Cabbie Bash

Right on cue the press indulges in their annual cabbie bashing - there's not enough cabs. Who knew !? So the Daily Telegraph has unleased intrepid Yowie reporter, Luke Mcllveen onto the job,

The truth is there are not enough cabs at this time of year and the sheer demand allows drivers to be petulant, A-grade narks.

I was sorely tempted to compound his misery with a taunting comment but I'm too tired. The Christmas demand spike has done me in.

UPDATE : Some valid cabbie bashing comes today via the Sydney Morning Herald,

AS PEOPLE waited hours in the cab rank outside the Robbie Williams concert on Saturday night, rogue taxi drivers cashed in on the frustration and charged as much as $200 for a ride home.

I heard of this from passengers at Fox Studio rank early on Sunday morning. They'd insisted that queue jumpers had paid $400 to rogue cabbies but as it sounded unbelievable I didn't report it in my post. Apparently the Fox Studio rank marshals took the plate numbers of such cabs on Saturday night.

Touting is the scourge of taxi driving and is rife, especially at Sydney Airport by hire car drivers. I recently lodged a written complaint to the Sydney Airport Corporation and was assured they are aware of the practise and working to eliminate it. However it's also occurring anywhere demand is greater than available cabs, such as concerts and sporting events.

Fox Studios is notorious for passengers hailing taxis off the rank or outside the complex. For the record it's illegal for cabs to pick-up within 200 metres of a designated rank. I refuse the hordes of queue jumpers at such events and approach with my Vacant light off in order to service those patiently waiting on the rank.

Finally I'd encourage patrons encountering illegal taxi or hire car touting to notify the Ministry of Transport taxi and hire car division.

Herald readers respond.

UPDATE 2: Taxi Trauma, Telegraph readers respond

Comments

[Yobbo]

However it's also occurring anywhere demand is greater than available cabs, such as concerts and sporting events.

Good old supply vs demand hey Adrian?

All power to the touts. The problem is quotas creating a shortage, not businesspeople charging market rates for their services.

Finally I'd encourage patrons encountering illegal taxi or hire car touting to notify the Ministry of Transport taxi and hire car division.

What makes you think the general public are interested in helping run the taxi protection racket? It is all bad news for us.

[shaun]

just booked a hire car for midnight this fri night from the city for $1OO - usually would be around 60 in a cab. money well spent for peace of mind. my wife and i will be out for hours on her work expence so it will be a cheap, hassle free night. if people think they can walk out of a 70,000 people concert and not have transport problems the are kooks. then again they did spend $200 to see a b grade caberat reject, so you got what you deserve