MEL Taxi Blockade [ short fare return queue jump ending ]

[whatmeworry]

Heard on the radio Pax were fighting Taxi Drivers. WTF

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Taxis are a monopoly - simple. When monopolies exist service drops and prices rise.

Having said that even with the Sydney Airport Link the taxi rank queues are miles long during peak times so they are not hurting even with bus and rail as alternate options.

 

[whatmeworry]

Today would be a good day to catch the bus at MEL today!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

MEL Taxi Blockade

Reports on radio that taxi drivers blockading MEL - anybody been out their today with first hand knowledge?

 

[serfty]

Re: MEL Taxi Blockade

Came through an hour ago - seemed ok.

The area they were blockading was clear.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Re: MEL Taxi Blockade

Came through an hour ago - seemed ok.

The area they were blockading was clear.

its been clear for many hours. but they say they are returning monday

 

[Shelf]

We live in Essendon and have been abused in every language by taxi drivers but go upstairs and grab a driver that has just dropped a fare off and get him to drive us, and they are generally happy to have a fare off the airport.

I live ~5 mins from you and have to go upstairs to get a cab. I got a bit tired of being abused for being a short fare.

:evil:

 

[oz74]

I hope the images that I saw tonight on the news were not broadcast around the world, makes us look like first class tossers!

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I hope the images that I saw tonight on the news were not broadcast around the world, makes us look like first class tossers!

I'd doubt a taxi driver dispute in Melbourne makes world headlines

 

[whatmeworry]

I live ~5 mins from you and have to go upstairs to get a cab. I got a bit tired of being abused for being a short fare.

:evil:

Perhaps they should let people who live close to MEL get Taxi's upstairs.

 

[JohnK]

I can see where this is heading. Minimum fare, and everywhere I have seen it in operation it is a rip off.

I avoid taxis where possible. I wish public transport was better but I have still found cheaper alternatives to get to my destination in both SYD and BNE.

 

[whatmeworry]

I can see where this is heading. Minimum fare, and everywhere I have seen it in operation it is a rip off.

I avoid taxis where possible. I wish public transport was better but I have still found cheaper alternatives to get to my destination in both SYD and BNE.

JohnK can you please explain Minimum fare?

 

[ReLoad]

We live in Essendon and have been abused in every language by taxi drivers but go upstairs and grab a driver that has just dropped a fare off and get him to drive us, and they are generally happy to have a fare off the airport.

Same thing here. Not my fault where I live but boy have I copped some flack because of the short fare!

 

[Mal]

JohnK can you please explain Minimum fare?

Basically a high flagfall that includes a distance based allowance. So you might hop in the cab, and the meter shows $15.... and unless you travel more than say 8km that is your fare.

 

[outbackowner]

After several international flighst whilst feeling tired and well refreshed, the taxi supervisors on the upstairs level have told us that we can't take a taxi from the drop off level, hmmm..............after letting them know about the abuse they turned a blind eye to avoid any paperwork I gather, and we are home only suffering from a high dose of MEL cabbie lack of hygiene and a high dose of attitude from them.

Whilst in Hoi An in Vietnam several times the taxi drivers were well dressed, had immaculate vehicles, could understand us and loved a short fare, like in HKG and SIN to name a few.

 

[EvanC]

IMHO the Skybus really is the way to go. From the eastern suburbs, a train and Skybus is competitive on time with driving and parking, only slightly slower than getting a taxi (in peak hour it's potentially quicker), and it absolutely blows both out of the water on cost (particularly if you use a 10-trip ticket).

Unless you're on the Craigieburn line, getting the 901 seems a bit time consuming to me (and something of a pain). Cheap though!

As nice as a train would be, I'd be surprised if it can achieve the same service levels as the Skybus offers now (every 10 min, 24/7, 20 minute trip, luggage space). I'd be ecstatic if they did that, but I don't like the chances (even if it did happen).

 

[JohnK]

JohnK can you please explain Minimum fare?

A set fare if you like for a certain distance and then charge/km starts to set in.

In places such as Bangkok it is THB40 as soon as you walk into cab and that covers you for 2 kilometres, traffic aside. In places such as Hua Hin the minimum is THB100 without meter, Chiang Mai THB120 from airport to most hotels in city but then for tuk tuks there is a minimum of THB100.

In a places such as Tampa getting to the CBD or downtown is ~10-15 minutes from airport yet the taxi is a standard USD22. Total rip-off and includes mandatory 10% tip so no further tip from me.

I would hate to see this type of thing implemented in Australia as our flagfalls are already too high once you step inside a taxi. In Brisbane after hours it is something like ~AUD8 before you go anywhere.

Taxis need to understand that not everyone going to the airport is going to be an AUD100+ fare. There are many suburbs in Sydney that are <AUD30 from airport. In my opinion that is not a short fare. It is more than adequate and it is not my fault the taxi driver waits that long.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

IMHO the Skybus really is the way to go. From the eastern suburbs, a train and Skybus is competitive on time with driving and parking, only slightly slower than getting a taxi (in peak hour it's potentially quicker), and it absolutely blows both out of the water on cost (particularly if you use a 10-trip ticket).

Unless you're on the Craigieburn line, getting the 901 seems a bit time consuming to me (and something of a pain). Cheap though!

As nice as a train would be, I'd be surprised if it can achieve the same service levels as the Skybus offers now (every 10 min, 24/7, 20 minute trip, luggage space). I'd be ecstatic if they did that, but I don't like the chances (even if it did happen).

The skybus isn't really relevant to what this protest is about.... nobody who lives in Tullamarine, Airport West, Bulla etc uses the skybus. I don't see why Melbourne Airport can't get a fair system sorted, it simply can not be that difficult. They make a fortune out of the airport fees the taxi's pay.

 

[EvanC]

The skybus isn't really relevant to what this protest is about.... nobody who lives in Tullamarine, Airport West, Bulla etc uses the skybus. I don't see why Melbourne Airport can't get a fair system sorted, it simply can not be that difficult. They make a fortune out of the airport fees the taxi's pay.

You're right, I'd missed that.

Do you know what the full fee charged to the taxi is? I'm assuming it's more than the $2 levied to the passenger?

 

[serfty]

...
Do you know what the full fee charged to the taxi is? I'm assuming it's more than the $2 levied to the passenger?

It's a Flat $3.

What with FlagFall, the Airport Fee etc, it's $10 already on the meter before you pass the Ibis.


A little off topic, but don't forget the 478/479 Buses to Airport West, Niddrie and Essendon.