3 ms·

I wonder what we could do, let's think...maybe...a taxi medalion with a public exam ? :D They tried to solve the problem from the wrong angle, and it turns out

by xwolfi 7y ago

I wonder what we could do, let's think...maybe...a taxi medalion with a public exam ? :D They tried to solve the problem from the wrong angle, and it turns out that the high cost of taxis, while suboptimal for sure, might not be entirely for no reason.

ReptileMan 7y ago
Only if the exam is cheap (not easy) and number of medallions is unlimited. (I got your joke, don't worry)
- bengillies 7y ago
  The prices are listed on this page[1]. Looks pretty expensive to me. [1] https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/taxis-and-private-hire/licensing/apply-for-a-taxi-driver-licence#on-this-page-3 https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/taxis-and-private-hire/licensing...
  - sacheendra 7y ago
    < 1000 pounds for what is basically license for a livelihood seems cheap.
  - Symbiote 7y ago
    That is for the "black cab" taxis, the ones you can hail by waving on the street. For a private hire vehicle (the kind you telephone or use an app to book), the price is under £700 (under £500 if the driver speaks English). That doesn't seem unreasonable. The GP comment was referring to the American system where the license are traded at very high costs (tens, hundreds of thousands of dollars). https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/taxis-and-private-hire/licensing/private-hire-driver-licence https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/taxis-and-private-hire/licensing...
  - michaelt 7y ago
    Those are the prices for becoming a black cab driver (allowed to respond to street hails and use taxi ranks) - to drive for Uber only requires a "private hire driver" license. The private hire license avoids the need for "the knowledge" and to have the traditional London black cab. There are still fees involved, of course - but becoming an Uber driver is much less demanding than becoming a black cab driver.
imtringued 7y ago
I think a better solution to a lot of problems would be to hand out licenses quickly and revoke them quickly. The value of posessing a license can often be questionable but the ability to stop rule breakers is incredibly useful.

by xwolfi 7y ago

ReptileMan 7y ago

Only if the exam is cheap (not easy) and number of medallions is unlimited. (I got your joke, don't worry)

bengillies 7y ago
The prices are listed on this page[1]. Looks pretty expensive to me. [1] https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/taxis-and-private-hire/licensing/apply-for-a-taxi-driver-licence#on-this-page-3 https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/taxis-and-private-hire/licensing...
- sacheendra 7y ago
  < 1000 pounds for what is basically license for a livelihood seems cheap.
- Symbiote 7y ago
  That is for the "black cab" taxis, the ones you can hail by waving on the street. For a private hire vehicle (the kind you telephone or use an app to book), the price is under £700 (under £500 if the driver speaks English). That doesn't seem unreasonable. The GP comment was referring to the American system where the license are traded at very high costs (tens, hundreds of thousands of dollars). https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/taxis-and-private-hire/licensing/private-hire-driver-licence https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/taxis-and-private-hire/licensing...
- michaelt 7y ago
  Those are the prices for becoming a black cab driver (allowed to respond to street hails and use taxi ranks) - to drive for Uber only requires a "private hire driver" license. The private hire license avoids the need for "the knowledge" and to have the traditional London black cab. There are still fees involved, of course - but becoming an Uber driver is much less demanding than becoming a black cab driver.

imtringued 7y ago

I think a better solution to a lot of problems would be to hand out licenses quickly and revoke them quickly. The value of posessing a license can often be questionable but the ability to stop rule breakers is incredibly useful.