Taxi Drivers

jdbythesea · Post by **jdbythesea** » Wed 28 Sep, 2011 7:52 pm

You make a fair point about the breathalyser Geordie-exile.Although, prior to its introduction there were a lot more pubs around in the suburbs of Leeds and a trip to town for a night out wasn't that common - certainly not midweek. "Locals" tended to be used by locals. It could be argued that the demand for taxis was not that great anyway, even after the breathalyser arrived on the scene.A further contradiction is shown by changes in the licensing laws and opening hours. Pub closures continue apace and many pubs struggle for customers. Social drinking seems now to have transferred to the home for many people.On the other hand can it be that because of the disappearance of the local pub a trip to town is the only alternative for many? In any event, the number of taxis and private hire cars still seems to grow and grow.

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Wed 28 Sep, 2011 8:24 pm

The reason that you see so many private hire taxi's on short journeys to and from the supermarket is because they are cheaper than the bus if it's a family outing.Ridiculous but true. Buses nowadays are heinously expensive.Even more ridiculous is the suggestion that the lazy sods could walk there and back and their kids could help out by carrying a bag apiece like we used to...

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Thu 06 Oct, 2011 8:23 pm

An almost laughable article in tonights YEP tells the tale that the much discussed taxi rank on the outer fringes of the airport is now set to cost "£1 million". (Sorry, can't find it online, but it's here on the Beeb: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-15198003 ).Much wailing and gnashing of teeth from the taxi drivers on Radio Leeds this evening as a result saying it isn't fair and claiming the council should spend the money on them (presumably rather than keeping day centres and libraries open?), plus allegations that the massive cost also includes remodeling the entire road access to the airport which has been an aspiration for a while (don't know why, it never seems busy...). There were also veiled accusations that the incumbent private hire firm at the airport is overcharging customers, but this was soon glossed over.I must admit a cool million quid does seem a lot. And despite the taxi drivers association bleatings, how many people are going to walk 200 yards from a warm terminal building on a night like tonight to chance that a cab is waiting on the unadvertised taxi rank so they can save a claimed £4 on a fare to central Leeds?The whole plan is surely a non-starter?

Post by **chameleon** » Thu 06 Oct, 2011 8:53 pm

Perhaps the problems with LBA was its sale to the private sector in the first place?

jdbythesea · Post by **jdbythesea** » Thu 06 Oct, 2011 9:57 pm

chameleon wrote: Perhaps the problems with LBA was its sale to the private sector in the first place? Most black and white taxi owners might agree with you, Chameleon. There's still a lot of ill-feeling and suspicion about how the transaction went through. One rumour was the alleged possible link with the financial problems at Leeds United / Bradford City some years ago.However, I couldn't possibly comment.

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Fri 27 Jan, 2012 1:20 pm

Metro have just tweeted that there are delays to the airport bus services due to taxi's blocking the road. I know that blocking the road is in taxi driver's nature but is this an orchestrated event in protest at LBA's treatment of the black and whites?

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Fri 27 Jan, 2012 9:46 pm

More good news about our taxi driving friends in a recent edition of the Yorkshire Morning Post: http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... 4155371New rules ‘could cost 500 Leeds cab jobsCabbies in Leeds are spearheading a national petition against a proposed deregulation of the trade which they say could cost hundreds of drivers their jobs and reduce the quality of service in the city.The Government is currently considering scrapping Section 16 of the Transport Act 1985 – which allows councils to limit the number of hackney carriages in their local authority area based on supply and demand – as part of a review of ancient taxi laws.The change would open up the trade and, say campaigners, hit jobs, service quality and even the environment hard.Leeds currently has 537 licensed hackney carriages, and the numbers are reviewed regularly. There are, additionally, around 5,000 private hire licences in operation in the city.Paul Landau, who chairs the Leeds Hackney Carriage branch of Unite The Union, said the worst knock-on effect would be on night-shift drivers who don’t have a car of their own but lease one from a colleague, or licence ‘proprietor’, on a ‘double shifted’ basis.“If Section 16 is repealed under this new legislation, the restriction on numbers of taxis in Leeds and other cities will be lifted and anybody could go along to the licensing department and say ‘I would like a hackney licence’ and go to work,” Mr Landau said.“In Leeds you could see the numbers triple overnight, or go higher.“The potential for mass unemployment is huge. “In Leeds we could see anywhere up to 500 jobs lost instantly in the Hackney sector.”Mr Landau said other cities where the hackney trade was de-regulated had been forced to cap numbers again because of the pressure it was a putting on drivers. He added a “massive influx” of new taxis would also increase the city’s pollution levels.Mr Landau and his Leeds colleagues have now launched an e-petition against the proposals, which can be viewed at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions /27536.The petition will start in Leeds but, said Mr Landau, will be rolled out nationwide in the coming months.Personally I think it sounds like great news.As someone who has stood for half an hour in a queue outside the station waiting for a taxi due to these ridiculous limits on numbers, the sooner this cozy cartel is broken up the better.

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Sat 28 Jan, 2012 5:07 pm

tyke bhoy wrote: Metro have just tweeted that there are delays to the airport bus services due to taxi's blocking the road. I know that blocking the road is in taxi driver's nature but is this an orchestrated event in protest at LBA's treatment of the black and whites? According to the YMP, the taxi's blocking the airport were the on-site private hire company's own drivers.http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... _4189261It seems that there is trouble down at t'mill....

Jogon · Post by **Jogon** » Sun 29 Jan, 2012 6:26 pm

Black & White L&B Airport Taxi Cabs. My limited experience.Outbound from West Park, Spen Lane.Driver middle aged Asian chap in white pyjama style robes: "..err what's the best way there from here..etc.."Inbound L&BA to West Park, Spen Lane.Driver younger 20+ cheery Asian lad, casual smart attire: "...Err, I've been in Saudi for a few months, what's the best way there from here..etc..I've forgotten....."Lived in the south for many years and still knew my way round on return.Discussed this amazing double coincidence and concluded that someone who hadn't carried out "THE KNOWLEDGE" for Leeds (if -I hope - they are required to do for a licence?) was helping out driving the (licenced) vehicle that day.Uncle's cousin's brother's son.

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Sun 29 Jan, 2012 6:58 pm

Jogon wrote: Black & White L&B Airport Taxi Cabs. My limited experience.Outbound from West Park, Spen Lane.Driver middle aged Asian chap in white pyjama style robes: "..err what's the best way there from here..etc.."Inbound L&BA to West Park, Spen Lane.Driver younger 20+ cheery Asian lad, casual smart attire: "...Err, I've been in Saudi for a few months, what's the best way there from here..etc..I've forgotten....."Lived in the south for many years and still knew my way round on return.Discussed this amazing double coincidence and concluded that someone who hadn't carried out "THE KNOWLEDGE" for Leeds (if -I hope - they are required to do for a licence?) was helping out driving the (licenced) vehicle that day.Uncle's cousin's brother's son. As someone has mentioned earlier on in this thread, many taxi drivers appear to be visitors to our great city, coming from as far afield as Lancashire, Nottinghamshire or the north-east. There have also been several case in the YEP of the council taking action against drivers "borrowing" ID badges from others.Not only do they seldom know where they are going (sat nav is their guide) but as far as I'm aware there is no "knowledge" test for Leeds, certainly not for private hire work.One of the last times I used a private hire car I had to redirect him 3 times on a 2 mile journey even though I had asked to be dropped by what should be a well known public building.The council was planning to bring in a minimum standard of spoken English requirement, but it's unclear if this happened - the usual suspects were up in arms when it was mentioned.