London Cabbie Protest

Nibble · Jun 11, 2014

Black cabs blockading all of central London in protest against Uber service.

I am firmly on both sides of the argument. Feel bad for cabbies but Uber is a good service and the times they are a changing. Would be a shame if the bully boy tactics of the cab driver saw off emerging app services like they saw off the tuc tucs in Brighton.

What do you think?

Czechmate · Jun 11, 2014

Good idea , it's about time they had some competition , the black cab prices are a rip off and so are some of the routes they take . Means cheaper prices I guess , everybody has to cut back these days so why not them .

ditchy · Jun 11, 2014

All in favour if they deliver a good service

sten_super · Jun 11, 2014

Voted cabbies, but not 100% behind them. TfL have clearly sold them down the river on this issue - apparently using mobile phones in the way that Uber do doesn't make them 'fixed meters' (which is what only black cabs are allowed) because they aren't fixed, which is a pretty spurious way of getting around the regulations; suggests that they need updating. However, all of Uber's European revenues are processed in the Netherlands, so it's more money leaking out of the country without being taxed.

I do agree with the premise that cabbies (in London particularly) have had it their own way for far too long and should be more open to competition - I just think it needs to be competition on an even footing, rather than bogging down one set of drivers with legislation, tests, etc. and not the other.

El Sid · Jun 11, 2014

As long as all private hire vehicles are properly licensed, regulated and insured and fitted with some form of consistent metering it has to be a good thing for everyone in the capital.

Nibble · Jun 11, 2014

Yes, my only real problem with Uber is they wriggle out of paying any tax in the UK. They were on the radio this morning and the spokeswoman refused to answer whether they pay taxes here she just kept repeating "We pay all that is required of us". Sod all then?

Herr Tubthumper · Jun 11, 2014

Whether we like it or not I think this is a case of technology making another industry exstinct.

father_and_son · Jun 11, 2014

I do think the "monopoly" black cabs have had needed to be broken, but then I feel this way about most monopolies.

Black Cabs will always be an iconic part of the tourist-thing in London, along with red buses, buck house and getting in my f*cking way when I'm walking through town. This will hurt them a little but not enough to put any out of business, I'm pretty sure of that. I think it would do more damage to the dodgier minicab drivers who plague parts of London - no bad thing there!

Nibble · Jun 11, 2014

I'm surprised this didn't happen about 5 or 6 years ago tbh.

Cian · Jun 11, 2014

Don't the black cabs have Hailo available to them which is just as much of a disruptive technology to the old ways? Use that without trying to stop competition.

The Spanish · Jun 11, 2014

why are black cabs a rip off? they are a fair price to enable them to make a decent living. its only a quid or so on the bus though.

Herr Tubthumper · Jun 11, 2014

The Spanish said:
why are black cabs a rip off? they are a fair price to enable them to make a decent living. its only a quid or so on the bus though.

Fair point. They're not a rip-off.

Ⓩ-Ⓐ-Ⓜ-Ⓞ-Ⓡ-Ⓐ · Jun 11, 2014

The Spanish said:
why are black cabs a rip off? they are a fair price to enable them to make a decent living. its only a quid or so on the bus though.

They make more than a decent living and often seem to feel self entitled to earn a salary similar to that highly skilled and trained tradesmen or professional for essentially sitting on their arse all day.

The Spanish · Jun 11, 2014

Ⓩ-Ⓐ-Ⓜ-Ⓞ-Ⓡ-Ⓐ;6398437 said:
They make more than a decent living and often seem to feel self entitled to earn a salary similar to that highly skilled and trained tradesmen or professional for essentially sitting on their arse all day.

what is the salary for a self employed london taxi driver?

The Spanish · Jun 11, 2014

Herr Tubthumper said:
Fair point. They're not a rip-off.

i fail to understand the venom towards them and lack of support. people are mad. they are brilliant.

people will do anything to save a quid, even see the best taxi service of any major capital city (no debate, dont even bother anyone, thats a FACT), be eroded. and be annoyed that someone might earn a healthy living!

People do realise also that we will do away with self employed, highly motivated drivers and replace them by minimum wage drivers and all the money goes into the pockets of large corporations? Still, as long as the meanies get to save a few pence, **** everyone else.

Garry Nelson's Left Foot · Jun 11, 2014

Ⓩ-Ⓐ-Ⓜ-Ⓞ-Ⓡ-Ⓐ;6398437 said:
They make more than a decent living and often seem to feel self entitled to earn a salary similar to that highly skilled and trained tradesmen or professional for essentially sitting on their arse all day.

Surely learning the knowledge is worth something? It's not like they just woke up one morning and became a cab driver.

Bozza · Jun 11, 2014

The Spanish said:
i fail to understand the venom towards them and lack of support. people are mad. they are brilliant.

people will do anything to save a quid, even see the best taxi service of any major capital city (no debate, dont even bother anyone, thats a FACT), be eroded. and be annoyed that someone might earn a healthy living!

People do realise also that we will do away with self employed, highly motivated drivers and replace them by minimum wage drivers and all the money goes into the pockets of large corporations? Still, as long as the meanies get to save a few pence, **** everyone else.

I have no venom at all towards cabbies. Uber (and similar such as lyft) merely represent an evolution of private hire cars (not rank cabs).

Instead of calling an office and requesting a car, you request it via your smartphone. You get details of the car, a photo of your driver and can watch the progress of the car to meet you on your phone, ending the "where's that bloody cab?" thing we've all experienced.

Then, at the end of your trip, you don't need to find cash, the payment happens automatically for you.

Also, Uber is not about saving a quid. The service is a premium product not bargain basement. The cars used tend to be new from luxury marques and often come with things like free bottled water and magazines.

As I say, I have no gripe at all with black cabbies, but you don't seem to know anything at all about Uber.

Ⓩ-Ⓐ-Ⓜ-Ⓞ-Ⓡ-Ⓐ · Jun 11, 2014

Garry Nelson's Left Foot said:
Surely learning the knowledge is worth something? It's not like they just woke up one morning and became a cab driver.

I drove a van in London for a couple of years and feel fairly sure I could pass the knowledge after that. It's hardly like studying to be a doctor or an architect for 6-7 years.

Westdene Seagull · Jun 11, 2014

It's called competition and if the cabbies are that worried about it then they've realised that their service isn't as great value as they like to make out.

Neecha · Jun 11, 2014

Nibble said:
Black cabs blockading all of central London in protest against Uber service.

I am firmly on both sides of the argument. Feel bad for cabbies but Uber is a good service and the times they are a changing. Would be a shame if the bully boy tactics of the cab driver saw off emerging app services like they saw off the tuc tucs in Brighton.

What do you think?

no sympathy for black cabbies, they have been raking it in off us punters for years. the time was always going to come, its here now. pro uber saved me a fortune and waiting around loads already

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