Author Topic: Google maps Vs Taxi driver.  (Read 14086 times)

Offline Belker

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 19126
  • Karma: +0/-0
Google maps Vs Taxi driver.
« on: March 19, 2018, 05:48:00 am »
It's St Patrick's day in Cork and I'm out at work since 11am.

The Parade has most of the city center closed off and I'm working mainly the southern suburbs on MyTaxi jobs bringing customers in to town fer the Parade or to the city pubs fer the big rugby match.
By 12 noon I know exactly every street which is closed off and every 'Rat-run' that is open to get my customers as close as possible to their destination.

A lot, actually most have pre-set their destination, so Google maps on MyTaxi tells me where to bring them and I just ignore it fer the first hour or so, then Google maps starts to annoy me and I say to a few of my customers in the cab; "Google maps is telling me where to go, but Google maps doesen't know that most of the city streets are shut off fer the parade, I've been working these city streets fer the past Forty years and I will get you as close as I can but it won't be the Google maps route.
Would you rather the Google maps route or My route ?".


Feedback was 100%, "We'll take your route please Mr Taximan".

Offline U Wha

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 353
  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Google maps Vs Taxi driver.
« Reply #1 on: March 19, 2018, 06:38:04 am »
I was lucky yesterday, most of my jobs kept me out of city centre, so no google route problems.

If I am stuck when a punter gives me an address, I look it up on google maps to get a fix on it and make a point of turning it off once I know where it is.
I mightn't always know the address but once I get a fix on it I don't need a map.

It annoys me the number of passengers that have their phones on with google maps and watch the way you drive compared to the route on their phone and then make comments if you veer off route according to the phone even though they haven't a clue where they are.

Offline Jack Meoff

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2675
  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Google maps Vs Taxi driver.
« Reply #2 on: March 19, 2018, 09:31:03 am »
You can turn off google maps.

Offline TheDevilHimself

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 626
  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Google maps Vs Taxi driver.
« Reply #3 on: March 19, 2018, 12:42:30 pm »
was there a parade ?
Six legs good, four legs bad!

Offline Rat Catcher

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 26799
  • Karma: +34/-65535
  • Part Time Amateur Scum
Re: Google maps Vs Taxi driver.
« Reply #4 on: March 19, 2018, 04:44:05 pm »
Google is usually good at current traffic/restrictions. I tend to think in terms of the most direct route whereas Google will think outside the box to find the fastest route taking traffic, speed limits, number of turns, etc into account. Following Google, or at least giving the client the option, can get better fares. Foe example, I got a mytaxi job from Coolock to Ashington on St. Patrick's day. My instinct was to go through Cabra but when I asked Google she suggested the M50 so I presented the client with both options (stressing Google's recommendation) and she decided we should heed Google's advice. End result I get at least a tenner more than I would have without Google's interjection and both the client and I save 2 minutes* of our lives.

* data supplied by Google.
If it doesn't have a roof sign and door stickers it's not a taxi.

Offline mercenary for hire

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12415
  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Google maps Vs Taxi driver.
« Reply #5 on: March 19, 2018, 07:26:33 pm »
Got an Mytaxi jobby from the Airport to Dunleary  on Friday afternoon.Good job for a change.But Google and customer wanted to go M50.I warned her it would cost more but she says go ahead the company is paying for it.Then we get to Pottery Road and she is questioning why my meter said 68 and her Taxi to the Airport was 50 something  via M50.Told her I didn't know why it was different and she can query it with Mytaxi.Google maps aren't really working in the customer's interest most of the time.

Offline Rat Catcher

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 26799
  • Karma: +34/-65535
  • Part Time Amateur Scum
Re: Google maps Vs Taxi driver.
« Reply #6 on: March 19, 2018, 07:37:50 pm »
Over €8 freight for c.1.2 hours... not to mention free waiting time. It's not cheap!
If it doesn't have a roof sign and door stickers it's not a taxi.

Offline mercenary for hire

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12415
  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Google maps Vs Taxi driver.
« Reply #7 on: March 19, 2018, 07:48:02 pm »
We're getting robbed alright.Deffo room for some cheaper competitors in the pay per job arena.The 12% commission is a kick in the nuts.Didn't even get a tip FFS!

Offline Rat Catcher

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 26799
  • Karma: +34/-65535
  • Part Time Amateur Scum
Re: Google maps Vs Taxi driver.
« Reply #8 on: March 19, 2018, 07:55:08 pm »
You'd nearly be happy not to get a tip. mytaxi would have 12% of that too!
If it doesn't have a roof sign and door stickers it's not a taxi.

Offline Dr. Martin Gooter Bling

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4593
  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Google maps Vs Taxi driver.
« Reply #9 on: March 19, 2018, 08:23:36 pm »
if you open oogle flaps and press the route option.
imput dublin airport to dunlaoghire, does it not correctly indicate the port tunnel route?

Offline mercenary for hire

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12415
  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Google maps Vs Taxi driver.
« Reply #10 on: March 19, 2018, 08:33:39 pm »
On mine right now it shows port tunnel as the blue line(optimum route) but on Friday afternoon at 12.41pm it said M50 as the blue line.I think it was a time Vs distance thing.I should add she wanted to go the fastest route not the cheapest.

Maybe the traffic was bad through town?The public take Google maps route as always the best route.
« Last Edit: March 19, 2018, 08:41:21 pm by mercenary for hire »

Offline silverbullet

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 26693
  • Karma: +2/-0
  • You don't want to do it like that
Re: Google maps Vs Taxi driver.
« Reply #11 on: March 19, 2018, 10:56:51 pm »
GMAPS caters for the private motorist. It knows nothing about Taxis, bus Lanes, contraflows etc.

Offline Belker

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 19126
  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Google maps Vs Taxi driver.
« Reply #12 on: March 20, 2018, 05:50:39 am »
You can turn off google maps.

I hit 'Mute' on that Google maps Bitch the very First day she started up.

Offline Belker

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 19126
  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Google maps Vs Taxi driver.
« Reply #13 on: March 20, 2018, 05:59:50 am »
Someone on here once said; "Google maps should be compulsory fer Taxi drivers".

If that were the case and clients believed Google maps (who love the motorways)
over the expertise of the Taxi driver, then our income would be up about 10% per annum !

Offline Jack Meoff

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2675
  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Google maps Vs Taxi driver.
« Reply #14 on: March 20, 2018, 06:39:36 am »
Did you jump ship also with Premier Taxis ?
I see a few of yer drivers have joined another Taxi company.

 


Show Unread Posts