London taxi drivers slam ‘rudest’ in Europe survey slur
Thursday, July 14, 2011 5:33 PM
London cabbies are fuming at a survey branding them the third rudest taxi drivers in the whole of Europe.
That is according to a survey of more than 3,500 travellers by holiday website, TripAdvisor.
Taxi drivers in the capital city get a pasting in the findings, behind only cabbies in Paris and Rome in the league table of bad manners.
But the survey results are so wide of the mark, insisted the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association.
General Secretary Bob Oddy said cabbies in the capital city run rings around their foreign counterparts.
It seems there is no risk rude cabbies will dismay tourists during next year’s showpiece 2012 London Olympics.
“London taxi drivers in survey after survey come streets ahead of any other taxi service in the world,” said Oddy.
“You train for three or four years and then you are in the job for up to 45 years, so it is not the sort of thing you just do while you are a student."
“Anyone with half a brain in their head who has travelled around this world of ours will know there is no better taxi service around,” he insisted.
“I recommend that Trip Advisor get another company to do their surveys in the future.”
A confusing twist of the survey’s results ranks London cab drivers as also the second most friendly in Europe.
TripAdvisor spokeswoman Emma O’Boyle said it will matter to the Games’ legacy how people enjoy travelling to and from Olympics venues, next July.
“This research is based on traveller perception, so it’s encouraging for everyone involved in London’s tourism industry that, despite the concerns around cost, the city is regarded by European travellers as a vibrant and accessible destination,” she said.
“Undoubtedly the buzz around next year’s Olympics has contributed to London being crowned Europe’s most exciting city, and we fully expect this momentum to continue into 2012 and beyond."
“Both Rome and London cab drivers also found themselves amongst the top finishers in both the rudest and friendliest categories, so it’s evident that taxi driver split the opinions of travellers. Like many elements of travel, taxi drivers and how we interact with them very much come down to personal preference."
“London taxis are an institution and London’s taxi drivers should be proud of this accolade, while bearing in mind that it’s impossible to please all travellers all of the time,” added Mrs O’Boyle.
Are London Taxi drivers as rude as TripAdvisor says they are? Tell us below.
Source; http://www.london24.com/news/transport/ ... r_1_964170
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