Call Sign October 2011
Page 3
from the editor's desk
Not too `appy???
the Editor I take the blame. Call Sign sends out
around 90+ courtesy copies of each issue. These
Sorry to go on about all the apps floating around,
go to some clients together with some drivers
but it would be difficult to just stand by and
who were perhaps with the Society for many
watch the trade make fools of itself. There are
years and who wanted to stay in touch.
now so many apps claiming to link drivers with
Well they would have had to work pretty hard
passengers that if it wasn't so serious, you could
to stay in touch last month because due to a fault
almost laugh.
with the franking machine, the `stamp' appeared
I'm not going into them all, but I've heard of at
as a stripe and Post Office intransigence declined
least 10 apps that are all vying for you to sign up
to admit that we had stamped them and made
and most of which will involve you using your
many of those receiving a courtesy issue have to
phone. Hands-free phone use is currently legal,
drag themselves down to the PO and have to pay
but that may not always be the case and even if it
double the usual postage.
stays, there is a certain amount of danger. The
Amazingly, most actually did that and I hope
only system involving an app I can find that actu-
they thought it was worth the effort. I know that
ally doesn't involve you needing your phone is
at least 59 of them did because they emailed me
GetTaxi, where you get a terminal of some kind
not to complain but to ask if I knew! Most of
fitted while the passenger needs the app. You will
them also told me that they had given the Post
have to pay a weekly charge for the equipment.
thought he'd have a go at the radio circuits.
Office initials a new meaning. Fortunately I'm
If every driver that took an interest went with
He seems to be under the impression that the
too much of a gentleman to repeat what they
GetTaxi, then this editorial wouldn't exist.
radio circuits invited their clients to start using
claim PO stands for. As always, my sincere
According to their blurb, they are signing up 300
minicabs and not because clients wanted to cut
thanks go to Call Sign's readers for their amaz-
drivers each week, which means that by the time
back on costs.
ing ongoing loyalty...
you read this they will already have more drivers
Perhaps he should have asked to speak to
than Dial-a-Cab and by the end of next month
Olympic warning
someone at DaC rather than just taking the fig-
they will by far outnumber the largest radio taxi
ures and facts of someone totally unconnected
Look, I know that Call Sign has been going on
circuit in the world! Really? Then what if the
with this circuit, as gospel? Of course, that might
about the Olympic Route Network and that the
other apps claim similar numbers? Do we believe
have spoiled his story and forced him to look
chances of the organising committee (LOCOG)
them all because Billy Paton's Taxiworld Hailing
elsewhere for something to write about...
reversing their decision (they overrule the
app claims that it intends launching when it has
Mayor and even the Government on Olympic
Don't do as I do!
2000 drivers signed up, but that it cannot work
policy) are just above nil, but that won't stop us
unless there are 3000 drivers registered? Really?
Warnings obviously mean nothing to me because
trying. Last month we wrote about the transport
We now have Hailo smiling at us from the latest
I cocked up big time since the last time we
problems expected in Auckland, New Zealand
trade press as well as Cabapp. Will they need
spoke. My TX4 was due for its overhaul and I
during the tenure of the Rugby World Cup a
3000 drivers each? And if they say they only need
took it to Hansom Cabs (formerly L&P) in
huge tournament yet still nowhere near the size
30, how will they cover any work they get?
Dunbridge Street. I didn't expect there to be
and complexity of the Olympic Games. We
Believe me, I admire the technology and in some
much wrong and indeed there wasn't. So up it
wrote about poor siting of taxi ranks in
cases the fact they have been developed by cab
went for passing the only problem was that it
Auckland after promises about how "important"
failed! Why? Well I stupidly renewed the taxi disc
drivers. But sadly, I believe they will all strangle
the taxi service would be, even though there
for twelve months and replaced the old disc with
each other
would be a big demand for cabs at the end of
the new one. The only problem was that the new
Both GetTaxi and Taxiworld's systems sound
the days' events. Buses were given the places
one started on 1 September and it was only 26
very good, but on an almost daily rate we're get-
August just prior to the Bank Holiday weekend.
where taxi ranks were expected to be sited.
ting more companies advertising apps for "black
So they failed it unless I could produce the old
We were recently sent a statement from
cabs." The app that received most publicity
one. The Hansom mechanic phoned me to ask if
Auckland City Police. I'm not sure why we got
through advertising first, LDNTaxi will also claim
I had it, but I couldn't remember which dustbin it
it, but that isn't important. It advised people on
many drivers signing up. But what about the
had gone into! Fortunately I still had the renewal
the state of transport following the All Blacks
Black Cabs app where you even get a uniform to
letter which said it was time to renew my tax. I
Tonga match at Eden Park and read:
wear! Will they run out of their black tops after
faxed it across. Surely they could phone Swansea
"Given the earlier and ongoing disruptions to
3000 drivers sign up?
for confirmation? Well, no, they couldn't or
public transport (ferries, trains and buses were
As this column pointed out last month, GetTaxi
make that the passing station wouldn't!
all delayed through rowdy behaviour) and in
are telling passengers that they can save between
The only way out was to buy another 6 months
the interests of public safety, people are advised
17 24% on the fares of the three major radio cir-
tax disc - and as it was still August it would begin
not to return to downtown unless they absolute-
cuits. What has yet to be explained to me is
from that month and then claim a refund. And
ly have to. If Eden Park patrons had a travel
where that 17% (let alone 24%) is going to come
that's what I had to do via the mechanic who for-
from? After all, you can discount any VAT as that
plan in place before tonight, think about revis-
tunately had the cab's logbook.
would be refundable and that just leaves admin-
ing it and perhaps use alternative means to get
I still think that Deptford passing station could
istration. As I have never heard of a 17% admin
home safely - ie walk with a group of friends or
have been more helpful, after all my tax usually
let alone a 24% one, it stands to reason that much
pay a little more money and use a taxi.
runs concurrently with my overhaul date and not
of that amount saved has to come off the driver's
The city is full of revellers - some of whom are
once in 40 years have I ever been pulled up for it
fare. Are we talking no gratuity and no run-in?
less well-behaved than others - and anyone who
before. Having said that, there have been warn-
Shouldn't we at least be told? In the meantime I
doesn't need to return to the city should stay
ings over the years about not throwing the old
think I'll stay where I am, thank you...
disc away until the expiry date. I hold my hands
away from it after the rugby match finishes."
up... I was stupid. I'm not sure whether that's bet-
I don't think I need to say how important we
ter or worse than Deptford's total intransigence.
will be especially after the days' events. Do you
The pipe and nothing
However, my sincere thanks to LTPH for
want to be stuck in hold-ups with the possibility
phoning me to ask if they could pass my mobile
but the pipe!
of "revellers" going into town? I don't and if just
number over to the mechanic so that he could
one taxi has serious problems involving the dri-
As Alf Townsend says in a recent issue of TAXI, he
contact me. Unlike Deptford, they obviously pos-
ver's safety because of LOCOG policy, there will
was Black 62 "with the pipe" in the days of ODRTS
sess common sense...
be a court case in the offing...
and Lords before it became Dial-a-Cab. But for
someone now so associated with the most expen-
And speaking of
sive airport taxi tariff anywhere in the world to criti-
Alan Fisher
cise the cost of taxis working in London - compared
callsignmag@aol.com
cock-ups!
to minicabs - sounds like the ramblings of someone
who had nothing to write about that month and so
Perhaps this one wasn't strictly my fault, but as
