To not understand the point of black cabs now?

[Userlavender]

Aside from all the uber controversy (i use addison lee and local minicabs) can someone please tell me - what is the point of black cabs in 2017?!

They are insanely expensive, surely the knowledge is irrelevant now that everyone has satnav and they love going the long way round to get extra £££? This has happened to me a few times. Cab to the airport using my local minicab which sends driver details and tracking is £18. With a black cab the estimate is 'about £80'. Surely they are no longer sustainable due to prices? Am I missing something? Who are all these people who pay black cabs their ridiculous prices?

Andrewofgg

... and should an organisation headed up by a man, whose campaign to become Mayor and select himself to head up that organisation was funded by black cabs, be able to dictate whether competitors to those same black cabs can operate or not?

Private Hire and minicabs can't be hailed in the street, only black cabs and licensed taxis.

This doesn't come down from Mount Sinai. it's that way because of the government enforced rules.

The question is not: are black cabs a Good Thing?

exactly. I have nothing against black cabs per se. What's silly are the rules in place to treat them preferentially. If people want to pay for the knowledge (and it appears that some people here are so totally frightened by the prospect of 4G being lost that they are willing to do this) I am all for not standing in their way. Go right ahead. You can even have taxis labelled "armed with the knowledge" licensed by the knowledge board so people who want this service can rest assured they are getting it.

I for one am willing to risk the loss of 4G and pay half the price. Competition is driving down prices and that's great for consumers. And while the black cabs didn't have a monopoly before uber, uber brought the use of absolutely great apps to the scene and forced minicabs to do the same.

The black cabs in Edinburgh have an app (although phoning for one is very easy too). I like that each cab has a number you can clearly see, so if anything were to happen it can be easily identified.

I don't find them too expensive, but then I've only used them when I've desperately needed one and would have paid almost anything.

If people want to pay for the knowledge (and it appears that some people here are so totally frightened by the prospect of 4G being lost that they are willing to do this) I am all for not standing in their way. Go right ahead.

I too think this is hilarious, but I guess everyone has a right to spend their money as they like.

I can't even remember the last time I hailed a black cab and the driver, upon hearing my destination, didn't reach out for his mobile and put it into the sat nav. Whilst I waited for him to work out how to get me there. Or ask me, "Do you know where it is?".

All this knowledge nonsense is a truly desperate scrambling around for a differentiator to hang onto..but it's redundant now, they can't accept it, when what it's really about is a combination of "we had to learn all that, why don't you?" jealousy and a wish to trample any competition so they can stay just the way they've always been and have their work on a plate.

I think this will turn into a massive own goal for SK. It's massively backfired and opened him up to accusations of corruption.

Disgusting the way they have treated Uber to release a public statement before talking to them to tell them of the issues and give time to resolve them.

Disgusting the way they have treated Uber to release a public statement before talking to them to tell them of the issues and give time to resolve them.

What are you talking about? That's exactly what happened.
TFL told them of the problems when their previous licence expired. They were given a temporary licence for five months so they had time to sort out the issues. Uber did nothing about it and that temporary licence is now about to expire. It's entirely their fault that they haven't worked to put their system right.

Correction to the above - it was a four month licence, not five months.

every defender of monopolies and cartels

That would work better if I was a defender of monopolies and cartels, Andrewgg. As it is, I'm fine with minicabs and black cabs coexisting. I just think Uber are dishonest, rule-flouting wankers.

Mini cabs that use Google maps are going off real-time traffic information.

No point to black cabs any more; rip offs

I have never had a problem with mini cabs, they arrive on time, most of us have a phone, so we can book, i usually book for the journey there and back, I know roughly when my appointment, or class will end. Never got lost, and half the price. Everywhere there is a choice, if you don't like black cabs, don't use them. I never do. My mini cab company has wheelchair taxi, you phone up and request one, just wheel your chair on types.

I'm pretty sure the only certainty in the future of black cabs is that they will move off the roads and into museums - where they can silently fume that no one wants to or is allowed to pay them a lot of money for nothing special or unique compared to other cars. Can't stand them - bullies.

Someone has got to road test UKIPs next manifesto.

What's the problem?
White men earning a decent wage? Fuck that. We want immigrants having to work a 60 hour week just to make ends meet. Makes us feel superior. Because basically, we're complete arse holes.

That's your average uber supporter.

surferjet

WTF?

@surferjet I assume in your alternate reality, no women drive cabs; all immigrants are brown; no immigrants drive black cabs; and no white immigrants drive for uber.

I mean nice try, but no. That's not actually reality.

Almost every single black cab driver in my city is Asian . It's the mini cabs and uber that have a better ethnic mix.

@surferjet it's waaaaaay too early to be drunk on a school night. Go make yourself a coffee - you're delirious

AfunaMbatata
I'm talking about London. as that's where uber have been banned.
But people twist the argument to suit themselves. One minute all black cab drivers are racist UKIP supporters, the next they're mostly Aisan? It's difficult to find an uber supporter who actually knows what they're talking about.
In London. I'd say 75% of black cab drivers are white, & 90% of uber drivers are Aisan.
But carry on with your 'race to the bottom' mentality - I hope you're happy getting £3 an hour delivering pizza.

#supportlabour. #minimumwageforall.

Hashtag go to bed

But you made out like all uber users are racist

@afuna I didn't - I never mentioned race in my comments. You could try reading more carefully or - s l o w l y and you might make sense. I've also never used uber i don't think.

I was responding to surferjet

Honestly, I'm shocked you didn't make that connection considering they aimed there response at me

Their* (before you tell me to fuck off to netmums with my simple mind)