In addition to making it difficult to protect the safety, cleanliness and effectiveness of the system, the economics of supply and demand can result in a system where it is difficult for drivers to earn any money, so they exit, resulting in fewer cabs than before.

Might as well stop reading there

But I'll guess that your LA has some quite tough testing procedures for vehicles and driver entry.

So you're probably OK Jack, for the moment anyway, unless the LC's ideas change things asre about face in your manor in a couple of years.

Then you might, just might be in the same crap that many LAs are in with p1$$ poor standards on vehicles and drivers and anyone can drive a shed with a camel driving licence.

When passengers complained they get busy signals when they call dispatchers, the brokers indicated that drivers refused to drive at peak periods. Drivers, for their part, claim that the brokers have simply not invested in their dispatch systems and don’t have enough people to answer the phones. Drivers tell stories of waiting an hour or more to be dispatched while passengers are desperately trying to get through.

Since cabs have GPS units and smart meters already, we are now requiring that all cabs in Calgary, starting next year, share this data. We will know how many cabs are on the road and accepting fares at any given time, and we’ll know where they are in the city. This will help city council make decisions about future allocations of taxi licences.

I anticipate huge demand for the lottery to allocate these new licences.

Why a lottery, why not use driver standards on a first come first served basis

If was a racist, and I am not, I would say it is way to keep Muslims out - they can't enter a lottery.

There's few PHVs, so that wouldn't make much difference, and taxi vehicle and driver standards are pretty low, so you're perception is misconceived - no one really wants a PHV anyway

It's actually the reverse here.

There are many PHV drivers in Brum that would not transfer to a HC if the new legislation came up with a one-tier taxi system as they are sh*t scared of picking up off the streets and prefer the 'safety' of pre-booked work.

Which leads me to believe that you must be licensed in a quiet back-water town and hence the closeted views

Indeed, I find it hard to credit that any current PH driver would pass a queue on a rank without stopping, assuming they could do so legally.

Well I find that hard to credit, so how much do you mean by 'many'?

The f'in taxis here pass queues on the rank ffs if they don't like the look of them

Theres very rarely queues on ranks anymore,you really do have rose tinted glasses dusty.Why so secretive over" the backwater"place you work ?

Of course you do.

If it ain't done your way, then it don't count.