Looking for a taxi? Don't go to a rank!
First of all. Let me direct you to this link from ABC News. Link will open in a new page.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-03/canberra-taxi-drivers-protest-over-new-booking-system/5131710
This is how the system works up until yesterday. You plot into a zone. You may be position #2. The second job that come out of the system will be yours.
If you are in a zone with a rank preference i.e. Tuggeranong. You must be plotted on the rank to get the work. Same principle as a zone.
So, heres the guts of it from what I understand so far. Between the hours of 7am - 7pm the taxi booking system will operate on finding the closest car to the job via GPS. Seems reasonable doesn't it? Well, not really. For example. Lets say I am on Casino Rank and I have been waiting there for about 20 mins. Daniel rocks up behind me in his cab and immediately gets a job at Crowne Plaza. Why did he get it over me when we are in the same zone and I have been waiting longer? Because he is about 1.5m closer to the Crowne Plaza than I am...that's why!!
I always give people the benefit of the doubt. I have doubted for a long time that those who would be running Aerial had any idea what they are doing. This 'trial' has proven beyond all doubt that they have absolutely no idea what they are doing...at all.
"Oh, but it works in Sydney. It works on the Gold Coast." Well..thats great. But this is Canberra you freaking moron. Its not going to work here and let me tell you why.
Most of the work during the day is Government. The next biggest pick up point is Hotels & Motels etc. Where exactly do you think taxis will be sitting now? You got it. Outside every govt dept and motel in Canberra. They won't be at a rank. Why would they be? Most of the ranks are no where near those places. If you do happen to be sitting on a rank in say..Tuggeranong. You will be waiting alooooong time for a job from the Caroline Chisholm Centre. Because that where all the other cabs will be sitting.
Aerial obviously hasn't given any consideration to the egress of vehicles wishing to go about their business at these institutions. Public won't be able to move for taxis. Blocking the roads, driveways, and parking spaces outside every govt institution. Brilliant thinking Aerial. My goodness are you really that inept?
There have been accusations of Aerial favouring board members and directors taxis. I'd like to think this is utter nonsense. But you know what...due to the fact that there are absolutely zero checks and balances in place coupled with zero transparency...I wouldn't put it past them at all.
To the operators etc...This is your best course of action. Cease payments of your Network fees immediately. Transfer your business across to CabExpress and make CabExpress the dominant force in the market place. But even if you don't join CabExpress..if you en masse cease paying your Network fees..what are Aerial going to do? Suspend the entire fleet? Not a snowballs chance in hell.
But Dear Public and Readers. If you are looking for a cab...go to your nearest Govt Dept, you'll find one there. Don't go to a rank. There won't be any. Stupid isn't it.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-03/canberra-taxi-drivers-protest-over-new-booking-system/5131710
This is how the system works up until yesterday. You plot into a zone. You may be position #2. The second job that come out of the system will be yours.
If you are in a zone with a rank preference i.e. Tuggeranong. You must be plotted on the rank to get the work. Same principle as a zone.
So, heres the guts of it from what I understand so far. Between the hours of 7am - 7pm the taxi booking system will operate on finding the closest car to the job via GPS. Seems reasonable doesn't it? Well, not really. For example. Lets say I am on Casino Rank and I have been waiting there for about 20 mins. Daniel rocks up behind me in his cab and immediately gets a job at Crowne Plaza. Why did he get it over me when we are in the same zone and I have been waiting longer? Because he is about 1.5m closer to the Crowne Plaza than I am...that's why!!
I always give people the benefit of the doubt. I have doubted for a long time that those who would be running Aerial had any idea what they are doing. This 'trial' has proven beyond all doubt that they have absolutely no idea what they are doing...at all.
"Oh, but it works in Sydney. It works on the Gold Coast." Well..thats great. But this is Canberra you freaking moron. Its not going to work here and let me tell you why.
Most of the work during the day is Government. The next biggest pick up point is Hotels & Motels etc. Where exactly do you think taxis will be sitting now? You got it. Outside every govt dept and motel in Canberra. They won't be at a rank. Why would they be? Most of the ranks are no where near those places. If you do happen to be sitting on a rank in say..Tuggeranong. You will be waiting alooooong time for a job from the Caroline Chisholm Centre. Because that where all the other cabs will be sitting.
Aerial obviously hasn't given any consideration to the egress of vehicles wishing to go about their business at these institutions. Public won't be able to move for taxis. Blocking the roads, driveways, and parking spaces outside every govt institution. Brilliant thinking Aerial. My goodness are you really that inept?
There have been accusations of Aerial favouring board members and directors taxis. I'd like to think this is utter nonsense. But you know what...due to the fact that there are absolutely zero checks and balances in place coupled with zero transparency...I wouldn't put it past them at all.
To the operators etc...This is your best course of action. Cease payments of your Network fees immediately. Transfer your business across to CabExpress and make CabExpress the dominant force in the market place. But even if you don't join CabExpress..if you en masse cease paying your Network fees..what are Aerial going to do? Suspend the entire fleet? Not a snowballs chance in hell.
But Dear Public and Readers. If you are looking for a cab...go to your nearest Govt Dept, you'll find one there. Don't go to a rank. There won't be any. Stupid isn't it.