Taxi Driver Online

Yes, Mr Greenbadgecabby, that's why many drivers outside London have to pay such inflated rentals in order that they can work.

You complain about paying to rank at stations and airports, but that's what drivers have to do elsewhere, even on the ordinary ranks.

But if it lines the pockets of plate holders, then hey, it's not a problem

Oh, happy new year as well

Gosh you make it sound like working London is a breeze? Whilst we don't have the plates, trust me we have many other overheads and red tape to contend with. (the latest is a 3k emissions upgrade on all pre 1997 cabs)

Unlike many other areas, Watford for instance, I cant spend 13k for a new Skoda or VW, i'm stuck like Edinburgh and Manchester with one choice priced at 30K, theres also the small matter of the other 25,000 drivers who offer the odd bit of competition.

Anyway the 'knowledge' is open to one and all, so if you cant beat 'em join 'em . . . .

Don't know where you got the idea that I thought working in London was 'a breeze' Mr greenbadgecabby, perhaps you could explain your reasoning.

The point was that no one in London has to pay inflated rentals for a cab based merely on the fact that some in the trade have a stranglehold on vehicle ownership, in Edinburgh for example.

As for the red tape and the like, I had to laugh at the hoo-hah when a THIRTEEN year age rule was proposed on London

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Taxi Driver Online
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I thought you said you were running a fifteen-year old Fairway

Assuming it cost £20k new then it's only depreciated at less than a grand and a half a year.

The Skodas and VWs that you mention would depreciate at at least twice that, and would probaly be run for only 3-4 years max, not FIFTEEN

As for the other 25,000 drivers who offer the competition, what relevance is that? Few of us have a population base of 6 million people.

Despite the number of drivers, I suspect you are still capable of earning a lot more than any other taxi drivers in the UK.

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Taxi Driver Online
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As per all other LAs in the UK.

But in many cab ownership is not open to all and thus drivers pay inflated rentals merely to rank up. That was the point of my post, not whether or not being a driver in London was a breeze.

Perhaps some of your rules date from Victorian or earlier times, but in the provinces some of the attitudes stem from medieval times

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Taxi Driver Online
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Quote from TDO"Despite the number of drivers, I suspect you are still capable of earning a lot more than any other taxi drivers in the UK"


An expert on the London Trade, oh we do like those, ever considered a job with TFL. My cousin works the Edinburgh trade, trust me he does just fine, and he does'nt have the tube network, 100'000 buses, and 12 train companies along with 900 minicab companys to compete with (oh, and 25,000 other drivers).

The population of London only stretches so far.

Bad December?

Tell us all where you ply the trade Mr TDO, your profile does'nt tell us much apart from your 'into' computers.

You are a taxi driver???

I can answer that sir? my memory is fine! he operates from a council rubbish dump!

YORKIE THAT WAS FUNNY LOVE MR T

its also true that is what he claimed in his last portfolio

So am I right or wrong, or are you just trying to dodge the issue?

By the way, I don't know why you think I'm trying to be an 'expert' on the London trade, I merely made a remark that was heavily qualified by the words 'I suspect', so again it looks like you are trying to misrepresent me to deflect attention from the substantive point.

I suspect I probably know more about the London trade than you know about the provincial one, however, even though I admit that I'm far from being an 'expert' on London.

By the way, what's the gossip on MP Clive Efford, who claims to be an ex-London driver, but doesn't really seem that knowledgeable about the trade at all, never mind the provincial side?

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Taxi Driver Online
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You don't say whether he is a plate holder or not, in which case you perhaps didn't appreciate the substantive point I was making.

By the way, what do you mean by 'just fine'?

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Taxi Driver Online
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Why thanks Mr T - that was my joke.

In fact I've often considered a career as a comedian, how do you think I'd do?

PS No jokes linking the above to the trade please

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Taxi Driver Online
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Well remembered Yorkie

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Taxi Driver Online
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