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DRIVE A2B March 2018

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<strong>DRIVE</strong><br />

Voice of the Victorian Point-to-Point Transport Industry<br />

MARCH <strong>2018</strong><br />

NO 10<br />

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VOICE<br />

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CONTENTS<br />

WHAT’S INSIDE<br />

6 Victorian industry explosion<br />

23,880 extra Commercial Passenger Industry<br />

vehicles accredited and on the road since<br />

September 2017.<br />

10 Industry update from CPVAA<br />

CPVAA President, Rod Barton, gives us an<br />

update on what’s happening and affecting the<br />

Victorian point-to-point transport industry.<br />

16 Victoria gets green light<br />

Autonomous vehicles are now allowed to be<br />

trialled around the state.<br />

22 APPS, glorious APPS<br />

We have compiled a list of the main taxi and<br />

ride hailing apps around Australia and the<br />

world.<br />

28 Your say<br />

Letters and emails received by <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong><br />

regarding the Victorian point-to-point<br />

transport industry.<br />

36 Overseas news<br />

Snippets regarding the point-to-point industry<br />

around the world.<br />

Find us at ...<br />

Editor<br />

Mrs Toni Peters<br />

www.drivea2b.com.au<br />

<strong>DRIVE</strong><strong>A2B</strong><br />

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info@drivea2b.com.au<br />

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Trade Promotions Pty Ltd<br />

PO Box 2345, Mount Waverley Vic. 3149<br />

Advertising enquiries<br />

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P 0400 137 866<br />

E tonipeters@drivea2b.com.au ·<br />

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<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong> 3


Editorial<br />

WELCOME<br />

to the <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong> edition of<br />

<strong>DRIVE</strong><br />

Voice of the Victorian Point-to-Point Transport Industry<br />

Minister Jacinta Allan said last<br />

month that almost $400 million<br />

has been paid to taxi licence<br />

owners to make way for rideshare<br />

entities. She also stated<br />

that 4000 licence owners have<br />

been compensated as part of a<br />

$350 million package.<br />

But, what she omitted to say<br />

was that there were some 5700<br />

taxis plates on the road when the<br />

payments were made and not<br />

every plate was compensated.<br />

Some people only received<br />

compensation payment for a<br />

small portion of the total plates<br />

owned - eg metropolitan owners<br />

who had 5+ plates only received<br />

the same amount as those with 4<br />

plates - $250,000.<br />

And when she says that the<br />

compensation package was<br />

to “make way for ride share<br />

entities” she forgot to mention<br />

that the government has also<br />

removed the capping on the<br />

amount of taxi licences operating<br />

throughout Victoria.<br />

Hence we have seen an explosion<br />

of taxi licences purchased since<br />

October 2017 - an increase of<br />

2,835 in fact .<br />

So our newly named Commercial<br />

Passenger Vehicle industry now<br />

has to compete with an extra<br />

20,545 vehicles on the road<br />

plying for the same work as the<br />

previous legal 8,460 taxi and hire<br />

cars.<br />

Taxi Services Commission (TSC)<br />

Chairperson, Yehudi Blacher<br />

says, “I am pleased to see the<br />

commercial passenger vehicle<br />

industry working so well with<br />

the new laws and that there are<br />

more licensed vehicles, including<br />

Wheelchair Accessible Taxis, on<br />

the road”.<br />

“With more service providers<br />

entering the market we are also<br />

seeing increased choice and<br />

competition, which is a great<br />

outcome for consumers,” added<br />

Mr Blacher.<br />

Well, that’s great for the<br />

consumers Mr Blacher - but what<br />

is great about it for the suppliers<br />

within this industry? Where are<br />

the extra transportation jobs<br />

coming from for the operators<br />

and drivers to be able to make a<br />

living and feed their families?<br />

The TSC states that all<br />

Commercial Passenger Vehicle<br />

drivers are required to be<br />

accredited by the TSC. But at<br />

present anyone can complete<br />

4 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong>


the on-line driver application and,<br />

due to the fact that there is such<br />

a huge backlog of applications,<br />

they can actually start driving for<br />

taxis or hire cars without being<br />

accredited by the TSC.<br />

How is this fair to the travelling<br />

public? How is it safe for<br />

customers to be riding in the same<br />

vehicle as these unaccredited<br />

drivers?<br />

It’s not!<br />

These drivers should not be<br />

granted carte blanche permission<br />

to drive a commercial passenger<br />

vehicle without accreditation. It’s<br />

not right to allow that!<br />

TSC states that all vehicles<br />

operating within the commercial<br />

passenger vehicle industry must<br />

be licenced as either a Taxi or a<br />

Hire Car. Once again, this is not<br />

what is actually happening.<br />

There are still vehicles on the<br />

road with private Victorian plates<br />

operating as taxis sporting<br />

13CABS livery. There are others<br />

operating as Hire Cars who are<br />

wearing South Australian private<br />

plates and even some vehicles<br />

are operating in Melbourne metro<br />

areas with NSW HC plates.<br />

How can this be allowed to<br />

continue? Surely VicRoads needs<br />

to step in, even if TSC won’t.<br />

The Victorian state government<br />

approved a new bill last month<br />

giving VicRoads the ability to<br />

grant permits to individuals or<br />

organisations wanting to conduct<br />

on road trials of automated<br />

vehicles.<br />

All driverless vehicle trials will<br />

require a human supervisor to<br />

monitor the vehicle from either<br />

inside or outside the vehicle.<br />

Later on, when it has been<br />

established that the vehicle can<br />

drive safely, the supervisory<br />

conditions may be removed.<br />

This is a great step in the right<br />

direction. It’s fantastic to see<br />

our government embracing<br />

technology and especially one<br />

such as building and trialling<br />

autonomous vehicles.<br />

A recently study by mapping firm<br />

HERE Technologies surveyed<br />

people living within 50km of<br />

Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane,<br />

Perth and Adelaide and found that<br />

56 per cent of Australians were<br />

now considering ditching their<br />

cars in favour of other options.<br />

The report also found 71.8 per<br />

cent of Australians were willing to<br />

change their commuting habits to<br />

help relieve congestion, and 28.5<br />

per cent said they now used public<br />

transport more often than before<br />

because of the traffic.<br />

But we all must be careful in<br />

jumping on the autonomous<br />

vehicle wagon - just because they<br />

don’t have drivers in them, doesn’t<br />

mean they are more eco-friendly!<br />

In fact using autonomous vehicles<br />

could actually prove to increase<br />

road congestion rather than<br />

relieve it.<br />

Toni Peters | EDITOR<br />

Views expressed in any article in <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine are those of the individual contributor and not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher cannot accept any<br />

responsibility for any opinions, information, errors or omissions in this publication. To the extent permitted by law, the publisher will not be liable for any damages including<br />

special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages (including but not limited to economic loss or loss of profit or revenue or loss of opportunity) or indirect loss or damage of<br />

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remains with the individual contributors and may not be reproduced without permission.<br />

<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong><br />

5


INDUSTRY NEWS<br />

Victorian industry<br />

EXPLOSION<br />

23,380 extra vehicles since September 2017<br />

The table opposite shows the<br />

number of taxi and hire car<br />

vehicles licensed and on the road<br />

as at 31 January <strong>2018</strong>, together<br />

with comparative figures back to<br />

30 September 2017.<br />

As was to be expected, there has<br />

been an increase in the amount of<br />

vehicles now plying for a share of<br />

Victoria’s commercial passenger<br />

vehicle industry work.<br />

Taxis (those with a dome, decals,<br />

meter and security camera) have<br />

increased by 2,835 since the new<br />

Commercial Passenger Vehicle<br />

Industry Act 2017 (CPVIA)<br />

became law on 9 October, 2017.<br />

That’s quite a few extra vehicles<br />

that now have the appropriate<br />

fit-out and decals to operate as a<br />

taxi.<br />

Then there’s the increase in the<br />

number of Hire Cars. It has<br />

soared by 20,545 giving a total of<br />

23,369, since the CPVIA came<br />

into force. It is most likely that<br />

these extra vehicles belong to ride<br />

sharing drivers and that the<br />

majority of them belong to Uber.<br />

Now, just look at the facts.<br />

In September 2017 there were<br />

5,636 taxis providing transport to<br />

the public throughout Victoria.<br />

Not making a lot of money, drivers<br />

earning less than minimum<br />

wages, but still out there and<br />

giving service to their travelling<br />

customers. Wasn’t it bad enough<br />

that they had to compete with ride<br />

sharing entities, eg Uber? But now<br />

they have an extra 2,835 of their<br />

own out there, competing against<br />

them for the same amount of<br />

passengers, the same quantity of<br />

trips and for a share in the same<br />

money pot.<br />

Some will tell you that ridesharing<br />

entities don’t have a huge<br />

share of the Victorian Commercial<br />

Passenger Vehicle industry<br />

market, as yet. But they certainly<br />

have made a huge impact.<br />

The number of accredited<br />

Commercial Passenger Vehicle<br />

industry drivers have increased by<br />

7,104 since September last year.<br />

Again it is most probable that they<br />

are primarily ride-share drivers.<br />

Yet there is a discrepancy here. If<br />

the number of vehicles has<br />

increased by 20,545 - why has the<br />

number of drivers not increased<br />

by a similar amount? Surely all<br />

those ride-sharing vehicles have<br />

to have a different driver - the<br />

same person can’t be driving<br />

more than one vehicle. Therefore<br />

the person driving needs to be<br />

registered and accredited as a<br />

Commercial Passenger Vehicle<br />

driver.<br />

Aaron de Rozario, CEO Taxi<br />

Services Commission (TSC)<br />

advised last year that Uber had a<br />

separate portal (separate to<br />

anyone else in the taxi and hire<br />

car industry) to register their<br />

vehicles and drivers, so as to get<br />

the TSC’s records up-to-date<br />

before the end of 2017. It appears<br />

that this has not happened.<br />

The table shows that this didn’t<br />

happen for Hire Car vehicles. Only<br />

around 9,500 extra cars were<br />

registered before 31 December,<br />

2017 then a further 10,000 were<br />

added in January <strong>2018</strong>.<br />

And as far as drivers are<br />

concerned there was an increase<br />

of 3,500 prior to the end of last<br />

year, and 3,600 more were added<br />

in January 2017.<br />

6<br />

<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong>


Industry<br />

Statistics<br />

These figures are updated<br />

and published on the<br />

Taxi Services Commission’s<br />

(TSC) website<br />

VEHICLES<br />

Number of vehicles registered and accredited with TSC<br />

Zone Type 30 Sep 17 31 Oct 17 31 Dec 17 31 Jan 18<br />

Changes<br />

since<br />

30 Sep 17<br />

Metro Conventional 4,179 4,885 6,223 6,603 2,424<br />

WAT 446 473 628 545 99<br />

Total 4,625 5,358 6,751 7,148 2,523<br />

Urban Conventional 418 470 613 664 246<br />

WAT 80 87 97 100 20<br />

Total 498 557 710 764 266<br />

Regional Conventional 274 275 298 301 27<br />

WAT 75 76 85 85 10<br />

Total 349 351 383 386 37<br />

Country Conventional 129 130 137 138 9<br />

Victorian<br />

Taxi<br />

Totals<br />

WAT 35 35 35 35 0<br />

Total 164 165 172 173 9<br />

Conventional 5,000 5,760 7,271 7,706 2,706<br />

WAT 636 671 745 765 129<br />

Total 5,636 6,431 8,016 8,471 2,835<br />

Hire Cars Total 2,824 2,967 13,396 23,369 20,545<br />

Metro Taxis - Extending<br />

to Werribee in south-west;<br />

Caroline Springs, Taylors<br />

Hill & Hillside in west;<br />

Melbourne Airport & Bulla<br />

in north-west; Mickleham,<br />

Wollert & Mernda in North;<br />

Hurstbridge, Wattleglen,<br />

Kangaroo Ground, Coldstream<br />

& Lilydale in northeast; the<br />

Basin, Sherbrooke & Belgrave<br />

in east; Rowville, Wheelers<br />

Hill, Clayton, Dingley Village,<br />

Braeside, Chelsea Heights<br />

& Patterson Lakes in southeast.<br />

Urban Taxis - Dandenong,<br />

Frankston, Mornington<br />

Peninsula, Geelong, Bendigo,<br />

Ballarat<br />

Regional Taxis - Bairnsdale,<br />

Bellarine Peninsula, Torquay,<br />

Benalla, Colac, Echuca,<br />

Emerald, Hamilton, Horsham,<br />

Latrobe Valley, Melton -<br />

Bacchus Marsh, Mildura,<br />

Pakenham, Portland, Sale,<br />

Maffra, Shepparton, Sunbury,<br />

Gisborne, Woodend, Swan<br />

Hill, Wallan, Whittlesea,<br />

Broadford,Kilmore,<br />

Wangaratta, Warragul, Drouin,<br />

Warrnambool, Wodonga, Yarra<br />

Valley<br />

Country Taxis - everywhere<br />

not mentioned above<br />

<strong>DRIVE</strong>RS<br />

Number of drivers registered and accredited with TSC<br />

30 Sep 17 31 Oct 17 31 Dec 17 31 Jan 18<br />

Changes<br />

since<br />

30 Sep 17<br />

Accredited Drivers 62,076 62,868 65,543 69,180 7,104<br />

Active Taxi Drivers 16,785 16,625 16,537 16,537 -248<br />

The statistical figures<br />

on this page are as at<br />

31 January <strong>2018</strong><br />

COMPLIANCE OUTCOMES<br />

Vehicle inspections 1,614<br />

Rectification notices 88<br />

Infringement notices 22<br />

Regulation 12 notice (vehicle inspection notice) 374<br />

Official Caution (written warning) 27<br />

Defect Notice 14<br />

<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong><br />

7


So, do we now have some 12,500<br />

people out there driving<br />

passengers from point A to point<br />

B, being paid to do so, in an<br />

accredited vehicle, but without<br />

driver accreditation? It sure looks<br />

that way.<br />

Now there appears to be a huge<br />

backlog for drivers wishing<br />

to register with the TSC for<br />

accreditation. The TSC has a<br />

note on their website that says ”If<br />

you applied online, you will have<br />

received a confirmation email.<br />

This email means your application<br />

has been received and will be<br />

processed as soon as possible.”<br />

It goes on further to say ”As long<br />

as you have the confirmation email<br />

as proof that you submitted your<br />

application to the Taxi Services<br />

Commission, and you are driving a<br />

safe vehicle, you are able to drive a<br />

hire car until advised otherwise.”<br />

The TSC appears to be accepting<br />

that all applicants are honest and<br />

above-board, with no convictions<br />

or major driving offences. Is<br />

this really the right way to be<br />

addressing this situation - just<br />

blindly accepting that people are<br />

good and won’t try to rort the<br />

system?<br />

The table also shows that the<br />

number of taxi drivers who<br />

recorded at least one shift in the<br />

past year has decreased by 248,<br />

indicating that many drivers are<br />

no longer driving taxis.<br />

By the way, only taxi operators<br />

are required to notify the TSC of<br />

the number of shifts their drivers<br />

have done during the week - not<br />

Hire Cars (which includes ridesharing<br />

entities).<br />

Perhaps the drivers who hold<br />

an accreditation from the TSC,<br />

are driving ride-share vehicles,<br />

perhaps they are otherwise<br />

employed, perhaps they are<br />

unemployed. We don’t know<br />

exactly where they have gone,<br />

but one thing is for sure, taxi<br />

operators are finding it very<br />

difficult to get drivers to crew their<br />

cabs.<br />

There is a statewide shortage<br />

of people wishing to drive taxis.<br />

Many operators have less than<br />

half their taxis on the road on<br />

Friday and Saturday nights.<br />

These are peak times - the full<br />

fleet should be working, but there<br />

just aren’t enough drivers to do<br />

the work.<br />

Due to this, the Commercial<br />

Passenger Vehicle industry in<br />

Victoria is suffering, and if we<br />

don’t do something quickly and<br />

cohesively, more problems will<br />

certainly arise.<br />

JOIN<br />

CPVAA<br />

TODAY<br />

A member association<br />

looking after the interests of all within the commercial<br />

passenger vehicle industries around Australia<br />

ONLY<br />

$120<br />

per person<br />

per year<br />

JOiN US<br />

Commercial Passenger Vehicle<br />

Association of Australia<br />

for Drivers and Owners of Taxis and Hire Cars<br />

www.cpvaa.com.au<br />

8<br />

<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong>


ARE YOU<br />

PUTTING<br />

A TAXI ON<br />

THE ROAD?<br />

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CPVAA<br />

VHCA X<br />

CPVAA<br />

The Victorian Hire Car Association has been rebranded to the<br />

Commercial Passenger Vehicle Association of Australia.<br />

10 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong>


The proposed class action being<br />

led by Maurice Blackburn is<br />

progressing as expected. Everyone<br />

(including us) is anxious for things<br />

to start happening!<br />

However, it has become apparent<br />

that amongst many in the industry<br />

there is some confusion as to who<br />

is actually eligible to participate.<br />

Just to be absolutely clear:<br />

any <strong>DRIVE</strong>R, OWNER AND/OR<br />

OPERATOR who was working in<br />

the Taxi and Hire Car industry<br />

between January 1, 2013 through<br />

July 31, 2017 can sign up for this<br />

proposed class action.<br />

We must also reiterate that the<br />

class action will only proceed if<br />

there are enough participants<br />

from the industry taking part!<br />

Remember that there is NO COST<br />

TO YOU in being part of this class<br />

action. Furthermore, if per chance<br />

the class-action proves to be<br />

unsuccessful, we are protected<br />

from any out-of-pocket costs by<br />

the litigation funders.<br />

If you have any doubts or concerns<br />

regarding your eligibility, or if<br />

you wish to register your interest<br />

in participating, please contact<br />

Maurice Blackburn via email uber@<br />

mauriceblackburn.com.au or<br />

phone 1800 291 047.<br />

VH SERIES<br />

NUMBER PLATES<br />

At the time of writing, the position of<br />

the Andrews Government remains<br />

unclear regarding the VH number<br />

plates. On 30 November 2017,<br />

Minister Pulford stated in Parliament<br />

(when talking about VH plates), “No,<br />

there are no plans to make changes<br />

to those arrangements. I think the<br />

rumours are perhaps based on<br />

unfounded fears.”<br />

The Taxi Services Commission<br />

(TSC) and VicRoads conspired<br />

to discontinue issuing VH<br />

plates to Hire Car vehicle, and<br />

both the TSC and VicRoads<br />

continue to disregard Minister<br />

Pulford’s statement regarding the<br />

continuation of VH number plates.<br />

ROD BARTON<br />

President, CPVAA<br />

This simply does not make any<br />

sense! Why would you have half<br />

the industry with VH plates and<br />

the other half not? Doesn’t make<br />

sense to the industry, nor does it<br />

make sense to our customers.<br />

Mann Lawyers have sought<br />

clarification on these matters and<br />

some other issues; we have also<br />

written to Minister Allan asking<br />

for her to intervene. At the time<br />

of writing we are yet to receive<br />

a response from either of the<br />

Ministers.<br />

CLASS ACTION<br />

If you were a taxi or hire car driver, licensed holder or operator and licensed to<br />

operate in Victoria between 1 January 2013 and 31 July 2017, you can register<br />

your interest at the Maurice Blackburn website.<br />

Visit www.mauriceblackburn.com.au/uberclassaction<br />

<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong><br />

11


CPVAA continued<br />

MELBOURNE<br />

CONGESTION<br />

One of the major challenges<br />

moving forward, for those driving<br />

professionally in the taxi and hire car<br />

industries is the issue of congestion.<br />

In my own situation, my best<br />

guesstimate is that my business is<br />

down around 30% on the number of<br />

jobs that we are physically able to<br />

do, compared to 10 years ago.<br />

One of the major reasons for<br />

this is traffic congestion in and<br />

around Melbourne, which has<br />

been exacerbated by the Andrews<br />

Government’s changes to Commercial<br />

Passenger Vehicle Industry regulations.<br />

In September 2017 Melbourne’s then<br />

5,700 cabs (as per TSC website)<br />

were occupied only 28% of the time.<br />

The Andrews Labor Government<br />

then gave Ride Share providers<br />

permission to put another 18,000+<br />

vehicles on the road, predominantly<br />

around the CBD and inner suburban<br />

areas.<br />

We are now experiencing the cause<br />

and effect of this decision in more<br />

ways than one. According to Dr<br />

Leslie A Martin, Assistant Professor<br />

in Economics (University of<br />

Melbourne), traffic congestion is now<br />

costing Australia’s larger cities more<br />

than $16 billion annually.<br />

SKYRAIL<br />

The Andrews Labor Government<br />

is currently spending billions<br />

of taxpayer dollars on new<br />

infrastructure projects. One<br />

of those headline projects is<br />

the removal of 50 railway level<br />

crossings throughout Melbourne.<br />

The government claims to have<br />

identified the most ‘dangerous’ and<br />

‘congested’ crossings.<br />

But is it good value for money<br />

when addressing the problem of<br />

vehicle congestion?<br />

The Andrews Government is on<br />

track to spend at least $8 billion<br />

on this project; funded by the<br />

12 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong>


proceeds from the lease of the<br />

Port of Melbourne. However<br />

it has recently been reported<br />

that the many commuters’ time<br />

saving may be as low as only a<br />

minute!<br />

As crossings are removed it<br />

actually attracts more traffic<br />

to the area; same as when we<br />

widen freeways it attracts more<br />

vehicles.<br />

Let’s put to one side the issue<br />

of the appalling community<br />

consultation ‘efforts’ by the<br />

Andrews Government regarding<br />

an ugly concrete scar called<br />

SkyRail across Melbourne’s<br />

Bayside communities and the<br />

destruction of property values<br />

along that corridor.<br />

We certainly know a thing or<br />

two about the destruction of<br />

asset values within the Taxi and<br />

Hire Car industry and with little<br />

industry and public consultation!<br />

Yes, railway crossings should be<br />

removed and in a timely manner<br />

based on most dangerous first.<br />

But the government could have<br />

been more sensitive and shown<br />

less arrogance along the way.<br />

Consider the bigger picture; you<br />

don’t need to be a traffic engineer<br />

to know when you remove one<br />

bottle-neck, the traffic problem just<br />

moves to the next choke point.<br />

It is claimed that if traffic volumes<br />

were reduced by as little as 5%,<br />

this could improve traffic flows by<br />

as much as 50% in certain areas;<br />

similar to what we already observe<br />

during school holiday periods.<br />

Would it not have been better to<br />

invest in finding methods of getting<br />

motorists off Melbourne’s roads<br />

and encouraging people to use<br />

public transport as an alternative?<br />

The stark reality is that despite the<br />

positives to come from the level<br />

crossing removal project, not a<br />

single car or truck will be taken off<br />

Melbourne’s roads as a result, and<br />

therefore the over-arching problem<br />

is not addressed – CONGESTION!<br />

$8 billion + sure sounds like a hefty<br />

price to pay for a zero-sum benefit?<br />

Like “WHATEVER”.<br />

The Liberal Party have recently<br />

been pouring honey into the ears of<br />

our industry thinking that’s what we<br />

want to hear...so we would be all<br />

supportive of them come the state<br />

election in November.<br />

Well, just hold on a second…<br />

It is all very well and good for the<br />

opposition to yell at the Andrews<br />

Government telling them they<br />

should better compensate the taxi<br />

and hire car industry... but let’s just<br />

remember who got the ball rolling<br />

in the first place; we have been<br />

conned before!<br />

What the industry wants to know<br />

Mr. Guy... is what are you going<br />

to do about it? Send some more<br />

money our way? I won’t be sitting<br />

here holding my breath.<br />

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<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong><br />

13


ROAD SAFETY<br />

Road crashes greatest in<br />

RURAL AREAS<br />

Run-off-road crashes remain the<br />

single biggest cause of deaths on<br />

Victoria’s country roads, with all<br />

regions recording more deaths<br />

from this crash type than any<br />

other.<br />

The new road trauma data<br />

released in January <strong>2018</strong> shows<br />

that of the 155 people who died on<br />

Victoria’s rural roads last year, 109<br />

were involved in a crash where a<br />

vehicle left its lane, with 72 lives<br />

lost in single-vehicle crashes<br />

on the roadside, and 37 deaths<br />

resulting from a head-on collision.<br />

Regional Victoria remains<br />

tragically over-represented in the<br />

number of lives lost on Victorian<br />

roads.<br />

The number of people killed on<br />

rural roads increased by five in<br />

2017, from 150 to 155, while<br />

Victoria’s overall lives lost figure<br />

dipped from 290 in 2016 to 257<br />

last year.<br />

It’s not only fatalities that are overrepresented<br />

in country areas, one<br />

in five people seriously injured are<br />

on high-speed regional roads.<br />

The Victorian Government is<br />

installing more than 2000km of<br />

flexible safety barriers, which have<br />

been proven to reduce run-offroad<br />

and head-on crashes by as<br />

much as 85 per cent.<br />

Minister for Roads and Road<br />

Safety Luke Donnellan says, “We’re<br />

investing in the things we know<br />

save lives on country roads, rolling<br />

out more than 2,000 kilometres of<br />

flexible safety barriers, thousands<br />

of kilometres of rumble strips as<br />

well as new turning and overtaking<br />

lanes”.<br />

14 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong>


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16 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong>


The Victorian state government<br />

last month passed a legislation<br />

that allows driverless vehicles to<br />

be trialled across the state.<br />

Under the changes to the Road<br />

Safety Act, VicRoads will be able<br />

to grant permits to individuals<br />

or organisations wanting<br />

to conduct on road trials of<br />

automated vehicles.<br />

Minister for Roads and Road<br />

Safety Luke Donnellan, has also<br />

announced a $9 million grant<br />

program for researchers and<br />

industry, as part of the Towards<br />

Zero Road Strategy and Action<br />

Plan.<br />

Minister Donnellan said,<br />

“Victoria is at the forefront of<br />

autonomous vehicle technology<br />

and these changes will allow our<br />

best and brightest to continue<br />

to drive transport innovation.<br />

Automated vehicles are the<br />

future of road safety – that’s<br />

why we’re investing in trials and<br />

giving researchers better access<br />

to Victorian roads.”<br />

The Victorian government<br />

said that it hopes automated<br />

vehicles will be a game-changer<br />

for Victorian roads – initially<br />

reducing and ultimately<br />

eliminating human driver error.<br />

Under the new laws, all driverless<br />

vehicle trials will require a<br />

human supervisor to monitor<br />

the vehicle from either inside or<br />

outside the vehicle. Once it has<br />

been established a vehicle can<br />

drive safely, this condition may<br />

be removed to allow the vehicle<br />

to drive in automated mode in<br />

limited circumstances without a<br />

supervisor.<br />

The amendments also give<br />

Victoria Police powers to<br />

impound a driverless vehicle if<br />

it is being used without a permit<br />

– or in breach of a permit – and<br />

includes sanctions for this<br />

misuse.<br />

“This is a very straightforward<br />

bill in the sense that what<br />

it is doing is establishing a<br />

framework of permits and<br />

controls around automated<br />

vehicles,” Coalition MP David<br />

Davis said in Parliament.<br />

“It removes a number of<br />

unnecessary regulatory barriers<br />

for trials and gives legal certainty<br />

for trials so that insurance cover<br />

is available during these trials<br />

in the event of an accident or<br />

injury.”<br />

Victoria and South Australia<br />

are shaping up to be the two<br />

main contenders to become the<br />

main hub for driverless vehicle<br />

technology in Australia, and the<br />

new laws are hoping to attract<br />

companies to conduct testing<br />

in the state. There are already<br />

trials of semi-autonomous cars<br />

on EastLink and other freeways<br />

around Victoria.<br />

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<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong> 17


Uber is beginning to roll out a<br />

cheaper version of its ride-sharing<br />

UberPool service, called Express<br />

Pool. The service, which was<br />

being tested in Boston and San<br />

Francisco, is now available in Los<br />

Angeles, San Diego and Denver,<br />

and [has launched] in Miami,<br />

Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.<br />

The idea is that Express Pool,<br />

which requires riders to walk a<br />

little to meet their driver — and<br />

then again to their destination after<br />

being dropped off — will make<br />

shared rides more efficient. If it<br />

works, it should both increase the<br />

number of rides that drivers can<br />

give and also make those shared<br />

trips faster for passengers.<br />

The new service tests a theory<br />

Uber has long had: Lower prices<br />

means higher utilization, and higher<br />

utilization means more money —<br />

both for drivers and for Uber. Also<br />

that road congestion is bad and the<br />

solution is to share more rides.<br />

Those are the same theories that<br />

sparked the creation of the original<br />

UberPool service, which requires<br />

a little less walking. But the hope<br />

is that this will make it easier<br />

to match more passengers and<br />

therefore lose less money on each<br />

shared ride.<br />

How does it work for riders?<br />

After selecting Express Pool,<br />

riders will wait to be matched with<br />

another passenger. Then they<br />

walk to the pickup point, join any<br />

passengers they’ve been matched<br />

with along the way and get<br />

dropped off in the vicinity of their<br />

destination and walk the rest of the<br />

way there.<br />

None of those points are fixed, and<br />

even if you take the same trip every<br />

day there’s no guarantee that the<br />

pickup or drop-off locations will be<br />

the same, because it depends on<br />

who you’re matched with.<br />

Because the company expects<br />

utilization to go up and because<br />

you have to do a little bit more<br />

work, rides will be up to 30 percent<br />

cheaper than regular UberPool<br />

rides.<br />

How does it work for drivers?<br />

It should work roughly the same<br />

as UberPool, with one exception.<br />

Before dropping off the rider,<br />

drivers will be notified that the<br />

passenger will walk to their<br />

destination.<br />

However, some drivers who have<br />

already tried Express Pool in<br />

Boston and San Francisco have<br />

complained that passengers<br />

either don’t understand that it’s<br />

not a door-to-door service or<br />

they still insist on being picked<br />

up or dropped off in front of their<br />

location.<br />

18 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong>


EXPRESS<br />

POOL<br />

is all about getting more riders to share rides<br />

BY JOHANA BHUIYAN<br />

The new UberPool option<br />

requires riders to walk a little<br />

before and/or after their ride.<br />

“It’s much more effort, many of<br />

the intersections Uber chooses as<br />

a good Express pickup location<br />

are very dangerous, and there is<br />

no good spot to safely pull over<br />

and pick up the passenger,” Thad,<br />

a Boston driver who has been<br />

working on the Uber platform since<br />

September 2017, told Recode. “It’s<br />

more effort, more headache, more<br />

potential for complications and a<br />

bad rating over things the driver<br />

has no control of.”<br />

Drivers are still being paid per<br />

mile and per minute in addition to<br />

a base fare, as well as a fee they<br />

receive per pickup — so it’s entirely<br />

decoupled from what riders pay.<br />

Uber also recently rolled out ratings<br />

protection so drivers could not be<br />

penalized for things out of their<br />

control — such as traffic or bad<br />

navigation.<br />

What’s the upside for Uber?<br />

Higher utilization is good for Uber,<br />

period. Uber’s network will be more<br />

efficient if the supply of drivers on<br />

Uber’s platform are given more<br />

rides. The company also expects<br />

that it will help decrease how much<br />

is spent on subsidizing these rides.<br />

When calculating the upfront price<br />

of rides, Uber takes into account<br />

things like the expected time and<br />

distance, as well as the likelihood<br />

that a rider will be matched with<br />

another passenger on shared rides.<br />

If the company predicts that you<br />

will be matched with a rider, for<br />

example, it may charge you $4,<br />

with the expectation that the total<br />

fare will be $8. That doesn’t always<br />

happen, however, which causes the<br />

company to lose money on those<br />

rides. With the new Express Pool<br />

service — for which Uber has built<br />

a completely new back end that<br />

determines a shared route with<br />

you and other passengers — the<br />

company expects to be able to<br />

predict whether you get a match,<br />

with more certainty.<br />

It stands to reason that since it’s<br />

not door-to-door, it should be easier<br />

to determine routes that work for<br />

multiple passengers.<br />

Lastly, this could be a big<br />

opportunity for self-driving cars.<br />

Driverless cars don’t have to<br />

stop, so this will further increase<br />

utilization. Think about it: With<br />

Express Pool, Uber driverless cars<br />

will be able to continuously pick<br />

up multiple passengers quickly<br />

and efficiently without splitting the<br />

profits with the driver.<br />

<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong><br />

19


BOOKING APPS<br />

It’s all about<br />

THE APPS<br />

TAXIFY<br />

Taxify is the newest ride hailing<br />

app in Australia. It all began<br />

in Estonia in 2013 by Markus<br />

Villig. Taxify came to Sydney in<br />

December 2017 and is now in<br />

Melbourne offering introductory<br />

rides at 50% discount.<br />

Taxify has a commission rate of<br />

15% on all fares which is 10% less<br />

than Uber’s and therefore give<br />

the drivers more money in their<br />

pocket at the end of the day.<br />

It also claims that their fares are<br />

around 5% cheaper than Uber.<br />

However, the company does<br />

employ surge pricing, but says it<br />

will be capped at 1.5% and it won’t<br />

be introduced until mid-<strong>2018</strong>.<br />

OLA<br />

Next is Ola. Ola started in India<br />

in 2011. It now has operations in<br />

over 110 cities with 125+ million<br />

users.<br />

Bhavish Aggarwal, co-founder<br />

and CEO of Ola said, “We are<br />

very excited about launching Ola<br />

in Australia and see immense<br />

potential for the ride-sharing<br />

ecosystem with embraces new<br />

technology and innovation”.<br />

Ola is wishing to launch in<br />

Melbourne, Sydney and Perth but<br />

hasn’t received approval from<br />

any Australian states’ regulatory<br />

bodies, at this stage.<br />

It is known that in India Ola takes<br />

25% commission, but it has been<br />

rumoured that they will offer an<br />

introductory rate of just 7.5%.<br />

SHEBAH<br />

And we must remember, Shebah<br />

- ride sharing services run by<br />

women, driven by women, for only<br />

women and children passengers.<br />

Founder Georgina (George)<br />

McEnroe was worried because her<br />

eldest daughter and her friends<br />

did not feel safe in either taxis or<br />

ride-share cars. They were walking<br />

home from parties because they<br />

didn’t want to get into a stranger’s<br />

car.<br />

As she tells it, she was hauling<br />

wet clothes out of the washing<br />

machine when she thought,<br />

“I wish there was a femaleonly<br />

rideshare service.” At the<br />

same time, she thought, “I wish<br />

someone else would hang out the<br />

washing.”<br />

But George has never waited for<br />

“someone else” to do something.<br />

So she hung out the washing. And<br />

then she trudged back inside and<br />

started what is now Australia’s<br />

leading ride sharing service for<br />

women.<br />

Shebah can currently be booked<br />

in Melbourne, Geelong, Sydney,<br />

Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine<br />

Coast and Perth.<br />

SLYYK<br />

Crown Cabs has created and is<br />

launching SLYYK - an on-demand<br />

app designed to improve the<br />

image of the taxi cab Industry - in<br />

April <strong>2018</strong>.<br />

Passengers and Taxi Drivers can<br />

easily sign up to SLYYK’s premium<br />

transport service app. When<br />

passengers book a taxi with<br />

SLYYK the price is immediately<br />

calculated. Available drivers are<br />

shown on the app’s screen and<br />

you can choose the driver you<br />

want.<br />

Passengers and drivers can leave<br />

reviews on each other.<br />

With SLYYK, it is more than just<br />

getting from point A to point B. It’s<br />

about being safe and secure with<br />

a simple app in a taxi.<br />

20 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong>


<strong>2018</strong><br />

INTERNATIONAL<br />

TAXI<br />

CONFERENCE<br />

The ATIA’s annual conference will bring together all facets of<br />

the industry – taxi booking companies, small and large fleet<br />

operators, licence owners and drivers from across the country, as<br />

well as overseas - together with Australian and international suppliers<br />

showcasing their products and services.<br />

Attendees will be challenged to explore new beginnings, they will be updated<br />

on emerging global trends, encouraged to adopt the latest technological<br />

innovations, all for the end game of better taxi services for Australian<br />

communities.<br />

This year’s conference will have:<br />

• world class speakers talking on matters of consequence and interest,<br />

• leading edge technology, products and services on display in an<br />

accompanying expo,<br />

• a venue with state of the art facilities, and<br />

• a great location surrounded by a range of quality attractions that have<br />

universal appeal.<br />

27 May - 31 May <strong>2018</strong><br />

Mantra on View Hotel<br />

Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Queensland<br />

Conference registrations<br />

www.atia.com.au/conferences<br />

Enquiries<br />

about the business and social programs, or opportunities<br />

to sponsor or exhibit at the conference, please contact:<br />

Australian Taxi Industry Association<br />

ph: 07 3339 3196 | email: admin@atia.com.au<br />

SAVE $$$ - REGISTER BEFORE EARLY BIRD DEADLINE – COB 13 APRIL <strong>2018</strong>


APPS<br />

Glorious<br />

APPS!<br />

Ever wondered if Uber has any competitors? I bet you thought there were only a<br />

couple of ride sharing and taxi apps out there! No, not even close. Take a moment<br />

to read through this list and get a taste for what is happening out in app-land around<br />

the world (and this is just the tip of the iceberg).<br />

App Name<br />

No matter where you are, you can request a taxi and watch it arrive real-time.<br />

Pay by credit card or cash.<br />

Type Based<br />

in<br />

Operating where<br />

T Istanbul Istanbul and Ankara<br />

A modern carpooling app helps drivers make use of spare seats in their cars on<br />

routes they would normally take. The driver determines the price.<br />

H<br />

Paris,<br />

France<br />

UK, Belgium, Germany, Portugal,<br />

Netherlands, Turkey, Russia,<br />

Brazil, India and Mexico.<br />

Charging a fair price, improving door-to-door journey, making transport<br />

accessible to all.<br />

H<br />

Madrid,<br />

Spain<br />

Latin America, Spain, and<br />

Portugal.<br />

Their GPS ninjas automatically pick up your location and then you select your<br />

car type and choose ‘Ride now’ or ‘Ride later’. They accept cards, cash or<br />

Careem credit.<br />

H<br />

Dubai,<br />

United Arab<br />

Emirates<br />

53 cities in the Middle East,<br />

North Africa and South Asia<br />

Merged with the Way2ride app, allowing Curb to connect passengers to even<br />

more cabs and drivers across the US. Now connects to more than 100,000<br />

drivers in nearly every major metro area in the US.<br />

T<br />

New York<br />

City, New<br />

York<br />

65 US cities including NYC,<br />

Boston, Philadelphia, Miami and<br />

Las Vegas<br />

You can order taxis and private cars or hitch a ride with drivers on a similar<br />

route to you. It also has Safe Driving System (SDS) on its drivers’ app to detect<br />

dangerous driving behaviors. DiDi has massive investment and technology<br />

partnerships with six world-leading rideshare companies Lyft, Grab, Ola, Uber,<br />

99, Taxify & Careem. January <strong>2018</strong> they purchased 99 (Brazil)<br />

TH<br />

Beijing,<br />

China<br />

China and Brazil. Has over 1.5<br />

million registered taxi drivers<br />

and 300 million users in China.<br />

Connects riders with drivers on-demand. Easy Taxi provides an estimated<br />

fares prior to booking, which are charged at taxi rates.<br />

T<br />

Sao Paulo,<br />

Brazil<br />

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile,<br />

Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador,<br />

Mexico, Pana, Peru, Venezuela,<br />

Uruguay, Jordan, Saudi Arabia<br />

Flywheel TaxiOS replaces the Taximeter, DIM, Radio, Dispatch, Cashiering<br />

and more with a single mobile device. Flywheel works with hundreds of<br />

professional taxi drivers. With a tap you will hail the closest driver, regardless of<br />

taxi company.<br />

T<br />

New York<br />

City, New<br />

York, USA<br />

New York<br />

Getme Ride operates like a taxi service, but drivers are independent drivers,<br />

who are licensed by the local government and are subject to a background<br />

check. No surge pricing.<br />

H<br />

Nassau,<br />

Bahamas<br />

Bahamas and soon Jamaica<br />

An international service for calling a taxi, built on a simple idea: if it’s better to<br />

treat drivers, they will be better suited to passengers.<br />

T<br />

Tel Aviv,<br />

Israel<br />

Israel (10 cities), Russia (86<br />

cities), United Kingdom (9<br />

cities), New York<br />

Allows you to book taxis and private drivers and doesn’t charge surge pricing<br />

during peak demand periods. Also allows you to book in advance. Fare<br />

estimates are provided before you ride.<br />

TH<br />

Sydney,<br />

Australia<br />

Australia - NSW, Victoria and<br />

Queensland<br />

GoOpti is a fast growing demand responsive transportation marketplace<br />

startup, providing innovative matching of passengers for shared and private<br />

transfers between airports and remote towns/cities.<br />

H<br />

Ljubljana,<br />

Slovenia<br />

Italy, Germany, Austria, Slovenia,<br />

Hungary and Croatia.


A Technology company that offers ride-hailing and taxi logistics services<br />

through its app. You can order a taxi or private driver, hitch a ride with drivers<br />

on their daily commute, share your ride with others.<br />

TH Singapore Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia,<br />

Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines,<br />

Myanmar, Cambodia.<br />

One of Australia’s newest ridesharing apps - started in Darwin in February<br />

<strong>2018</strong>. Choice of vehicles and no surge pricing. Hi Oscar, is made in Australia<br />

for Australians by Australians.<br />

H<br />

Darwin,<br />

Australia<br />

Australia - Darwin, Alice<br />

Springs, Perth, Southwest West<br />

Australia. Soon Hobart Geelong,<br />

Launceston.<br />

HOP supports drivers by paying them higher rates compared to Uber and<br />

doesn’t charge them high commissions. Drivers also don’t need to own their<br />

own vehicles as Hertz supplies them for $6/hour.<br />

H<br />

Sydney,<br />

Australia<br />

Australia - eastern suburbs of<br />

Sydney<br />

An app that will connect you to every participating taxi in your area - ie Yellow<br />

Cabs, 13CABS, Silver Top Taxis, Black & White Cabs, Suburban Taxis and<br />

Cabcharge. You can book a taxi - now or later - select your favourite taxi<br />

network or choose the closest vacant car - get a fare estimate. If you want<br />

priority pickup you can pay a Queue Jump Fee.<br />

T<br />

Melbourne,<br />

Australia<br />

Australia - Melbourne, Sydney,<br />

Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth.<br />

Canada - Calgary, Vancouver.<br />

USA - Minneapolis.<br />

Ingogo is a fixed fare taxi app. You can book up to 48 hours in advance and<br />

know the fare before you book - all tolls and charges are included. Taxi fare<br />

payments and receipts are automated. Passengrs can even earn Qantas<br />

Frequent Flyer program points for every Ingogo trip.<br />

T<br />

Sydney,<br />

Australia<br />

Australia - Adelaide, Brisbane,<br />

Melbourne, Perth, Sydney<br />

Lyft drivers use their own cars and have the flexibility of driving whenever they<br />

want. Rides can be booked 7 days in advance. Cars display the Lyft emblem to<br />

make them easier to identify. Lyft is partnered with Didi Chuxing in China, Ola<br />

in India and Grab in Southeast Asia. A Round Up & Donate feature allows Lyft to<br />

round up the fare to the next dollar and donate the difference to charity.<br />

H<br />

San<br />

Francisco,<br />

California<br />

USA<br />

46 US states - 300 cities and<br />

District of Columbia<br />

Mytaxi was the world’s first taxi app and with 45,000 affiliated taxis and over<br />

10 million downloads to date, is now also the global market leader among taxi<br />

apps. Also mytaxi now incorporates Hailo.<br />

T<br />

Hamburg,<br />

Germany<br />

40 German cities & Vienna,<br />

Graz, Salzburg, Zurich,<br />

Barcelona, Madrid, Warsaw,<br />

Washington DC, UK, Ireland,<br />

Spain, Singapore, Japan<br />

Oiii is an app designed for taxi services - includes online security cameras; no<br />

booking fees or credit card surcharges; all automatic payments; free wifi in<br />

every Oiii branded vehicle.<br />

T<br />

Melbourne,<br />

Australia<br />

Australia - Melbourne<br />

With an easy to download app passengers and drivers alike seem to thoroughly<br />

enjoy working/participating with Ola. Enter your destination, pick your choice of<br />

ride and get instant confirmation with your ride details. Ola offers lower peak,<br />

lean fares, high quality rides and security features.<br />

H<br />

Bengaluru,<br />

India<br />

India - Bangalore, Pune plus 71<br />

more cities. Australia - Perth.<br />

Soon to Melbourne and Sydney<br />

The 13CABS taxi app allows you to choose from a wide range of vehicles<br />

- sedans, wagons, Silver Service, MAXI Taxis, Private Hire and wheelchair<br />

accessible taxis. The app can estimate your fare, track your vehicle location<br />

and take payment for your ride.<br />

T<br />

Melbourne,<br />

Australia<br />

Australia - Melbourne, Adelaide,<br />

Newcastle, Sydney, Hobart,<br />

Alice Springs.<br />

They are a proud network of motivated women determined to make a<br />

difference. Shebah does extended checks on vehicles and drivers. They have<br />

peak and off peak fare prices. All women drivers who transport women and<br />

children to their destinations. Many of their cars are fitted with child and baby<br />

seats. The first 1% of all fares goes to charity.<br />

H<br />

Melbourne,<br />

Australia<br />

Australia - Melbourne, Geelong,<br />

Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Gold<br />

Coast and Sunshine Coast.<br />

Soon in Hobart, Darwin &<br />

Adelaide.<br />

SheSafe is all about the safety of all their drivers and passengers and it’s their<br />

objective to provide a safe and comfortable ride sharing service driven by<br />

women for women and children passengers. All drivers must have a police<br />

check and a Working with Children’s Certificate.<br />

H<br />

Melbourne,<br />

Australia<br />

Australia - Melbourne<br />

metropolitan<br />

SLYYK is servicing a traditional industry in a contemporary age. SLYYK<br />

strives to ensure that when you request a SLYYK ride you do so with complete<br />

confidence and no concerns of unacceptable service.<br />

T<br />

Melbourne,<br />

Australia<br />

Trialing regional Victoria, soon<br />

to be launched in metropolitan<br />

Melbourne.<br />

Taxify is one of the newest ride share services to enter the Australian market.<br />

Driver’s contact details are displayed and passengers can rate them at the end<br />

of the trip. Pay cash or via credit card on the app.<br />

H<br />

Tallinn,<br />

Estonia<br />

20 countries worldwide,<br />

including Africa, Middle East,<br />

Central America, Canada,<br />

Australia - Sydney & Melbourne<br />

The Silver Top Taxi app puts you in direct communication with your driver.<br />

From Maxi Taxis to luxury Silver Service vehicles, you can book in advance or<br />

for asap with the click of a button. The app has real-time taxi tracking with Call<br />

On Approach and Text On Approach functions.<br />

T<br />

Melbourne,<br />

Australia<br />

Australia - Melbourne and<br />

Sydney<br />

The Uber app matches you with a nearby driver to take you wherever you want<br />

to go. You will always see the price up front, but watch out for the price surge<br />

nominator. You’ll see your driver’s picture and vehicle details, and can track<br />

their arrival on the map.<br />

H<br />

San<br />

Francisco,<br />

California,<br />

USA<br />

83 countries -<br />

674 cities world-wide<br />

TYPE T= Taxi service | H = Hire car service (includes ride sharing and ride sourcing services)


VTHF<br />

Point to Point industry<br />

IN SHAMBLES<br />

The taxi and hire car industry<br />

was an alternative way for<br />

many people to start their own<br />

business and provide an essential<br />

service in the realm of the public<br />

transport sector. In effect they<br />

paid for a career by purchasing a<br />

licence and securing their future.<br />

There was structure and a sense<br />

of confidence for both taxi drivers<br />

and passengers that made it a<br />

viable industry.<br />

That was up until August 2017,<br />

when that dream was turned into<br />

a nightmare with no ending. With<br />

a stroke of a pen many peoples’<br />

lives had been drastically and<br />

unfairly affected and a viable<br />

industry turned into shambles.<br />

The levelling of the playing field<br />

was done with a bulldozer and<br />

anyone or anything in its way was<br />

never to be the same. There were<br />

protests made and politicians<br />

approached prior to the reforms,<br />

but unfortunately this fell on<br />

stone deaf ears and hard hearts.<br />

The point to point industry is now<br />

in such disarray due to the lack<br />

of foresight by a government that<br />

made decisions on the run.<br />

With a multitude of vehicles on<br />

the road vying for business and<br />

a lack of structure within the<br />

industry, participants feel a void<br />

that will never be filled.<br />

The harsh decision at decimating<br />

an industry and destroying<br />

peoples’ lives was totally<br />

unnecessary. The revocation<br />

of an asset without any proper<br />

buyback has never happened<br />

before. However in the state of<br />

Victoria it has now happened. The<br />

point to point industry in Victoria<br />

has been turned on its head with<br />

the regulators not even sure what<br />

to do.<br />

There were many choices<br />

available for the government to<br />

make for the taxi and hire car<br />

industry. The decision taken<br />

was one of decimation and<br />

destruction of peoples’ lives. This<br />

is not what a government is voted<br />

for, nor for anyone to be treated in<br />

this way.<br />

Embassy<br />

Cafe<br />

WE’re open<br />

WE NEVER CLOSE<br />

547 Spencer Street<br />

West Melbourne<br />

VISIT US FOR THE BEST BURGERS IN TOWN<br />

24 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong>


WIN<br />

DOUBLE PASS<br />

THE WIZARD OF OZ<br />

The world’s favourite musical is returning to Melbourne<br />

at the Regent Theatre, Melbourne, from 15 May 2017<br />

Australia’s leading musical theatre star Anthony Warlow<br />

plays The Wizard and Professor Marvel, while Lucy<br />

Durack will play Glinda the Good Witch, and Jemma<br />

Rix will be The Wicked Witch of the West. Rising star<br />

Samantha Dodemaide breaks out of the chorus to wear<br />

the ruby slippers of Dorothy Gale. Eli Cooper will play<br />

the role of the Scarecrow, Alex Rathgeber will play the<br />

Tin Man, and John Xintavelonis will play the Lion.<br />

Developed from the ever-popular MGM screenplay,<br />

the London Palladium production of The Wizard of Oz<br />

contains the beloved Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg<br />

songs from the Oscar®-winning movie score, all the<br />

favourite characters and iconic moments, plus a few<br />

surprises along the way, including new songs by Tim<br />

Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.<br />

Click your heels together and join Scarecrow, Tin Man,<br />

Lion, Dorothy and her little dog Toto, as they journey<br />

through the magical land of Oz to meet the Wizard and<br />

obtain their hearts’ desires.<br />

WIN<br />

DOUBLE PASS<br />

THE WIZARD OF OZ<br />

All you need to do is answer these three questions.<br />

1. What is the name of the song that was made<br />

famous in the Wizard of Oz - one of the mostbeloved<br />

songs of all time!<br />

2. What is the name of Dorothy’s home town?<br />

3. The name of Dorothy’s dog?<br />

Send your answers, name and address to<br />

info@drivea2b.com.au or sms 0400137866.<br />

The first five correct answers will win a double pass to see the<br />

production of The Wizard of Oz on stage at the Regent Theatre.<br />

<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong> 25


RUMOUR MILL<br />

What<br />

we hear<br />

Are these rumours, fiction or the<br />

truth hidden in plain sight?<br />

Colleen<br />

Furlanetto has<br />

joined the TSC as a<br />

Commissioner with a<br />

special focus on disability<br />

issues. Ms Furlanetto is<br />

currently the Chair of the<br />

Victorian Disability<br />

Advisory Council.<br />

Melbourne Airports<br />

says that the delays in<br />

taxis reaching the terminals<br />

to collect passengers, was due<br />

to taxi shortage - not possible!<br />

More likely due to encouraging<br />

the public to take an Uber<br />

vehicle.<br />

On the roads we have cars purporting to be Hire Cars,<br />

yet they are displaying South Australian number plates - not VH<br />

plates - not Victorian number plates. How can these vehicles be licensed to<br />

ply for work as a Victorian Hire Car? Is this the TSC turning another<br />

blind eye to a licensing situation?<br />

When the<br />

Highway Patrol team<br />

goes to the Uber Australia<br />

pickup zone at Melbourne<br />

Airport, it will find that every<br />

driver will be on their mobile<br />

while in control of a vehicle.<br />

Will the drivers be fined?<br />

Or are they somehow<br />

above the law?<br />

There are also a few<br />

NSW hire cars running<br />

around Melbourne metro and<br />

they are sporting the home<br />

town plates HC .... Again,<br />

how can this be allowed?<br />

A Victorian<br />

CPVI entity<br />

is wishing to onsell<br />

their fleet of<br />

63 cars and we hear<br />

that an interstate<br />

company has been<br />

approached.<br />

BE PART OF THE STORY<br />

Melbourne<br />

Airport will soon be<br />

using eTAGS instead of<br />

Swipe Cards for access<br />

to the taxi holding<br />

system.<br />

Join the Conversation<br />

<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> loves hearing what you think<br />

about the magazine, your taxi owner or driver,<br />

your network service provider, or just taxis in<br />

general.<br />

Email <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> at info@drivea2b.com.au or<br />

sms <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> at 0400 137 866.<br />

Remember to include your name, address<br />

and phone number for authentication.<br />

26 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong>


SELF DRIVING CARS<br />

Hi def maps<br />

for autonomous vehicles<br />

Self-driving cars are on the horizon,<br />

but the technology requires<br />

sophisticated maps to ensure<br />

that vehicles can navigate the<br />

roads safely. An AV needs more<br />

information than a human driver or<br />

a pedestrian, so various sensors and<br />

high-definition cameras are being<br />

used to chart the country’s highways<br />

and byways.<br />

According to Bloomberg, Google is<br />

working on a 3D mapping project<br />

that would capture the landscape of<br />

hazards that a vehicle may face in<br />

much greater detail. The project goes<br />

way beyond what’s currently available<br />

via Google Maps, but it’s also distinct<br />

from the high-definition maps being<br />

created by Alphabet subsidiary<br />

Waymo.<br />

Maps for self-driving cars will<br />

also need to be updated far more<br />

frequently. It’s crucial that vehicles<br />

know about new roads and<br />

temporary obstacles like construction<br />

projects.<br />

As self-driving technology continues<br />

to evolve, we’ll get a better idea of the<br />

specific information these vehicles<br />

need in order to operate, and the best<br />

method of producing the required<br />

maps.<br />

However, it’s clear that whoever<br />

emerges as the go-to supplier of<br />

maps for autonomous vehicles<br />

stands to make a lot of money. If<br />

self-driving cars take off as they’re<br />

expected to, the automotive industry<br />

will be reliant on these maps for the<br />

foreseeable future, so competition is<br />

set to be fierce.<br />

SLYYK<br />

revolutionising the taxi cab industry<br />

SLYYK is an app for taxis. Any taxi - any place -<br />

anywhere - any time - any company.<br />

SLYYK has made it easier and safer to handle<br />

your money - Accept cash, eftpos or credit card.<br />

Drivers’ Incentive Scheme - 2% of all credit card<br />

payments goes back to the driver.<br />

Two Way Rating - drivers and passengers are<br />

required to rate each other after the trip.<br />

LAUNCHING IN APRIL <strong>2018</strong><br />

SLYYK Is Simple, Safe & Secure!<br />

DOWNLOAD<br />

THE APP<br />

TODAY!<br />

<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong><br />

27


HAVE<br />

YOUR<br />

SAY<br />

Send your thoughts to us!<br />

Send your email (info@<strong>DRIVE</strong><strong>A2B</strong>.com.au) or<br />

sms (0400 137 866) to us and we shall print<br />

it here - where you can HAVE YOUR SAY!<br />

Love the magazine<br />

BY MANZOOR<br />

Good to see <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine.<br />

I registered for Uber Class Action<br />

today knowing through <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong>.<br />

I carry useful information for taxi<br />

stakeholders. I love to read each<br />

magazine. Not sure where I can get<br />

one each month.<br />

You can get your own personal copy of<br />

<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> mailed to you directly for one<br />

year for just $45. Simply send your mailing<br />

details to info@drivea2b.com.au or sms<br />

0400 137 866. ~ Ed.<br />

Melbourne<br />

Airport refunds<br />

BY J SMYTHE<br />

Melbourne Airport gaining lots of income from the<br />

now defunct taxi parking system - whereby you had<br />

to have dollars on your Access Card to be able to go<br />

through the “snail trail” to pickup customers from the<br />

terminals.<br />

Refunds had to be collected by the end of February<br />

<strong>2018</strong>. Too bad if you didn’t get your claim submitted<br />

on time. And what about all those who only had a<br />

couple of dollars left on the card? They probably<br />

didn’t worry about completing and lodging the form to<br />

get their refund.<br />

Melbourne Airport wins again!!<br />

CityLink charges<br />

BY T LIYANAGE<br />

Since the introduction of the new CityLink gantry at Melbourne Airport Melrose Lounge Taxi Holding<br />

Area - drivers have been checking their CityLink account more carefully.<br />

Some taxi drivers have found that the number of trips charged is correct, but the values are not.<br />

One driver even challenged CityLink three times on this and the overcharge has been refunded to him<br />

every time.<br />

So I suggest to all drivers:-<br />

1. Check your CityLink statement very carefully<br />

2. If you have been overcharged - make the effort to get back what is rightfully yours.<br />

28 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong>


VTA no longer represents Metro<br />

BY J GLAZEBROOK<br />

I am not surprised to hear that<br />

the Victorian Taxi Association<br />

(VTA) will no longer represent<br />

the interests of metropolitan<br />

taxi businesses or city taxi<br />

drivers. In my opinion, the VTA<br />

emphatically failed taxi drivers<br />

and taxi businesses; without<br />

qualification in this state (see "<br />

VTA NOW NON- METRO", <strong>DRIVE</strong><br />

<strong>A2B</strong>, February <strong>2018</strong>). The only<br />

interests represented by the VTA<br />

were self-interest.<br />

The VTA failed to organise any<br />

effective campaigns against the<br />

deregulation of the Victorian<br />

taxi industry. Instead the VTA,<br />

like other taxi groups, collected<br />

money from stakeholders to<br />

pay "con men", and lawyers, to<br />

fight for compensation through<br />

the courts with innocuous<br />

litigation. All up, I estimate that<br />

hundreds of thousand dollars<br />

of stakeholders’ money was<br />

wasted (stolen?) on legal actions<br />

by both the VTA and other taxi<br />

stakeholder groups.<br />

Many taxi industry stakeholders<br />

were misinformed by VTA<br />

officials about politics in<br />

Victoria. We were told to lobby<br />

our local MPs and to pay<br />

lawyers and barristers to act<br />

for us. We were advised not<br />

to blockade city streets and<br />

tollways.<br />

During this time, none of the<br />

former VTA officials ever helped<br />

organize resistance campaigns<br />

(industrial action) against taxi<br />

industry deregulation. VTA<br />

officials deliberately kept taxi<br />

stakeholders trapped within a<br />

strategy that had absolutely no<br />

impact on government policy<br />

although it resulted in many<br />

hundreds of thousands of<br />

dollars being collected and not<br />

accounted for.<br />

The VTA's main role has been to<br />

facilitate government policy for<br />

the commercial interests of its<br />

financial backers, 13Cabs and<br />

Silver Top Taxis and Cabcharge.<br />

Private<br />

plated<br />

taxi<br />

BY AZIF<br />

February <strong>DRIVE</strong><br />

<strong>A2B</strong> told us that<br />

1HZ4VT was on the<br />

road operating like a<br />

taxi (decals, dome,<br />

meter, camera). I<br />

think this is probably<br />

Black Cabs’ version<br />

of Uber.<br />

Need<br />

LEGAL<br />

assistance?<br />

AMS<br />

LAW<br />

Serving the Taxi Industry<br />

for over 30 years<br />

• Business<br />

• Commercial<br />

• Conveyancing<br />

• Estate Planning<br />

• Family<br />

• Litigation<br />

• Probate<br />

• Taxation<br />

• Superannuation<br />

Adams Maguire Sier<br />

176 Upper Heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe<br />

Email: amsr@amslaw.com.au | Phone: 9497 2622<br />

<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong><br />

29


Victorian regulator<br />

TSC<br />

UPDATE<br />

IS YOUR CAMERA WORKING?<br />

TAXI <strong>DRIVE</strong>RS AND OPERATORS MUST ENSURE THE<br />

CAMERA IS OPERATING AT ALL TIMES<br />

Taxis licensed to operate in the<br />

metropolitan and urban taxi zones<br />

must be fitted with a camera system<br />

approved by the TSC.<br />

The camera system must have a<br />

visual indicator showing when the<br />

camera is operational and when there<br />

is a malfunction.<br />

The indicator light must be clearly<br />

visible to the driver when seated in<br />

the normal driving position.<br />

The operation of the light indicates<br />

the status of the system.<br />

• Green – indicates normal<br />

operation.<br />

• Single Red flash then Green<br />

flashing – indicates the system<br />

has received a valid trigger.<br />

• Red Flashing – indicates a<br />

system fault.<br />

• Simultaneous Red and Green<br />

Flash (every six seconds)<br />

indicates the system is asleep.<br />

• No light – no power, system<br />

fault.<br />

If the indicator light does not<br />

operate or is showing a colour other<br />

than green, then the taxi must be<br />

presented to a technician authorised<br />

by the camera supplier for repairs<br />

and/or servicing.<br />

TSC FREE security camera<br />

checks<br />

The audit includes assessment<br />

of camera memory storage and<br />

alignment but does not include<br />

repairs or maintenance.<br />

To make a booking call the Quality<br />

Assurance Centre on 9338 0093.<br />

It is illegal to operate a taxi fitted<br />

with a security camera system that<br />

is not fully functional. Operators and<br />

drivers have responsibilities to ensure<br />

the security camera fitted in the taxi<br />

is operating as required at all times.<br />

Fines and rectification notices will be<br />

issued to any driver and/or operator<br />

found to have a security camera not<br />

working properly.<br />

APPROVED<br />

CAMERAS<br />

There are currently<br />

only two suppliers<br />

of approved Taxicab<br />

security camera<br />

systems, that are<br />

available for purchase.<br />

1. G60DT (X5-Lite)<br />

by Streamax<br />

Ph: 0431 391 376<br />

and<br />

2. 13CABSi<br />

by 13CABS<br />

Ph: 02 9277 3700<br />

The VerifEye TaxiCam<br />

Mark 4 and 5 can no<br />

longer be purchased.<br />

30 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong>


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<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong> 31


Interstate<br />

News<br />

NEW SOUTH WALES<br />

Fare Levy collection has begun<br />

QUEENSLAND<br />

Any vehicle being used to provide a<br />

booked hire service (excluding taxis and<br />

limousines) must display the appropriate<br />

booked hire service identification sign.<br />

Unlike taxis and limousines, booked hire<br />

vehicles do not have distinctive number<br />

plates to aid in identification so clear<br />

signage is required.<br />

The signage will assist passengers to<br />

identify their booked hire vehicle and<br />

assist the Department of Transport and<br />

Main Roads (TMR) compliance officers<br />

and the<br />

Queensland<br />

Police Service<br />

to undertake<br />

their duties<br />

by being able<br />

to identify<br />

vehicles.<br />

Separate signs<br />

must be displayed for each booking entity.<br />

The booking entity is required to notify<br />

TMR of the sign they propose to use before<br />

issuing you – the driver - with your booked<br />

hire vehicle sign.<br />

The NSW Government started collecting a passenger<br />

service levy placed on all taxi and rideshare journeys in NSW<br />

from 1 February <strong>2018</strong>. Passengers will be required to pay<br />

$1.10 (incl. GST) on all applicable journeys.<br />

NSW Taxi Council CEO, Mr Martin Rogers said that “the<br />

Passenger Service Levy has been introduced by the NSW<br />

Government to recover industry assistance funds that<br />

have been provided to members of the NSW taxi industry<br />

who have been adversely affected as a result of the recent<br />

Government reforms that were made to the Point to Point<br />

Transport industry.”<br />

The first instalment of the promised assistance payments<br />

were minimal in comparison to the loss in equity that plate<br />

owners across NSW have endured. Not only was the initial<br />

compensation funding a drop in the ocean for many people,<br />

the Australian Taxation Office then taxed these payments,<br />

leaving many still hundreds of thousands of dollars out of<br />

pocket.<br />

Mr Rogers added that “There are a number of inequities<br />

that still exist between Taxis and Rideshare Providers,<br />

such as Uber. These inequities are making it almost<br />

impossible for taxis to be able to compete. The significant<br />

gap in CTP Green Slip costs is a prime example of this with<br />

Taxis required to pay over $7,500 per car per year versus<br />

approximately $500 for Rideshare Operators.”<br />

The NSW Taxi Council is calling on the NSW Government<br />

to fix these issues and remove the inequities that exist, to<br />

enable taxis to compete on a level playing field.<br />

32 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong>


WEST AUSTRALIA<br />

10% Levy in danger of being blocked<br />

The WA Liberals aren’t satisfied<br />

with having treated those who<br />

invested in the WA taxi industry<br />

shamefully - they are now<br />

opposing the McGowan Labor<br />

Government’s 10% levy to fund a<br />

taxi licence plate buy-back.<br />

The previous Barnett Liberal<br />

government didn’t lift a finger<br />

when Uber arrived in WA – they<br />

let them enter the taxi industry<br />

unencumbered – while they<br />

enforced regulations ensuring that<br />

taxis installed security cameras<br />

and allowed only a limited number<br />

of taxis on the road.<br />

They didn’t act in the best interests<br />

of the investors, operators and<br />

drivers, who had put their blood,<br />

sweat and tears into making a<br />

business for themselves within<br />

this taxi industry.<br />

The Liberals have been ousted<br />

from government and now Labor<br />

has to try and fix up the chaos left<br />

behind.<br />

The proposed 10% levy would<br />

raise enough money over four<br />

years, around $120 million, to be<br />

able to offer taxi plate owners<br />

a buy-back price of $225,000<br />

per plate, but the Liberals are<br />

opposing this stating that this is<br />

a new tax that the public cannot<br />

afford.<br />

Premier Mark McGowan expects<br />

those within the WA taxi industry<br />

to lobby others to support the<br />

buy-back proposal. But there’s<br />

just one catch. The industry has<br />

become so fragmented that it no<br />

longer has a powerful voice to be<br />

heard.<br />

NORTHERN TERRITORY<br />

Hi Oscar is the first rideshare company in the Northern Territory<br />

BY JESSE THOMPSON<br />

After protracted drafting of<br />

legislation that ultimately saw<br />

Uber back away from the Northern<br />

Territory, ridesharing has finally<br />

launched in Alice Springs and<br />

Darwin.<br />

Good news - Hi Oscar does not<br />

have surge pricing. “We have one<br />

fare, which is the same fare at<br />

all times of the day and night,” Hi<br />

Oscar co-founder Dan Broughton<br />

said.<br />

The co-founder’s calculations<br />

suggest local fares will be 35 to 40<br />

per cent cheaper than a taxi.<br />

A flat fee of $1.20 per kilometre<br />

and 40 cents for each minute<br />

spent in a Hi Oscar vehicle is<br />

added to a base fee of $2.30.<br />

Comparatively, a Darwin taxi<br />

fare will cost you a base fee of<br />

$5.40 and $1.54 per kilometre<br />

travelled and 10 cents for every<br />

6.5 seconds the taxi is idle on top<br />

of that.<br />

Mr Broughton said a Hi Oscar fare<br />

from the airport into the city would<br />

cost about $20, however the app<br />

suggested the fare would cost<br />

closer to $25.<br />

A taxi fare estimate placed the<br />

same trip at $25 to $30 at the<br />

same time, but would cost more<br />

after 6:00pm.<br />

Although he’s currently focusing<br />

on Alice Springs and Darwin,<br />

Mr Broughton said he hoped to<br />

expand the service into other<br />

parts of the Territory.<br />

NT taxi councils have generally<br />

been unhappy throughout the<br />

drafting of rideshare legislation<br />

and they are also concerned the<br />

playing field is not level..<br />

In the legislation annual licence<br />

fees have been slashed from<br />

about $20,000 to $5,000 in Darwin<br />

and $16,000 to $4,000 in Alice<br />

Springs. But a $1 levy to make up<br />

the shortfall will be passed on to<br />

passengers.<br />

<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong><br />

33


Autonomous swarming<br />

ELECTRIC PODS<br />

BY JOHN VOELCKER<br />

halfway between train and car?<br />

There are cars and trucks, and then<br />

there are trains and buses.<br />

While multi-seat vans and wagons<br />

can serve the purpose of buses<br />

carrying multiple unrelated people,<br />

a California company has come up<br />

with an entirely new concept.<br />

The Dubai Roads and Transport<br />

Authority (RTA) announced [last<br />

month] it would test what maker<br />

Next Future Corporation calls the<br />

world’s first autonomous electric<br />

transport pods.<br />

Running in dedicated lanes, the<br />

NX1 pods are intended for shortand<br />

medium-distance trips.<br />

Pods can couple themselves<br />

together within 15 seconds to<br />

form a sort of train, with one or<br />

more then uncoupling to head for<br />

different destinations in as little as<br />

5 seconds.<br />

Cameras and electromechanical<br />

linking devices control the coupling<br />

and uncoupling, and safety<br />

systems using the cameras and<br />

other sensors are said to guard<br />

against crashes.<br />

Each of the Italian-built pods—<br />

which measure 2.8 metres long<br />

and high by 2.2 metres wide—can<br />

carry up to 10 people and weighs<br />

1500 kgs.<br />

They are electrically powered at<br />

an average speed of 20 km/h,<br />

faster than walking speed although<br />

slower than cars in unobstructed<br />

traffic.<br />

The battery, of unspecified<br />

capacity, is said to provide about<br />

3 hours of operation and require a<br />

6-hour recharging time, presumably<br />

without benefit of DC fast charging.<br />

The transit authority’s test of the<br />

pods is one of numerous efforts<br />

toward a goal of making one<br />

out of every four trips in Dubai<br />

autonomous by 2030.<br />

34 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong>


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<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong> 35


Overseas News<br />

ARIZONA<br />

Google’s autonomous driving company Waymo<br />

will soon make its official debut as a full-scale<br />

service on public streets. Arizona gave Waymo<br />

Transportation Network Company (TNC)<br />

status on January 24, <strong>2018</strong>. The company is<br />

assembling a fleet consisting of thousands of<br />

self-driving Chrysler Pacifica minivans.<br />

Waymo has been testing in Arizona since April<br />

2017, where select Phoenix residents were given<br />

24/7 access to the taxi service for free. The<br />

fleet is composed of Pacifica Hybrid models,<br />

which are actually plug-in hybrids that have<br />

an all-electric range of 33 miles. At first there<br />

were engineers in the driver’s seats, but starting<br />

in November 2017 the hailed vehicles were<br />

driverless.<br />

With its new TNC status, Waymo can start<br />

charging riders for its service, which will be<br />

accessed from a computer or an app. This could<br />

spell trouble for Uber, a company with serious<br />

self-driving aspirations of its own, and Lyft. This<br />

came prominently to light when Waymo filed a<br />

massive lawsuit against its rival. It accused Uber<br />

of stealing intellectual property relating to selfdriving<br />

technology.<br />

The conflict lasted over a year, and ended with<br />

the order for Uber to give Waymo a 0.34-percent<br />

equity stake in the company. At an estimated<br />

$72 billion value, Waymo’s settlement is worth<br />

close to a quarter of a billion dollars.<br />

UNITED ARAB<br />

EMIRATES<br />

A Middle Eastern taxi app has signed up<br />

almost 1,000 Saudi women for training in<br />

anticipation of the ban on women driving<br />

being lifted later this year.<br />

The new drivers have been hired by<br />

Careem, a UAE-based ride hailing<br />

company with millions of users in<br />

neighbouring Saudi Arabia.<br />

“We are very excited about this June, it is<br />

a big milestone for the country. We have<br />

already started training female [drivers]<br />

and we hope to get up to 100,000 on<br />

board within a year,” co-founder Magnus<br />

Olsson said in a recent interview.<br />

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman, at the behest<br />

of his son, Crown Prince Mohammed<br />

bin Salman, has issued a raft of royal<br />

decrees in recent months designed to<br />

liberalise some of the Islamic kingdom’s<br />

conservative laws.<br />

Public transport is basically non-existent<br />

in the Kingdom, which to date has given<br />

ride hailing apps such as Careem and<br />

Uber a captive market. Up to 70 per<br />

cent of Careem users in the country are<br />

women, and 80 per cent of Uber rides are<br />

ordered by women.<br />

Reuters<br />

36 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong>


SOUTH KOREA<br />

Among foreign tourists, Seoul<br />

taxis are notorious for refusing<br />

services past midnight and<br />

driving recklessly. But taxis with<br />

marked “International Taxi” enjoy<br />

a reputation for friendly and<br />

superior service.<br />

Providing services in English,<br />

Chinese and Japanese, Seoul’s<br />

foreign-language taxi fleet has<br />

been part of the city’s key strategy<br />

to boost tourism and attract more<br />

foreigners.<br />

However, the system of citylicensed<br />

cabs faces an uncertain<br />

future due to low profitability,<br />

threatening the jobs of nearly 400<br />

cabbies, who are experienced<br />

drivers recruited through<br />

language tests and who take<br />

pride in their work helping tourists<br />

understand the city better.<br />

Apparently Seoul is pursuing<br />

a complete privatization of<br />

International Taxi operations,<br />

aiming eliminate the annual<br />

subsidy of some $490,000 that it<br />

has been providing since 2009.<br />

The subsidy is vital for the<br />

seven local taxi companies and<br />

private for-hire drivers selected<br />

as International Taxi service<br />

providers to cover operational<br />

costs, including hiring help<br />

desk operators based on site at<br />

Incheon and Gimpo international<br />

airports.<br />

A total of 366 International Taxis<br />

are currently in operation in Seoul<br />

-- 182 of them are companyowned,<br />

while 184 are private hire<br />

cars, according to the city.<br />

BAK SE-HWAN<br />

CANADA<br />

Nearly 300 taxi drivers have<br />

signed a petition, fronted by a<br />

letter to city council detailing<br />

what they call a lopsided<br />

regulatory and fee system that<br />

favours non-taxi drivers.<br />

They say the presence of rideshare<br />

companies such as Uber,<br />

with its lower overhead and<br />

cheaper fares, are making life<br />

as a cabbie untenable.<br />

A limit on the number of cabbie<br />

licences that doesn’t exist for<br />

ride-hailing outfits and a host of<br />

other unfavourable and pricey<br />

regulations is also cutting into<br />

taxi drivers’ revenues, they say.<br />

Ride-share trips doubled from<br />

90,175 in January 2017 to<br />

215,140 in September, while taxi<br />

rides fell.<br />

But it’s a decline that began<br />

before the advent of appaccessed<br />

ride share outfit<br />

Uber, with taxi revenues based<br />

on distance tumbling from<br />

$10,488,078 in September 2015<br />

to $8,876,873 exactly two years<br />

later.<br />

The cabbies’ grievances have<br />

merit, for the most part, said<br />

Councillor Shane Keating.<br />

“The taxis actually have a few<br />

more privileges allowing them<br />

to have a wider spectrum, but<br />

that doesn’t take away from the<br />

fact they have more fees and<br />

regulations,” he said.<br />

Mandatory inspections facing<br />

cabbies don’t exist for rideshare<br />

services, while taxi<br />

operators must pay licensing<br />

fees up front, something their<br />

rivals can duck, said Keating.<br />

<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong><br />

37


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<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong> 39


Major<br />

Events<br />

FORMULA 1 <strong>2018</strong> ROLEX<br />

AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX<br />

22-25 <strong>March</strong><br />

There is only one race the whole world is watching. The<br />

Formula 1® Australian Grand Prix is the ultimate playground<br />

for the world’s biggest stars.<br />

The spectacular setting of Albert Park Melbourne is the<br />

perfect place to begin a new and exciting season of Formula<br />

1. The circuit, which lies between artificial lakes and cricket<br />

fields, combines fast straights and very demanding slowspeed<br />

turns, offering numerous overtaking opportunities for<br />

drivers and thrilling action for passionate fans.<br />

You will enjoy the electrifying atmosphere as Australia’s very<br />

own Daniel Ricciardo vies for a podium spot in front of his<br />

home crowd.<br />

Whether you are a motorsport fan after full throttle, or want<br />

to soak in the glamour of this star-studded event, the <strong>2018</strong><br />

Formula 1® Australian Grand Prix presents something for<br />

everyone as it takes excitement and opulence to the next<br />

level.<br />

40 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong>


9-12 <strong>March</strong><br />

Inverloch JAZZ FESTIVAL<br />

​Celebrating 25 years of jazz by the sea!​<br />

TICKET PRICES<br />

full details and bookings at www.inverlochjazzfestival.com<br />

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FRIDAY NIGHT ONLY (7.30pm – 10.30pm) $35<br />

SATURDAY or SUNDAY - FULL day pass 11am - 11pm $50<br />

YOUNG PEOPLE (16 years & under)<br />

Community Grand Parade, Saturday 10am<br />

Church Service, Salvo Bigband, Sunday 9:30am<br />

Jazz in the Glade, Monday 11am - 4pm<br />

Showcasing all types of jazz in three convenient, comfortable venues right in the heart of Inverloch! Food, coffee and<br />

wine are available from local cafes, restaurants and pubs. The Hub and Warrawee also provide catered gourmet produce.<br />

Inverloch is only two hours from Melbourne on easy-driving highways. Don’t turn off for Phillip Island but continue to<br />

Wonthaggi, and then to Inverloch.<br />

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9 – 12 <strong>March</strong><br />

Activities and events on the banks of the Yarra River<br />

at Birrarung Marr and Alexandra Gardens.<br />

64 years on, the festival is wise with age, steeped in tradition, but undoubtedly young at heart. Highlights of the familyfriendly<br />

program include the Moomba Parade with its artistic, community-inspired floats and the wacky Birdman Rally.<br />

Moomba Festival showcases the talents of local performers and the hospitality of our traders. The Moomba Masters’<br />

world-class watersports, and the pro scoot, skate and BMX competitions are also favourites in our sports-mad city.<br />

<strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong><br />

41


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42 <strong>DRIVE</strong> <strong>A2B</strong> magazine · <strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong>


MELBOURNE<br />

CRUISE SHIPS<br />

Cruise Ship Name Arrival at berth Departure<br />

from berth<br />

Berth<br />

​Pacific Jewel (T) Thu ​1 ​0700 Thu ​1 ​1600 ​OWSP<br />

​Pacific Eden (T) Fri 2 ​0700 Fri 2 ​1800 ​OWSP<br />

​Carnival Legend (T) Sat 3 ​0800 ​Sat 3 ​1800 ​OWPS<br />

​Pacific Jewel (T) Mon 5 ​0700 Mon ​5 ​1600 ​OWSP<br />

​Carnival Legend (T) Tue 6 ​0700 Tue ​6 ​1700 ​OWSP<br />

​Diamond Princess Thu 8 ​0700 ​Thu 8 ​1600 ​OESP<br />

​Radiance of the Seas Thu 8 ​0800 ​Thu 8 ​1800 ​OWSP<br />

​Pacific Eden (T) Fri 9 ​0800 ​Fri 09 ​1600 ​OWSP<br />

​Golden Princess (T) ​Sat 10 ​0600 ​Sat 10 ​1600 ​OWSP<br />

​Celebrity Solstice Sun ​11 ​0800 Sun ​11 ​1800 ​OWSP<br />

​Pacific Eden (T) Mon ​12 ​0700 Mon ​ ​1600 ​OWSP<br />

​Explorer of the Seas Wed ​14 0800​ Wed ​ 1700​ ​OWSP<br />

​Golden Princess (T) ​Thu 15 ​0600 Thu ​15 ​1600 ​OWSP<br />

​Carnival Legend (T) Fri ​16 ​0800 Fri ​16 ​1800 ​OWSP<br />

​Pacific Eden (T) Sat ​17 ​0800 Sat ​17 ​1600 ​OWSP<br />

​Carnival Legend (T) Mon ​ 0800​ Mon ​19 ​1800 ​OWSP<br />

​Pacific Eden (T) Tue ​20 ​0700 Tue ​20 1600​ ​OWSP<br />

​Pacific Eden (T) Sat ​24 ​0700 Sat ​24 ​1600 ​OWSP<br />

​Pacific Eden (T) Tue ​27 0700​ ​Tue 27 ​1600 ​OWSP<br />

​Sea Princess Wed ​28 ​0900 ​Wed 28 ​2300 ​OWSP<br />

​Pacific Eden (T) Sat ​31 ​0700 Sat ​31 1600​ ​OWSP<br />

Station Pier, located in Port<br />

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Station Pier is open to the public<br />

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hours for pedestrians, except on<br />

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customs, immigration, quarantine,<br />

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LEGEND<br />

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BERTHS<br />

​OWSP = Outer West Station Pier<br />

OESP = Outer East Station Pier


ANNUAL ROADWORTHY<br />

INSPECTIONS<br />

VicRoads have abolished the taxi<br />

tester category for licensed vehicle<br />

testers. It is still a requirement<br />

for taxis and hire cars to have an<br />

annual roadworthy inspection<br />

however.<br />

RSI provide quick,<br />

comprehensive and cost<br />

effective inspections to<br />

keep you compliant<br />

and get you back<br />

on the road<br />

within an<br />

hour.<br />

Roller brake and<br />

suspension testing<br />

Helpful advice from<br />

qualified and respected<br />

industry experts<br />

Clearance of<br />

unroadworthy notices and<br />

interstate defect notices<br />

LPG installation<br />

compliance testing<br />

Road Safety Inspections<br />

433 Williamstown Rd,<br />

Port Melbourne<br />

inspect@busvic.asn.au<br />

03 9646 3362

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