Short Taxi Fares (and the associated driver rage!)

[MEL_Traveller]

from the VIC taxi website:

Acceptance of fares

Once hailed, a driver cannot refuse a fare that is too short or inconvenient. Drivers may indicate at the end of a shift that they will only accept fares to destinations which are on the way to the taxi-cab's home base. The driver will display a sign that indicates the relevant destination on a destination board that has been approved by us.

so it looks like they can refuse a fare at end of shift... but this must be clearly displayed.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yes, the driver should be reported. Sad but that's how the theory works. However if I was on the other side and the actual taxi driver owner, paying for the license, costs etc I would expect that I be able choose how I operate my business, and if refusing a short fare was more worthwhile to me, than that should be my right.

well yes... but... there are rules and the taxi owners accept those rules when they apply for a licence.

same as an airline... an operator can't just ignore safety requirements because it's their business to operate as they see fit. (in fact thinking about it that applies to a lot of businesses subject to all sorts of regulation).

if a taxi owner doesn't like the regulations they are free to sell their lecences.

 

[boomy]

That is the reason we use a driver from Melbourne airport to Southbank.

Me too, it's a totally different (relaxing) experience and it doesn't cost much more. I pay a flat fee of $75 from the airport to Albert Park and vv.
The driver is always there on time to pick me up and the car is always clean.

 

[anchew]

I've started using a collective of taxi drivers called Moe's Silver Service Taxis which is same cost but better service. Have people here heard of this group and used them before? I can post the number here but not sure if it will contravene the aff rules. Can a mod confirm please? If so and anyone interested then pm me.

 

[anat0l]

However if I was on the other side and the actual taxi driver owner, paying for the license, costs etc I would expect that I be able choose how I operate my business, and if refusing a short fare was more worthwhile to me, than that should be my right.

I can see where you're coming from with that, but the counter to that is it doesn't make sense to keep holding out for longer fares. Again, better to have many short fares than a few long fares.

As a right to a taxi driver, there may be a case to grant it, but I would see it as unfortunately abused.

 

[Alanslegal]

well yes... but... there are rules and the taxi owners accept those rules when they apply for a licence.

same as an airline... an operator can't just ignore safety requirements because it's their business to operate as they see fit. (in fact thinking about it that applies to a lot of businesses subject to all sorts of regulation)

the premise that a driver must generally accept any fare ... thats enough for me to never ever want to be a driver in my life and my ten next ones

 

[Jousams]

One time I got a cab from my work in the Sydney CBD to the airport. It was a Friday so I was in casual (albeit smart casual) and had had a few drinks.

The whole journey he told me about how cough**d capitalism was, how he camps at that occupy stuff, etc, etc. we get to the airport, I tell him I'm flying Virgin he pulls up at the general checkin. However as a gold I can use the premium checkin...
Now I could have said sorry just drop me off up at the end of the terminal, but I couldn't resist and said "no sorry, up at the business class checkin". Well, he started yelling profanities at me in some other language and threw my bags onto the curb, it was one if the funniest moments of my life.

I complained to the company and got 100% of the fare back.

But as a motorist in Sydney, I DETEST cab drivers, it's not something I'm proud of and I don't know why, I don't have any other issues with any groups of people (race,sex, religion, sexuality,etc) but there is just something in me that makes me SO angry about the carless and selfish way they drive.
rant over.

 

[Melburnian1]

I live a $25 cab ride from MEL (Essendon), and I use the departures for the same reason - pissed off cabbies who waited three hours for a $25 fare.

If the parking demon tells me I can't I just do it anyway. Or I say I approached the driver, it's what I want to do. I've had one or two arguments from the pseudo-parking police about how I have to go downstairs and queue. I just say 'look I'm getting into this cab, this isn't worth your time arguing'. Usually does it.

I have a friend whose of Chinese background, and he plays the 'sorry sorry me speak no english--hi mate, just a short fare to the city thanks!'

Next time pretend you don't speak english and just get in a cab anyway!

If arriving on a weekday, why not use a myki card and get the 901 bus every 15 minutes from the far bay of the QF arrivals inner roadway, then change at Broadmeadows station for the short trip to essendon, THEN catch a cab if you must.

Avoids aggro, and may not take a lot longer. As a handy bonus, it's also far cheaper.

 

[Milboo]

I am a $25 ride from Sydney airport and frequently get the disgruntled driver as its a short fare. I acknowledge that they have sat there for hours sometimes but I have the right to get home just like everyone else.

And don't get me started on the general smell of Melbourne taxis. Recent trip I refused to get in the front taxi at the rank as I could see the driver had a cigarette out the window. Another trip I hopped in and hopped back out due to smell of BO being so overwhelming.

 

[cove]

So that smell was not his pet rat that died a few weeks earlier?

 

[harvyk]

This reminds me of the time I needed to get from BNE Dom to BNE Int. My flight into BNE was delayed meaning my transit time was starting to get on the short side so I decided to take a taxi as I didn't want to risk waiting for the bus / train for terminal transfer. I got into the cab and told the driver I needed to go to Int, the driver said no. I got out and the supervisor came over and asked what was wrong. I told him that the cabbie had refused to take me to int, so the supervisor spoke to the cabbie in no uncertain terms that he was to take me.

After this little exchange I made sure I paid the meter fare and not 1 cent more. The thing is I realised that he had probably just had a long wait in the queue, and he simply said "no problems" I would have left him a little extra since I did cost him his position. I've certainly done so in the past.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

In BNE cabbies can be waiting for an hour to get a fare so they obviously want something juicy.

Imagine going into a store and the attendant says "sorry you need to spend more..."

 

[anat0l]

Imagine going into a store and the attendant says "sorry you need to spend more..."

Often associated with the attempted use of a credit card to settle a debt.

 

[boomy]

Compared to SYD/MEL/BNE, I noticed that ADL taxi drivers are much nicer and relaxed and they never complain about short fares.
Also, the automatic booking system works very well.

 

[anat0l]

Compared to SYD/MEL/BNE, I noticed that ADL taxi drivers are much nicer and relaxed and they never complain about short fares.
Also, the automatic booking system works very well.

ADL must be half-used to it. The distance from ADL airport to city is quite short. In all three major eastern seaboard cities, that kind of distance would br considered a "short fare".

 

[erkpod]

Related stories about taxi drivers complaining about fatigue & lack of holidays.

Sydney's taxi drivers are denied time off for holidays

 

[Ewing]

I am a $25 ride from Sydney airport and frequently get the disgruntled driver as its a short fare. I acknowledge that they have sat there for hours sometimes but I have the right to get home just like everyone else.

When I lived in Glebe it was about $28 and the drivers had a great time complaining.

Just about every driver tried to take me down Southern Cross Drive and through the distributor and then the city. It takes the fare up to about $60 (one trip I wasn't paying attention and didn't notice until it was too late). It got to the point where I had to make it very clear that I was going home (and not a visitor to Sydney) and tell them that they're going to take Botany Road, Cleveland and City Road.

I had one driver complain so much when I told him the route to take as soon as we pulled out that I paid and hopped out at the Gardeners Road lights and hailed another taxi.

I live in Potts Point now which is easy to get to the airport (about $27) but is higher coming back due to the tolls so I usually taxi there (I have a rank outside the front door of my building) and train back.

And don't even get me started on Melbourne drivers (who keep their doors locked until they find your fare acceptable). I use Uber now for ad-hoc trips and usually take the skybus to/from the airport.

 

[drewbles]

I think this is why services like Uber are becoming much more popular (but are not as widely spread, nor necessarily as responsive, and understandably more expensive).

In cities where Über is available, I pretty much use it exclusively. In the USA, you have various options when booking an Über. There is a 'Taxi' option in some locations (SYD too), and I know the ones I take in BOS are not real taxis, they're Über taxis, private cars that are generally in BOS, a hybrid Camry (BOS is huge on hybrid Camry's).

Every time, with the exception of last Saturday, i've taken an Über anywhere, I get in, say where i'm going, and get there zero fuss. The cars are spotless (in MEL, they're all VHA/VHB cars, so you'd expect that) and there's no odour. There's no foreign music assaulting your eardrums (unless you like that, which I personally don't).

It's a small premium to pay IMHO. I caught an Über from St Kilda to Kensington a few weeks ago, got picked up in a 7 series BMW and paid $45 for the privilege. Why would you take a cab?

Picking up from the airport with it is easy too. Order, and they call you. In MEL they just pick you up from the regular pickup/drop off area, so it's a quick walk out there.

I can't say enough good things about Über. The more drivers the better (providing they keep the standard up, of course).

 

[drewbles]

that is just rude...

And, unfortunately, it's par for the course here in MEL.

I don't think i've ever taken a cab ride here where the driver (of any ethnicity) hasn't spent 95-100% of the time on the phone.

Sometimes I think they must be running a phone sex ring in their cab to subsidise their short fares from the airport

 

[boomy]

ADL must be half-used to it. The distance from ADL airport to city is quite short. In all three major eastern seaboard cities, that kind of distance would br considered a "short fare".

That's true. I wonder how much they make per shift on multiple short fares compared to taxi drivers in other cities who prefer to wait for long fares.