Taxis and Ph may well be the same or regarded as the same in your area, but the two could'nt be more different in London.
One side generaly does it for life, the other imports a new bunch of Asian / African / East European drivers every few months, as around 40% don't renew their PH licenses when they realise all the bullchit about 'you'll earn a grand a week' isn't quite what the PH company promised.
One side spends 3 years gaining the qualification and has to spend upwards of £40k on a wav, the other are quite a liberty to buy a 9 year old Astra for £700.
Whilst some of the London public may see no difference, especialy the pizzed ones, most can and understand the big difference.
The new Taxi apps such as Get Taxi, Black Cab App, Cab:App etc . . . mean the majority of Londoners can now get a taxi at their door, with 5 minutes free waiting time, and the standard flag fall of £2.40 when they get in.
Addison Lee and my old mucker JG is reducing his fleet by 600 cars, so i'm guessing he underestimated the Taxi app market, their minimum fare is a whopping £11 !
I can agree on not enough drivers working Thu, Fri, and Sat nights, but lots do, and I suspect demand would outstrip supply even if hundreds more changed to nights.
But I'd hate you not to get some 'abuse' Tom, you seem gutted there was'nt any added to this thread, so I'll add some!
I guess it's directed at
all you county drivers who bring people to Heathrow for daft prices, its just i'm getting a little bored of people coming up to me at the terminals expecting me to take them to places like Bournemouth for £85, Cambridge for £75, and Brighton for £85 !!
They always tell me 'well a taxi brought us here for that'
I always suggest it's best they call that taxi to take them back for peanuts because I ain't !