Forums Forums Wirral Information Wirral info Whither the cabs?

Couldn't get a cab for love or money at midnight last night. Tried every firm and no joy. What was happening in the Wirral last night that caused every taxi to be booked up? Bit concerned because me and the missus stuck in the middle of nowhere and facing an hour walk home. If no cabs going to be on call it means we can't go out on a Saturday night anymore, pity. I feel there must be a reason for it, it seemed almost like industrial action. Didn't see any whizzing about when we managed to get a lift home with a bloke who luckily doesn't drink.

No idea what was happening, but if it's any consolation, Uber are slowly becoming more readily available in Wirral.

Taxi companies get more money for doing the Liverpool runs. Either to liverpool or coming back from liverpool. They tend not to be that available for wirral to wirral journeys unless you're going from New Brighton to Parkgate or Ellesmere Port or something far like that.

I tried various 'private' cab companies a few weeks ago. Booking to go to Lime Street Station and booking a week in advance, so it was not possible to say they were all booked up. I didn't want these companies such as Wirral Satellite , as they quite often don;t turn up, find the wrong address, or are late.

Not company would say they could book it. I'm in Thingwall/Pensby. Upton , Neston , Bebington. They all quoted me a ridiculous price of £25 or over.
In the end I had to use Heswall which is Wirral Satellite now and it cost £14.
I came to the conclusion as with window cleaners, they now have their own patch and so we have to use what's on offer, not what we would like.
That sort of thing is reminiscent of the 'mafia'. I hate it and it should be stopped by law. Why can't we choose who we want?

Thanks for the gen folks, just wondering. If we can't get back from going out we're snookered. It's a hard loif.

Read a night tunnel bus is starting to run again to get drunk wirralites back across the river.

Muggins doing the 2am airport "taxi" run again..must remember car with ladders doesn't get under the barrier!

Not sure how taxi companies can make more money on Liverpool runs??? (j demo) metre should be on... so you are charged for mileage plus tunnel cost!

Volume of journeys.no waiting around idle for next wirral to wirral job.

Surely the taxis wouldn't be sitting idle for next Wirral to Wirral job, if it was that busy in Wirral that bandycoot couldn't get a taxi... maybe it was just a busy time of night.. they can only do one job at a time.. and if they start rushing round to get to the next job then there classed as bad drivers who think they own the road.. taxi drivers just cant win...

Last night I was talking to someone who is involved with the Taxi business , not from this area, but not very far away. We were discussing taxi companies, charges etc.

Now he informed me that as our Councils are responsible for licensing it is also the duty of the council to see that everyone has the right to public transport.

With Uber creeping into new areas, they will be the fly in the ointment should they arrive here.
It seems a great idea and all the drivers from the private companies will join Uber meaning the small private companies will go out of business, then the trouble will start.
Uber can have reasonable charges, but once it gets busy, they can charge whatever they like. It is based on supply on demand..
He suggests that the Council should be aware and if necessary not license them and we as the public should make our voices heard by the council , before it's too late.

Uber.....just another American Company .

Not at all, the council licence sets the maximum fares that can be charged.

They use an app to calculate the fare. This I think is what all the fuss is about. They would appear to be upsetting a LOT of people.
It would seem that anyone can become a driver too. Sign up ...that's a bit unethical in this day and age.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uber_protests_and_legal_actions

Both the car and the driver have to be licensed by the local council in the UK.

In Wirral the driver has an enhanced DBS check as well as the Council's vetting procedure. They must also hold either the BTEC or EDI certificate (compulsory training course), then they must also pass the Council's Street Knowledge Test. There is also a requirement to prove medical fitness.

Its usually time to retire by the time you've gone through all that lot

Not likely to be changing careers then ?