Due to "on-the-road" sign in difficulties, I was unable to communicate in the greater blogger sphere empire but I am now back in Seattle-Land, my flight on Iceland Air from London getting into Seattle at 5:21 PM yesterday. For those readers who are interested, over the next week to ten days, I will write a series of impressions concerning taxi in the UK and other countries where I used the services of our taxi brethren, or as in Greece, tried to.
A very brief summation is that for many cabbies, the lesson of Uber's incursion passed them by, remaining the same assholes that allowed Uber and others to nearly destroy the then extant international taxi industry. In other words, lessons have not been learned . Sad but true but so blue, unfortunately, noting that nothing is new.
After my posts concerning taxi, I will then write about my travel experiences in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Bulgaria, Greece, Georgia (the country) and Armenia. I also had quick layovers in Poland, Turkey and Iceland, giving me a total of 10 countries. I enjoyed the potato dumplings at the Warsaw airport.
But taxi first, taxi forever the crazy endeavor.
Mini-Cabs and "Black" Cabs in London, England, UK
There are two kinds of taxis in London, mini-cabs which are essentially a kind of meter less, flat-rate car service taxicab, and the Black cabs. Mini-cabs are dispatched to the customer, minus street hailing. On this trip, I twice took a mini-cab ride from Walthamstow Central Underground/train station. The first time I didn't know the location of my Airbnb room. The second ride was a week ago after my return from Tbilisi, Georgia, my bags heavier, and tired after a 2,200 mile flight. Both drivers were professional but the first driver complained about "black" passengers, and how he avoided in picking them up.
The Black taxicabs are the famous cabs driven by "the Knowledge" cabbies, cabs that are as synonymous with London as fish & chips and banger sausages. For those who are unfamiliar, "the Knowledge" is the requirement that all potential Black Cab drivers know "every street" in greater London. It of course makes for a very professional work force.
I talked to one such Black Cab owner/driver near where I was staying in Walthamstow. When approaching a cabbie, all I need to do is identify myself as the true 35 plus year veteran cabbie I am, and instantly, we have a rapport and understanding, "taxi" a dialect we both speak.
He was a 23 year taxi driver veteran, and found him hand washing his cab. He drives more or less 12 hour shift five days a week. The per mile rate is 3 British pounds, translating to $4.00 USA. His life is now easier since the COVID pandemic, and the subsequent falloff in business resulting in a London fleet reduction from 24,000 to 16,000 Black Cabs. His insurance is far cheaper than for Seattle taxis, being 1400 Pound sterling annually. In US dollars that's $1, 745.75. When I quit, my insurance rate was just over $5000.00.
But the cost of cabs are much more, the type of car being strictly regulated. His new replacement vehicle, slated for 3 years from now, will cost him 70,000 Pounds, or put another way, $87,735.90. For comparison, my last Ford Crown Victoria cost me $3,500.00, and I put over 350,000 miles on the car. When discussing hours worked, he added that he takes time off to play golf and run, making sense as the only way to survive taxi is get away from it as far as you can. Otherwise, you're a "dead man" driving. That's all our shared reality.
Next post: Paris cabs
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