Article: Call for cabs as public transport

[ozbob]

From the Brisbane mX 1st May 2009 page 4

Call for cabs as public transport

[ozbob]

Unfortunate timing for the taxi council ...


From the Courier Mail click here!

Trouble brewing within the taxi ranks

Trouble brewing within the taxi ranks
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Michael Crutcher and Tuck Thompson

May 02, 2009 12:00am

TENSIONS are rising on Brisbane's taxi ranks as a wave of new drivers - including many from overseas - join the industry in record numbers.

The Courier-Mail can report that more than 1300 taxi driver permits were issued by the State Government last year ? almost double the combined total of the previous three years.

Veteran Brisbane drivers say the new cabbies are mostly overseas students and some of them are ripping off passengers.

It was reported in March that passengers were complaining of extra charges for luggage, non-existent tolls for bridges and even for the use of satellite navigation devices. Drivers have told The Courier-Mail about heated scenes at taxi ranks as rivals accuse each other of improper practices.

Yellow Cabs and the Cab Drivers Association of Queensland have urged the State Government to tighten licensing requirements, which allow some students on visas and other newcomers to legally drive cabs within weeks of arriving. The increase coincides with a staggering rise in the number of Indians living in the state on student visas.

In the 2007-08 financial year, Indian student visa holders increased from 2339 to 6240.

The numbers of other nationalities have remained mainly unchanged.

"This is not about racism, it's about ensuring public safety and a fair go for anyone who travels in a cab," CDAQ secretary Lee Sims said. "There isn't a need for an excessive number of taxi drivers at the moment and the passenger and the regular drivers are the ones who are paying for it.

"There is definitely tension out there and we worry that something could happen to a driver or a passenger unless the Government changes its system to ensure there is a better level of experience among drivers."

Last year, the number of taxi driver permits in the state increased by 1335 to a record 14,284. This compared to increases of 269, 378 and 111 in the previous three years. The 2008 increase netted the Government more than $110,000 in additional fees.

Queensland Transport issues permits to drivers after they have received their state drivers licence, undergone security checks and completed training courses run by the cab companies. Indian students can get a Queensland open licence if they hold an open licence from overseas and pass a practical test run by the Department of Transport.

Yellow Cabs general manager Bill Parker said the company was sacking about six drivers a week after instigating a "zero tolerance" standard in November. He said the sackings had reduced to "a trickle" but the company still wanted to hear from any passenger who had an issue.

"A very small minority were bringing the majority into disrepute but we have started acting on that. There are many good and responsible drivers out there," he said.

"We think the requirements for new drivers need to change but we can't get the Department of Transport to change their attitude."

Mr Parker said Yellow Cabs wanted licences issued only to drivers with Australian residency or a certificate of driving competency from a recognised agency.

Black and White cabs general manager John Tighe said he had noted the influx of new drivers.

"This has enabled us to have cars at jobs in very quick time," Mr Tighe said.

"But there have been some issues with driving standards and we believe that is with some of the international drivers."

The office of Transport Minister Rachel Nolan referred The Courier-Mail's questions to the Department of Transport.

A department spokesman said it was "aware of concerns among sections of the taxi industry about eligibility requirements for holders of Driver Authorities". "Departmental officers have begun meetings with taxi industry representatives to identify options for improving standards for drivers," he said.

[dwb]

The entire taxi industry needs an overhaul.
Yes QT does regulate them, but only barely.

Many of the companies sell licences which are then run as small businesses (ie the driver does not own the license or the cab). This means that many small businesses find the cheapest labour they can (ie ppl with no other alternatives, etc, low english skills, bad drivers).

Really, taxis do provide a significant component of the PT system. Ie people will catch a train/bus out but a cab home. Or for part of a journey when there is no/inconvenient PT. Many people who do not own cars use PT and then taxis when it suits.

I think it would be fantastic if QT regulated the companies more highly so that drivers were treated in much the same way as bus drivers, with a wage. This would probably require some centralisation of fleet, and huge organisational changes. Taxis could also be paid for by go card (an no i'm not necessarily implying zonally but perhaps). I have been to many places were travel inside a central area is flat fare.  If you look at cities like NY, they couldn't survive without considering taxis part of the PT solution!!