensed cars or unvetted drivers. In fact, they state that cars/drivers must be licensed and vetted. To be fair, it's exactly what Jim Waldron has been saying for the guts of 10 years... the substance of the argument being that drivers should have a choice as to whether they opt for saloon or WA vehicles.

I guess lifting the temporary moratorium on the issue of saloon taxi and hackney plates is what Jim Waldron wants, given that he sees the current cost of entry as being excessive and given that his boss, Christy Humprhey (proprietor, NPHTA) went to court to achieve that regime way back in 1999.

As far as the entry test goes I guess they could do away with it for hackneys to revert to providing a (perhaps cheaper) private hire option once again. That might provide a starting point for thicker drivers.

It's difficult to argue that there's no shortage when the largest dispatcher in Dublin (Free Now) demands fares in excess of the national maximum fare set by NTA at all times. If there was sufficient supply the NTA fare would be the norm. However, ironically both Bolt and Uber never charge their clients rates higher than the NTA max fare and they both pay their drivers considerably more than Free Now pays it's (largely immigrant) workers.

[taxi1990]

The guy who would shake hands with someone setting up a taxi business in sligo, why doesn't he set one up if there is so much money to be made?

[watty]

I appreciate it's a long article, Watty but if you persevere with it you will note that they are not suggesting unlicensed cars or unvetted drivers. In fact, they state that cars/drivers must be licensed and vetted. To be fair, it's exactly what Jim Waldron has been saying for the guts of 10 years... the substance of the argument being that drivers should have a choice as to whether they opt for saloon or WA vehicles.

I guess lifting the temporary moratorium on the issue of saloon taxi and hackney plates is what Jim Waldron wants, given that he sees the current cost of entry as being excessive and given that his boss, Christy Humprhey (proprietor, NPHTA) went to court to achieve that regime way back in 1999.

As far as the entry test goes I guess they could do away with it for hackneys to revert to providing a (perhaps cheaper) private hire option once again. That might provide a starting point for thicker drivers.

It's difficult to argue that there's no shortage when the largest dispatcher in Dublin (Free Now) demands fares in excess of the national maximum fare set by NTA at all times. If there was sufficient supply the NTA fare would be the norm. However, ironically both Bolt and Uber never charge their clients rates higher than the NTA max fare and they both pay their drivers considerably more than Free Now pays it's (largely immigrant) workers.

I appreciate it's a long thread and we're on page 2 but I was replying to the comment above me.

[watty]

The coalition, which includes vintners’ groups, the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) and taxi-hailing companies Bolt and Uber, says a recent survey shows seven out of 10 people across Ireland find it difficult to get home from pubs and restaurants in their area.

The taxi regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), found in a survey, in May 2023, that of more than 1,000 urban and rural taxi users, 81 per cent reported finding it easy (under 15 minutes) to get a taxi.

I was going to say someone is telling porkies but I guess it depends on the question the coaltion asked:  (a) Is it hard for you to get a taxi?  or (b) is it hard for you to get home because you're legless after drinking a mind-bending drug for hours in the pub?

[silverbullet]

McTiernan agrees the age profile of taxi drivers is older and says the sector should be “opened up”.


do they think all older taxi drivers will die and not be replaced?

maybe the 30 year olds will become taxi drivers when they hit 40 or 50, like others have done in the past.

it is like a lot of bus drivers are elderly, you aren't going to get loads of lads in their 20s driving taxis, they are too busy drinking in overpriced pubs and nightclubs but they might consider it when in their 30's, 40's, 50s' etc

them ejits walking home at 2 am are probably after pissing themselves, puking on themselves, have no money for a taxi, too abusive with taxi drivers.

Dublin Bus is advertising positions for Bus Drivers of all sexes:https://www.dublinbus.ie/careers/bus-drivers

They are now promoting a campaign to highlight attacks on Public Transport workers:

https://www.transportforireland.ie/news/nta-launches-campaign-to-encourage-respect-for-public-transport-staff/

The wages look good until you realise you're both a Johnny PunchClock for your employer...and a Johnny PunchBag for the general public.

Migrant(s)? should apply.

[Rat Catcher]

Is the AIB account a taxi driver only account or how does it work out that taxi drivers pay higher fees, t1990?

I'd probably have more than a grand in N26 from time to time but I try to keep Revolut well under that, which isn't particularly difficult. You can transfer money to any other (Irish or not) savings (or other) account from N26 free of charge anyway and you pay no transaction fees so it's a no-brainer for a current account. I get my wages from Sumup, Free Now and Bolt all paid into N26 and use that or Revolut for any card/internet purchases I might make.

I think you can rent a number 27 bus from Dublin Bus for €800/week, SB. Sure you'd get that back of a slow Tuesday.

[Rat Catcher]

The guy who would shake hands with someone setting up a taxi business in sligo, why doesn't he set one up if there is so much money to be made?

He did... 51 years ago and he's still working 12-13 hours per day at the age of 76. He owns 3 taxis and 2 Limousines - all from the OP!

Probably NPHTA's man in the Wesht given that his opinion mirrors Jim Waldron's, almost word for word.

[Rat Catcher]

I appreciate it's a long article, Watty but if you persevere with it you will note that they are not suggesting unlicensed cars or unvetted drivers. In fact, they state that cars/drivers must be licensed and vetted. To be fair, it's exactly what Jim Waldron has been saying for the guts of 10 years... the substance of the argument being that drivers should have a choice as to whether they opt for saloon or WA vehicles.

I guess lifting the temporary moratorium on the issue of saloon taxi and hackney plates is what Jim Waldron wants, given that he sees the current cost of entry as being excessive and given that his boss, Christy Humprhey (proprietor, NPHTA) went to court to achieve that regime way back in 1999.

As far as the entry test goes I guess they could do away with it for hackneys to revert to providing a (perhaps cheaper) private hire option once again. That might provide a starting point for thicker drivers.

It's difficult to argue that there's no shortage when the largest dispatcher in Dublin (Free Now) demands fares in excess of the national maximum fare set by NTA at all times. If there was sufficient supply the NTA fare would be the norm. However, ironically both Bolt and Uber never charge their clients rates higher than the NTA max fare and they both pay their drivers considerably more than Free Now pays it's (largely immigrant) workers.

I appreciate it's a long thread and we're on page 2 but I was replying to the comment above me.

Fair enough!

[Rat Catcher]

ok say uber ridshare is allowed.

some guy in a rural town needs a taxi at 2 am on a sunday night, all the taxi drivers are at home asleep.

But its ok everyone there are loads of insomniac uber drivers that will drop that guy home for 10 euro, no problem whatsoever, thank god for uber.

I appreciate it's a long article, t1990 but if you persevere with it you will note that they are not suggesting unlicensed cars or unvetted drivers. In fact, they state that cars/drivers must be licensed and vetted. To be fair, it's exactly what Jim Waldron has been saying for the guts of 10 years... the substance of the argument being that drivers should have a choice as to whether they opt for saloon or WA vehicles.

I guess lifting the temporary moratorium on the issue of saloon taxi and hackney plates is what Jim Waldron wants, given that he sees the current cost of entry as being excessive and given that his boss, Christy Humprhey (proprietor, NPHTA) went to court to achieve that regime way back in 1999.

As far as the entry test goes I guess they could do away with it for hackneys to revert to providing a (perhaps cheaper) private hire option once again. That might provide a starting point for thicker drivers.

It's difficult to argue that there's no shortage when the largest dispatcher in Dublin (Free Now) demands fares in excess of the national maximum fare set by NTA at all times. If there was sufficient supply the NTA fare would be the norm. However, ironically both Bolt and Uber never charge their clients rates higher than the NTA max fare and they both pay their drivers considerably more than Free Now pays it's (largely immigrant) workers.

[taxi1990]

ok say uber ridshare is allowed.

some guy in a rural town needs a taxi at 2 am on a sunday night, all the taxi drivers are at home asleep.

But its ok everyone there are loads of insomniac uber drivers that will drop that guy home for 10 euro, no problem whatsoever, thank god for uber.

I appreciate it's a long article, t1990 but if you persevere with it you will note that they are not suggesting unlicensed cars or unvetted drivers. In fact, they state that cars/drivers must be licensed and vetted. To be fair, it's exactly what Jim Waldron has been saying for the guts of 10 years... the substance of the argument being that drivers should have a choice as to whether they opt for saloon or WA vehicles.

I guess lifting the temporary moratorium on the issue of saloon taxi and hackney plates is what Jim Waldron wants, given that he sees the current cost of entry as being excessive and given that his boss, Christy Humprhey (proprietor, NPHTA) went to court to achieve that regime way back in 1999.

As far as the entry test goes I guess they could do away with it for hackneys to revert to providing a (perhaps cheaper) private hire option once again. That might provide a starting point for thicker drivers.

It's difficult to argue that there's no shortage when the largest dispatcher in Dublin (Free Now) demands fares in excess of the national maximum fare set by NTA at all times. If there was sufficient supply the NTA fare would be the norm. However, ironically both Bolt and Uber never charge their clients rates higher than the NTA max fare and they both pay their drivers considerably more than Free Now pays it's (largely immigrant) workers.

im not saying they want unlicenced taxis, im saying why do they think it would make a difference to getting a taxi at 2 am on say a tuesday night in ballygobackwards? them Uber drivers need sleep as well, they arent robots or am wrong?

I agree that the need for wav taxis for new entrants should be stopped.

maybe even get rid of the 10 and 15 year rule. if the car is roadworthy maybe it can do the job.

regarding AIB, I should have said business people get charged 29 cent per transaction and as we are business people, it applies to us.

[Rat Catcher]

So, you agree with everything they actually want so you're making up stuff you think they might want so you have something to get furious about?

[Belker]

So, you agree with everything they actually want so you're making up stuff you think they might want so you have something to get furious about?

That does tend to happen a lot on here !! 

[taxi1990]

So, you agree with everything they actually want so you're making up stuff you think they might want so you have something to get furious about?

You are ignoring what my point was, about uber drivers sleeping the same as taxi drivers. Or do you think they will work through the night? In rural towns.