Black Taxis - not on, but stopping

BFG_2 · 17 November 2009 at 9:08AM

Black cabbies pi55 me off when they drive around with their 'for hire' light out but still stopping to see where you want to go; if it's not on their way home they won't take you. [If a cab has it's for hire light on it HAS to take you to where you want to go within London, so they leave it fully off [as opposed to either available or 'on hire'] to get around this].

That's abuse of the system by them, and all because they are too miserable and tight to drive home without having some punter pay them.

No wonder the illegals are booming....the black cabs are too lazy to put in the hours and the effort.

williham · 17 November 2009 at 10:45AM

That sounds like a pretty efficient use of time to me.. I'd probably do it if I were a taxi driver. I know a lot of them do very long hours.

giantmutantbroccoli · 17 November 2009 at 1:56PM

Personally I think it's brilliant that they sometimes stop even when not 'for hire'. I live outside Edinburgh and go out in the city, and getting home at 4am is a pain in the backside. A couple of times I've been offered a ride by taxis that weren't for hire because they were heading home and lived in the same general direction as myself. The opposite problem is much more frustrating - when you flag down a taxi, get in and then get told that they don't want to go that far. I understand the reason behind it, and I don't complain (what would be the point?) but it's very annoying.

BFG_2 · 17 November 2009 at 2:33PM

The issue is that [in London] the licensed taxis HAVE to take you whereever you ask [within x miles of Charing Cross station, but pretty much all of metropolitan London], so it's not a matter of them picking and choosing who they want to give a lift to!!!!!!

They whinge about how difficult it is with all the illegals and how they took x yrs to get the Knowledge/badge and you're not safe with these illegals, then the self-same whingers want to pick and choose who and where they go to.

It's not even that they want to 'go home', they just want 'easy' fares ie short hops where they hit max income. [If they go out in the stix [coz you live there!], they 'have' to come back empty........hence they try to pick and choose.

They get a monopoly on taxis in London, and in return they are supposed to provide a service that the capital can be proud of; instead we have them pi55ing off a lot of people. The illegals wouldn't be there if the black taxis provided the cover that the public expects.

I usually threaten to report the to553rs if they don't put the light on and take me to where I want to go...............seems to focus their mind somewhat. Especially when I suggest several of my friends may also be complaining over the next few months, all direct to the PCO [Public Carriage Office], and explain how it can be done online very easily.

Thye want to have their cake and eat it ie a complete monopoly on taxi work, yet only doing taxi work when and where they want; they can't have it all.

BFG_2 · 17 November 2009 at 2:36PM

giantmutantbroccoli wrote: »

Personally I think it's brilliant that they sometimes stop even when not 'for hire'.

The opposite problem is much more frustrating - when you flag down a taxi, get in and then get told that they don't want to go that far.

I understand the reason behind it, and I don't complain (what would be the point?) but it's very annoying.

They're not 'not for hire', they're cruising to pick up the most profitable fares and screw everyone else...which ain't what their licence is about.

Wrt 'they don't want to go that far'...tell them tough sh17, they have a licence and there are terms with it. If they want to keep it, .....

Why complain? To sort the muppets out.

geordieracer · 17 November 2009 at 2:42PM

BFG has a point here - they only like going somewhere close to where they can pick up another fare easily. No point them going from Kings cross to streatham if they have to come back early.

minicabs and fixed price all the way for me!!

littlefeet_2 · 17 November 2009 at 3:18PM

I've seen taxi drivers drive round Manchester without their for hire lights on. Usually this is about pub/club kicking out time, they seem to be using it to be selective about who they pick up, in case of trouble.

BFG_2 · 17 November 2009 at 3:52PM

littlefeet wrote: »

...they seem to be using it to be selective about who they pick up....

AFAICR they're not allowed to 'be selective' - they are either available or not. They want the cream of the fares and stuff Joe Public.

Mankysteve · 17 November 2009 at 4:04PM

Iam sure they are allowed to be selective. If a cabbi doesn't want you in his cab I'am sure there allowed to refuse entry just like any other business.

[Deleted User] · 17 November 2009 at 7:38PM

A black taxi is not allowed to be selective if the journey is within a certain radius of central london - it's a condition of their licence that they have to accept you (subject to you being drunk, abusive etc).

spuds_2 · 17 November 2009 at 10:11PM

The black cabs at the airport bug me sometimes - won't take you home if it's only a short trip. They want to wait until somebody has a 20 mile trip home. Let's not forget going the long way round if they think you don't know the route.