RealCabforce wrote:
From these same figures, since January, there have been 33 applications for taxi operators licences and 549 applications for PH operators, yet whilst the number of taxis has remained static, the actual increase in PH cars is 54!
If you're trying to discern some pattern for PH numbers growth because of controlled taxi numbers, then telling us the number of taxi license applications compared to the number of issues tells us nothing - indeed, since there's clearly little expectation of a taxi application being granted, but there's every expectation that a PH application will be, then even comparing application numbers is pointless.
But you do have a point insofar as that its the actual number of vehicles operating at any one time that's important, not the number of applications. Given the obvious ease of entry into the Edinburgh PH trade, there's clearly a high turnover, as demonstrated by the figures, but that's a different issue. Or does the 549 figure include renewals as well? This seems a huge amount for six months or so.
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As regards PH drivers licences, there have been 1278 applications for new licences over the last 2 years, yet the actual icrease in PH drivers numbers is 139 making a total of 1771. This compares to taxi driver new applications of 549, resulting in an increase of 151 making the current total 3410 over the same period.
So in the last five years or so taxi numbers have increased by around 4% but driver numbers have increased by about 14%? It's amazing that this has happened if there's too many taxis on the road, but of course if they're not allowed to operated their own vehicle then that's OK. But it may help explain the downturn in work, and also how the survey has found no unmet demand.
And according to that recent article, the owners still can't get enough casual and part-time drivers. Amazing
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Between January and July this year, the number of PH drivers REDUCED by 32, whilst the number of taxi drivers increased by 133.
I think this clearly demonstrates that there are many who try PH and find it is not as lucrative as was thought, so do not renew their licences.
But I thought the plate holders in Edinburgh were wailing that the taxi side was becoming less lucrative as well. And if this is true, why invite these 133 new drivers into the taxi side.
The answer, of course, was given above
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