Sydney taxi driver standard (rant)

[VPS]

This happened recently in Adelaide and the taxi driver was sacked

Radio presenter refused taxi ride, abused by driver in Adelaide

Media personality Ali Clarke has shared how she was verbally abused and refused a ride by a taxi driver in Adelaide.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Flyerwin]

For me I just drive.

Same here.

 

[Aeryn]

IME taxi drivers have form in refusing short rides, putting the meter on the late night rate even though its daytime, adding tolls/levies for roads where no toll exists. Ive observed licenses displayed that are not the person driving (i.e. photo of a white guy but driver is not).

You have been closely watching the meter, get to your destination and then they hit a few buttons and the prices jumps up like $15 or they say their meter is broken and ask for cash despite checking upfront that they will take a card, you say i don't have cash and miraculously they can take a card again but double dip with both a CC surcharge and cab charge terminal surcharge.

With ride share apps you know the cost upfront and a loved one can live track your ride. Plus if there is an incident you have vehicle and driver details. Ride share drivers get paid on the destination not time, they have incentive to look for quickest route, taxi driver happy to sit in traffic or take round about routes because the meter keeps ticking up.

Except in places where there is a legislated flat rate for taxi airport rides like NYC or absolutely no other option it is IME best to avoid. them, too much leeway for being scammed.

 

[Quickstatus]

IME taxi drivers have form in refusing short rides

I just say I want to go to airport then I tell them change my mind when I'm close to actual destination. They scam me I scam them. But I have gone to rideshares but not low cost rideshares

 

[andye]

Now wouldn’t that be nice.
To get a license to operate a black cab they must pass “The Knowledge “ This can take 3- 4 years of training, learning the quickest routes to thousands of streets and landmarks within a 6 mile radius of Charing Cross Station.
London cabbies have been found to have an enlarged hippocampus, the part of the brain used for memory formation.
They’re not cheap, but I value their professional skills.
I cant see us ever replicating that requirement here, with our less congested traffic and the advent of Sat Nav.

Cache Cab: Taxi Drivers' Brains Grow to Navigate London's Streets

Memorizing 25,000 city streets balloons the hippocampus, but cabbies may pay a hidden fare in cognitive skills

www.scientificamerican.com

You have to admire the work it takes to achieve the London knowledge. They regularly outperform the automated maps.

Rideshare services (plus satnavs) means the dedication involved pays off less well now. The cab license is also expensive.

Back in the day, London taxi drivers worked long hours but were renowned for big houses in Essex and lots of sunny holidays.

(Someone I was at primary school with ended up a black cabbie but he was always short of money despite living with his mum into his 40s. His mum went to church with mine and was forever asking my mum to lend him cash. I think he must have had gambling issues)

 

[Quickstatus]

lots of sunny holidays

Before Ryanair and EasyJet?

 

[kelvedon]

Before Ryanair and EasyJet?

Well before LCC it was dirt cheap to holiday in Spain on a package tour from the UK. The travel companies would charter planes.
To quote Dire Straits’ Industrial Disease “Two weeks in España and Sunday striptease"