Taxi Driver Online

I'm sorry to disagree, and even more sorry to agree with jaspar.

Asking 3 new drivers? How does that wash with a punter who may not know one part of edinburgh from the other?

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

That's fair enough but Edinburgh is full of streets that can catch you out!!! but there is a difference between a common street such as The Murray's Brae (easy too remember) Too Essendean ? up at Clermiston ( can be forgotten if not been there for years)

CC Jasbar knows he is asking an unchallengable question, in all major city's like Edinburgh there are streets you as the cabbie just need a simple reminder, it takes years of experiance in Edinburgh to be 100%

So how many years is reasonable in Carlisle? I say 5 -10 years in Edinburgh depending on the individual

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Alway's been about Tightening the Grip!

I genuinely think jaspar has a point here, anyone can be caught out....i agree.....but 3 different drivers???

As people may have guessed, I'll disagree with this guy on virtually everything I possibly can, but a driver having an adequate knowledge of the area he chooses to work isnt one of them........because that's standards.....and thats trust......when a punter gets in a cab he trusts the driver to take him to a destination by the shortest possible route....or cheapest route.....without it being explained or via a sat nav.

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I don't think any driver in Edinburgh would have had a problem with the destination if the punter proceeded to give it the street it was on and most drivers I know, would if the punter didn't know the address at least contact their control who would 99% of the time get the street name and number.

Tell you what Jasbar how about haggling with your fuel companies on a quiet night for a reduction on your price per litre?

Oh jimmy,

You prattle on about how poor Edinburgh taxi drivers are (except you and gary) as its suits you.

BUT

You also prattle on about the great quality controls there are in Edinburgh to limit who can be a taxi driver. Thus enabling there to be no cap.

MAKE UP YOUR MIND!

they must have thought,that's that c**t,feck him.i don't know anyone who would take you.unmet demand .

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oh no jimbo no the lub agian

The point I'm making is that the quality controls are inadequate.

And I'm not suggesting that any of the cabbies in this scenario are diferent to other cabbies. Dougie's right, no one knows it all.

Punters don't expect us to know it all, and we clearly don't because most of them, even aftrer being driven across the city without help, come to the end of the journey and tell us "right hee drive", "next left", etc.

Inability to quickly identify a destination, and the cabbies I spoke to were under some pressure, isn't the problem. The opportunity is that we could work to make it better. #

And it's clearly in the public interest to improve these aspects while freeing up the market to allow drivers to drive their own cabs, which will provide a better quality, more readily available service, particularly at peak times.

And with such service improvement we could command a better return for our professionalism.

You clearly have a good point jasbar, but, it appears from all your other posts that you want derestriction regardless as to whether the improved standards are in place. It's like putting the cart before the horse in my opinion. It would be far better to get in place the higher and improved standards and then go after derestriction. I believe the reason derestriction works so well in London is because of the time element of becoming a cabbie, you can't just do it without investing a large amount of your own time into becoming a proper professional driver and when it comes to large cities such as Edinburgh that is how it should be

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

A point which I tend to accept......all I have read so far by those defending the drivers has been piffle.

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I accept 3 cabbies in a row not showing an interest in working out the destination but cabbies are Human, i normally know the route and destination within seconds of being asked the question, we are though not all the same, i'm saying that there are wee stinkers out there (streets) that take a wee bit longer to register, i'm thinking Jasbars offer of a tenner distracted the drivers from recognising the destination, if it's a straight question 99% of cabbies will know the answer (destination) straight away.

I'm not defending i'm exploring the possibilties, we are all punters and equally hate it when we come across a cabbie who doesn't appear to know where he is going, i recognise that kind of cabbie who i call a One ranker, a cabbie who sits on the same rank day in day out, lets use HAYMARKET TRAIN STATION as an example

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Alway's been about Tightening the Grip!

3 in a row?

That aside, isnt it common practice when we're abroad to get a couple of quotes for journeys?

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

yes - but in alot of foreign markets ive noticed most jobs are fixed prices anyway

So you ask then?

The reason I side with jaspar is I hired a cab from a station in Manchester last week........'do you have a postcode mate?' was the first question the driver asked.......strange the first question i asked him before i got in the cab was how much to.......

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

CC, You really should know better than to believe what jimmy boy says in the first place.

If you go to a cab on a rank in Edinburgh and the first driver does not know the street (because he is new or his mind has gone blank for a second), then the next guy WILL. Going down all the way down the rank and no-one knowing will just not happen.

Also, as a taxi driver jimmy boy should know the fare, so why would he want to haggle to the exact amount he expected to pay anyway.

As someone else said "I smell sh/te"

In a way I understand what you're saying.

But restriction obviates the need for quality controls.

Restriction means a cosy life for vested interests, protectionism, no need or incentive to improve, to match the needs of customers.

We will never be able to get the premium return for our service unless and until we provide customers with the quality to justify it.

London doesn't restrict. London is the benchmark for quality, the professionalism of the London Cabby is world renowned. London cabbies are handsomely rewarded for their service.

It's no accident that London is near the premium of the tree, Edinburgh is languishing.

I want more. But the public are not going to py more for what we're giving them, what years of restriction and poor trade representation has given them.

BTW Unless we can place ourselves and our standards and quality above our competition, how can we possibly beat it?