dodgy vibration

[Bob Shillin]

The Luxury -vs- necessity argument is an interesting one in its own right. Prior to entry liberalisation we had a vibrant hackney sector with many firms offering budget options which gave clients (particularly in rural areas) a realistic alternative to car ownership. That sector of the market is becoming increasingly underserved. There may well be a case for restricting taxi plates to EVs under 3yo and lifting the current temporary moratorium on the issue of saloon hackney plates to enforce the luxury element and revive the budget/necessity sector.

I think that it is well established that we are a first world country with first world expenses in running a public service business, and a multiple of hoops to jump through to qualify to serve that public. If they want cheap transport, they should get three friends to share the cost, take the bus, train, walk, or phone a friend. Discounts are up to me, not enforced by US billionaire disruptors.

[silverbullet]

The Luxury -vs- necessity argument is an interesting one in its own right. Prior to entry liberalisation we had a vibrant hackney sector with many firms offering budget options which gave clients (particularly in rural areas) a realistic alternative to car ownership. That sector of the market is becoming increasingly underserved. There may well be a case for restricting taxi plates to EVs under 3yo and lifting the current temporary moratorium on the issue of saloon hackney plates to enforce the luxury element and revive the budget/necessity sector.

I think that it is well established that we are a first world country with first world expenses in running a public service business, and a multiple of hoops to jump through to qualify to serve that public. If they want cheap transport, they should get three friends to share the cost, take the bus, train, walk, or phone a friend. Discounts are up to me, not enforced by US billionaire disruptors.

+1

[watty]

In fairness to Uber, I think they do tell the passenger the full price, then the discount off that. FN is a different matter 

[Rat Catcher]

"They just like to know what the fare is". Maybe you could persuade Uber to advertise the DOT Taxi Fare Calculator on their app to demonstrate their concern for their/our clients information re taxi fares.

Maybe you could if that's what you want. The fare calculator only gives a range as an estimate. Local bases and Uber give a fixed price although in Uber's case it's not technically a fixed fare it's just a guaranteed upper limit.

[Rat Catcher]

Discounts are up to me, not enforced by US billionaire disruptors.

I guess they are in a way. If you were opposed to Uber giving 20% discount off every fare you could delete the app. Alas, neither the vast majority of drivers nor their unions will support that course of action. The fact that the discounts are putting millions of euros in drivers pockets combined with the fact that drivers don't think beyond the next €1,000 dictates that they will trouser whatever coin is on offer.

In a no pain no gain sort of way I'm leaning towards concluding that DoT/NTA banning below cost selling would be a positive step. Yes, in the short term, it would take money out of drivers pockets but it would also present opportunities for drivers to box off the best of the work be that systematically like the Indians or individually.

[Rat Catcher]

I dunno if anyone wants hacks back.They were shit as a passenger as you had to go through a base to get one and still be left waiting ages.

I think there's a bit nostalgia here for the old days but unfortunately most of the cash is gone now so we'd only get hacks via an app paying ridiculous amounts of commission and undercutting the meter except for during the busy periods.It's not going to fix anything IMO.

It would facilitate focusing taxis on the so-called luxury sector with an eye to levelling the playing field. As things stand a bloke with a clapped out 16yo Prius gets the same money as a bloke driving a €50,000 brand new EV. That seems a tad unfair.

It would also give taximen an option to enter semi-retirement without jumping through all the hoops or investing 5 figures on a car he neither wants nor needs. A simple requirement to pass the National Car Test ought to suffice. Those men would be likely to have an established client base (particularly in rural areas) or the support of local publicans so they wouldn't necessarily be reliant on apps even if they knew what an app is. In any event, any hackneyman worth his salt would be able to box off the work he wants fairly lively, I guess.

[Dr. Martin Gooter Bling]

problem solved. gacked up egr.
where was ken going with his blown head gasket.

[mercenary for hire]

Good news.

[silverbullet]

problem solved. gacked up egr.
where was ken going with his blown head gasket.

Yer missuses rampant rabbit if truth be known!