Brighton cabbies 'treated with contempt' (From The Argus)

Contemp! Good grief.
Well that is how a lot of Cabbies treat their customers.
Boot on other foot?

I've often suspected that when officials use the term "consultation" it only means they need to tick the box and nothing that the respondents say will be acted upon. It seems someone has let the cat out of the bag this time.

what are the council going to do with the reclaimed 10 metres?

Contempt for cabbies is mostly due to their prices which are just laugh-able in Brighton.

kerryfee wrote:
what are the council going to do with the reclaimed 10 metres?

communal bin!

It's a shame so many readers are treating this news story as an excuse to 'have a go' at cabbies and the extortionate fares they may or may not charge. The REAL issues highlighted are yet another example of the Council's fraudulent 'consultation' exercises ....

Residents will remember a decade or so ago, the Council lengthened the length of double yellow lines around the corners of streets throughout the Borough. When challenged (as I did), I was told this was due to the 'new safety guidelines' instituted by central government. A couple of years later and street parking was introduced ... and lo! and behold! ... these double yellow lines were shortened throughout the Borough to make way for even more parking bays. So much for the new safety guidelines when there's a possibility of making more money from the motorists.

Kerryfree wonders what will happen to the extra space from the taxi ranks .... hoveboy might be correct with the communal bin suggestion ... or more money-earning parking bays?! Consultation? Don't be so silly .....

Rather like they treat other road users then. Now, where's my microscopic violin.

That's because most cabbies are arrogant ignorant idiots. Oh and the fact they drive they idiots too, cut people up and never use their seat belt like they should do!! Oh did I mention the fees they charge are insane too, talk about good profit margins for them!!

Now the cabbies will cause even more of a road block up by the railway station.

what does ted kemble have to say about it, he is the councillor for major building projects and a taxi driver.

the pavement widening here is a joke anyway, no one strolls along this stretch because there is nothing there to look at. the road lanes are now narrowed in an already congested stretch especially during the summer months with many more tourists expected this year this is madness. where the new pavement meets the old they do not line up and are joined by ugly strip of tarmac. lorries block lanes here all the time delivering to the hotels causing more congestion and pollution etc when we are already over polluted. this council and the last adminstration treat the whole of the road using community with contempt. the policies are just introduced to cause accidents congestion and pollution and nothing more, absolutely no problems have been resolved in these sort of ridiculous road schemes. less traffic lights, built out bus stops and ridiculous one way systems will ease traffic and better parking, on road and park and ride will stop all road traffic going round in circles. if the council are serious about cutting pollution then they need to stop congesting our roads and make the buses free for everyone.

Give your post 5 times the meaning with anubis.

Limited offer while stocks last, see tonight's Argus for details.

That's actually a good point Anubis. I couldn't help mask my taxi prices outrage behind the facts. And on another note - bring back the tuk-tuks.

i don't think contempt is the correct word. what difference will it make anyway? cabbies will still stop and park when and where they want regardless of whether it is a rank. are there really that many people waiting for cabs outside the hotel and if they need one they only have to call one. i wouldn't specifically go to this rank to get one, when you can hail a hackney cab in the street. what a lot of hoo-haa over nothing. just an excuse for the cabbies to have a moan. if they spent more time improving their driving skills, and less time moaning, then people may look on them in a better light. i have freinds who are cabbies in brighton, and they even complain about the driving standards of their own mates. it is only a minority who are really bad, but it filters down and tars them all with the same brush.

For all of you cabbie-bashers who moan about the tariff. Brighton & Hove are actually 58th in the National Fares League..behind:
Colchester,
Luton,
Adur,
Caradon,
Epsom & Ewell,
Londown,
Arun,
Dartford,
Hertsmere,
Mid-Sussex,
Reading,
Tunbridge Wells,
Swindon,
Vale of White Horse,
South Somerset,
Seveoaks,
Bath,
Canterbury,
Exeter,
Gravesham,
Kerrie,
Leeds,
Noth Herts,
Norwich,
Taunton Deane,
Mole Valley,
South Gloucester,
Harborough,
Forrest of Dean,
Birmingham,
Chelmsford,
Harrogate,
Hart,
Maidstone,
Medway,
Mendip,
Midlothian,
Restormel,
Solihull,
Watford,
Waverly,
West Dorset,
North Devon,
Dover,
East Hampshire,
Eastborune,
High Peak,
Jersey,
Salisbury,
Swale,
Welwyn Hartfield,
West BerkShire,
Weymouth & Portland,
Torbay,
Blackpool,
Brentwood,
Brighton & Hove.

So all those areas around Brighton & Hove.. such as Adur & Mid-Sussex. And even Arun and Eastbourne are MORE expensive.

I'm am sure you al feel much better now having been educated. :)

Brigadier Monty wrote:
That's because most cabbies are arrogant ignorant idiots. Oh and the fact they drive they idiots too, cut people up and never use their seat belt like they should do!! Oh did I mention the fees they charge are insane too, talk about good profit margins for them!!

Cab drivers are exempt from wearing seatbelts!!!
Regarding the fees they charge...... the tariffs are set by Brighton and Hove City Councils Hackney Carriage office!! The drivers don't get much of a say in how much your cab fare costs.
If you think that working a 10 hour day for less than the hourly minimum wage is a 'good profit margin', that would suggest to me, that it is in fact you that is the 'arrogant ignorant idiot'!

davyboy wrote:
i don't think contempt is the correct word. what difference will it make anyway? cabbies will still stop and park when and where they want regardless of whether it is a rank. are there really that many people waiting for cabs outside the hotel and if they need one they only have to call one. i wouldn't specifically go to this rank to get one, when you can hail a hackney cab in the street. what a lot of hoo-haa over nothing. just an excuse for the cabbies to have a moan. if they spent more time improving their driving skills, and less time moaning, then people may look on them in a better light. i have freinds who are cabbies in brighton, and they even complain about the driving standards of their own mates. it is only a minority who are really bad, but it filters down and tars them all with the same brush.

And that coming from a bus driver! Hahaha!!!!

davyboy wrote:
i don't think contempt is the correct word. what difference will it make anyway? cabbies will still stop and park when and where they want regardless of whether it is a rank. are there really that many people waiting for cabs outside the hotel and if they need one they only have to call one. i wouldn't specifically go to this rank to get one, when you can hail a hackney cab in the street. what a lot of hoo-haa over nothing. just an excuse for the cabbies to have a moan. if they spent more time improving their driving skills, and less time moaning, then people may look on them in a better light. i have freinds who are cabbies in brighton, and they even complain about the driving standards of their own mates. it is only a minority who are really bad, but it filters down and tars them all with the same brush.

And that coming from a bus driver! Hahaha!!!!

Cabbies are only exempt from wearing a seatbelt IF they have a passenger on board. If they don't, then they must be wearing it. Cabbies should also buy a highway code when next filling up with fuel. The book tells you about red lights, speed limits, etc.

Brigadier Monty wrote:
That's because most cabbies are arrogant ignorant idiots. Oh and the fact they drive they idiots too, cut people up and never use their seat belt like they should do!! Oh did I mention the fees they charge are insane too, talk about good profit margins for them!!

Most cabbies? Over 50% of them? I’d love to know where you get the figures from?

Insane charges & good profit margins?
If they were that insane, no one would use them, so where are all these good profits coming from?

'and the fact they drive they idiots too'. Sorry, I don’t understand this bit at all. I drive, so am I an idiot?

The story here is surely the council have pushed ahead & shortened the cab rank before the consultation process has finished.
At worst, it’s driving a coach & horses through their legal requirement to consult & at best it’s a waste of the materials used & the workmans time & wages to paint the new lines.

As a side note, these roadworks around the city are taking forever and too often I see holes with not a workman in sight. They should get on with the job and get the city moving again asap

davyboy wrote:
i don't think contempt is the correct word. what difference will it make anyway? cabbies will still stop and park when and where they want regardless of whether it is a rank. are there really that many people waiting for cabs outside the hotel and if they need one they only have to call one. i wouldn't specifically go to this rank to get one, when you can hail a hackney cab in the street. what a lot of hoo-haa over nothing. just an excuse for the cabbies to have a moan. if they spent more time improving their driving skills, and less time moaning, then people may look on them in a better light. i have freinds who are cabbies in brighton, and they even complain about the driving standards of their own mates. it is only a minority who are really bad, but it filters down and tars them all with the same brush.

The rank outside the hotel is a very busy when the clubs on the beach close.
Private Hire cars are not allowed to park on ranks or be flagged down on the street. So they have to wait somewhere! You'll find that most cars that stop 'when and where they want' are usually stopping to drop off or pick up a fare. I don't think you'll find many cab drivers that go around Brighton randomly stopping just to annoy people!

g1mp wrote:
Cabbies are only exempt from wearing a seatbelt IF they have a passenger on board. If they don't, then they must be wearing it. Cabbies should also buy a highway code when next filling up with fuel. The book tells you about red lights, speed limits, etc.

Exemptions from seatbelt wearing....

the driver of—

(i) a licensed taxi while it is being used for seeking hire, or answering a call for hire, or carrying a passenger for hire, or

(ii) a private hire vehicle while it is being used to carry a passenger for hire;

I would leave Brigadier Monty alone as it seems he has no knowledge whatsoever of the taxi trade.

"Taxi drivers have accused council bosses of treating them with contempt after a city centre cab rank was shortened without telling them." and then later in the report "Brighton and Hove City Council has now announced its intention to shorten it through a public notice and opened a 20-day consultation on the proposal. The plans would mean a shorter rank by ten metres, the equivalent of two cabs." Sooooo....either the rank HAS been shortened already OR B&H council have muted it will be and its currently out to consultation - can't be both! And seeing as the taxi drivers are so up in arms, maybe they could object during the consultation rather than run squealing to the local rag looking for support (where most of the local populace will tear them apart with regards to dodgy driving, costs etc etc). Yet another s**t-stirring poor quality report from the Argus!

I DO AGREE THE CHARGES ARE ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. I SELDOM USE TAXIS ANYMORE,PREFERRING TO WALK!!!!!!!!

Lets just skip over the news article and concentrate on slagging cab drivers off then. OK we've covered bad attitudes, bad driving, high prices and seatbelts. Even managed to squeeze in a tuc-tuc reference. You should be proud of yourselves! I'm sure when the council do something equally dumb outside your houses and take away your parking spaces you might finally wake up and realise that the council you elected to run your city and whose wages you pay, couldn't give a stuff about you either.
Emma, you prefer to walk. Thanks for sharing that with us.

Pebbles wrote:
For all of you cabbie-bashers who moan about the tariff. Brighton & Hove are actually 58th in the National Fares League..behind: Colchester, Luton, Adur, Caradon, Epsom & Ewell, Londown, Arun, Dartford, Hertsmere, Mid-Sussex, Reading, Tunbridge Wells, Swindon, Vale of White Horse, South Somerset, Seveoaks, Bath, Canterbury, Exeter, Gravesham, Kerrie, Leeds, Noth Herts, Norwich, Taunton Deane, Mole Valley, South Gloucester, Harborough, Forrest of Dean, Birmingham, Chelmsford, Harrogate, Hart, Maidstone, Medway, Mendip, Midlothian, Restormel, Solihull, Watford, Waverly, West Dorset, North Devon, Dover, East Hampshire, Eastborune, High Peak, Jersey, Salisbury, Swale, Welwyn Hartfield, West BerkShire, Weymouth & Portland, Torbay, Blackpool, Brentwood, Brighton & Hove. So all those areas around Brighton & Hove.. such as Adur & Mid-Sussex. And even Arun and Eastbourne are MORE expensive. I'm am sure you al feel much better now having been educated. :)

Thanks for educating me but 58th in a NATIONAL poll is not really proof that Brighton has cheap taxi's - all it confirms is that there is a local demand which promotes competition, in turn pushing down the tariffs as firms try to remain competitive. In the majority of towns you have mentioned, most are either tourist honeytraps, (Blackpool, Bath etc), small towns with monopolies/collusive duopolies (Eastbourne, Highpeak, Jersey), or large urban areas with traffic problems.

I want to vent about dog poo being left, in the streets/parks and (where it really winds me up most) on the beach.. can I do that here?

It's not trying to prove that Brighton has cheap taxis. They're just not as expensive, over a two mile journey as 57 other places in the country. How much do you realistically think it costs to own and run a cab in Brighton?
Why not go take the brief and try the job for yourself? It's a lovely way to meet the cream of the underclasses and end up bankrupt needing a heart by-pass at 40.

wellsyuk wrote:
I want to vent about dog poo being left, in the streets/parks and (where it really winds me up most) on the beach.. can I do that here?

Congratulations, you just did.

Randy Lahey wrote:

Pebbles wrote: For all of you cabbie-bashers who moan about the tariff. Brighton & Hove are actually 58th in the National Fares League..behind: Colchester, Luton, Adur, Caradon, Epsom & Ewell, Londown, Arun, Dartford, Hertsmere, Mid-Sussex, Reading, Tunbridge Wells, Swindon, Vale of White Horse, South Somerset, Seveoaks, Bath, Canterbury, Exeter, Gravesham, Kerrie, Leeds, Noth Herts, Norwich, Taunton Deane, Mole Valley, South Gloucester, Harborough, Forrest of Dean, Birmingham, Chelmsford, Harrogate, Hart, Maidstone, Medway, Mendip, Midlothian, Restormel, Solihull, Watford, Waverly, West Dorset, North Devon, Dover, East Hampshire, Eastborune, High Peak, Jersey, Salisbury, Swale, Welwyn Hartfield, West BerkShire, Weymouth & Portland, Torbay, Blackpool, Brentwood, Brighton & Hove. So all those areas around Brighton & Hove.. such as Adur & Mid-Sussex. And even Arun and Eastbourne are MORE expensive. I'm am sure you al feel much better now having been educated. :)

Thanks for educating me but 58th in a NATIONAL poll is not really proof that Brighton has cheap taxi's - all it confirms is that there is a local demand which promotes competition, in turn pushing down the tariffs as firms try to remain competitive. In the majority of towns you have mentioned, most are either tourist honeytraps, (Blackpool, Bath etc), small towns with monopolies/collusive duopolies (Eastbourne, Highpeak, Jersey), or large urban areas with traffic problems.

If you take to read my post correctly I did not state "NATIONAL poll is not really proof that Brighton has cheap taxi's"

It was a comparison of other Tariff's in the UK.

And I am not sure what "all it confirms is that there is a local demand which promotes competition, in turn pushing down the tariffs as firms try to remain competitive" means? There is no actual competition regarding the cost of fares as these are controlled via the local authorities.

However, saying that, I would aggree that fares on a Friday and Saturday night between 12 and 6am are expensive. This was introduced by the council to encourage drivers to work those hours to shift all the drunks off the streets and the dangers involved. I dont work those hours specifically because of all the hassle from all those normally respectful people who go doo-lally after a few pints at the weekend.

Anyway, all newly proposed hackney carriage fares are advertised by law for objections, so everyone, the butcher the baker and candle stick maker can affectively control what cab drivers earn. I dont see this facility in any other industry.

oldskool_raver wrote:

Brigadier Monty wrote: That's because most cabbies are arrogant ignorant idiots. Oh and the fact they drive they idiots too, cut people up and never use their seat belt like they should do!! Oh did I mention the fees they charge are insane too, talk about good profit margins for them!!

Cab drivers are exempt from wearing seatbelts!!! Regarding the fees they charge...... the tariffs are set by Brighton and Hove City Councils Hackney Carriage office!! The drivers don't get much of a say in how much your cab fare costs. If you think that working a 10 hour day for less than the hourly minimum wage is a 'good profit margin', that would suggest to me, that it is in fact you that is the 'arrogant ignorant idiot'!

Do me a favour pal I know what those cabbies take home especially the ones who actually own their own cabs. They charge shed loads of money. Exempt from wearing seatbelts? Why? What because most of them are too fat and lazy to unbelt themselves and get out quickly!!??
As for councils setting prices well yes of course the greed stems from them, but that's a whole other story. Point is a lot of cabbies are idiots. Some are very nice but they are few and far between. I'm probably saying this because I had a run in with some arrogant **** the other week when I was parked outside B Hill station waiting to pick someone up. And for that I am probably being quite stereotypical.

Does it really matter how long the rank is? They'll still queue out onto the public highway blocking the traffic from getting past.

No sympathy at all.

Will this stop them wearing diamond cut Pringle Jumpers and Farah slacks?

Why is everyone slagging off the cabbies? I am partially disabled and use taxis in Brighton quite regularly. I have only once come across a dodgy cabbie who tried to overcharge me and when I queried it , he changed the amount. As for being fat an lazy, how big is Brigadier Monty I wonder, and what does he do for a living?

Monty wrote
I had a run in with some arrogant **** the other week when I was parked outside B Hill station waiting to pick someone up

WJust a question, were you parked on a taxi rank at the time? If so, you were breaking the law. Even disabled drivers aren't allowed to.
If you weren't on a rank and you had a run in as you say, why not take his number and report him?

ohhh a heated debate! well done the argus!!! hahahahhahahahahahah
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
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aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaha
aaaaaaaahaaaaahaaa oooooooohhooooh haahaaaaaaa

kerryfee wrote:
what are the council going to do with the reclaimed 10 metres?

This is now the cobbled area which is apparently for loading and unloading - but not obviously people.

worthing private hire drivers are excused from the no smoking rules, puff away like factory chimneys when not carrying a fare, they do not need cab ranks in worthing either, the WSCC kindly painted round white rings at junctions for cabs to park on, average age of a private hire vehicle in worthing, ANTIQUE for the price they charge they should be driving rollers
As to brighton cabbies losing thousands because a cab rank was shut, what a load of BULL S%%T the rank might have been shut but why would that reduce punters, trouble is far to many cabs and private hires chasing fares, and prices that are not value for money

oldskool_raver wrote:

davyboy wrote:
i don't think contempt is the correct word. what difference will it make anyway? cabbies will still stop and park when and where they want regardless of whether it is a rank. are there really that many people waiting for cabs outside the hotel and if they need one they only have to call one. i wouldn't specifically go to this rank to get one, when you can hail a hackney cab in the street. what a lot of hoo-haa over nothing. just an excuse for the cabbies to have a moan. if they spent more time improving their driving skills, and less time moaning, then people may look on them in a better light. i have freinds who are cabbies in brighton, and they even complain about the driving standards of their own mates. it is only a minority who are really bad, but it filters down and tars them all with the same brush.

The rank outside the hotel is a very busy when the clubs on the beach close.
Private Hire cars are not allowed to park on ranks or be flagged down on the street. So they have to wait somewhere! You'll find that most cars that stop 'when and where they want' are usually stopping to drop off or pick up a fare. I don't think you'll find many cab drivers that go around Brighton randomly stopping just to annoy people!

it is not the fact that they stop, it is how and where they stop that annoys people, i.e with no indication, on corners etc. they still have to abide by the rules of the road, not causing obstruction, or stopping in 'no stopping' zones. this rule applies to ALL road users, including taxis!!!!!

birthofanorange wrote:

davyboy wrote:
i don't think contempt is the correct word. what difference will it make anyway? cabbies will still stop and park when and where they want regardless of whether it is a rank. are there really that many people waiting for cabs outside the hotel and if they need one they only have to call one. i wouldn't specifically go to this rank to get one, when you can hail a hackney cab in the street. what a lot of hoo-haa over nothing. just an excuse for the cabbies to have a moan. if they spent more time improving their driving skills, and less time moaning, then people may look on them in a better light. i have freinds who are cabbies in brighton, and they even complain about the driving standards of their own mates. it is only a minority who are really bad, but it filters down and tars them all with the same brush.

And that coming from a bus driver! Hahaha!!!!

i would regard myself as a much better driver than a lot of cabbies. at least i use my mirrors and indicators when moving off or turning. i have competed in the national bus driver of the year competition, therefore feel i have nothing else to prove!

Yippee about time we got our own back on those 'OH so polite' drivers that either dont understand where you want to be taken to or as I saw the other day drive off before you get into the car - go brighton council - yippee

I use taxis quite often, I've had some good drivers and I've had bad. I've had drivers try to overcharge and those that don't know the street I want, or if they do, don't know the best route.

BUT I've never had one say there's not enough taxi ranks in the town. Have a look at the junction of North Street and East Street latish on any Friday or Saturday night, and you will realise taxi drivers don't care how big the ranks are, they'll use the rest of the street anyway.

If its just the lack of consultation they're complaining about, well welcome to the real world, but don't try to kid us its about loss of earnings.

took a taxi for the first time in years and for a 2.7 mile journey cost me £8.00 I won't be taking one again any time soon !!

davyboy, if by 'No Stopping Areas' you actually mean a clearway then, as a *cough* professional driver you will know that there is an exemption which allows a driver to stop and pick up or set down passengers.

UglyAmerican, Hotlanta says...
4:16pm Thu 9 Jul 09
wellsyuk wrote:
I want to vent about dog poo being left, in the streets/parks and (where it really winds me up most) on the beach.. can I do that here?
Congratulations, you just did.

Absolutely hilarious. I must say i dont mind the stuff and often like to cook it for dinner :-)

poo for dinner?? yum, can i come round your house? ;-)

kfirette wrote:
Yippee about time we got our own back on those 'OH so polite' drivers that either dont understand where you want to be taken to or as I saw the other day drive off before you get into the car - go brighton council - yippee

I would expect the reason the driver drove off is because he didn't get a good feeling about the passenger that he may have been taking!! No driver is going to refuse a fare for the sake of it!!! Would you want to pick up someone in your car that's acting like a t**t before you've even gone anywhere? If you suspected that you may get robbed or they're going to do a runner it's best not to take the risk!!!! Taxi drivers have to pick up all sorts of weirdos and people off their heads on whatever, day and night. If some idiot throws up in your car, that's it, you've lost a lot of cash as well as having the joyful task of cleaning it up after them!! As for getting a £50 fouling charge from the offending person...... you've got no chance!!

how about a headline along the lines of "Taxi drivers treat other motorists with contempt by blocking traffic lights outside brighton station every evening"?

2 more cabs in east street now....brilliant. As if there isnt enough there already. Cant those immigrants find another career?

well I for one quite like the B&H taxis (although I dont know why im saying that as the article is not to do with this)

anubis makes the best point here, the council consultation excercise is an absolute joke and there is no transparency as who they have actually consulted.

why are the unions getting involved? if they go on strike who cares? theres a great transport system in this city (if slightly pricey) let em go on strike its only going to hit their pocket! it'll probably get some of the oldies using their free passes a bit more!

Brigadier Monty wrote:

oldskool_raver wrote:

Brigadier Monty wrote: That's because most cabbies are arrogant ignorant idiots. Oh and the fact they drive they idiots too, cut people up and never use their seat belt like they should do!! Oh did I mention the fees they charge are insane too, talk about good profit margins for them!!

Cab drivers are exempt from wearing seatbelts!!! Regarding the fees they charge...... the tariffs are set by Brighton and Hove City Councils Hackney Carriage office!! The drivers don't get much of a say in how much your cab fare costs. If you think that working a 10 hour day for less than the hourly minimum wage is a 'good profit margin', that would suggest to me, that it is in fact you that is the 'arrogant ignorant idiot'!

Do me a favour pal I know what those cabbies take home especially the ones who actually own their own cabs. They charge shed loads of money. Exempt from wearing seatbelts? Why? What because most of them are too fat and lazy to unbelt themselves and get out quickly!!?? As for councils setting prices well yes of course the greed stems from them, but that's a whole other story. Point is a lot of cabbies are idiots. Some are very nice but they are few and far between. I'm probably saying this because I had a run in with some arrogant **** the other week when I was parked outside B Hill station waiting to pick someone up. And for that I am probably being quite stereotypical.

Yes, I think you are being very sterotypical!!

There are 500 licensed Hackney carriages in Brighton & Hove, and the surrounding areas. Approx another 600 Private Hire cars. Private hire cars are not often rented out to journeymen so that leaves the 500 hackneys that can be rented to journeymen. This is based on either a set price of around £230 a week for day drivers and more for night drivers(the journeyman pays for the fuel) or on a 50/50 basis and then the owner pays for the fuel. The current cost to buy a Hackney is around £30,000, on top of that add on the insurance, repair bills, servicing, cost of the meters to be fitted, £400 to be able to pick up in the station, etc, etc. It'll take at least 4 years to get a return if the owner doesn't drive the car as well.
Now onto the journeymans 'shed loads of money'. As it stands with the day time trade at the moment, the average takings for a day driver is around say £100, unfortunately that is not an under estimate. So £500 per wk, minus £230 for the cab, minus £50 for fuel and that is an under-estimate and you are left with the grand total of £220 per week!! £4.41 per hour based on a 10 hour shift is not what i would call 'shed loads of money'. Night drivers earn more, they have to put up with a lot more for their money as well! If all the days drivers switch to working nights because they can earn more, then there is going to be a big problems getting a taxi in the day. Obviously as all the cab drivers now work nights there is less trade for all of the night drivers. At the moment the day drivers are staying out longer, the night drivers are coming out earlier which is just making the situation worse for all of them!

I wouldn't call a cab driver that starts driving at 7am and comes in at 7pm, lazy. Unless you are counting the 20 minutes, sat in the cab waiting for a job as laziness? I don't think that most of the drivers are fat either! Maybe I call a different company to you and that makes the difference?

I think "Brigadier Monty",is or should be "PRIVATE MONTY"
Sorry to all other Privates!
Or a Squadie even!!

Have you lot finished slagging of taxi drivers, most of them do a fantastic job, those that you are not satisfied with, note their plate number and alert the town hall to your problem.... For the long hours they do they earn a pitance, have to take smelly people, clear up sick and wee, put up with slamming doors, rubbish being left behind and damage to the vehicle where people are not looking what they are doing. Lose out to no jobs because someone is pulling a prank, put up with abuse from other road users just because they are a cab...the list goes on and by the way the fare is set by the council not the drivers so by the time you take away all the other expenses they have to pay just to be on the road they end up with very little. You don't like cab's? then don't use them get the bus or walk, but get your FACTS correct.

Brigadier Monty wrote:
That's because most cabbies are arrogant ignorant idiots. Oh and the fact they drive they idiots too, cut people up and never use their seat belt like they should do!! Oh did I mention the fees they charge are insane too, talk about good profit margins for them!!

Just been reading all your posts Monty, keep them up you really are clueless and have made my day you mug!

there is no room for racism in the argus. i do not agree with people calling taxi drivers immigrants. yes,they are extauchonate prices but there is absolutely no need for cowardly racism. oh dear it makes my hands sweat and my palms grow hairs. my teste has dropped! not happy emma in here.!!!

Q-car wrote:
davyboy, if by 'No Stopping Areas' you actually mean a clearway then, as a *cough* professional driver you will know that there is an exemption which allows a driver to stop and pick up or set down passengers.

not if the sign says 'no stopping or waiting at any time'. anyway they use these areas to park and go to the shops, on the pretence of picking up.

eeerm....
no stopping or waiting at any time, that would be a red route. None of those in Brighton.
Where do you leave your bus when you nip off to get your scratchcards???

davyboy wrote:

Q-car wrote: davyboy, if by 'No Stopping Areas' you actually mean a clearway then, as a *cough* professional driver you will know that there is an exemption which allows a driver to stop and pick up or set down passengers.

not if the sign says 'no stopping or waiting at any time'. anyway they use these areas to park and go to the shops, on the pretence of picking up.

Ah, so taxi drivers like to use their time working to do a spot of shopping instead!!
I'm wondering if you realise that taxi drivers DO actually go shopping when they're working? They are often given jobs that involve going to shops for elderly or disabled customers that can't go themselves!!! Or sent to the offie for some alcoholic that is so drunk that they can't manage to walk straight and get their special brew themselves! That's a fab job!!

Regarding your mirrors and indicator use that you mentioned in an earlier post. Is yours the same method that a number of other bus drivers use? Mirror, signal and then pull out no matter what's coming? Then put a little thumbs up signal out the window to the poor driver that's nearly been pushed into the other lane, or that's had to do an emergency stop behind you?? Maybe you don't use that method....might be why you didn't win the competition?

Three cabbies all go off Beachy Head at the same time,which one hits the pebbles first,who cares!I think i speak for anyone who has ever gotten a taxi.