On Wednesday I found out that Yellow decided to limit the total cabs allowed to work to 160 cars out of an approximate 240. Why they are doing this matching concerns expressed last week that drivers returning from their months of unemployment will dilute what business we have, making it harder than it already is. What's totally clear is that our business model during this dire pandemic moment is primarily based upon the sick and ill, and without this hospital and clinic based clientele, we would be screaming and shaking our fists at the sky.
Wednesday we had a total 105 cabs working, and doing the math, translating into a mere 55 slots available for those interested in realigning themselves with Yellow. And it's anyone's guess when business will return to any kind of normal. All economic indicators suggest this novel coronavirus financial regression will continue through this year and into the next. God knows what will happen to the Yellow single owners shut out by the cap.
I am told Eastside for Hire is completely shut down, Orange Taxi is in hibernation but Farwest appears to be showing some signs of life, having noticed a few returning cabs. I am afraid that unless the City/County implements some version of a medallion freeze, allowing operators to retain their licenses minus actively working, we are going to see an exodus of experienced cabbies only to be later replaced by an even more amateurish workforce, far worse, if that's possible, than the sometimes dysfunctional crew we now have plying Seattle's taxi streets.
My advice then to all you unemployment holidaying cabbies is to notify, ASAP, the folks at Puget Sound Dispatch that you are ready and able to hit the streets. If not, I'll be saying hello to you at the local 7-11, a fate not worth mentioning but very possible if you don't act soon and rejoin Yellow. Good luck 'cause you are gonna need it.
Hitting the Taxicab Grand Slam
In baseball parlance, I'm more of a doubles than home run hitter, similar to that great Mariner baseball player now residing in the Cooperstown Hall of Fame, Edgar Martinez but on Monday I hit a fare out of the taxi ballpark, landing all the way in Seaview, Washington, a small beach resort town in the southwest corner of the state near the Columbia River. It's been a long time since I've had an over $500.00 fare, something rare in my experience.
The drive itself, especially nearing the coast, was very scenic, saltwater marshes and inlets pleasing to the eye, a real alternative to this cement wasteland some call an urban paradise. If I want urban, I'll go to Paris.
And I'd be amiss if I didn't give credit where credit is due because otherwise I wouldn't have been anywhere near Ballard and in position to take the call if it wasn't for our, at times, dysfunctional Philippines callcenter belling me into a destination address instead of the actual pickup address. As this occurs regularly, I have taken to warning passengers not to tell dispatch where they are going, saying it's none of their concern. All you want is a cab sent to your home address and nothing else. Once in the cab, tell the driver your destination but not before, making more sense to do it that way, thus removing one more area for potential dispatch error. Ya want a cab, don't ya!?
And if you need a cab when traveling in Manila, for heaven's sake, don't call Seattle to get a cab, remembering the Emerald City is clear across the wide Pacific Ocean blue, 7000 miles away. It wouldn't make any sense, would it? But to some it makes perfect sense, dollars and cents, that is.
Oh well, we're in Taxi Hell, the burning flesh, the sulphureous smell, and do you hear that tolling bell? that ding-dong-dinging our clangorous death knell!
Ain't it swell!
A Mister Poe would be proud.
I am told Eastside for Hire is completely shut down, Orange Taxi is in hibernation but Farwest appears to be showing some signs of life, having noticed a few returning cabs. I am afraid that unless the City/County implements some version of a medallion freeze, allowing operators to retain their licenses minus actively working, we are going to see an exodus of experienced cabbies only to be later replaced by an even more amateurish workforce, far worse, if that's possible, than the sometimes dysfunctional crew we now have plying Seattle's taxi streets.
My advice then to all you unemployment holidaying cabbies is to notify, ASAP, the folks at Puget Sound Dispatch that you are ready and able to hit the streets. If not, I'll be saying hello to you at the local 7-11, a fate not worth mentioning but very possible if you don't act soon and rejoin Yellow. Good luck 'cause you are gonna need it.
Hitting the Taxicab Grand Slam
In baseball parlance, I'm more of a doubles than home run hitter, similar to that great Mariner baseball player now residing in the Cooperstown Hall of Fame, Edgar Martinez but on Monday I hit a fare out of the taxi ballpark, landing all the way in Seaview, Washington, a small beach resort town in the southwest corner of the state near the Columbia River. It's been a long time since I've had an over $500.00 fare, something rare in my experience.
The drive itself, especially nearing the coast, was very scenic, saltwater marshes and inlets pleasing to the eye, a real alternative to this cement wasteland some call an urban paradise. If I want urban, I'll go to Paris.
And I'd be amiss if I didn't give credit where credit is due because otherwise I wouldn't have been anywhere near Ballard and in position to take the call if it wasn't for our, at times, dysfunctional Philippines callcenter belling me into a destination address instead of the actual pickup address. As this occurs regularly, I have taken to warning passengers not to tell dispatch where they are going, saying it's none of their concern. All you want is a cab sent to your home address and nothing else. Once in the cab, tell the driver your destination but not before, making more sense to do it that way, thus removing one more area for potential dispatch error. Ya want a cab, don't ya!?
And if you need a cab when traveling in Manila, for heaven's sake, don't call Seattle to get a cab, remembering the Emerald City is clear across the wide Pacific Ocean blue, 7000 miles away. It wouldn't make any sense, would it? But to some it makes perfect sense, dollars and cents, that is.
Oh well, we're in Taxi Hell, the burning flesh, the sulphureous smell, and do you hear that tolling bell? that ding-dong-dinging our clangorous death knell!
Ain't it swell!
A Mister Poe would be proud.
No comments:
Post a Comment