Respect

For some years now I’ve been joking to passengers, by paraphrasing a famous line, “I’m the only taxi blogger in the village!” No more, toots, for I’m getting competition.

Last night at the taxi lost property office, whilst handing-in the camera memory card, (yet electing to ditch the unused sanitary pad, also found in the cab), I picked up the latest edition of the industry operators magazine, Meter (current issue not yet online).

The publisher, and CEO of the NSW Taxi Council, Howard Harrision has announced a forthcoming blog to be called, Howie's Blog. Actually, this was heralded three months ago but nevertheless such an exciting development in the taxi blogsphere is worth waiting for.

Howie currently pens editorials for Meter and has lately been advocating improved customer service...

We must make people want to ride with us. And what do people want? Reliability!...and so on, before closing with this curious statement,

“But passengers are rude to me, they should treat me with respect!” I often hear from drivers. Of course they should...but this is 2009! Respect for each other went out the door years ago. We earn money supplying a transport service to the general public, many of whom, especially on afternoon(night) shift, are affected by alcohol. Now let me think...general public...alcohol...rudeness...disrespect...ummmm, am I missing something?

At 1:30 this morning I came upon a cab blocking my lane on Riley Street, just off Oxford. A female pedestrian and a passing motorist were comforting an old wino who had collapsed, or been attacked, and was lying semi-conscious in the gutter.

The other cabbie notified our base of the situation yet was uncertain if an emergency call was made. So I got out and rang 000 to expedite the process. We established the bloke was breathing, had a pulse and that a bleeding head wound was superficial.

Whilst waiting for the ambulance a young fella around 25yo accosted me, claiming, ”I'm stressing out”. This was code for, got a spare ciggie? “I missed my train,” he explained, “and I don’t want to be raped tonight whilst sleeping on the street.”

This, whilst loitering outside The Tool Shed, from which the clerk had emerged to also offer assistance. I gave the kid a smoke and agreed with his request to hang with me until the paramedics arrived.

Respect.

Comments

[Rainer the cabbie]

Good on you for giving a helping hand and looking after the misfortunate one. Cabbies are always on the spot and ready to help out, good Samaritans, the lot of us.
Which brings me to Howie's blog. I can't wait Howie, it will be fascinating to hear your views about Taxi driving, since you actually never had the pleasure of sitting behind the steering wheel of a cab.
The comment section on your blog will make interesting reading indeed.

[adrian]

Rainer, are you saying that one of the industry's most prominent spokesmen has never driven a cab? Heh.

Speaking of amusing irony, the above demonstration of regard for others occurred within 100 metres of Howie's office on Riley Street.

[Rainer the cabbie]

Thanks for the link, I had no idea where Cabcharge, eh, the Taxi council lives.
I wasn't going to, but since this is 2009 and respect has gone out the window, I wonder what the Taxi council actually does for a living?

From the coalface it looks like an organisation that is supported by the Networks to do their publicity for them.
The Networks in return make their living by collecting compulsory radio fees, which every operator has to pay by law, and charging for just about everything they are supposed to do.
Compulsory uniforms? Come and pay $25,-- for the cheap and nasty Chinese import we will sell you.
Meter upgrade? Come and pay us $80,-- for a electronic transaction.
Radio work? Come and pay us a small fortune for a few jobs a day. If you like you can fork out big dollars for a luxury car and we promise you big pay ins.
Whatever you need we will supply, but don't forget your money.

What needs to be mentioned here is that these Networks were started of as Co op's by Taxi owner and operators before the money man got their fingers into it and turned it into businesses that had shareholders.
These businesses are goldmines for nobody can operate a Taxi cab without paying them.
So lets face it, in order to protect your business you don't necessarily have to do much, just pretend you do.
That's where the Taxi council comes in, and admiringly they do a great job. Therefore I can't wait for Howie's blog, I will read it with pleasure.

To be honest, to a driver like myself, one that deals with the general public every day and is the face of the Taxi industry, the Taxi council and all they have done for me over the years, are about as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike.

[waine street]

Well.......I missed the commotion,guess i was in la la land.
My unit window overlooks this corner.
Ironically some monday nights standing at my kitchen window ,i even see cabs parked outside the mens sex shop ,signal/toolshed,what are the cabbies doing in there?

[adrian]

what are the cabbies doing in there?

Touting for fares?