Cabbies in the city and surrounding area

Hi all,

I'm looking to write about the weirdest and most memorable fares taxi drivers have had in this area. These could be funny stories,more serious ones, or just the downright bizarre. There is a more serious point to this though, people complain a lot about taxis and that's nothing new, but what isn't covered is the stuff that drivers often have to deal with. I guess that's a point I'd like to get across.

But for now, if you have any tales to tell then please do!

I'll be very grateful for any responses

Gareth

How about £75 one way from Cardiff to Llantwit Fardre on a rugby international day, I didn't even watch the bloody game so I tabbed home instead!

Sounds like a boring dissertation brother, good luck

My brother in law owns a taxi company and while I dislike the black cabs I've rarely had problems with private hire taxis.

Although good money I'd never want to be a taxi driver, I've heard enough stories.

My brother in law owns a taxi company and while I dislike the black cabs I've rarely had problems with private hire taxis.

Although good money I'd never want to be a taxi driver, I've heard enough stories.

It used to be good money. Since Labour changed the licensing laws the numbers have virtually doubled in most cities. In Cardiff it went from 480 to 955 Hackney Carriages, but most new ones can carry 7 passengers, so the capacity to carry more than doubled = halve the takings. Then there is the credit crunch; the smoking ban which has closed 7 licensed premises a day in the UK (the German Green Party were instrumental in bringing the ban to the EU, yet the ban was reversed in Germany as it was costing too many lost jobs); student blocks built in the city centre where they walk to and from; internet shopping rather than trips to the city centre by bus and train then home with the shopping in a taxi; and finally, there is the congestion which is being created to enable a charge to be levied on all that travel through the city centre, Grangetown or the Bay. Some of those renting work over 80 hours per week and still don't earn good money (they have large families requiring a large vehicle and they get plenty of benefits from having such a large family). There is no legislation about the number of hours worked and a tachograph wouldn't work, as the rest time waiting on ranks would mean that after a very long shift they would still be able to work.