On 2016\10\22 10:04, tim... wrote:
"Paul Corfield" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 18 Oct 2016 08:34:29 +0000 (UTC), d wrote:
Lots of noise and blocked traffic when I walked past yesterday in
Southwark.
Anyone know what they're protesting about this week? Is it Uber,
fares, or
they just don't like TfL in general?
They want the world to stand still, for regulation to remain as it has
done since they gained their monopoly, for technological process to be
banned and for TfL to be their "bestest ever friend in the whole wide
world" so taxi drivers can not suffer the consequences that anyone
whose job or trade has been forcibly changed by progress has had to
do. In short TfL and the Mayor should do what the taxi drivers
f*ckin' tell them to do.
Ironic really when you consider the general political slant of many
taxi drivers. You'd imagine they'd be against protectionism, would
love innovation and would be swashbuckling supporters of competition.
I have a bit of sympathy for them but not engaging with the world as
it is rther than how they wish it was is a rather stupid approach to
take.
I agree
Arguing that they shouldn't have to compete with a competitor who
structures his business in a way that facilitates tax evasion (yes, I
said evasion) is one thing (not suggesting that Uber evades tax, but
ISTM that the casual relationship that they have with drivers enables
them to do so, if they are so minded)
Arguing that they shouldn't have to compete with a "technology" based
routeing system instead on having to do "the knowledge", is just plain
Ludditeism. It's for the customer to decide what system they prefer
(and are prepared to pay for), not the regulators.
... except that cars stopped in, say, Mercer Street while the driver says
"K L A R K U N W E L ... I am not finding it in my sattienav" will bring
the entire city to a halt. In fact, if you try moving a vehicle anywhere
near Trafalgar Square at midnight on a Friday, you will see the area is
already at a halt because of so many minicabs waiting for a ping.