Greedy(2)

After nearly two weeks away I headed back to work yesterday all fired up for a big shift. However this eagerness quickly evaporated when greeted by the sight of leaking fluid from the cab, necessitating an hour wait for another car. 

Don’t get me wrong, the holiday was a fantastic and relaxing respite from the nightly routine of driving a cab. But to actually look forward to returning to work didn’t seem right at the time - unAustralian, even - and had me wondering if I need therapy.

Early in the shift a passenger requested a hotel on Cleveland Street, Surrey Hills. When we arrived via a natural short-cut to avoid the lights and peak hour on Cleveland, she exclaimed, “I’ve been doing this trip every Monday and that’s the quickest and cheapest I’ve had all year.”

By not adhering to the greedy cabbie stereotype maybe I do need counselling!

I’d like to thank Rainer the Cabbie for producing the timely and well received post, Greedy last week whilst I was off duty. This alternative explanation showed that not all cabs refusing fares after midnight in Kings Cross are motivated by greed but rather are committed to varying obligations, not the least being time constraints.

A follow-up to the newspaper story appeared on Sunday with the authorities’ response...

The NSW Taxi Council said the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure has written to the drivers who refused the fare after a list of their number plates was published in this newspaper.

"The ministry has written to every driver that offended on that list, and told them they need to come in for an interview to justify why they should keep their licence," Taxi Council spokeswoman Tracey Cain said.

Whilst the essence of The Sunday Telegraph's campaign was, in principle, valid, nevertheless I’m somewhat sceptical as to how the case against the drivers can be proven.

Given the complainant, a journalist, is not a compliance officer it must be very doubtful whether the exchange with said drivers can be fairly tested without supporting electronic evidence.

Additionally, it would be worthwhile to know, and the paper's duty to inform readers, just how many of the 82 refusals the journalist received were actually legitimate refusals, like so....

My main consideration on a Saturday night is having the cab back in the western suburbs by 3am, gassed and cleaned for a day driver whose first three hours (3-6am) is the most productive. Thus I need to arrive in my home district around 2:30am.

This ironclad routine holds for the vast majority of Saturday night drivers who inevitably end up in Kings Cross after dropping off the hordes of clubbers who flock there after midnight.

So there’s no way I’m running Vacant in the Cross after 1:30am with a real chance of being ordered on a 1 hour plus job (including return). Yet whilst stuck in traffic attempting to leave the gridlocked precinct, people will continually knock on my window.

Here’s a typical exchange:

• Pass: Hey, can you take us to X?
• Me: Sorry, I’m heading to Y.
• Pass: But you’ve got to take us.
• Me: Only if my light is on and it’s not.
• Pass: You’re a ?#$%^&* !!

Quite often, though, someone will be heading my way and I’ll tell them to jump in. The passenger wins, the driver wins, the police win by getting more frustrated clubbers out of the Cross and the Government wins by avoiding the cost of providing late night trains and buses there.

Am I touting? Of course not. Not only was I not Vacant but the would-be passengers initiated the request.

Comments

[Andy]

Adrian,

why cant cabs then do as required and put the 'destination' sign in their window at end of shift? Straight away someone can see that the cabbie isnt making up the destination excuse just to get rid of you, but are actually heading that way.

It would decrease people thinking they are being shafted by cabbies, cabbies would only have people approach them that are heading that way and everyone would be a bit more relaxed, no?

As much as I have nothing against cabs it frustrates the hell out of me, trying to catch cabs with lights on/lights off, trying to see whether they are going my way or not etc etc

[Anatole]

I always try to put up my destination sign late on a Friday night / Saturday morning. One of the frustrating things at that time is having to turn down so much work because you need to get the cab back for the next driver.

Occasionally, however, I either forget to put the sign up, or don't have time to stop and affix it properly, and that's when arguments are sure to happen. And I hate having a disagreement at the end of the day - nothing worse than getting home all aggravated.

[Rainer the cabbie]

Thanks for the follow up Adrian.
The other thing to be said about destination signs is the following.
Lets say I finish in Auburn, as my sign says. The punters look and disregard you as they want to travel in a westerly direction, but not to Auburn. Being quiet a happy fellow and willing to settle for a fare, lets say to Croydon, I pick up passengers going there.
BUT, the only way this works is verbal communication. If the sign says Western Suburbs,the fights are going to come anyway.
And again, let me emphasize that we are talking about Kings Cross on a Sunday morning. Even if the fare wants to go to Auburn, I'd rather not take them if they are beyond an acceptable standard. And by that I don't mean intoxicated, its the Cross after all, but in a sate reasonable enough for transportation.

Furthermore, and I apologise for the rave, I see passengers approaching Vacant taxi cabs asking the driver if they want to go in a certain direction, at any time of the night.
Well punters, that is your fault, as when the vacant sign is displayed the driver has to take you to where you want to go.
Some mug drivers out there, and I have sadly observed this again last Friday at 8.30pm, will automatically refuse the fare as it is not of their liking.
Don't give them a chance, be aware of your rights, and jump right in.
But please be understanding when it comes to travelling between 1.30 and 3.30am.
We will try to work with you, I promise. :)
P.S. Any explanation why the original article, written by Rosie Squires, has been replaced by another one in the link?

[Richard]

Hiya,

The answer here is simple and cheap. In Singapore the cabbies have a sign on the roof, its an LED sign and they cant be expensive. Scroll down this page and you will see them :-

http://www.lta.gov.sg/public_transport/index_pt_taxi.htm

They are bright and easy to see at all times of the day.

If the driver is knocking off he simply displays the name of the area he is heading to & if people are heading that way they can hail the cab. Works great for drivers and passangers.

[adrian]

As Rainer explained, there's often trouble with passengers who agreed to the destination, only to change it once aboard. A veritable shitfight ensues.

But Richard's suggestion re the Singapore experience is really interesting and well worth employing. The only variation on my LED display would be - PARRA OR THE POLICE, YOU CHOOSE.

[Andy]

But the excuse that 'Passengers often change their destination once in the cab' can apply to any scenario, whether you did/didnt have the destination up etc etc

[Frank Mearns]

Best way to avoid trouble and Telegraph reporters is to not ply for hire at the Cross after 11pm any day of the week. No cabs, no complaints, no problems, no transport for characters off their faces and out of their minds all at the same time.

[Observer]

The 3am change over seems to be the problem here. In my town most taxis change shift at 6am.

[Amy]

As a woman alone, trying to get home from the CBD after a night out at around 3am, it is almost impossible to find a taxi driver who will take you. I live in the inner west, and last night, six taxi drivers outright refused to take me home. Of course I understand that it's difficult for taxi drivers at changeover time... but what about safety for people? Am I supposed to just walk home on my own, through the dark streets at 3am on a Sunday morning? Or just not dare to go out at all? There is no public transport at that time, I don't have family members here in Sydney (ie. noone to pick me up if I'm in need), so all I can rely on is taxis.

I know working is tough, work conditions can be tough, but there are many professions which have difficulties... isn't it possible for taxi drivers to still have a heart? Or is all that matters just the hip pocket and finishing work on time?

[adrian]

Sorry to hear that, Amy. FWIW I was in the city Fri nite at Star City iwth girlfriend and at midnight decided to bail due to taxi demand. Even so, waited in queue 40 minutes but had no other choice. The only solution, though lamentable, is to leave early and head for a supervised rank or city entry point (Imax, Slip Inn, Harbour Brdg, Ruschutters Bay, etc) for arriving vacant cabs.

Yes, drivers have a heart but ultimately are governed by the 3am changeover and binding obligation to the waiting day driver.

[Rainer the cabbie]

Amy
I also sympathise with you and am sorry for the bad experience you had.
But the demand we get on the FOUR weekends leading up to Christmas in the inner city can not be met and the fantasy of putting on more taxi's to cover the shortfall, is economically not viable.
It is easy to blame the Taxi industry for this situation, but we are not equipped to handle mass transport out of one particular location.
Blame State Transit and the City of Sydney for not providing a solution to a problem that occurs every single year.
And we do have a heart. Trust me, I certainly hate to leave you standing by the side of the road, but sometimes have no choice.