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Home » Otwo

Soapbox: Taxi Drivers

Contributed by Sally Hayden on Tuesday, 13 April 20103 Comments

Taxi-drivers: A species in themselves. Sally Hayden speaks

Picture the scene. Exactly eighteen months ago there I was: a bright-eyed UCD fresher, new to the world of clubbing (at least on weeknights) and drinking (well, legally). But the principal hurdle that required triumphing over in this coming-of-age fairytale was not one of substances or debauchery, but was in fact the solo taxi journey.

Long had I been accustomed to the stories of the raping, pillaging and looting taxi men, elevated to piratey bus-lane roaming figures in my imagination. Lucky for me, the mothers’ warnings have thus far proven unfounded. What I have learnt about taking taxis since that fateful day, however, are a few home truths that none can deny.

Many taxi drivers are inherently racist. May I refer to the lovely gentlemen who, upon me getting in his car remarked that it was lucky that I hadn’t chosen the vehicle of one of those “blackxies” instead, because Lord knows then where I’d have ended up.

The constant suggestion that Camden Street will always be the fastest route home starts to feel a little insincere when you realise that that same direction is being suggested in every cab across the capital come 2am. Somehow you are never quite as astonished as the driver appears to be, when you become yet again another link in a traffic jam that even Moses couldn’t part.

Countless drivers are intrinsically and insatiably unsatisfied. Case in point: the taxi driver who spent the entire duration of a 40 minute journey telling me in minute detail about the lessons he was undertaking to leave his current job and become a driving instructor.

Taxi drivers keep striking. If they hate their job, why not leave?  I refer again to my worthy comrade of the paragraph above. One can’t help but believe that, since their main quandary is that there are far too many of them, they’re really hoping that their brothers in solidarity will give up and quit first. Also: is blocking my chosen method of public transport really going to entice me to pay higher prices to reach my chosen destination? Definitely not.

Complaints aside, there is also something cleansing about the conversation with the driver at the end of an epic night, a time when you’re happy to bare your innermost soul in exchange for some sagacious guidance. Maybe that fare is worth it after all.

3 Comments »

  • Siobhain Mc Keown said:

    I was absolutely outraged when I read this piece. I can’t believe how biased this piece is and how misunderstood taxi drivers are. Have you ever thought about why taxi drivers strike? The taxi regulator continues to allow taxi driver licences to be dispensed week in and week out. this leads to current taxi drivers having to work longer hours to support their families. This is the reason for the “traffic jam” created by taxis every Saturday night as they all compete to make money. The taxi regulator is supposed to help taxi drivers while instead she makes life harder and harder for them. I understand the reasons for Irish taxi drivers being against the “blackxies”, the majority of these taxi drivers have illegal licences, steal jobs from other taxi drivers and are known to skip while in the taxi rank. While I don’t want this to be misconceived as a generalisation, as I’m sure some Irish taxi drivers are the same, foreign taxi drivers are making it difficult for Irish drivers to make an honest days money. The suggestion that they can just leave is completely idiotic, How many people do you know in the current climate who can afford to leave their job just because they don’t like it? I can’t believe you would even suggest that. These drivers have families to provide for and thats the reason why they stick with a job they hate. And why not complain about it? I’m sure you complain about your part time job or mid terms, why shouldn’t they be allowed to complain about their hardships? My dad is a taxi driver and spends 16 hours a day out working, trying to provide for our family after he lost his well paid job due to injury. My dad is an honest, hard working taxi driver who doesn’t deserve the biased, stuck up opinion of people like you, who just believe the negative media publicity and who don’t put yourself in the position of others before making a judgement on them.

    - 17 April 2010 at 11:10 am
  • Classicdubliner said:

    Never have I understood sitting on your ass for 16 hours to be considered “work”. Your point is a bit meek to be honest @Siobhain Mc Keown

    Taxi-drivers are mainly peeved about the fact that they just aren’t raking in the cash for a minimum input of labour like they used to years ago.

    And you’re right, they can’t just up-and-leave their jobs because all that’d be on their CV is “driving a car around for people at extortionate prices”.

    Furthermore, I don’t know how you can justify putting “hard-working” and “taxi-driver” in the same sentence either. I guarantee you wouldn’t feel as passionate about taxi-drivers if you’re father wasn’t one.

    Take a hit of reality. Taxi-drivers are disliked for charging too much, taking detours, and blocking traffic at strikes (not to mention threatening other taxi-drivers who choose to work during strikes).

    - 18 April 2010 at 2:44 pm
  • Siobhain Mc Keown said:

    I agree that some taxi drivers do overcharge and take passengers through a longer route to get more money. I just wanted to say that NOT ALL taxi drivers are like this.

    And no, my dads CV doesn’t simply say “driving people around”, he had a well paid job before he had to leave. The fact is that no job or person is making as much money as they were this time 5 years ago. The taxi regulator could give them a hand with this but she doesn’t want to or doesn’t feel the need to.

    I agree that them blocking up the streets and causing traffic doesn’t gain public awareness but only creates more bad public images.

    Don’t dare say my Dad being out for 16 hours a day isn’t called work. Most well paid normal jobs have decent wages for decent hours, that’s all they want.

    - 22 April 2010 at 8:55 pm