DRIVE A2B March 2019

EUROPE - Taxi Forum
excerpt from TaxiIntelligence
During the IRU’s International Taxi Forum, Moscow’s
Dmitry Pronin showed that in their multifaceted and highly
regulated mobility approach, the taxi is clearly a force to be
reckoned with. Moscow’s cleaned-up taxi fleet is – thanks
to replacement subsidies – one of the youngest in the world
with an average vehicle age of under 3 years.
Yet, the future is not the same everywhere. Since July
this year Finland’s previously highly-regulated taxi trade is
dealing with a completely deregulated taxi market – a bit of
a challenge. Finland’s example may lead to similar measures
in Norway.
Jonna Pöllänen (MaaS Global/Whim) underlined that a
system like Mobility as a Service (MaaS) will link taxis to
the use of different forms of public transport, plus bike
and car rental systems in a form of a monthly app-based
subscription. For a fixed monthly fare users get a mix of
mobility – including taxis. The higher the fare, the more
taxis one gets. Such a system – called Whim – is already
operational in Helsinki and the West-Midlands (UK). Various
other operators are working on similar models.
“Politics is the word I’ve heard most at this Taxi Forum. And
it is scandalous indeed how Uber in 2011 managed to worm
its way into London because of its political connections in
the highest places. We call that a ‘chumocracy’, because it
has nothing to do with democracy or with proper regulation,”
LTDA General Secretary Steve McNamara described the
situation in London.
USA - New York City
Uber is suing New York City (NYC)
over a rule that caps the number
of ride-hailing drivers allowed on
the streets, saying that the city
government does not have enough
evidence to justify such a rule, and
that Mayor Bill de Blasio is treating
the business unfairly.
City officials have said the rule's
creation will help reduce road
congestion, and de Blasio's office
said Uber and other ride-hailing
companies have made traffic worse.
The lawsuit reflects the increasingly
combative relationship between NYC
and global technology companies:
Last month, Lyft sued the city’s
Transportation Commission over
the implementation of minimum
pay rules for drivers; and Amazon
walked away from plans to build
a sprawling new headquarters in
Queens to support 25,000 employees;
and Airbnb and other home-rental
companies are fighting the city in
court over its demand that they turn
over renter data.
ENGLAND - Plymouth
Disheartened Plymouth taxi drivers
say life in the trade is so dire right
now they'd probably be better off
claiming benefits.
Tensions are growing amongst city
cabbies as they brace themselves for
a big rise in the cost of working and
keeping their cars on the road.
But it's not good news either for
private hire vehicles; which could
force companies to hike passenger
fees to cover extra costs.
It seems that a one-year hackney
cab (taxi) licence is set to soar by
£114 to £324 (AU$593) and a driver's
badge could set workers back £165
(AU$301) rather than £112.
"I've been doing this for 28 years, and
what we're earning now is less than
minimum wage. About £5 (AU$9.10)
an hour, not much more than that.
"Yet the fares (which the council
regulates) won't go up. We've had a
50p increase in the last eight years.
We will just have to accept these
raises."
Those who operate a taxi are to be
hammered the most; with proposed
raises of about 96 per cent.
Ade Smith has been a driver since
2001 - and says it's never been as bad
as things are now.
"The increases are absolutely
ludicrous, horrendous...we're all up
against it".
DRIVE A2B magazine · March 2019
45