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Some of what I saw in the document is quite laughable, not from the comission themselves but from the obvious agenda harbouring ppl that filled in the questionaire.
One tier with only wheelchair access cabs able to rank up?
How does that work, so everyone who hails rather than phones wants a ride home in a van?
No, I don't think so and nor do half the disabled I pick up, as I've said before they like to escape the chair for a while, the only time a W plate is really needed is if the chair is motorised and impossible to get in the boot.
So effectively you will have a man who spent 30k to go on a rank nobody will use.
Lets align it some more, if HC has to be WA, then so should PH, after all they're forever telling us they do the same job, same job maybe but a different customer (something you only discover if you drive a Hack btw)
Now lets look at those wanting a single tier, they won't be HC owners or drivers for that matter (Bin excluded) no, they will be PH who think there is something to gain, well there is, pure chaos where you will have driver rows over who spotted the hailer first etc, then you will have the interceptor who sits prime located waiting for the customer who was going to the rank, so the rank effectively becomes a car park.
Lets get things right, things need updating, but the most important things are fare regulation, livery and colour rules (HC one light shade colour, PH only in dark shades) driver suitability, this has to come in the form of resident,driving licence and unassisted test sitting in person with command of English to be finished of with an LO picking a destination and the driver actually driving the LO there physically and then back to the LO afterwards.
Then we come to the car, well I think with in reason damage should be considered, it's not good enough rolling up with some clapped out ten year old Mondeo, personally I think the car should be no older than a max of 3 yrs of age and maybe even a deal could be struck that one car is nominated as the chosen car for the job, say a Skoda Superb,Ford Mondeo,Toyota Avensis, crucially a car that is large enough for comfort and capacity, end of the Astra,307,Jetta saloon cars, simply not big enough imo, so each LA would consult with the owners on a choice of car, ideally the choice would be 2 models so any overlap in model changes isn't a problem i.e Ford stopped producing the Mondeo.
I want the fares bought into line and under LA control for all because if you do this 90% of illegal pick ups would go overnight, most illegal fares are because the public knows one is cheaper than the other, take that away and you have no incentive to put yourself at risk, and a lot of the illegal PH rook the pocket anyway charging up to 40% than the meter would tick.
It's a big time for the trade in general, and that's why those that are presiding must know all the facts and scenario's, it's no good having 500 PH drivers who want it de-regulated, of course they want it de-regulated who wouldn't in their position, but hear this, 20 odd years ago I used to look on with envy at the hack and I longed for de-regulation, when it came you had to spend 25k on a car and all that happened was the ranks filled up with more than needed cabs cutting good service in half, maintenance of the cabs went through the floor and generally the ettiquette disappeared, once I took the plunge myself (while it was still de-regulated) I knew what an ass my logic had been almost instantly, so much so my logic looked like lusting after the local cheerleader only to get her finally after half the city had already had a go and she was now full of disease as well, a few of the old drivers I used to have a burger with tried to tell me many times but I wasn't listening because I couldn't, because I knew nothing about what I was talking about, so if you are one of those thinking a single tier or de-regulation is the way forward start looking for a new job because if it comes you won't be able to earn a living doing this, PH office owners will have you in their pockets even more and that radio that seems expensive now will go through the roof, and that brings me to the final part of this.
PHD representation, I feel it's time the offices were regulated with what is a fair amount for a radio charge, if drivers drive company cars they should be on the books with sick and holiday pay, uniforms are another thing, if an office insists on one and the driver is charged for it then it should be at cost not a profit, after all the driver is advertising all the time he's in uniform even when he's not working, popped in a shop etc, now lets address silly priced account jobs, these cause pedal jockey behaviour so in effect are dangerous in a way, if the company wants to charge 50% less for the job then the company should pick up the 50% not the driver, no driver wants a half price fare so why price it like that anyway, and finally for now, make the owner of a PH firm accountable by way of fines if their drivers are caught and successfully prosecuted, you'd soon see some pro active work towards stopping illegal pick ups then if Mr Radio has to dig into his pocket as well.
Opinions welcomed, yay or nay'rs.
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