There is dispute breaking out in London between members of the Hackney Carriage company and users of Uber, an iPhone app for taxis.
Historically in London you had two options for getting a taxi in London, you could either call or flag down a hackney cab (the iconic London taxi) on the street or you could book a private hire taxi (a.k.a. minicab) by calling or visiting a minicab office. The fare for a taxi ride was determined using a meter, a minicab fare is determined by other means.
Becoming a taxi driver in London is very difficult. It can take years to prepare for "the knowledge" (a test of your ability to navigate through London by having to memorise thousands of routes and locations) and the cost of this and the taxi itself is very high.
On the other hand becoming a minicab driver is much more straightforward and the vehicles themselves come under much less scrutiny.
The Uber app has, IMO, blurred the lines between the two. You can "flag" the nearest Uber minicab using the app and the fare for the journey is determined using GPS. Taxi drivers claim that this is a form of meter and because only taxis can use meters that it should be banned. Uber users say that it isn't, it's an innovative way to serve the public. The licencing authority Transport for London (TfL), have come down on the side of Uber.
The taxi drivers are proposing to strike:
http://ift.tt/1pgrIqD
Usually I'm in favour of innovations that break up "closed shop" operations like these. I have two concerns when it comes to London and taxis.
Against my natural inclinations, I'm finding myself siding with the taxi drivers. That said, I haven't been in a taxi or minicab in London for years (I walk or take the tube) so maybe I just shouldn't care.
Historically in London you had two options for getting a taxi in London, you could either call or flag down a hackney cab (the iconic London taxi) on the street or you could book a private hire taxi (a.k.a. minicab) by calling or visiting a minicab office. The fare for a taxi ride was determined using a meter, a minicab fare is determined by other means.
Becoming a taxi driver in London is very difficult. It can take years to prepare for "the knowledge" (a test of your ability to navigate through London by having to memorise thousands of routes and locations) and the cost of this and the taxi itself is very high.
On the other hand becoming a minicab driver is much more straightforward and the vehicles themselves come under much less scrutiny.
The Uber app has, IMO, blurred the lines between the two. You can "flag" the nearest Uber minicab using the app and the fare for the journey is determined using GPS. Taxi drivers claim that this is a form of meter and because only taxis can use meters that it should be banned. Uber users say that it isn't, it's an innovative way to serve the public. The licencing authority Transport for London (TfL), have come down on the side of Uber.
The taxi drivers are proposing to strike:
http://ift.tt/1pgrIqD
Usually I'm in favour of innovations that break up "closed shop" operations like these. I have two concerns when it comes to London and taxis.
- When taking a taxi, you're benefitting from the driver's encyclopaedic knowledge of London streets and in the pat they have been able to negotiate jams by taking side streets. Uber will not provide this and so the publid need to understand that Uber will be offering a substandard service in this regard
- Uber equipped vehicles are not subject to the same rigorous standards as taxis. To level the playing field I believe that Uber vehicles (and in fact all minicabs) should be subject to the same safety and disabled access checks as taxis (though I don't think they need to adhere to the same standards for turning circle and ability to carry a bale of hay).
Against my natural inclinations, I'm finding myself siding with the taxi drivers. That said, I haven't been in a taxi or minicab in London for years (I walk or take the tube) so maybe I just shouldn't care.
via JREF Forum http://ift.tt/1uWTKHS
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