Taxi Driver Online

...or has allegedly reached 40 cars

This was published just before midday yesterday - but I don't think it's an April Fool

But it's purely the case for the legacy trade here, for a change. But, it's spinning stuff like a top...

Can't be bothered going into it at the moment, but I don't believe the stats for the HC cap, at least without more detail...might have a look for that later.

But as far as I know Aberdeen still has a legacy saloon HC sector (as per below), and that number will be fixed. But this makes it sound like anyone presenting a WAV can have an HC plate. At a rough guess I'd question that, but who knows

But the case regarding the cost of WAVs as deterrent is well made.

On the other hand, I think they're overstating the effect removing the WAV requirement would have in terms of overall supply - it would just rearrange the furniture a bit.

And all that blather about the ranks and plying for hire etc is just, er, blather.

I'd guess they're effectively claiming that people pre-booking PHVs are getting into unbooked cars in side streets etc, as opposed to normally just getting into a booked car.

And the Glasgow stuff is presumably just alluding to the plying for hire stuff. Which I don't think is confined to Uber. And, I mean, don't the Aberdeen legacy platforms run mixed HC/PHV fleets anyway?

But if Uber now has 40 drivers, then this confirms that they can afford to tough it out, and just wait for the long haul.

Any bog standard PH-only start-up would have given in by now


Taxi chiefs: ‘Cost of new cars is behind Aberdeen’s late-night problems… not the test Uber want scrapped’

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/ne ... icle-cost/

The bosses of Rainbow City and Aberdeen taxi companies think drivers should be incentivised to drive taxis, instead of private hire, to help with late-night taxi rank issues.

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Taxi chiefs claim Aberdeen’s lack of drivers is not down to the under-fire Street Knowledge Test that opponents say is holding back the industry — and they fear getting rid of it could risk late-night safety.

City council bosses are currently polling the public on sweeping changes to cab licensing in Aberdeen.

And this survey could pave the way for private hire drivers to be exempt from sitting the test they now need to pass to get on the road.

But the bosses of Rainbow City Taxis and Aberdeen Taxis claim the cause of the taxi shortage is down to economics and the eye-watering costs of new vehicles — not the demanding exam.

Aberdeen City Council says there are 508 licensed taxis presently, out of a maximum 1,079 limit.

Why is Aberdeen considering scrapping the Street Knowledge Test for private hire drivers?

Ride-hailing app Uber argues that modern technology like satellite navigation means pre-booked private hire drivers, who know the start and end point of their fare, should not have to sit the demanding exam.

The San Franciscan giant rode into Aberdeen as city centre business chiefs complained about long waits — during peak hours on busy nights out — at taxi ranks.

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The P&J understands the Silicon Valley tech firm has recruited around 40 drivers since gaining a licence to operate in Aberdeen in June 2024.

Meanwhile Aberdeen’s existing taxi firms, Rainbow City and Aberdeen Taxis, claim recent reform of the Street Knowledge Test is already bearing fruit.

And they argue the real reason behind many drivers opting to operate as private hire, who can’t pick up at Aberdeen ranks, instead of as taxis is financial.

Rainbow managing director Russell McLeod and Aberdeen Taxis chief Chris Douglas also warn a reliance on Uber will reduce late-night safety, as people could stray away from well-lit, marshalled, taxi ranks to get a lift.

‘The taxi vs private hire issue…’

Sitting around the table at Rainbow’s HQ, the pair take around seven minutes to bring up the “taxi vs private hire issue” when it comes to late night queuing.

It feels like they have shown restraint in waiting that long…

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“There is a narrative that removing the Street Knowledge Test for private hire drivers gets people a taxi at the rank in the early hours of the morning,” Mr Douglas says.

“No. Taxi ranks are there by design, and that’s overlooked.

“It’s a public safety thing. Conversations about safety have been logical until now but I can’t get my head around it.

“The ranks are put there to disperse people in an orderly fashion, and keep the night-time economy safe, they are in a well-lit, safe area with CCTV and marshals.

“If you come out of a nightclub at 3am, by design, it wouldn’t be sensible to have you picked up right outside the front door – and you see problems in other cities where that happens.”

‘Uber moves queue problem from well-lit main street to unmarshalled side street’

Mr Douglas claims police in Glasgow have alluded to problems with unofficial ranks on side streets, where late-night revellers muster for lifts sourced through ride-hailing apps like Uber.

Challenged to share evidence of this, he admits it is “anecdotal” from other taxi operators in the central belt.

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He adds: “Effectively, you are moving the problem from the main street to the side street.

“It’s still a supply and demand thing. And I don’t think the trade, police or anyone would support dispersing people from safe places ultimately.

“So for me, the big picture needs to concentrate on increasing the taxis.”

Police Scotland told The P&J safety away from taxi ranks “is not an issue that has been raised” with officers in Glasgow city centre.

A spokeswoman added that the force would “continue to work alongside Aberdeen City Council to understand how we best keep people safe, in view of any changes”.

‘Economics, not street knowledge test, keeping drivers away from taxis’

Aberdeen taxi trade bosses are not in denial that there are problems.

Both Mr McLeod and Mr Douglas see the number of licensed taxis in Aberdeen is going down, while the number of private hire cars rapidly increases.

They are confident a recent review of the Street Knowledge Test has already set Aberdeen up for a steady supply of new drivers.

And they are now telling us why so many of the new recruits are opting out of driving a taxi able to service late-night rank queues, which are cited as evidence of a need for change.

“It’s obvious,” Mr Douglas tells me. “Drivers are choosing not to invest in an expensive taxi, when they can get on the road in a private hire car.”

Mr McLeod jumps in. “Brand new, there’s a £15,000 difference between a wheelchair accessible taxi and a Toyota Corolla, which seems to be the private hire vehicle of choice just now.”

Would changing wheelchair accessible taxi policy end Aberdeen’s late-night taxi rank woe?

Aberdeen City Council has an agreed policy that 50% of the taxi fleet should be wheelchair accessible (WAV), a target that has nearly been reached.

And that writ requires all new taxi drivers to have one, while there is a waiting list to switch to a saloon.

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Sounding out appetite for change, the council’s public consultation describes the transition to a 50/50 fleet split as “under way”, though Mr McLeod says it’s “probably almost there”.

He adds: “The reality for me is once they achieve 50/50, the rate of change will slow or stop if we don’t do something to increase the number of taxis.

“We’ve spent £1.5 million on new cars in the last 16 months and the drivers who come through our taxi school don’t want one of our taxis, they want a private hire.

“Give them the choice between a WAV or a Corolla, and nine times out of 10…

“There is lots to that. They are saloons, they’re automatic, and they’re hybrid so use half the fuel.

“Normally, a driver leases that for maybe six months, and then buys his own one releasing the car for the next driver.

“But costs for a new WAV are approaching £40,000 nowadays. And, I would say to you, there lies the taxi versus private hire vehicle issue.”

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Mr Douglas interjects: “Historically, they used to buy a taxi at that point, but now they go and buy a private hire car.

“That’s the root cause of the issue, and as a next step the council should possibly look at the WAV policy as a whole or, as they won’t change that, look for a way of increasing service at the ranks.

“But public hire — taxi hire — has to be from the ranks. It’s a safety thing.

“For me the answer is definitely looking at incentivising drivers of new private hire vehicles to take on taxis instead, sustainably.”

But that's another piece that the P&J has gone to town on.

And there were another couple of articles between that one and the previous piece. Which are in my drafts, and will post them over the weekend

I think the cab firm boss is underestimating the cost of a WAV.

But drivers don't necessarily prefer to work a saloon rather than a WAV; they don't want to do WAV work.

And drivers coming through their schools are preferring PH rather than HC as they want to work for Uber, and I'm guessing Uber doesn't have a school yet.

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IDFIMH