atoast2toast.com

Follow up to some long forgotten rants about taxi’s

THE TAXI industry in Ireland has changed dramatically over the past 10 years. According to figures from the Commission for Taxi Regulation, there were 4,218 taxis in 2000, before deregulation, and on January 1st this year there were 21,139. The face of the industry has also changed, becoming multi-ethnic in the intervening years, writes FIONA GARTLAND

During the boom years, although there were tensions as numbers grew and as more nationalities entered the industry, there was enough work to provide a living for most. However, the recession has seen a sharp drop in business for taxi drivers, competition for work has intensified and racial tensions are on the rise.

Anecdotes about African drivers are widespread within the industry (I know – my husband drives a taxi): the driver who was seen abandoning the taxi at a Garda checkpoint; the driver who needed directions from his passenger to get from Abbey Street to St Stephen’s Green; the driver who took the long way from Dublin airport to Drumcondra; the driver who did not have any identification displayed on his dashboard.

Some Irish-born drivers also complain that newcomers break long-established unwritten protocols, which include not overtaking another taxi to pick up a fare or to try to get ahead on a rank, and leaving a fare to the taxi behind you if it has just let you out of a side road.

How did they print these lines:

Other foreign drivers have complained about having cigarette smoke blown in their faces or of being referred to as “the nigger”. Read more…

I went to a party on new years eve and had to walk most of the way home. I tried to get on the aircoach but the driver wouldnt open the door. Walking past the Westin hotel some American guy in his 40s was shouting at the porter “i need availability”. It was 5 in the morning and he was with two teenage girls.

As I got to St. Stephens Green the queue for the taxi rank was only a few people. One guy said he had not seen any taxis on the rank since 2 am and that there was someone waiting just a bit longer than he was. I asked the other guy how long he had been waiting as I didnt trust the first person’s answer. He said “longer than you”. I said “I just want to know how long it takes to get a taxi. He was rather agitated and said “you just got here, who do you think you are”. I said “I am not being aggressive to you”. He answered “I am being aggressive to you”. I said “oooooook bye bye” and mimicked him as I walked away. I got a taxi around the corner.

Got a taxi called out last night, it was €9.45 before it even moved. I asked the driver why it was so much as he took us on a roundabout route to show us Colin Farrels house (not at our request). He was playing by the rules so it seems: Initial charge €4.45, call out charge €2, extra passengers after first one €1 each x 3.

I noticed advertisements on many taxis for http://www.wethepeopleofeire.com/

Promoting our political, economic and cultural interest in accordance with our ancestors and traditions. [In reference to article 1, BUNREACHT Na hÉIREANN].
We are seeking to promote the welll fare of all, with due observance of Prudence, Justice and Charity, so that the dignity and freedom of the individual may be assured, true social order attained, the unity of our country restored, and concord established with other nations. Do hereby adopt, enact, and give to ourselves this Constitution. [Preamble, BUNREACHT Na hÉIREANN].

Its welll fare innit.
Read more…

I am now fully convinced that taxi drivers are involved in another dodgy practice, besides going on strike and butting into passengers private conversations. Even when you tell them not to go down Georges st they still do because they know their driving brethren will be there in gridlock. It is an easy way for them to milk passengers out of even more money.

Read more…

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary says protesting taxi drivers should work harder or get out of the business if they have a problem making a living.

Mr O’Leary, who holds a taxi-licence plate but uses it purely for personal journeys, said he doesn’t support today’s protest by taxi drivers and would be actively using his taxi on Dublin’s roads today.

He said he had “no time” for the drivers’ action and called on the Government to have the guts to issue taxi plates for as many people as might want them.

Read more…

A taxi driver picked us up on baggot st at around 3am on saturday. We said we wanted to go home but stop at a shop along the way. He said, “I will leave bring you to the shop, but after that I am going home”. I said “what the fuck?”. He asked if we wanted a different taxi so I said YES and got out and said to him “very nice, real professional”.

We had moved around 10 feet in total and we were back on the pavement. Someone else was going to get in. I then shouted at them “dont get in, that guy is a FUCKING ASSHOLE” and tried to take a photo of his taxi plate as he sped off. I then started laughing.

Read more…