Its extremely hard for me to flag down a taxi. Always has been. Ill be standing there waving down a cab, which will drive straight past me, then stop for some other people further down the road.

I managed to get a cab earlier, and he was totally honest with me, he said that he stopped for me because he knew no one else would. Respect to him :thumbsup:

I'm a Taxi driver, the reason this happens is because most Taxi's are Private Hire and they must be pre-booked to pick up otherwise they are breaking the Law. As for Hackneys i'm sure they should only pick up at designated ranks. Of course it is known for both parties to break the rules when it suits :clap:

I never have a problem getting a taxi... Must be my angelic "butter wouldnt melt" face :nod:

Would agree about Private Hire but black cabs can be flagged down anywhere, I think.

Whether they HAVE to stop or not's another matter, but I didn't think they could only pick up from ranks.

Is it the large axe and the wild staring eyes that puts them off? ;)

Joe

Originally posted by spyro2000
Its extremely hard for me to flag down a taxi. Always has been. Ill be standing there waving down a cab, which will drive straight past me, then stop for some other people further down the road.

I managed to get a cab earlier, and he was totally honest with me, he said that he stopped for me because he knew no one else would. Respect to him :thumbsup: You must look like a violent criminal! I have no problems flagging down a cab as I look like a government official on his way to a headteacher's conference in south wales - or so i've been told!
My advice would be try not carrying a gun and smile a lot!;)

I dont understand what the problem is. I only wait at the taxi rank like this (http://www.amorin.dk/images/billeder/Western/Gunman.jpg) .

When in sheff town I always make my way to what use to be the Stone House and seem to get a taxi in minutes.
How ever last night two private hire cabs stopped side by side and asked where we were going I replied Shiregreen and he said "That will be £20 upfront" :suspect:
He must have thought that Id left my brain in the Casbah.
I said " You must be joking " and he drove off.
We got a black cab soon after and paid £8 :thumbsup:

On his Channel Four show Michael Moore used to do this stunt where he’d get a black Lawyer or doctor to stand at one end of the street trying to flag down a cab, then at the other a white ex con whod carried out a violent murder.

Every time a cab came it just sailed past the black guy and picked up the criminal, the best bit was when just before getting out the criminal handed the driver a news report of the murder he’d committed, complete with picture of himself and advised the driver not to be so racist when choosing his fairs in the future.

Disco_Cat:

Maybe there were other factors involved, and the real reason for the taxi driver picking up a client wasn't to do with race, as MM would have you believe (it's not like he makes any money out of being a sensationalist or anything is it?).

I'd imagine they'd set things up as much as possible to influence the taxi driver to pick up the white chap, so they'd have a story to tell ...

I would guess a taxi driver will gererally go more by the demeanor of a potential passanger, rather than colour. If a passanger looks like trouble, why let him/her in to the cab?

Jamie:

I dont think its really about racism. The black cab drivers have a living to make, and they have to make judgements on their cliental. When they see a black lad I think they have the 'stereotypical' view of a black lad, not a 'racist' view, which makes it that much harder to get a cab. This must be true as I have seen cabs drive past black lads and pick up black girls. Its just the way it goes.

Originally posted by spyro2000
Jamie:

I dont think its really about racism. The black cab drivers have a living to make, and they have to make judgements on their cliental. When they see a black lad I think they have the 'stereotypical' view of a black lad, not a 'racist' view, which makes it that much harder to get a cab. This must be true as I have seen cabs drive past black lads and pick up black girls. Its just the way it goes.

But surely racism is about treating someone differently because of their race? How can this type of behaviour not be racist? :confused:

Originally posted by Kristian
But surely racism is about treating someone differently because of their race? How can this type of behaviour not be racist? :confused:

I suppose it depends on how you define racism.

The majority of the black cab drivers seem to be asian, yet some of them prefer to pick up white lads over black lads. The taxi driver that I spoke to explained to me that some of the cabbies have had a lot of trouble with black lads, therefore will not stop for them. When you make a living out of choosing the right cliental I guess you have to make judgements, and if that judgement comes from skin colour then what can you do.

I understand what you're saying Spyro. I suppose making a choice based upon a personal experience is different. I might do the same if I thought my safety might be compromised, although the whole thing doesn't sit comfortably with me.

Originally posted by Kristian
But surely racism is about treating someone differently because of their race?

Nope.

That would be prejudice.

Originally posted by sccsux
Nope.

That would be prejudice.

Definition of racism (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=racism)

Originally posted by spyro2000
Jamie:

I dont think its really about racism. The black cab drivers have a living to make, and they have to make judgements on their cliental. When they see a black lad I think they have the 'stereotypical' view of a black lad, not a 'racist' view, which makes it that much harder to get a cab. This must be true as I have seen cabs drive past black lads and pick up black girls. Its just the way it goes.

I don't imagine it's about racism either, at least not in a superficial or intentional way.

A taxi driver, is just doing a job, he want's to make as much money as possible, be a safe as poss, and avoid trouble. Where he has a choice, he'll want customers who won't cause trouble and who are more likely to give a good tip.

Taxi drivers will have past experiences, and will know that certain catagories of people, make better customers than other catagories. It may be that 'young single black male' catagory is one that taxi drivers like to avoid because of pervious experience, I don't know.

It's not really out and out racist behaviour, it's just the taxi driver doing what works best for him. It's just business.

spyro2000:

Have you tried wearing a disguise (http://www.mr-bens.co.uk/images/www.mr-bens.co.uk/big/bg755720756078881.jpg) ?

Originally posted by Jamie

spyro2000:

Have you tried wearing a disguise (http://www.mr-bens.co.uk/images/www.mr-bens.co.uk/big/bg755720756078881.jpg) ?

lol, no I havent, but I shall consider it. Ill check to see if Argos have any in stock :heyhey:

Crickey, I'm shocked I haven't been branded a racist making suggestions like that ...

Life would be so much easier if we were all green.

:)

Originally posted by Jamie
Crickey, I'm shocked I haven't been branded a racist making suggestions like that ...

Life would be so much easier if we were all green.

:)

Come on, even the Simpsons has different colours in it - look at Apu :)

I was gonna say, I think there is also a big difference related to appearance. I have spoken to a taxi driver friend of mine who said he never had a problem picking up a black person from anywhere in the city, but if its late in the night somewhere on Spital Hill dresed in hoodies etc he would be reluctant.

When asked why, he said its was because had been asked to do multiple stops on a number of occasions where it appeared certain transactions were taking place. He said all you could really do it cut your losses and drive off, but he said that would be made even harder if one stayed in the cab - you had to stick with the job just to get paid anything at all, let alone if you were lucky enough to get the full fare.

He also went on to say he wouldn't pick up anybody who was white who looked like they just needed transportation to their crack dealer.

I suspect if you were in a shirt and trousers, you wouldn't have as much of a problem getting a cab - my two pence worth there!

If i get picked up near my house in greystones i have no problem whatsoever getting a taxi but in town at the weekend at night unless i go to a taxi rank they rarely stop. But again, as soon as i get on eccy road they stop all the time. It must just be their perceptions of what your like based on their assumptions and past experiences.

Originally posted by wayne72
I'm a Taxi driver, the reason this happens is because most Taxi's are Private Hire and they must be pre-booked to pick up otherwise they are breaking the Law. As for Hackneys i'm sure they should only pick up at designated ranks. Of course it is known for both parties to break the rules when it suits :clap:

Hackney cabs can pick up who they want, when they want, from where they want. Thats why they have the taxi light on top so that people know when its "for hire" or taken!

spyro, the best way to get a cab is to wear a short skirt. Most of the cab drivers i see stop for women rather than men.... :confused: especially after a night out down town.

Originally posted by Lestat
spyro, the best way to get a cab is to wear a short skirt. Most of the cab drivers i see stop for women rather than men.... :confused: especially after a night out down town.

But do you blame them ;)

After an evening out with my Hubby I always get the job of flagging a cab down.

He just hides away in a bus shelter devouring his kebab and I stand alone at the side of the road hailing anything with headlights!!

It is much quicker to get a cab this way by playing the ''I am all alone, vulnerable woman'' card !!

I think it is only natural for the cab driver to prefer a sexy blonde to a kebab munching male.

As for your predicament Spyro, I can only suggest a long back wig, short skirt and high heels!!

:hihi:

Never had a problem hailing a black cab in Sheffield - just put your arm up and there's at least one there in a shot.

Now London, on a wet afternoon is another matter - even seen people arguing over who'se gonna get the only available cab ... :hihi:

Sheffield Council's policy for hackney carriages is that they want to encourage them to drive around the city to be flagged down rather than just sitting at designated ranks. Hence the many more hackney carriage liscenses than rank standing places. So in theory, it should become easier to flag one down. :clap:

Originally posted by Hels

Sheffield Council's policy for hackney carriages is that they want to encourage them to drive around the city to be flagged down rather than just sitting at designated ranks. Hence the many more hackney carriage liscenses than rank standing places. So in theory, it should become easier to flag one down. :clap:

There is no such council policy Hels.

Five years ago, the Licensing Board (of which I am now a member) lifted the limit on the number of licensed taxi drivers in the city. Since the limit was lifted, the number of taxis has risen from 300 to around 610.

Not surprisingly, given the doubling of taxis in such a short space of time, the lack of ranks has become a sore point with the taxi trade. A city centre review of ranks is now underway, and outlying areas will also be reviewed, e.g., Crystal Peaks, Chapeltown, Hillsborough, Woodseats.

Red

Originally posted by sccsux
Nope.

That would be prejudice.


nope.

that would be discrimination.. your personal prejudices would lead you to discriminate in this way..




:D

Cheers Red :thumbsup:

I remember reading in the Star .... the last time the drivers were on strike... I thought someone from the council said their aim was to have more hackney carriages 'on the road' so that they could be flagged down ... obviously mis-understood the report.

Originally posted by Jamie
I don't imagine it's about racism either, at least not in a superficial or intentional way.


Have you tried wearing a disguise (http://www.mr-bens.co.uk/images/www.mr-bens.co.uk/big/bg755720756078881.jpg) ?

Now like I say i'm a Taxi driver, and its not about racism at all, at most prejudicism but reallistically its about that 6th sense instinct. What do I mean? well when I bend the rules :suspect: (as i'm a private hire driver) I look out for someone who appears violent, if they look rough, violent or agressive in anyway then I wont let them in my car, now if they are White, Black, Yellow, Brown or Green that doesn't make a difference at all, now if they come up to me and talk agressively or act agressivly then they aint getting in my cab. Every fare is a wage for me, as much as I hate it i'm ruled by capitalism and despite what the media likes say there's good and bad in every race or creed.

Wow look at me i'm diverting this topic from what it is, sorry :clap: